Pegaso 3 CDI unit

[jonahjones]

Hi guys
Have just(last 3 weeks) got my paws on a new pegaso from Taz motorcycles of Peterborough UK.
On delivery the Diagnostic warning light was on and the temp gauge wouldn't work!
I have been assured that this is a problem with
the CDI unit and is quite common with aprilias.
So I would appreciate your response to this statement.

PS Taz have assured me they will fix it, but once they have your money, all you get is words!
I will willingly post otherwise should I be proved wrong.

[Jon CAKE]

Have you tried contact a genuine Aprila dealer or their UK head offices for info. I'm told by my dealer that Aprilia do issue modification kits for known problems (such as the backfiring problem that caused older bikes to stall)

I have a new Peg (genuine UK bike - NOT import). Did loads of research before buying and did not hear of that problem. If it is common I would have expected to have heard about it.

Also, have not experienced any problems with my bike (not that that will make YOU feel any better)!!!

[jonahjones]

Thanks for your reply.
The bike is fully rideable with the exception that the engine diagnostic light is on all the time and you can not tell what the coolant temperature is!
As I am still running the bike in I'm not to worried but when I need to go further afield I would like to know that all the instrumentation is fully functional.
As it is a parallel import I'm sure that Aprilia UK wont be interested in the slightest but that's the risk you take. and even if I had to buy a CDI unit it would have to cost an awful lot to make the difference between an parallel and a standard worthwhile.
But lets not open that can of worms eh!
Thanks again
Jonah

[Jon CAKE]

I bought my Peg earlier this month. I've done nearly 300 miles so, like you, I'm still running it in. I also looked at imports but I got my Peg for £4099 in the end and local importers couldn't give me enough of a dicount on that to make it worthwhile however I know where you're coming from.

If you're interested in comparing notes on these bikes then you can e-mail me at: Jon@cake-paddler.co.uk.

I'm a kayaker and that's why my web-site / e-mail address don't relate to motorcycling!!!

One thing I have noticed BUT FORGOT TO MENTION IN MY LAST POST!!!! I've been sticking to the speed limits on smaller roads (lots of speed cameras near my house). I think that the speedo is out a bit since when I was doing 30 mph my wife who happened to be following in a car said I was only doing 25.

On the one hand I don't want someone taking me out for going to slow but on the other hand I don't want to get fined by the fuzz!!!

[Pegrider]

I've had my UK spec Pegaso since May and have 4000 miles up. I also have problems with the accuracy of the speedo. The dealers line is that they are not as inaccurate as BMW ones. Mine reads 40mph at a real 30mph and is inaccurate right through the range - it certainly makes riding through speed camera areas interesting! I was going to fit one of the cycle type digital computers, but it's nigh on impossible to get the magnet and sensors to fit the forks.

[jonahjones]

A big Thank You to TAZ motorcycles
who have just replaced my CDI unit.
We got there in the end.

Cheers Chaps!
Jonah

[Rolandapriliaforum]

Hi I posted 'New Owner' a few days ago. I picked up my bike yesterday and managed to install the bike speedo too. Thanks to the advice that was posted and some superglue, I manged to create a sort of a post to attach betwen the fork and the sensor to lengthen the reach of the sensor. It seems to be working fine although I don't thik I have the speedo calibrated propery. So it's too soon to say how accurate my clock is.

As the the 'CDI' posts, I too have my diagnostic light on. The dealer had promised to sort it out during the week but failed to do so. They are a Honda dealer and I guess they haven't got the diagnostics kit for this bike. They claim it needs a new part which has been ordered but I'm not too sure. Having found a very friendly Aprilia dealer (the one in East Grinstead) they said they would be surprised if the Honda dealer could sort this out. I tried resetting the light as suggested elsewhere in this forum but it comes back on as soon as I start the engine.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Cheers
Roland

[jonahjones]

Sorry Mate
Sounds exactly like the problem i had, which means a new CDI unit. Taz Motorcycles sell a lot of Aprilias and reckon to have had this problem across the range, perhaps I believe them now.
Good luck with your bike.
ATB
Jonah
PS. did any one see men and motors last night. Honda Man(like neanderthal man but wider) was given the chance to ride and choose a Honda CB500, a Kawaski ER5 or a Pegaso. I mean, it's like giving caviar to a famine victim!.

[Roland]

Jonah
Could you please specify. Is the CDI unit the silver box under the seat? Did they install it themselves or is it a DIY job?
Lastly, once istalled was that the end of the red-light problem?
One bit of advice I got from the Aprilia Dealer was that the idle adjustment on the Fuel injected bike is not a DIY job. Aparently if you do it yourself you can end up remapping the system making the bike run worse and the dreaded light might come on. I don't know where the adjustment is - could be the little screw on the CDI box that has already been mentioned elsewhere on the forum.

Cheers
Roland

[jonahjones]

Hi Roland
I forgot to ask is your temperature gauge working?
If you read the owners manual it says that when the CDI light comes on the bike will still perform, but with limited functions, in my case it was no temp reading and, from what i could gather no petrol warning light either (but i've always relied on miles done anyway).
I spoke to a guy in a bike shop in Grantham he said he had had a bike in that was running rough, stalling etc. and when they sorted out the running the light went off!
My bike ran sweet as a nut straight from the crate, I tried the reset tip on this web site, didn't work, but as soon as they replaced the black box under the seat everything worked.
Hope this helps
Jonah

[Roland]

Jonah
The temp guage is working and so is the petrol light. In fact everything seems OK but then I haven't managed to get a decent ride due to the bad weather and work comitments - I haven't experienced any stalling but the idle is a little high (around 1500) and I may have felt a bit of surging while doing around 30mph on a relatively low gear. I can't be positive about that.
There does seem to be some oil around the rubber pipes and connectors when looking through the vents in the fairing under the petrol tank but there's nothing dripping under the bike.
I'm ordering a pair of Remus cans after which I'll probably get the bike to a proper Aprilia dealer for diagnosis and service rather than wait for the Honda dealer to sort it out.
All the best,
Roland

[TimD]

My Peg ie came from Taz. It's done 24,000 miles + in less than 14 months. The engine has run well. A couple of problems though one related to the dreaded warning light. I think this comes on and stays on if you turn the igntion on without the tank wiring connected. There seems to be a software loop that will not reset without a tweak to the diagnostic input.
Mine stayed on once but ran OK so I put up with it. Then one day in cool rain the temp guage read Max 120°C. It turned out to be a crimp connector insde it's housing had started to come apart. Eventually the bike would not start just a whirring to prime but never ending.
My local Aprilia dealer sorted it out - reset the light and Taz paid for it. Fair do's to them. I had (wrongly)diagnosed the CDI having cleaned all earths, connectors etc but did not expect to have to take apart one side of the connector!
Bike still running well. 50 mpg 19,000 for tyres and front brake pads. The DID replacement sprocket kit fits but you will have to grind offf 4mm of metal one one side or get a F650 one. The OE chain is crap.

[Roland]

Tim
Thanks for the very useful info. Basically what you are saying is that there are so many reasons for that red light and possibly only a trip to an authorised dealer may be the final solution. I've had a look at all the connectors and haven't found any obvious problems.
I'm well impressed with the bike otherwise.
Cheers
Roland

[TimD]

Cheers! Note that on the ie because it is injected the fuel is pressurised to prime the injectors before starting. This gives a whirring sound for 2-3 seconds than it's OK to hit the start button.
On the carb model (Mk3) this is not required as fuel is already in the carbs ready to go - though there maybe a solenoid fuel on/off (like my old 70's Morini).

The software on the Mk3 does not have to check the pump pressure as it does on the ie and than tell the ECU (Black Box) that all is well. As the wiring fault that I had is not easy to spot I would recommend you check inside the white/black plastic connectors to see that the wires are actually still in their croimped connectors. It should be easy to check for continuity with a meter or light bulb if you can get the circuit live OK.

It may even be that removing the battery to refill the level might activate the warning light. Certainly I will not be turning the ignition key unless everything is connected correctly. Leaving the warning light on when there is clearly no fault is just irritating especially at night on dark roads!! Aprilia really ought to give owners the basics of checking this and resolving it.

[Roland]

OK, the final solution to the red light. I've been through all the electricals and haven't found any problems so I've got a bit of black tape over it!

Incicentally the speedo cable off the F650 doesn't fit. Different size connector on the speedo end.

Cheers everyone.
Roland