I am an ex-Guzzi owner (Spada 1000 SP) and have recently owned a BMW 1250RS. This last bike was wiped out by a large tree branch falling on me while riding along minding my own business and very nearly killing me in the process! I was going to get another BMW (my last one was superb) but am very tempted to get a V100 Mandello S instead and would very much appreciate some advice.
I have been very impressed by Andy May’s posts and some of the other correspondence re. greasing of bearings and shafts. Does anyone have any ideas as to how common this is? I am a competent mechanic but really don’t want to buy a new bike and then dismantle it to compensate for faulty factory assembly issues! I have done too much of this in the past and had hoped those days were over!
I am short of leg and would need to get a low seat, and so have been alarmed by reading of reports that the ‘low’ seat is actually just the same as the standard. Does anyone have any personal knowledge on this?
As far as I can ascertain, the Mandello S is a superb bike (I have not yet had a test ride) but issues such as those above do concern me. Advice would be much appreciated!
I don’t own a Mandello but my Stelvio bought new in mid 2024 has had some assembly quality issues. Ultimately you’d need to take a leap of faith but perhaps the hypothesis that poor quality has been partially as a result of factory relocation and short term hiring practices might be supportive.
Of course I think we all know that assembly issues predate the factory move, but it might be reasonable to expect improvement with local workers in their higher-tech new home. (Please?)
Thanks Barney. I hope that you are right! However, I will almost certainly buy a second-hand bike and therefore it will be from before the relocation .
I have a dealer only about 30 miles away (Mototechnics in Stowmarket, Suffolk) and having visited them, they seem OK and with an experienced workshop. As for warranty, I don’t know yet but will probably buy from a dealer, so this is likely. Mototechnics say that they have come across bearings and splines with no grease on them but only occasionally. They also said that the ‘low’ seat is almost the same height as the standard, so if I think it necessary, I will investigate lowering the bike with a shorter rear shock spring and a lowered front.
9732 miles so far on a V100S, and none of the above issues, you have to weigh up the fact that if someone has no problems with their bike then they probably won’t put a post out saying ‘’ wow, no problems !!!‘’ whereas you’ve more of a chance if someone has a problem they’re more inclined to talk about it
Spoke today to Frazers Gloucester as I live about 1/2 a mile away and as a Guzzi fan love the V100 particularly the new grey colour. I has heard of engine blow ups the salesman said out of all they have sold one blew up cause a collapsed oil filter which is not really a Guzzi fault ? The only thing that puts me off is price/ depreciation considering the CB1000GT is £12K with panniers etc etc and 6 years warranty, so heart Guzzi head Honda
I asked Chat gpt they came up with a comprehensive reply there are some concerns particularly early models but not an overall question mark over reliability
Honda have had their problems with the CB1000 using oil. Hopefully sorted now. Time will tell. You can buy additional 2 years warranty on a new Guzzi. It depends how long you keep your bikes
Thanks for the replies. Yes, all bikes have their weak points I think, including BMW who have also had occasional no grease put on head bearings and final drive splines, both known problems. Quite disgraceful when the task costs a minute or so and a few pennies in grease. BMW had so many problems that they have offered a free new final drive as a matter of course after a certain mileage. Grease would have been cheaper!
In the past, I have been a high mileage rider and have put around 100,00 miles on several bikes. I have also done all my maintenance except on my last bike, a BMW R1250RS that was destroyed six weeks ago when a tree branch fell on me when I was riding it! Yes really! My replacement choice is between another BMW or, perhaps a Guzzi. The BMW was superb and of course, a known quantity but possibly less exciting than the Guzzi. When I have managed to have a test ride on one (after my broken leg has mended itself), I will decide. These days, my riding is less primary transport and more leisure orientated, so I can afford to be more self-indulgent!
Therein lies the problem. You can’t tell whether the splines or bearings have been greased on assembly without taking the rear drive and head bearings apart!