I walked away...

[Nessman]

My Quota hates my commute, she fouls plugs, spits, farts and gets shit gas mileage to let me know that seven miles twice a day is no way to treat a lady. I've been looking for a cheap bike (bordering on free) to take over commuting duties. I had a '00 DR200 for a while but it was too slow/small.

Today a 1980 GN400 pops up on CL for $400, that's a bike right in my wheelhouse. Absolutely no collectable value, one cylinder and zero cool, my motorcycle soulmate if there ever were. I drove out to see it in the dark (never a good idea as you probably know but I've got kids and responsibilities). It was a mess, paint by Sherwin Williams, ancient tires, broken taillight/signals empty stale smelling gas tank with a nice rusty patina inside and liberally covering the rest of the bike...and it didn't run. I had a weak moment when I kicked it over and heard the healthy compression of a thumper wanting to run again but I let logic prevail.

The kid wanted $400 for it, after doing the math I offered $250 due to the obvious issues. He countered to $300 but I was stretching it at $250. He's got my number, 50/50 odds he'll call me and I'll have the start of a cheap cafe'/commuter project.

Watch this space.

[bgoodsoil]

I'd put that 250 into a carb rebuild for the Quota. those are cool bikes

[Nessman]

Originally Posted by bgoodsoil

I'd put that 250 into a carb rebuild for the Quota. those are cool bikes

That's the deal, they don't have carbs. Quoters use a crude open loop FI system, since it never gets warm it's always pumping far more fuel than it really needs because the sensors are telling it to.

A Weber carb conversion has been done with some success, it's on the list but I have to educate myself on Weber automotive carbs first.

[Wirespokes]

I know a guy who converted an R1100GS to 40mm Bings and it ran great. Wouldn't it be possible to retrograde to Dellortos or Bings or Mikunis?

[Nessman]

Originally Posted by Wirespokes

I know a guy who converted an R1100GS to 40mm Bings and it ran great. Wouldn't it be possible to retrograde to Dellortos or Bings or Mikunis?

Sure, on a BMW there's lots of room. I've got a set of 36mm Del Ortos with Delrin manifolds on the shelf that I'd love to bolt on but I'd have to hack big holes in the bodywork to make them fit.

Early Quotas had an automotive type Weber carb that was replaced by automotive type fuel injection, the Weber carb conversion is actually easier than grafting on a set of Delortos...theoretically.

[bgoodsoil]

waitaminute. we're talking about converting a fuel injected bike to carbs as a definite improvement? I've died and gone to heaven

[P B G]

Originally Posted by Nessman

That's the deal, they don't have carbs. Quoters use a crude open loop FI system, since it never gets warm it's always pumping far more fuel than it really needs because the sensors are telling it to.

A Weber carb conversion has been done with some success, it's on the list but I have to educate myself on Weber automotive carbs first.

I wonder if there is a good way to fool the FI system into thinking it needs less fuel. Slipping something into the circuit to change the readings to lean it out a bit.

[dilandau]

hmmm. having gone from an automotive weber to dual dellortos on my old ducati, id say don't even bother with the weber. its more trouble than its worth. you should have plenty of room to put dualies in if you wanted to try-

looking at my v11 i have tons of space to put carbs- but i have not got that plastic cover- you might have to do a little cutting to make it all fit. that said, my commute is about 15 miles and i can't complain about the fi. not the best mileage - but what the hell- you don't need great mileage when you are only going 15 miles!!

[Steve G.]

Originally Posted by Pokeyman

My Quota hates my commute, she fouls plugs, spits, farts and gets shit gas mileage to let me know that seven miles twice a day is no way to treat a lady. I've been looking for a cheap bike (bordering on free) to take over commuting duties. I had a '00 DR200 for a while but it was too slow/small.

Today a 1980 GN400 pops up on CL for $400, that's a bike right in my wheelhouse. Absolutely no collectable value, one cylinder and zero cool, my motorcycle soulmate if there ever were. I drove out to see it in the dark (never a good idea as you probably know but I've got kids and responsibilities). It was a mess, paint by Sherwin Williams, ancient tires, broken taillight/signals empty stale smelling gas tank with a nice rusty patina inside and liberally covering the rest of the bike...and it didn't run. I had a weak moment when I kicked it over and heard the healthy compression of a thumper wanting to run again but I let logic prevail.

The kid wanted $400 for it, after doing the math I offered $250 due to the obvious issues. He countered to $300 but I was stretching it at $250. He's got my number, 50/50 odds he'll call me and I'll have the start of a cheap cafe'/commuter project.

Watch this space.

All EFI Quota's shipped to North America had serious software issues with their ecu's. New ecu's were sent out for every bike. Symptoms of a bad ecu were terrible gas mileage, spitting and inconsistant throttle response, generally shitty running. I know 3 guys who have Quota's, and had the ecu's changed years ago, transformed the machine.


Steve

[Nessman]

Originally Posted by Steve G.

All EFI Quota's shipped to North America had serious software issues with their ecu's. New ecu's were sent out for every bike. Symptoms of a bad ecu were terrible gas mileage, spitting and inconsistant throttle response, generally shitty running. I know 3 guys who have Quota's, and had the ecu's changed years ago, transformed the machine.


Steve

I've got the new ECU as well, far better than the old one but still not perfect.
Modern Guzzis don't get good mileage as a rule, back in the '80s 50mpg was attainable, now 40mpg is closer to reality. My Q gets 30mpg commuting and low 40s on the road.

I love my Quota, best Guzzi I've ever owned and I've owned a bunch but it's not a good short distance commuter.

Did I mention my weakness for old thumpers?

[Mr. Vintage]

Bummer the Q doesn't work better. Mine seems to handle my 7 mile commute OK, but I'm thinking of going the other direction with mine and doing a microsquirt system. But that is about number 4,578 on my projects list.

You need a midrange bike to fill out the garage - the Quota is just the big blade in the swiss army knife of bikes.

(And even thought it's only a decade old, the Q will always be old school in my book...)

[Uncle Ernie]

I knew a guy that got a new Quota. He sold it 6 months later.

[Nessman]

Originally Posted by Uncle Ernie

I knew a guy that got a new Quota. He sold it 6 months later.

If I had a nickel for every time I wanted to sell my Quota in the first six months I could buy a small beach house. After the first year we got along better and now it's all love....almost. Three years of fixing big and little issues, putting on some miles and learning to love the big girl with the homely face was worth it.

[farmer fred]

Originally Posted by Uncle Ernie

I knew a guy that got a new Quota. He sold it 6 months later.

I kept mine for almost 2 years. It spent a lot of time at the dealerships. My commute is 1.8 miles of dodging homeless zombies. The only bikes that get warmed up are my Vespa and the CB100.