Hi from Sunny South Wales

Just purchased my first ever Guzzi 2008 GRiSO 8v. Only 2900 miles from new but downside is it has not been rollerised. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

We'll get onto it fast before it has a chance to damage itself.

Welcome! That's a good find.

As well as the Rollers, don't forget to check swingarm bearings and shock linkages. Grease is not the word in Mandello.

Welcome to the forum!  That is a beautiful GRiSO.  I didn't know the early 8V's came in black.  And I spot a few nice goodies (rotors, exhaust, passenger handles).  Get it rollerised and you will enjoy many years of GRiSO-ownership.

There are advantages to a 2008/9 bike. Although of course it's subject to the flat tappet fiasco issues and will probably be noisier than a later model because they hadn't learnt how to build 'em yet you do get the steel oil pump gear rather than plastic, (Although the plastic ones don't seem to cause any problems as a rule.) and the early bevelboxes don't seem as prone to loosing the preload on the bevelbox pinion. No idea why?

Anyway, a 'B' kit and the other bits to fix it isn't too expensive. The heads will have to come off but it's really not a big deal. Hopefully with such low mileage even a bike in pommyland won't of had a chance to completely destroy its swingarm bearings and shock linkage bearings so if they are got to early they may be salvageable.

Thanks for the welcome. The tappets fiasco did almost make me run. However I have always wanted a Guzzi and really enjoyed the test ride so deal was done. Now just need to get the known issues sorted and use the bike. It did 2000 miles in first year then 900 in following 14.

Once rollerised and the usual suspects attended to, it will be practically bulletproof and give many years and miles of grins.

Welcome Yogi
Looks lovely

As said above get it rollerised before enjoying this summer I know1 its a bloody pain! but if you ride it with the flat tappets the little bits of metal that will circulate through the engine apparently can get through the filter and still destroy mains and big ends. Sorry.

If you need suspension links i have a second hand pair with (visibly) good bearings, seals and sleeves on the shelf.

welcome Yogi!
that is a handsome GRiSO - get it sorted and enjoy

Luckily I work abroad so it will be fixed when I go back to work. I thought I'd need a C Kit however Pete above mentioned B Kit. As I have read Pete's posts I realise he knows far more than me about this, but would like to be sure before spending.

If you read what I have written on this issue you'll find you can buy a 'B' kit, plus's all the bits needed to make it into a 'C' kit for a considerable saving over the 'c' kit in most markets.

Welcome to the Ghetto, Yogi!

Pete (Street)

Pete Roper wrote:

If you read what I have written on this issue you'll find you can buy a 'B' kit, plus's all the bits needed to make it into a 'C' kit for a considerable saving over the 'c' kit in most markets.

That’s good to know thanks. What is the approximate cost of a B plus bits compared to a C?
Welcome to the forum

Send me an email and I'll send you figures. Biggest issue is all the stupid enfuckment caused by Brexit.

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Pete Roper wrote:

There are advantages to a 2008/9 bike. Although of course it's subject to the flat tappet fiasco issues and will probably be noisier than a later model because they hadn't learnt how to build 'em yet you do get the steel oil pump gear rather than plastic, (Although the plastic ones don't seem to cause any problems as a rule.) and the early bevelboxes don't seem as prone to loosing the preload on the bevelbox pinion. No idea why?

Anyway, a 'B' kit and the other bits to fix it isn't too expensive. The heads will have to come off but it's really not a big deal. Hopefully with such low mileage even a bike in pommyland won't of had a chance to completely destroy its swingarm bearings and shock linkage bearings so if they are got to early they may be salvageable.

Interesting regarding the 08/09 vs later motors. Did not know that. Is that all 09’s, or was it a mid year transition? (I’m a new owner of an 09 with a c-kit conversion)

Once rollerized, other than noise, and the points raised here, you feel they are all equally robust?

Basically they're pretty much bulletproof. Like any machine they have their strong and weak points but really the overall CARC package is pretty tough.

To my mind the biggest *Issue* with them in an ongoing sense is the swingarm bearings and shock linkage bearings. Quite simply they aren't a brilliant design and are prone to water intrusion and rust damage. All it takes is regular maintenance and this becomes a virtual non-issue and in all honesty the CARC bikes are far from isolated in this regard. Many, many machines with rising rate linkages suffer from the same problems or worse and I know for a fact that there are large numbers of bikes out therefrom a plethora of manufacturers who's swingarm bearings are seized or a filigree of rust!

Ideally you'd do as Doc has and install grease nipples in your linkages but the reality is if you pull the swingarm every couple of years to check and re-pack the swingarm bearings re-greasing the linkage bearings as well adds little in the way of time or effort to the chore.