Moto Guzzi Strada R.I.P. ?

[noobRider]

Setting out this morning for Oxford from Somerset, just got onto the A303 and I opened it up and I heard a small "knocking" noise and felt a small vibe, especially when throttling off. Stopped to have a look and couldn't see anything but thought I'd better abandon going to Oxford and gently head back home. Got to about 5 miles from home and suddenly BANG, the rear wheel jumped, and I was left free-wheeling down a long hill. Engine sounded fine but no drive.

At the bottom of the hill:
https://i.imgur.com/Vb3eWBU.jpg

There's a huge hole between the gearbox and the shaft drive.
https://i.imgur.com/R0izK4i.jpg

The universal joint on the drive shaft has exploded it's way through the casing. I've got it to my local bike shop to see how much to fix it. This might be the end of the old girl. It was turning into such a beautiful day too
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Licence: Nov 2012, Bikes: Suzuki GN125, Moto Guzzi Strada 750, Triumph Sprint ST 955i x 2
AnPhonEh: I need plans, I need contingency plans also, I need back up contingency plans

[Shaft]

Is that a smashed main casing, or just an extension housing?

From what I can gather, UJ failure isn't uncommon, so it's a fair bet that parts are stockpiled by specialists.

The rest of the bike looks too good to scrap, even if it means sourcing a complete used motor.
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[Kickstart]

Hi

Are they down as a service item (they were on some Guzzis in some markets - remember reading an article complaining about the cost of this service item every 16000km or so in an Aus magazine).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Shaft]

*Additional* I should stress, it's a very long time since I last looked at one of these, but I think the UJ is in a bolt on housing that isn't part of the main engine case.

The give away is the join and socket head bolt I've highlighted

https://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/zedheadchap/R0izK4i.jpg


Could be a bit of labour time involved, but you might be lucky with parts costs, if secondhand parts can be had.
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[Kickstart]

Hi

Looking round I found an online parts list of a (I think) similar engine.

https://www.harpermoto.com/parts-by-motorcycle/1990-2000-moto-guzzi-motorcycles/v-75-pa-nuovo-tipo-750-1996-2001/transmission-cage-en-v75-nuovo.html

Looks like it is a rear casing on the gearbox.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[hmmmnz]

its much like the modern bmws the shaft drive uni's have to be replaced periodically, because of them snapping or wearing,
the older ones didnt because they are submerged in oil,
you'll need a new arm and atleast the universal joint,
not the end of a bike by any means, but, could be expensive
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[noobRider]

It looked pretty bad at first but it is a bolt on casing for the UJ. I couldn't see if there was damage further up inside. I'm hoping it won't need a new arm but it probably will. It does look costly.

Thanks for the link Kickstart.
____________________
Licence: Nov 2012, Bikes: Suzuki GN125, Moto Guzzi Strada 750, Triumph Sprint ST 955i x 2
AnPhonEh: I need plans, I need contingency plans also, I need back up contingency plans

[_mjs_]

[noobRider]

So far it's looking like:
Replacement swing arm (a whole chunk was blasted out the bottom)
New U/J
New cover
Replacement drive arm & housing
Hopefully the drive from the gearbox is ok

£600 in parts alone, some of them used, to fix a 20 year old bike
____________________
Licence: Nov 2012, Bikes: Suzuki GN125, Moto Guzzi Strada 750, Triumph Sprint ST 955i x 2
AnPhonEh: I need plans, I need contingency plans also, I need back up contingency plans

[Shaft]

Forget about the age of the bike, it's more to do with how much you like it, the overall condition and how much you would have to spend on a worthwhile replacement.

If the rest of the bike is solid, you now know about a major weak point and what to do about stopping it from happening again, so you shouldn't encounter that problem in the future.

I remember reading your thread from when you bought it and you clearly like it, you also know you aren't going to find another one in a hurry, so what's the alternative and how much do you think it would cost to find a bike that isn't likely to give you another big bill?

From a practical point of view, it might make sense to go with a 'better the devil you know' approach, plus if you don't fix it, it's worth the sum of eff all, so you've done everything you've ever spent on it.

Being a nostalgia freak, I would also be swayed by the rarity value, there's nothing like pulling up at a meet, knowing you aren't likely to see another one.
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[Kickstart]

Hi

When you fix it can you put a gaiter over the UJ somehow to protect it?

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Shaft]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Think the service schedule says to replace the UJ fairly regularly (although probably largely butt covering on the part of Moto Guzzi).

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[noobRider]

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

OT I know, but what's that really rusty bit?? Corrosion's definitely got its teeth into that by the looks.
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[331X2]

What's the cost of the parts individually if you don't mind me asking? Any chance the UJ is of standard dimensions that you could pick up from an engineering supplier?

I'm assuming the bulk of the cost is the second hand casings?

[noobRider]

[331X2]

This thread on another forum makes reference to the UJ's possibly being a standard part, the bloke is based in NZ but it might be worth a little more investigation.

Are you planing on getting it stripped any time soon? You need to fix it, it's too pretty to die

[stevo as b4]

Agreed! She might be 20years old, but it's still a very good looking bike, and it must be put back on the road, even if you have to wait a while to afford it/sort out spares.

It's in very good condition, much better than many 5year old daily ridden machines!

[P.]

In agreement with Shaft re the age/rarity of it and fixing it will probably keep you from buying another generic bike

Although, £600 will buy you a dog of a bike rather than fixing your old girl, but I'm sure you know what one you want

[Teflon-Mike]

20 years old is young for a Guzzi.
Personally, little doubt, even at £600 initial estimate, with the 'double the time, double the money and add a bit when you start lifting spanners to it' expectation of the reality, I'd still be trying to sort it myself, if it were mine... which it wouldn't be... braunstonite I share bed with would have nickedit... though undoubtedly I'd still be the one trying to fix it!

On which topic... I REALLY think you ought to fix it up yourself.
You bought it. You broke it. Its your duty to put the old girl back in order. Remember, you don't 'own' an Italian motorcycle, you merely have the privilege of paying for their upkeep!

And besides; Snowie is still looking for a Small-block Guzzi 'Project'... or in other words, more scrap to keep me up to my armpits in EP90!
And if you advertise it 'spares or repairs' she WILL find it! And I wont hear the last of it! She actually went and had a look at a V65C last week, and I was dreading what she might bring home! Three years, now, she's been looking, and she's almost as desperate for a lost cause, as I am to keep finding new reasons not to give one house-space!

However, if its any help; you MIGHT be able to get the arm and housing rebuilt with ali weld. Been a few years, but when we had the V35; 3&1/3 and 350SS in the 'fleet'; I was introduced to a bloke that had similar perversion for Wops and was an master of molten metal; had to take him one of the pistons for the Morini, which he crafted a new dished crown for, ISTR, but seem to remember he did cases and arms and well, pretty much anything that was hard to get and other wise nie on beyond economical replacement. Curiousely, my uncle discovered him after smashing up a microlite and having to get spars repaired; fixing light aircraft was his 'main' business; which might be a lead to follow up to find similar specialist.
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[_Iain_]

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Dont normally pos in here but that bike looks far too good and interesting to get rid of! Fix it.
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[anthony_r6]

[noobRider]

Teflon-Mike is right. I do feel responsible for her and she deserves to be on the road. I've had parts from Gutsibits before and that's where these quotes came from. I'm probably going to get her fixed up, although I've got negative money right now.

If Snowie is desperate for a small Guzzi I might pass her on. I have been thinking about getting something with a bit more oomph.
____________________
Licence: Nov 2012, Bikes: Suzuki GN125, Moto Guzzi Strada 750, Triumph Sprint ST 955i x 2
AnPhonEh: I need plans, I need contingency plans also, I need back up contingency plans