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2015 Moto Guzzi California Touring

Laurent Arams

Just got it firing!
Joined
Mar 27, 2015
Messages
3
Location
Canada
Hello All,
I'm looking for some advice and appreciate any help.
Let me start by first stating I love my Moto Guzzi California Touring, this is why I'm so infuriated with Moto Guzzi as a company.

A bit of background for you, as the title explains, I've now owned 3 Moto Guzzi Californias. Two have been 2013s ( and I will not talk about the multiple issues I've had with them, as I no longer own them )and my most recent is a 2015.
I've had quite a few issues with the bikes. The 2015 has had a full wiring harness replaced as it would die periodically for no reason without pattern nor warning. It also has had multiple sensors replaced, the tires were weather checked from the day I bought the bike and I had to pay to have them replaced. I found this fact out at my 1000km checkup at the dealer, that sold me the bike.

The issue I've had from the start is I can not get full throttle out of the bike, If I try to wring it out, I get what sounds like detonation and "pinging" I brought it back to the dealer for the 1000kms service and made mention of this issue. The dealer whom is no longer in business after 34 years, told me they could update the fuel map. That didn't work, brought the bike back, they tried adjusting valves, that didn't work, brought the bike back they said they would try reflashing the fuel map, that didn't work, on and on and on and on. The issue has never been fixed and while trying to address the ongoing issues, dealing with Moto Guzzi was a nightmare. Moto Guzzi would put the dealer in the middle and round and round we went. Moto Guzzi passing the buck and not taking any responsibility the the detonation issue. They did fix the sensor issues and the wiring harness issue. I give them credit for that.

I should mention that all this work had been done under warranty, but the detonation and "pinging" issue has never been resolved. Talking with Moto Guzzi they said the dealer never mentioned or put on file that I was having these detonation issues. They said I would need to contact the dealer and get any servie paperwork I could to prove that I was having issues during the warranty period. I informed them that the business is now closed and I couldn't get that information, Moto Guzzi then proceeded to tell me that there wasn't anything more they could do for me. I mentioned that there has been substantial issues with the bike since day one and Moto Guzzi justified it by saying we fixed some issues.

I should mention that I've had the bike for 4 years, it only has 18,000kms + and it has been correctly maintained throughout.

It's to the point that I can rev the engine without causing detonation or "pinging while the bike is under load or climbing a hill or riding against a strong wind. I brought the bike to another dearlership that now sells the Moto Guzzi brand and they could not resolve the issues either. They said that the Moto Guzzi specialist that ran some sort of software remotely on my bike said the detonation and pinging could be caused my bad injectors or a weak fuel pump. The dealer would only continue to diagnose and fix the problem on my dime. I told them to talk to Moto Guzzi , whom said they could not help me as I'm no longer in warranty!

I should add that I've used the recommended octane of fuel required of the bike and even much higher octane fuel as well. It made no difference.

Anyone else have any kind of issues like this or similar?

I've been contemplating getting the power commander V and the AT-300 kit but am hesitant on spending another $2000 cnd on this bike.

Anyone?
 
This sounds so frustrating for you. I have a 2013 Touring, running the PC-V and AT-300 kit. It is excellent. However, your bike has a problem which has not been resolved. The PC-V kit would be OK to install on a bike operating within spec. It sounds like your issues need to be resolved first. I wish I had something useful to offer.

Stephen
 
Have the heads been off to check out the combustion chambers?
Sounds like excessive compression, or improper valve timing for some reason.
Maybe run a compression test on it.
 
I feel your pain! My 2016 Eldorado has had nothing but electrical problems. Found out my dealer also did not order all warranty parts correctly, that's why it takes any part three to four months to come in. I managed about 400 miles before the service light came on again! I love riding this bike but I am at the point where I can no longer trust her to be reliable for me. After the holidays she goes up for sale and if no takers I'll bite the bullet and trade her in. This just sucks!
 
Hello Rob, I just can’t believe that a major and one of the longest running motorcycle manufacturers in the world, would not step up to lend a hand. Or do anything for their customers.

it seems like you’ve had your fair share of frustrations with Guzzi and also with your dealership. Me as well. Mines for sale. I was going to put the fueling kit on it, but it seems like there might be more wrong with by the sounds of it. Too much time and money wasted on a bike that never ran right from the day I picked it up. The dealership always saying it needed to be broken in, or the 800km service needed to be done then it was the valves needed to be adjusted. Never correcting any of the problems. Good bye Moto Guzzi. Too bad I loved the brand and the California.
 
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