This post significantly improved due to advice from @royston A few days ago i started getting poor down-changes because the gear lever was stiffening up (Mine is a 2022 e5 model).
To check this; undo the Allen bolt on the lever pivot while holding the 13mm Stover (self locking) nut behind the lever mount. It is very close to the centre stand so i used an open ended spanner.
Remove the thick washer on one side of the lever pivot then remove the steel top-hat bush from inside the gear lever. There is an “O” ring around the top-hat bush on both sides sitting in the recess before the gear lever bush! On mine the top hat bush had started to corrode and was jamming in the bush. Sanded corrosion off the top-hat bush (1200 wet & dry paper with WD40 gives a nice finish). Greased and re-assembled.
Found the same on brake side! The disassembly was the same but slower as the fork-clip pin that connects the lever to the operating rod was seized to the lever! Nb Guzzi use a rubber “0” ring around the clip on the “fork clip” to secure it, so it wont come off until you move that.
The ride? - just 100 ml around Gloucs and Wilts, only one shallow flood at Lyneham