Argh, now the Breva needs new front rotors

[sagerat]

Sigh.  So stopped by Bend Euro Moto a little earlier to lower the price on the Breva and they said you know how you had some pulsing on the front brakes?  Well, it's not brake pad transfer like you had thought/hoped.  Your rotors are still within spec, but they are on the outer margins.  

Jay-zeus, the bike has less than 9,000 miles on it.  I'm begnning to think my Guzzi is cursed what with the electrical gremlins from last year.

The selling price is getting to be so ridiculously low, I may just pull the Breva from consignment and get whatever I can for it as a trade-in for a Wee Strom.  Yes, it's true, I've always lusted for a Wee Strom after a test ride five years ago.  Thoughts?

[Rincewind]

9000 miles for a set of rotors - You must ride like a mad man!    

[kevin_stevens]

   I'm going to have to kick the tires before I can buy that.

KeS

[atadaskew]

Trading in a Guzzi for a Wee Strom?

Orson just choked on his orzo..

[Orson]

I'm on my second set of rotors.

So far so good  

[sagerat]

My era Breva was known for warping rotors...but of course mine decide to go wonky after warranty had expired.  Hey, I'm a fairly tame rider; after all there's a reason I'm on a Guzzi in the first place and not a 600cc sportbike.  

If I keep the Guzzi on consignment, I'll probably use the Portland Guzzi shop as there haven't been too many tire kickers here in Bend.  The bike really needed a new rear tire, so had one spooned on, but I'll skip the rotors as that's fairly big $$$ to replace, even with non-Brembos.

[ksann]

..butt she is such a pretty motorcycle.....






ken

[sagerat]

Agreed and the sound of a Guzzi is   plus you truly haven't lived until you've run a crooked road at 5-7K on a Guzzi.  Honest, that's when that bike just shines.  

[stromgal]

ma è così motociclo grazioso...

Fixed.

[mtwillyman]

  Sagerat,
                         I've felt your pain. My 2006 red Breva 1100 had pinging and Carc issues within 6000 miles. There is almost no aftermarket support for these beautiful bikes. I traded my Breva 1100 in for a 2009 Wee Strom.The Breva was gorgeous, but my Wee just does everything right. The Wee has poor front suspension. I still own a 2003 Stone, so I truly understand pain. If my Breva had run right, I would still own it. I love Guzzi's, but no new first year models for me again. It was like owning an Oilhead BMW. Good luck.

[sagerat]

If my Breva had run right, I would still own it. I love Guzzi's, but no new first year models for me again. It was like owning an Oilhead BMW. Good luck.

Actually, I had an Oilhead BMW, an '04 GS and mine was dead solid.  When I first got the Guzzi I posted over at wildguzzi and in one thread mentioned my KLR and my Ural had never made me walk, but the Breva had made me walk three times in the first ~ 20 rides.  Thus my el cheapo Japanese dual sport and iron anvil technology Russian sidecar were actually waaay more reliable and had better aftermarket support than my lovely Guzzi.

Harsh replies ensued.  

The sentiment about Guzzis were "it takes some time to sort them out, but once you do, they are marvelous bikes."  OK, whatever, but for the coin they want new (got mine used for $8,900) I still find that a less than compelling argument.

I did ride over to Bend Euro Moto on the Kawi yesterday to pet the Guzzi hello as the Breva was a joy to ride.  And it's true, Guzzis do have soul but that panache comes with a price...  

[WitchCityBallabio]

I had to replace my original Brembo rotors on the Ballabio at about 12,000 miles. I replaced them with the Brembo "snowflake" rotors and they have been spectacular for the 30,000 miles or so they have on them.

I wonder what it is about the originals?

Still....

You can't blame the Guzzi for the rotors. The rotors and the calipers are made by Brembo. The fault lies with them.

[kevin_stevens]

I had to replace my original Brembo rotors on the Ballabio at about 12,000 miles. I replaced them with the Brembo "snowflake" rotors and they have been spectacular for the 30,000 miles or so they have on them.

I wonder what it is about the originals?

Still....

You can't blame the Guzzi for the rotors. The rotors and the calipers are made by Brembo. The fault lies with them.

Um, what??  The hell I can't!  The bike was bought entire and complete from *Moto Guzzi*, not as a collection of parts from various vendors.  The brakes are as designed, specified, tested, and accepted by *Moto Guzzi*, after *Moto Guzzi* decided to outsource those components rather than do them in-house.

I still don't believe the initial diagnosis.  Bikes should basically never need new rotors.

KeS

[Orson]

Um, what??  The hell I can't!  

sure ya can  

In Japan, when they screw up, they have to commit hari kari.

In Italy, they just go to a shrouded confession booth to confess their sins  

then it's off to the bar for a bottle of vino  

[kevin_stevens]

sure ya can  

In Japan, when they screw up, they have to commit hari kari.

In Italy, they just go to a shrouded confession booth to confess their sins  

then it's off to the bar for a bottle of vino  

Maybe I've been doing it wrong.  I was raised Catholic, and always taught to take a bottle of wine *INTO* the confessional.  

KeS

[WitchCityBallabio]

Um, what??  The hell I can't!  The bike was bought entire and complete from *Moto Guzzi*, not as a collection of parts from various vendors.  The brakes are as designed, specified, tested, and accepted by *Moto Guzzi*, after *Moto Guzzi* decided to outsource those components rather than do them in-house.

I still don't believe the initial diagnosis.  Bikes should basically never need new rotors.

KeS

Sorry, but most bikes are now a "collection of parts". What manufacturers are making their own brake calipers, rotors, forks, shocks, lights etc? Guzzi may have asked Brembo to build the rotors to a specific spec, but the reality is there are many variables that come into play with fabricating and machining parts like that. It would be difficult for Guzzi or any manufacturer for that matter to guarantee that down the road after a certain amount of miles the spec and tolerances won't change. For the most part, all manufacturers are at the mercy of their parts suppliers.

Perhaps in his case the rotors weren't seasoned properly when first driven. The initial heat cycling is very important for rotor life span.

"Bikes should basically never need new rotors."

LOL. Yeah, maybe if you drive them only on Sundays slowly around town. Any aggressive riding or use of sintered bronze pads will pretty much assure that you will need new rotors eventually. That is if you care at all about keeping your brakes in acceptable tolerances.

[sagerat]

Perhaps in his case the rotors weren't seasoned properly when first driven. The initial heat cycling is very important for rotor life span.

Didn't ride it any differently than any other bike I've ever had.  My rotors on my '02 Interceptor, my '04 GS, my '04 Ural, my '05 KLR, my '82 CB 750F Supersport all seemed to do just fine.  I think I just got a lemon of a Guzzi.  It happens.

[rdbandkab]

Could be the same???
Some aprilia rotors were thought to warp, but when some forum members opened up the little "petals" on the rotor buttons (with a small straight-blade screwdriver), this allowed the rotors to float.  You can give this a try before purchasing new rotors..

http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31289&highlight=rotor+buttons

[sagerat]

Hunh.  Interesting stuff; thanks.

[Orson]

The stock market has gone over 9600. Home sales are up.

You've been avoiding this for too long.

It's time to bring the Breva home  

[sagerat]

Except the garage is now filled with the KLR, the Ural, the stepson's '82 Yamaha XV920R and some similar vintage Yamaha 650 parallel twin, and his four bicycles.  

My Italian beauty with her girl next door appeal may have to remain at Bend Euro Moto, where her full-figured glory will intimidate all those anorexic high-strung Ducati maintenance queens.  

[atadaskew]

My Italian beauty with her girl next door appeal may have to remain at Bend Euro Moto, where her full-figured glory will intimidate all those anorexic high-strung Ducati maintenance queens.  

It would seem that the girl next door is the maintenance queen..
 

[sagerat]

No maintenance, just a few minor tweaks.

[Orson]

I'd almost swear I saw you type that a couple of parade floats take precedence in your garage over the Breva  

 

We can pitch in and buy a tarp to throw over the other bikes  

[sagerat]

I have to admit I've never had a love/hate relationship with any of my bikes or cars until I got the Breva.