What did you do with your GRiSO today?

I rode the GRiSO to a close by Triumph dealer was able to test ride the new Triumphs,  Speed Twin, and Scrambler.  Nice bikes but wouldn't trade the GRiSO for either.  

I offered the owner a ride on the GRiSO. He took me up on it. He came back smiling. His first GRiSO ride.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Day off work yesterday, Friday, so I went out for bit of a ride.
I've been poking around Brown County, south central Indiana, for a couple years now and finally
strung together a few of the nicer roads into a nice loop. About 200 miles from start to finish.
Average speed 45, top speed 100, average fuel 42mpg, per onboard data collection.

Today, RAIN.

Sorry, no pictures. Maybe next time

Valve clearance check. First time I have done it myself following the thread on this forum. Fairly easy job and has transformed the sound of the bike, for the better. From the service history, were last done at 14k miles, I have just touched 25k miles, so left it a little longer than I should have, but having done the job, will ensure these are checked at the right intervals.

Futzed with the blow-by return line. Pushed GRiSO outside the garage to start it and check for..oil leaks? Odd noises? Explosions? Not sure. None of the above occurred.

I then rode it 3 metres back into the garage.


That counts, doesn't it?

Finally took the GRiSO for an extended run through the mountains near home to test out the new suspension - nitron 22mm fork inserts and wilbers shock. It was sent up from Suspensions r us in victoria set up to what are supposed to be optimum for my weight and riding.
Well... spot on, the ride now is perfect. First thing that I am still getting used to is the complete confidence it gives through corners when you hit bumps. It holds the line true and stable, something it didn't before. For half the ride, I was thinking this is too good to be true that they were able to get this precisely right. I really need to learn the dark art of Suspension tuning.
To start, I wasn't quite sold on the nitron forks as they are now separate sides for compression and rebound like the V11 and I thought it was a step backwards considering that the original forks were combined, but the proof was in the riding and the point is moot now.

A couple of issues came up though - not suspension related.
The GRiSO oftens does not want to start when the button is pushed. Just clicks and won't even turn over. When it does this the dash basically restarts. Turn off and try again, boom, straight away.
Gotta check earth, battery and what else? relays? Anyone know where the earth strap is fixed on the engine/frame?


The other issue is the breather on the left side head is leaking. It had a heap of gasket goo from the previous owner and an old crappy o-ring which I replaced thinking it would fix it, but need to check for cracks I guess. annoying. I'm thinking I may machine up some aluminium parts to replace the plastic if its got a crack or damaged in some way.

Main ground is just above the starter. Often loose and/or corroded. Remove starter cover to access.

The breather hoses wither and crack. Likely a replacement is required.

Hey knumbnutz, check out the "startus interuptus" thread, for future reference.

Also the earth lead is attached by a little piss ant M5 button head screw. My bike kept giving 'bad earth' fault codes for everything until i drilled the eyelet out to 8mm and stuck it on one of the M8 crankcase/gearbox mounts.

Thanks.. some home work for the week ahead

So what do you do when you are drunk at the International Moto Guzzi Treffen in Holland, talking to another GRiSO owner, who is also drunk … right, you gonna have a look if your bike is really rollerized like the dealer said ….

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

He also told me there is a 12 volt plug hidden behind the little fairing... good to know

Did the plug wire cap swap with the new NGK caps. Easy as Pie. Then went on a 275 miler thru upstate Vermont farm country. So Beautiful!! No Issues at all. I have noticed that my mpg's are getting better, the more miles she gets on her.

I just sat on the GRiSO for a while today.

I do that most days when I don't ride. It looks and feels damn good and takes my mind off shit like my kids growin up too fast and my Dad's fucking cancer.

I’m sorry to hear about your Dad!!! I’ve been through the misery that is watching a very close loved one overcome by the horrible disease. Thoughts are with you and your family! I also have 3 x 20 somethings way too comfortable living at home. Downsizing in 18 months should solve that

I’m glad to hear I'm not the only one that finds joy and sometimes solace in just sitting on the bike in the garage, often when the rest of the family are watching mindless crap on the TV. Often a glass of red (or 2) as pillion.

Thanks Dogfather.  BTW I think sitting on your bike while static to feed the soul is a thing!

I feel for you Pisano, I am in a similar place. My Dad doesn't have cancer any more, it was removed surgically a few years ago. However his body is failing him - hell he will be 96 if he gets there, next month. Watching him deteriorate very quickly is saddening, but it's been a good journey.

He and Mum still live at home (she'll be 91 later in the year) and my elder sister has moved in to assist.

I have been writing his eulogy over the last few nights and I do believe there might be the odd speck of dust in the eye. Last night was pretty bad, so I went down stairs and started putting my alternator back in the bike. I found this very therapeutic and didn't think of other things while doing what I was doing. I didn't sit on the bike, but I daydream often of me riding it somewhere where everything flows and the corners are taken well.

Keep your head up mate, there are still a lot of positives in life...

Feeling the pain for both of you. My Dad still had his boots on every day till 89 and a half. To Dad, every day in the shed was a good day, and I have many fond memories of spending time in the shed with him.

My best to all of you who've lost loved ones and that includes every one of us here. I lost a sister, my best bud, to cancer at 15 and my dad two weeks shy of his 63rd birthday. I just entered my sixties a few weeks ago and it's really messing with my head. Pretty sure I'll live longer than Dad, he didn't have a GRiSO to sit on in the garage.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Weary from the torment of my inner demons, I set forth for a restful perambulation astride my motor bicycle. Hither & yon did I venture, merrily.

Just got mine running - found a 30 A fuse blown - spare went in and all good. My son arrives tomorrow and I may have lent him my car, so good timing. Added an extra cable loom (really short, < 50 mm) into the headlight cable. Took the Hi beam output back to the driving lights so that now complies with ADRs.

I too ventured out for a tootle, albeit in the rain... well, I dodged 96% of the shower activity and had much fun on the wet roads over the mountain!!
T'was glorious.
I love my bike.

beetle wrote:

Weary from the torment of my inner demons, I set forth for a restful perambulation astride my motor bicycle. Hither & yon did I venture, merrily.

Any immediately obvious signs of excessive oil use?

No. It's only been 100km.

OK, so not a definitive test?

Nope.

Installed the lightech rear fender eliminator. A nice unit, came with a little LED plate and brake light. Getting ready to install new shoes, the Pirelli Demons are hard, old, cracking in the treads. I had bought a set of Dunlop Road Smart 2's for the Norge, but as I traded it for the MGX before putting the new tires on it, is a bonus/budget saving! (oh how we rationalize)

Before - Baby's got back....
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

After - Baby dont got back, but still has it....
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Fellow Dutch GRiSO rider had some nice levers on his bike. German build, 100 euro a set and you can select the colors etc. Nice. May solve some of the pins and needles

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]