V100 Shock Safety Recall

[GTM®]

On August 10, 2023 Piaggio Group Americas notified the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of safety concerns regarding certain 2023 models of Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello and V100 Mandello Aviazione Navale. There is a concern that the rear shock absorber could break. Such a scenario could cause the rider to lose control of the motorcycle, increasing the risk of an accident.
Piaggio Group Americas estimates that approximately 260 motorcycles in the U.S. may be affected by this recall, representing one percent of the total population. Of those, 76 have already been sold to customers, while 184 are still in dealer inventory. Production of the affected motorcycles took place between Oct. 28, 2022, and July 14, 2023. The affected vehicle identification numbers (VIN) range from ZGUMGUA09PM000002 to ZGUMGUA09PM000212, and are not consecutive. The V100 Mandello S model, which has Öhlins suspension components, does not have this problem.

At the heart of the problem are Kayaba rear shocks that do not meet established standards. Some are missing one or, in some cases, both bushings. According to the recall report filed by Piaggio, the use of these non-compliant rear shock absorbers could cause them to twist in their mount, stiffen and break at the lower shock mount.

To date, Piaggio is aware of two cases where this problem has occurred, both in Italy. After identifying and investigating the problem, they presented an update plan on August 4, 2023.

According to the plan submitted to NHTSA, Piaggio will notify dealers on August 22, 2023. At the same time, owners will also be notified on Aug. 22, 2023.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCLRPT-23V572-8991.PDF

 

[TeeTwo]

Thanks for posting this information. It is good to see Piaggio jumping on this issue in the US that emerged in late July on FB.

Here is the Facebook post that documents the two failures. Beware of the crap speculation about the origin of the failure on FB....the OP who had the problem seems to have the best information that comports with Piaggio's response, a bushing missing in the assembly process.

Attached is a PDF of the service alert in Europe (that I am aware of)...

And the OP's arrow indicates the missing part on his failure. I have checked my machine and it appears correctly assembled (though it does look like the outer bushing #8 is reversed on my bike, as perhaps it should be). It is easily visually checked - of course the final say comes from the dealer.



2 weeks in I have just reached 900 miles on my Navale, which is scheduled for the dealership on Thursday...so I will have them check it and report back here, with pictures.

Unfortunately, this stuff happens in a hand assembly setting; I hope a dumb internet $hitstorm isn't the result. IMO Piaggio have done the right thing in a prompt manner, not something that they were noted for in the past (I know, I've been there)....so to them.

This post is meant to inform, not alarm, please take it that way.

As an aside I have just placed an order for the Matris basic monoshock replacement, not because of this issue but because the Kayaba shock is way over-sprung for me, and rides like a brick.

Cheers T2.

 

[BDS]

That’s unfortunate… and, I hope no one gets hurt due to a mishap. But, yes, it’s good to see Piaggio taking responsibility. My V100 falls in the VIN range (I have #00200). But, mine is an S, so for once… lucky me! Heading out on a 4 nite Moto trip this week, so very thankful.

 

[TeeTwo]

The recall VIN range doesn't make sense to me. With 260 units potentially impacted the stated range only accommodates 212 units, unless I'm missing something. My VIN isn't in the range listed - ....GUA19PM... rather than the spec'd ....GUA09PM... but I'm going to have it checked on Thursday. It would be dumb not to, even if I pay for it.

Will report back.

T2

 

[Sapper]

Whilst In for the first service the shock was inspected under the safety recall and not found to be faulty

Dealer was about to contact me to bring the bike in anyway, so it seems that Piaggio are on top of this.Well done to them

 

[TeeTwo]

Piaggio have now uploaded the US VIN's impacted by the recall, it can be checked here Piaggio Recall Check ...my VIN is included (see post #5 above), though it doesn't precisely match the NHTSA filing VIN's noted by GTM.

T2

 

[kildareman]

The recall VIN range doesn't make sense to me. With 260 units potentially impacted the stated range only accommodates 212 units, unless I'm missing something. My VIN isn't in the range listed - ....GUA19PM... rather than the spec'd ....GUA09PM... but I'm going to have it checked on Thursday. It would be dumb not to, even if I pay for it.

Will report back.

T2

It means they know that the effected 260 units fall within that number set. They don't know specifically the vin of the bikes effected.

 

[TeeTwo]

My V100 Navale rear shock was inspected under the recall and found to be in specification/properly assembled. Now with a center stand fitted I can take decent pictures and share them as an FYI.

Attached is the view from above - the outer bush (bottom of the picture) provides wide clearance to the mounting point, the inner bush has much tighter tolerance to the mount point. It does seem like the outer bush is fitted differently than shown in the exploded diagram in the earlier post; with the larger diameter face mounted to the eye of the shock.



On the wheel side there is a bushing inserted, prior to the flanged nut, as shown in the exploded view.



It would seem that the failure occurs if one or both of the bushings inboard of the shock eye are missing, which would allow interference of the shock eye directly with the frame, causing binding (hence the comment about a rough ride) and eventually failure.

Just for reference I put a feeler gauge on my assembly on the inboard gap, shown. There was initial light drag/interference at 0.9mm.



I surmised with my dealer that perhaps all V100 with Kayaba shocks imported into the US were in scope of the recall. It was neither confirmed nor denied, though met with a smile.

Information not recommendation of course, but I hope it helpful if your dealer is further than the 20 miles I had to ride.

Cheers T2

 

[JPC56]

I may be wrong but on my V100 the two bushes seem to fit on the inboard swing arm mount. The fixing bolt fits through the outboard swing arm mount then the shock mounting eye then the two bushes in the inboard swing arm mount. The cap head bolt has a longer head than normal and is a close fit in the outboard swing arm mount. I got my letter advising me to get it checked yesterday. I went to the dealer today and it took a technician all of 30 seconds to declare it correct. For those who want to check for themselves here's what you need to do. First make sure the lower mounting looks just like TeeTwo's images then check that the upper mounting caphead bolt is flush with the frame mounting and finally grasp the shock and twist it longitudinally left and right' it should freely move a few degrees each way.

 

[TeeTwo]

I may be wrong but on my V100 the two bushes seem to fit on the inboard swing arm mount. The fixing bolt fits through the outboard swing arm mount then the shock mounting eye then the two bushes in the inboard swing arm mount. The cap head bolt has a longer head than normal and is a close fit in the outboard swing arm mount. I got my letter advising me to get it checked yesterday.

JPC56, you are entirely correct about the rear cap head bolt, it is longer than normal, as shown in the picture below,



It was obvious when I replaced the Kayaba shock.

When taking the Kayaba out of the frame two of the bushings fell out (which are both sides of the shock eyes, top and bottom). I now better understand how this could have presented issues in assembly that led to failures and the recall.

The Matris shock that replaced it did not have that issue/design. At the rear I just dropped the Matris shock eye into the swing arm, pushed the bolt through the eye and then through the bushings on either side of the inboard mount (which seemed to be friction fitted) and threaded the nut.

T2.