Bike's back with the dealer and I have been told that the tank has a crack. Only 93 miles on the clock.

Could be a long wait, whilst my tax and insurance diminish and I can't ride it on the odd dry day.

Not particularly pleased but faeces happens.

Or perhaps Piaggio could reach out to other dealers on your behalf to supply a tank from an unsold bike?

I would be less than impressed if this was just put into the "you'll have to wait until the factory supply a spare" column.

BTW, what model is it? Interesting to know if it is a one-off or systemic problem (see 8 valve Stelvios from 2009 - still waiting for the recall).

🍻

They're going to try to get one in the UK but failing that it's a call to Giuseppe after New year. I'm stealing myself for a long wait. Will be looking for some comp as well. 93miles and a knackered tank isn't quite what I expected.

A cracked tank should certainly be a successful warranty claim. I'd start yourself a bit of a file with all the correspondence, especially the description as "cracked". You are entitled to your money back or a replacement in a reasonable time for defective goods. What's reasonable is a discussion point and they should be taking into account that you are missing out on using it.

Piaggio have a reputation for dumping all this stuff on dealers. They are legally correct, so sympathise a little if the dealer struggles, but ultimately the dealer does have to fix this.

The fact it is a safety concern (fire) may concentrate minds if it turns out Giuseppe can't remember which bench he keeps spares under. As a concerned citizen without a motorcycle to ride to take your mind off it, you may contact  https://contact-dvsa.service.gov.uk/vehicle-user-name/" rel="nofollow - https://contact-dvsa.service.gov.uk/vehicle-user-name/

Good Luck and keep us posted

Andy

Sole broke up after a few months. "You've been using them to start a bike haven't you".

Hope all are honest in sorting out your problem quickly.

Some 20 years back my wife received a recall notice for our Discovery 2.  Needed a new fuel tank, apparently, risk of failure, fire,etc.

Make appointment, they tell me I can have a loan car but I have to insure it.  Tell them that’s nonsense, and after a brief argument get it sorted, appointment, drop off car,  collect loan car, and confirm that it’ll take two to three hours.  Do shopping, and then waste about an hour and a half before returning to collect my car which has not yet been started.  “You’ll have to come back, sir”.  “Me, and Your loan car, will be in Folkestone when you bring my car”. “We don’t do that”.  “Ok, give me a ring when you’re coming to deliver it, goodbye”

They ring me.  About  5:30, “we’re going to drop your car and collect the loan car, but there’s no petrol in your car”.  “Yes, I figured it would be easier to change the tank, so I ran the fuel down”.  “So what do we do?”  “Put a tenner in, and bring the receipt, it’s not difficult”

So they deliver it back, and we give them the tenner, and that’s that.  Til the following day.  Finished work, I dropped the kids at their piano lessons, filled the Disco with petrol and drove home, end of the week, park car on drive, go to pub.

Madame collects kids, and comes home to find a stream of petrol running down the drive…

They’d only forgotten to tighten the clips on the elephant’s trunk between the filler and the tank.  

Fixed in two seconds, once I’d rushed my pint.

The funny bit of the story.  at that time I worked for a tier1 supplier to the auto industry, and we had some issues with the launch of Disco3.  I knew the quality director quite well (perhaps the opposite would be more accurate!) but he was much amused by my story on Monday morning.  

About half an hour later I had the dealer’s quality manager begging me to bring the car back so they could sort it out.  Maybe I’d have had a load of goodies if I had, but I didn’t risk letting them break it again.

Fuel tank leaks are definitely dangerous, definitely a recall matter. Take Andy’s advice.

Hope it turns out ok,

Merry Christmas!

I'll put the shaft drive link here so people can see it if they wish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=pyaANJTGZ_U" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=pyaANJTGZ_U

Would it be possible to name this paragon of customer service?

North London is a bit of a Guzzi desert and I guess they will be in the nearby Herts region?

Great, glad all was sorted and hopefully that should be good.

Can you tell us the dealer in question?

I think that is most likely the bike has been ridden well outside it's envelope, but i will keep an eye out for anything similar.

I suspect he has had both wheels off the ground on more than one occasion.

Main dealer for all Italian marques.

All of the team have been great to deal with.

Looks like it's a problem with collapsing swing arm bearings, apparently now beefed up on the new Stelvio

IMHO, Same routine as before I'm afraid. Back to the dealer, tell them the previous repair has failed, give them the chance to repair it. You can start to build towards rejecting the bike because no one can repair it but take care, that's a huge problem for a dealer who'll be saddled with the duffer. I wouldn't push hard until it gets there, you want them working not scared of lawyers.

I would want to know why they believe this is happening. I doubt they'll have a problem telling you, but BS detectors should be switched on. Anything about the new tank being hard to fit would have me asking more.

Going against my own advice, does it only smell of petrol after a long or hard run? Is this the stink of St. Greta's box? If that's what it is, (rather than dribbling under the bike when you come to start it first thing), removing the box and going to a normal tank breather might be all it needs.

Andy

Good point about the box. I'm going to monitor the situation, essentially using the bike as normal and see if I have a genuine problem. The dealer knows, and in all likelihood, will see the bike for the first service. Should it be another tank swap, I'll push for a hire bike and additional compensation.

It's a shame as I really am happy with the bike.

The tank breather is routed to the coal box so that the demons don't escape and make tree fairys cry or whatever the tree hugging religious nutters think happens with petrol in a lidded container. The pipework and charcoal is a restriction. It becomes even more of a restriction once the charcoal is powdered by vibration and soaked in petrol if you fill the tank high enough for any to go down the breather. The solenoid should open and let the fumes go into the inlet based on FI info, but this can be hit and miss.

My V7-850 would basically run out fuel if you rode hard on the open roads but obeyed the village speed limits. Huge vacuum in the tank because it was closed off both at high speed and low.

I'd pull the pipes off the canister. Seal the one to the solenoid with a 6mm bolt and cable ties, leave the one from the tank open. No more vacuum in the tank and chance to see if the smell goes too.

Andy

I'd assumed a positive pressure, potentially worsened by increased temperatures.

Empty a gallon out of the tank and go for a 50+ mile ride. If there is no smell it's because the empty space above the fuel allows enough breathing and the pipe to the canister is well clear of fluid.

St.Gretas box certainly smells of petrol and the function of the various controls seems to vary from bike to bike. The V7 suffered proper "running out of petrol" moments (cured) which the ASR stupidity (feels like a dodgy coil) made worse. Even Honda CB500's have their moments of funny clicking noises. My Forza and Cub are the first ones with Euro 5 I have not had the urge to "lighten" by letting this stuff accidentally "fall off".

If it goes and there is no dripping it's probably fine. 

Andy

The bike is fine and a joy to ride.

I can't recommend the dealer and team enough. They've been very helpful and so easy to deal with.

I mentioned to my wife that they have a limited edition Thruxton for sale. They want £14000. It's second hand but mint. 

Why don't you get it says the wife......err I like my Guzzi, thanks