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What is the real story on T5 bad handling?

Hawghauler

Hawghauler

Cruisin' Guzzisti
Joined
Mar 12, 2016
Messages
133
Location
Florida/Dubai
I have read here the T5 with 16" rims can have adverse handling, steering wobble, 2 wheel Parkinson's disease and everything other lurgy known to man. I have also heard if it is well maintained and with good tires it is a sweet little bike. As I have never ridden mine or any other T5 for that matter, and it is in the shop now, I will ride it as is and judge for myself certainly. I read forum threads about changing out the steering stem bearings and adding steering dampeners. Some said to change the stem bearings every 5K which seems extreme to me. What would you consider a good option right up front to do to the 1985 T5 with 12K on the clock as a handling improvement that is tried and tested? It is currently at the dealers and will be getting new shocks and fork springs as they are original and I am assuming time has weakened them. It was suggested to me to install Metzler laser tech tires as a good handling tire which is okay with me and the only testimonial I have received to date. Should the stem bearing be replaced as preventive maintenance? Should I add a steering damper as a guaranteed improvement? I won't be home for months and I am not overly worried about cost. I do plan to let my son use this bike as a starter bike for him and to keep it exercised and I don't want to have a new rider straddling a mechanical bull. He is a very conservative risk averse driver who will probably not exceed speed limit, nothing at all like his old man who likes to ride and drive hard.
 
The 16 inch tires can be an issue. Hard to find good tires in that size. If it is a little twitchy, lower the for tubes in the triple clamps (raise the triple clamps) if you can. That will increase the trail adding stability.
 
there are 4 flavours of t5..

the mk1 with 16" front and rear wheels and short head stock frame is lethal ( I survived one, broke it for spares after 4 years to make sure it was gone) head shake , wobble, and dropping violently into corners.

mk2 and mk3 have 16 inch front and 18" rear are much nicer but still have quick steering and drop into corners

mk4 / policia are lovely, have the mille gt frame , 40mm forks and ride like a t3/4

Avon do range of modern 'roadrider' tyres that work well on the t5 16" wheels.
 
i love me 16 inch wheels bike handles good just lacks ground clearance i have put mine on track and it was fine once i fitted some new rear shocks . Enjoy
 
Johnno, that is good to hear. The only thing I primarily read is from the naysayers. Tiny wheels surely have their quirks, but I have managed to keep Honda scooters upright year after year while riding two up through the hilly twisties in Thailand with a belly full of Singha beer so perhaps I'll be able to wrestle a T5 around New England once a year. Chances are I will be fairly tame on the bike while I am there anyway. I am not prone road rally racing and I am not Mert Lawwill. I will open it up on the open road.
 
Johnno is a guzzi test pilot ;-)

The early t5 mk1 with 16" at both ends is has the short head stock narrow yokes and would need to have a spada etc front wheel machined down to make the disks fit into the width available in the forks and a new swing arm to except the increased diameter of the 18"


I amassed all the parts to investigate the possibility of fitting a pair of 18 wheels to mine. After machining the front disks mounts down about 10mm on each side of the wheel I stopped as there was so little thread left i felt the disk mounts would be dangerous
 
Thanks, I'll run it stock for now. Riding it will a good tattle tale. Like I said, I won't be trying for land speed records through the turns, I'll be using it to scoot around New England to visit friends. I could have bought a car to keep there for my infrequent visits, but that seemed mundane as hell.
 
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