So, tell me about Moto Guzzi

[dmf109]

I want one of these BAD :

http://dmf109.smugmug.com/photos/199493464-M.jpg

Moto Guzzi Norge 1200

The Guzzi dealer in my area has one. I feel all warm and tingly when I see it!

So, anyone have a newer Guzzi? What's the lowdown from a fellow 'Strommer?

[SCraig]

MG makes great bikes, the biggest problem is getting them serviced. Unlike Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha, and Kawasaki there isn't a Moto-Guzzi dealer in virtually every town. Similar situation with BMW although there are far more BMW dealers than Guzzi dealers. They just don't have enough of a dealer base in the USA yet. I've also heard that even the dealers have a difficult time in getting parts.

As I said, great bikes but if one breaks in the middle of Nowhere, Kansas who's going to work on it?

[Mike D.]

The Norge is based on the Breva. It is shorter and lighter than most two up touring bikes. The engine has plenty of power for normal touring. It handles the twistys very well with the emphasis on smooth. It is my personal choice for two up touring. I don't own one but have researched it extensivley.

[dmf109]

It's interesting that it's air cooled. Looking at the body work gives the impression that there's not much space for cooling.

I think I'll see about a test ride (the dealer here is great about that).

[tmcgee]

So, anyone have a newer Guzzi? What's the lowdown from a fellow 'Strommer?

Everyone I've talked to over the past 30 years who owns Guzziz loves them, including one guy I spoke with yesterday at Larz Anderson's Japanese bike day. I almost bought a used one in the 70's.

Scott's right about parts though -- sometimes you have to wait. The dealer local to you is in Beverly, MA I think.

[dmf109]

Everyone I've talked to over the past 30 years who owns Guzziz loves them, including one guy I spoke with yesterday at Larz Anderson's Japanese bike day. I almost bought a used one in the 70's.

Scott's right about parts though -- sometimes you have to wait. The dealer local to you is in Beverly, MA I think.

Seacoast Sport Cycle: http://www.seacoastsport.com/

Awesome dealer. Great friendly staff, good gear and let you test ride.

I really want one, Tom. Must...resist....

[RodK]

I'm a big fan of the Norge,too. I guess they are also selling an 850cc in Europe. But I'm like the folks that are concerned about the dealer network. I'm not gonna pay BMW prices for that kind of support.

Rod
07 Vee
Riverview, FL

[MZBuckeye]

There was a guy on ADVRider selling one of these awhile back, damn thing looked awesome.

[Packa-strom]

Moto Guzzi is a neat company with a rich history -- making simple, straight-forward and very pretty, evocative bikes.

.......Guzzi's Norge is named after the Norge GT: ridden 4000 miles
.......from Italy to the Artic Circle... in 1928.

.......Guzzi created the first ever 1:1 Wind Tunnel soley for motorcycle
.......design... in 1950.

.......Guzzi made a V8 motorcycle engine... capable of 170 mph in 1955.

Now owned by Piaggio -- a bit of a bumpy ride for the company after Aprilia was absorbed by Piaggio, but that seems to be smoothing out quite a bit.

A steady stream of new product since Aprilia handed the reigns to Piaggio.

Brand new 8V (8 valve engine) Griso just introduced at their annual GMG love-fest in their hometown of Mandello del Lario.

.......Moto Guzzi V8 Video (http://youtube.com/watch?v=8O_7zwGFGwI)

.......Moto Guzzi Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moto_Guzzi)

.......Wild Goose Board (http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?board=1.0)






http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/8481/bannerbrevadrawingxi1.jpg



I love my Wee, but struggled with either getting the Wee or a Moto Guzzi Breva.
We had no Guzzi dealer at the time... but now we do.
.
.

[S83]

I demo rode one. Nice ride. Brakes are tops! Smooth ride. Power band narrower than I would have expected. Because the way the engine is oriented it torques to the right when throttled. Gets your attention the first time you experience it. Handles great. No "shaft jack". I'm 6'06, 37" inseam. Hot summer day when I demo'd. Kept checking the jean material around my knees caps for scorch marks from the heat off the heads on the engine. Gets pretty toasty. Had nothing to do with fairing. Experienced the same thing with the 1100 Breva. Would be quite uncomfortable on a longer ride or trip. Overall a fun to ride, smooth bike. Had a smile on my face the whole ride. Personally, there are quite a few other bikes I would buy first though.

[dmf109]

Moto Guzzi is a neat company -- rich history, simple, straight-forward and very pretty bikes.

That Norge is named after a bike called the Norge GT that was ridden 4000 miles from Italy to the Artic Circle in 1928.

Guzzi made a V8 race engine capable of 170 mph in 1955.

Now owned by Piaggio -- a bit of a bumpy ride for the company after Aprilia was absorbed by Piaggio, but that seems to be smoothing out quite a bit.

A steady stream of new product since Aprilia handed the reigns to Piaggio.

Brand new 8V just introduced at their annual love-fest in their hometown of Mandello del Lario.

Moto Guzzi Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moto_Guzzi)

Wild Goose Board (http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?board=1.0)

Thanks for the history. Does seem like an interesting company. Funny how I never heard of them until a few years ago. I recall reading about them making a comeback and some detail on their shaft drive.

Their current lack of a network in the States doesn't bother me too much (again, a great dealer about 10 miles from me). When it comes down to it, how often do you really need hard to get parts (unless an accident)?

Great, now I'm starting to make a case for buying one :D.




chrome://dictionarytip/skin/book.png

[tmcgee]

Because the way the engine is oriented it torques to the right when throttled.

That's more to do with the shaft drive than the engine directly.

And Dan, you've got built-in hand-warmers with those cylinder heads located as they are. :-D

I wouldn't mind having a Gootzy. They always get my attention.

[dmf109]

That's more to do with the shaft drive than the engine directly.

And Dan, you've got built-in hand-warmers with those cylinder heads located as they are. :-D

I wouldn't mind having a Gootzy. They always get my attention.

Hope I don't pull a tmcgee and walk into the dealer for an inspection and walk out with a bike on deposit. :p. Lucy, that's 'spensive!

[Packa-strom]

Be sure to let us know how it goes... red Norge on Ebay now!

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/2598/brevabannerbody2xr0.jpg

[KildareMan]

Moto Guzzi is a neat company with a rich history -- making simple, straight-forward and very pretty, evocative bikes.

.......Guzzi's Norge is named after the Norge GT: ridden 4000 miles
.......from Italy to the Artic Circle... in 1928.

.......Guzzi created the first ever 1:1 Wind Tunnel soley for motorcycle
.......design... in 1950.

.......Guzzi made a V8 motorcycle engine... capable of 170 mph in 1955.

Now owned by Piaggio -- a bit of a bumpy ride for the company after Aprilia was absorbed by Piaggio, but that seems to be smoothing out quite a bit.

A steady stream of new product since Aprilia handed the reigns to Piaggio.

Brand new 8V (8 valve engine) Griso just introduced at their annual GMG love-fest in their hometown of Mandello del Lario.

.......Moto Guzzi V8 Video (http://youtube.com/watch?v=8O_7zwGFGwI)

.......Moto Guzzi Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moto_Guzzi)

.......Wild Goose Board (http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?board=1.0)






http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/8481/bannerbrevadrawingxi1.jpg



I love my Wee, but struggled with either getting the Wee or a Moto Guzzi Breva.
We had no Guzzi dealer at the time... but now we do.
.
.
Don't forget that they also invented the rear swinging arm as well.

[Berserker]

been making mechanic's out of mc drivers for years! :)

[Rider_of_the_Strom]

There is definitely something about Italian bikes.....

The Guzzisti had a bit of a rough time at their rally in August. Sounds like everyone got out ok, but a lot of bikes were trashed.

http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=13162.0

[S83]

That's more to do with the shaft drive than the engine directly.

And Dan, you've got built-in hand-warmers with those cylinder heads located as they are. :-D

I wouldn't mind having a Gootzy. They always get my attention.

Has everything to do with the orientation of the engine.

[MikeinLA]

I'm a sucker for the new Guzzi California Vintage and have done alot of research. It seems that although dealers are hard to come by, parts are actually pretty available if you don't mind FedEx. The threads I've read on WildGuzzi seem to imply that Guzzis don't require alot of service. Fairly bulletproof machine that will never leave you stranded is my impression.

Mike

[Packa-strom]

Yeah, that California Vintage is a looker:
http://http://www.motoguzzi.it/media/09_7.jpg


It harkens to the early California models used by the LAPD and other police departments.

Ride that bike and wear the right vest, and cagers would instantly think you were the fuzz.

[RedAnt]

A friend of mine has a MG Stone. I believe he likes the bike, but every time it's been in the shop it sits for months waiting parts. He was recently hit by a car on it and it's been in the shop now for months waiting a single part.

He's currently waiting for 2008 ABS Wee's to arrive at dealers so he can buy one. I let him ride my Wee and he thought it could use more power. If the Vee had ABS he would likely buy one. He's been hit so many times now by driving in Boston traffic that his next bike MUST have ABS.

He almost justified the cost of a BMW after test riding one last year. Then the Wee offered a cheaper ABS option. Unless something else shows up soon we'll have another Stromtrooper.

[D-Mac]

Wait for the new MG Stelvio! It's supposed to be unveiled next week. Engine from the Norge in an adventure-touring frame. Looks like a cross between a Strom and a BMW-GS.

Cheers, D-Mac

[Jimding]

Guzzi's have always been neat bikes, but support (parts and service) have been spotty at best. The company appears secure, for the present. But if I was buying a bike that I thought I would keep for 10 or 15 years, it wouldn't be a Guzzi. Iff the current biking fad (not us, of course, but those other folks that buy a bike, then put 1000 miles on it in two years) peters out, there will almost certainly be a shakeout in the bike biz. I think Harley is already seeing the back side of the hump. Not inconceivable that Piaggio, seeing the business taper off, decides that the ROI on Moto Guzzi is insufficient, and closes them down. Probably not going to happen to Suzuki, Honda or BMW.

[Rider_of_the_Strom]

Wait for the new MG Stelvio! It's supposed to be unveiled next week. Engine from the Norge in an adventure-touring frame. Looks like a cross between a Strom and a BMW-GS.

Cheers, D-Mac

Ooh I like that! It does have some GS look to it, but not all BMW-y. You know, wonky, quirky, funky (and don't forget overpriced). I found some pics, about halfway down on this page.

http://www.raptorsandrockets.com/News/2008/2008_Moto_Guzzi.htm

[Jstrom]

I like 'em! Guzzi is and old and venerable make sometimes referred to as the "Italian HD". I really like the older bikes like the V-7, Eldorado and Ambassador. Easy to own and work on like older BMW airheads although a bit idiosyncratic. You get to adjust your own valves and rocker shafts, throttle and choke cables, ignition timing. I wouldn't hesitate to ride a well fettled old goose or airhead Beemer coast to coast or around the globe. Love to find a good candidate for restoration.