Moto Guzzi Club of Queensland Forum

My bike is a 2004 Cali and it seems to have a bit of a ping. This happens in 2nd at 80kph going up the very steep hill between Woodford and Mt Mee. Revs are about 4000 here.
At around 5000 in top it happens on an undulating, straight road, too.
Previously, 95 octane(caltex, BP) was in use but it still happens with 98. On tour, 95 is fine as long as it isn't Ampol but when I fang, is when it happens.
What does the collective wisdom of the forum think about this? Too lean? Timing out? Clean the injectors? Forget it?
All suggestions, recommendations and advice will be gratefully received.
Bill

Pinging usually indicates either timing is too advanced or the mixture is too lean, on the late model EFI stuff that shouldn't happen, because all the little gubbins inside of the ECU are supposed to prevent this.
It does occur sometimes when the motor labours, going up hill & cracking the throttle open too quick, if it occurs roughly about the same place, you may be just getting on the throttle a little too much, try the same run & gradually wind the throttle on in the spot (you've obviously identified a certain section) that you've noticed the 'ping'. Otherwise have a quick talk to Tom he may have a different idea or I'll ask him on Wed night when I see him & post it here, someone want to remind me before or on Wed night please.

One of the joys of EFI, you have no real control over how much fuel goes in and when. On a standard bike pinging is from running lean 9 times out of 10.
In saying that, you can go the aftermarket options or adjust what you have and make use of the standard setup.

1. Has the bike been serviced and the TPS set correctly. The TPS is the little black thing with wires coming out of it on the RHS throttle body. Basically it tell the computer how far you have the throttle open and from that how much fuel to push in. If not, have this set correctly and go for another run. At present it may be out of spec and the motor is running lean. Even running lean, EFI motors can have terrible fuel economy. (this is a little long to explain, i'll skip it here for now)

2. If everything is correct in the TPS adjustment and throttle body balanced (Part of a propper tune-up) you can advance the TPS a little to give it more fuel through out the whole rev range. As the standard fuel map has to comply with stringent emmission standards it is normally lean from the factory to achieve this. By advancing the TPS a little (and please note the readings verus std so you can set it to this each time a tune up is done) you have the throttle set at running 2500 rpm but the TPS thinking you have it at 2750 rpm and quirting in just that little extra fuel.

3. Go the MY 16 M route like I did http://www.cajinnovations.com/MyECU/index.htm (As I have an 1100 Sport with aftermarket pipes and free flow air filter) the std fuel mapping is way out. This beats putting in different computer chips hands down. This will give you the ability to adjust both ignition timing map, fuel map, injector advance map and so much more. But this comes at a cost. If you have std pipes and air filter, the price is dear. But if you have other pipes etc., this is one way to adjust fueling to suit all modifacations.
Rgds
Peter

Thankyou Wal and Peter. I've learned something already. Now I'm going away to look at that site. Oh excitement!
Bill