caustis
06-22-2008, 02:58 AM
The following is a copy of a post I placed on the MV forum, about problems I had in getting my Brutale serviced satisfactorily:
Sorry if this is a bit of a long post.
Haven't posted for a while; because I wanted to solve my particular problem, rather than just whinge about it.
I'm not particularly mechanically minded; prefer to leave that to the experts. Changing levers is about as far into the bike as I get.
Before 6000km service, took the Brutale on a 4000km trip to the Superbikes at Philip Island, over 10 days. The bike ran OK; but very rich - so much so that it belched unburnt fuel and sometimes black smoke out the back. On the track day after the Superbikes; she just didn't seem to have that final oomph; or maybe it was just my riding.
When I got back, it was well overdue for a service, so I took it to another dealer, explaining that it was running too rich. (I wasn't particularly happy with the first dealer, anyway). But after getting the bike back; it ran like a dog, spluttering and coughing, and it stalled 5 times before I even got it home. Worst of all, the Bike stalled on me once in 2nd gear (fortunately, I was about to change down, and had my fingers on the clutch). Didn't exactly fill me with confidence. So I took it back, and they were OK about it, asking me to leave it with them (this is the biggest MV dealer in the country). They had even sent their mechanic up to the importers for instruction on using the diagnostic equipment.
But after another 2 days, they gave up. They couldn't get the diagnostics to 'talk to' the chip in the bike, and had got it running as best they could. They were apologetic about it, and didn't charge me, even for the consumables and plugs, and suggested I take it back to where I bought it, and have them look at it.
Now at least it didn't stall; but worse, it was surging and fading at high revs. Not only annoying, but friggin' dangerous in the twisties. The original dealers didn't want to know; sure; they'd fix it at a price, but it wasn't a warranty thing because someone else had worked on it (where did they get THAT friggin' idea from?); and they were booked solid for the next 6 weeks, anyway.
In a strange twist of fate, their shop caught fire before I had a chance to take my bike there anyway. Then everything changed. Asking around, there were a few other MV riders who weren't happy with getting their bikes serviced in Sydney; and I was pointed in the direction of a dealer out of town. So one wet and miserable day, I took the bike up the Central coast, and then road it back in even worse weather that night. THEY didn't have any problem tuning the bike at all; or getting the diagnostics to 'talk'.
I was prepared to be disappointed, based on past experience, but by the time I got home I knew it was different. I've been on two 1000km trips since; and the bike is now totally different, almost like a new bike. No stalling (OK, it 'stopped' a couple of times waiting at the lights) and best of all, smooooth (if you can describe a Brutale as being smooth) at high revs. It is now a joy to ride, and doesn't belch fumes.
Only trouble is that I'll have to 'learn' to ride it again - it was never so resposive before. I've come to the conclusion that it was never tuned properly at all, since I had the high performance headers fitted.
SO, as I said to someone - "It's not what you know, or even who you know, but who you know who knows what they're doing that counts".
I know there have been a few threads about the Brutale stalling; but you can take it from me that it's not the bike's fault, provided it is tuned properly.
Sorry if this is a bit of a long post.
Haven't posted for a while; because I wanted to solve my particular problem, rather than just whinge about it.
I'm not particularly mechanically minded; prefer to leave that to the experts. Changing levers is about as far into the bike as I get.
Before 6000km service, took the Brutale on a 4000km trip to the Superbikes at Philip Island, over 10 days. The bike ran OK; but very rich - so much so that it belched unburnt fuel and sometimes black smoke out the back. On the track day after the Superbikes; she just didn't seem to have that final oomph; or maybe it was just my riding.
When I got back, it was well overdue for a service, so I took it to another dealer, explaining that it was running too rich. (I wasn't particularly happy with the first dealer, anyway). But after getting the bike back; it ran like a dog, spluttering and coughing, and it stalled 5 times before I even got it home. Worst of all, the Bike stalled on me once in 2nd gear (fortunately, I was about to change down, and had my fingers on the clutch). Didn't exactly fill me with confidence. So I took it back, and they were OK about it, asking me to leave it with them (this is the biggest MV dealer in the country). They had even sent their mechanic up to the importers for instruction on using the diagnostic equipment.
But after another 2 days, they gave up. They couldn't get the diagnostics to 'talk to' the chip in the bike, and had got it running as best they could. They were apologetic about it, and didn't charge me, even for the consumables and plugs, and suggested I take it back to where I bought it, and have them look at it.
Now at least it didn't stall; but worse, it was surging and fading at high revs. Not only annoying, but friggin' dangerous in the twisties. The original dealers didn't want to know; sure; they'd fix it at a price, but it wasn't a warranty thing because someone else had worked on it (where did they get THAT friggin' idea from?); and they were booked solid for the next 6 weeks, anyway.
In a strange twist of fate, their shop caught fire before I had a chance to take my bike there anyway. Then everything changed. Asking around, there were a few other MV riders who weren't happy with getting their bikes serviced in Sydney; and I was pointed in the direction of a dealer out of town. So one wet and miserable day, I took the bike up the Central coast, and then road it back in even worse weather that night. THEY didn't have any problem tuning the bike at all; or getting the diagnostics to 'talk'.
I was prepared to be disappointed, based on past experience, but by the time I got home I knew it was different. I've been on two 1000km trips since; and the bike is now totally different, almost like a new bike. No stalling (OK, it 'stopped' a couple of times waiting at the lights) and best of all, smooooth (if you can describe a Brutale as being smooth) at high revs. It is now a joy to ride, and doesn't belch fumes.
Only trouble is that I'll have to 'learn' to ride it again - it was never so resposive before. I've come to the conclusion that it was never tuned properly at all, since I had the high performance headers fitted.
SO, as I said to someone - "It's not what you know, or even who you know, but who you know who knows what they're doing that counts".
I know there have been a few threads about the Brutale stalling; but you can take it from me that it's not the bike's fault, provided it is tuned properly.