interesting machine

[goo]

http://www.goldcoast-motorsports.com/ne ... lYear=2011

[bmwk100]

That's Moto Guzzi's direct competition to the R12R. A lot of loyal owners for that brand, but dealers are hard to find.

[dav]

In the Guzzi range i thought this was the competition for the R12R

http://www.motoguzzi.com.au/griso8v.html

[RT-Mike]

I mean no disrespect,the Italians make a beautiful motorcycle...but,it looks like another GS clone to me,the only thing it lacks in design is the duck bill.

[mogu83]

This is the second attempt at a GS the first was the Quota and it was -- well, less than inspiring. The new adventure bike is the Stelvio which is blessed with the new engine (unfortunately the horses are all on top) but cursed with an anemic dealer network and a manufacturer that seems to be always on the brink of closing its doors.
If it wasn't for the last two items and mostly the lack of dealer support I'd have a new Guzzi in the garage today.

[Tarmac]

Don't buy a Guzzi now. My understanding is they are re-tooling, and will release an entire new line up in a couple years.

[mogu83]

Don't buy a Guzzi now. My understanding is they are re-tooling, and will release an entire new line up in a couple years.

Most of the bikes in their product line now are only a few years old. This 'rumor' has been going around for decades. It alternates with the 'Their going bankrupt and going out of business" story. You have to be a special kind of person to ride a Guzzi and demented to own two (I know many of both types). Little things like dealers that won't talk to you, manufactures that don't pay dealers for warranty work or supply parts, leaks, body parts that crack after a few miles out of warranty, rubber parts that disintegrate, having to go to independent mechanics to get things fixed because the authorized dealer only has real experience on lawn mowers - can't get you upset. From the posts I've seen on this list 90% of the folks couldn't handle it.

I still love the Goose, any former or current Guzzi owners can verify the above.

[racerb]

Harry you are so right. I love that brand but, it will sure make you understand the pain part of the flavor of motorcycling. The bike is not that bad but the rest is amazingly inept. My neighbor has a California and we ride together a bit and the Goose is fine. The dealer he uses is a JERK. I went in there one day with the intention of buying a MUZ he had on the floor and he could not stop telling me how bad my R1200R was to work on, especially the computer.!!! He could "give me a good deal on the GRISO 2V" he had over there. I have a dyno and do flashes on CANBUS systems. I finnaly just left without ever getting to get a word in on the MUZ.

[jess]

I traded in a Guzzi (Nevada 750 Classic) when I bought my R12R.

Guzzi's are loaded with character. They're quirky. They're obscure. All the real bikers know the brand, even if they've never ridden one. The exhaust note on my Nevada 750 would bring tears to your eyes, it was that beautiful.

But I'm not going back. No way. Nuh-uh.

[NakedRider]

The OP's link is the competition for the GS. The Griso has no comparable bike in the BMW line up.

The Breva is the competition to our R1200R.

http://www.motoguzzi.com.au/breva1200.html

[mogu83]

I'm kind of half assed looking for a reasonably priced T-3, as I like the Tonti framed Guzzis. They had the big flywheels and the DeLorto carbs and disks all around. Very easy to convert to a V-7 sport replica.

One went cheap in the local area recently and I didn't move on it.
Problem is I would have to get rid of something to make space in the garage and I NEED all the bikes I have.

[Caroanbill]

Griso: same power as R12R and only 24kg (53lbs) heavier ... a reasonable comparison for the R12R sport-nekkid crowd
Brevia: 15hp down on the R12R and 38kg (84lbs) heavier ... more of a comparison for the (whisper now) R1150R
Both motors are down on torque to the R12 and neither has the luggage options - though the Brevia does have range with its 23litre tank.

I like Guzzis and dealers here are more common .. but on thinking about it, 50% of the dealers I know of directly have reputations for abusing their customers! Yikes! However, my BMW dealer is also a Guzzi dealer and easy enough to do business with (even if the owner has been known to abuse customers).

Mind you, if I were buying a small retro bike, the V7 would be top of my list .. the basic version - don't like the Cafe special.

[mogu83]

Hope we don't get in trouble for starting a Guzzi thread, but it's cold outside and nothing to do.

Bill,
I like the looks of the V7 and the size is right for an old guy. BUT I never liked that small block Guzzi engine, their have been 'issues' with it in every configuration that has hit the streets. It's just not as robust (read as being able to take years of abuse and neglect) as the big block engine. Now that bike (V7) with the big block engine in the 850cc size would have had me heading to the next state to do some serious talking about replacing my Valkyrie. New Jersey one of the most populated states in the Union with a large Italian population doesn't have a Guzzi dealer. The 850cc (LeMan 3/T-3+5) was IMHO the nicest motor Guzzi ever put out, much like the 800/850cc Beemers they were overlooked in favor of the bigger engines.

[NakedRider]

Mind you, if I were buying a small retro bike, the V7 would be top of my list ..

Amen to that. It's hot!!!

[Caroanbill]

Hope we don't get in trouble for starting a Guzzi thread, but it's cold outside and nothing to do.
..... The 850cc (LeMan 3/T-3+5) was IMHO the nicest motor Guzzi ever put out, much like the 800 Beemers they were overlooked in favor of the bigger engines.

Ditto. I had a 1982 (last of) Ducati 900SS .. it was a toss-up between that and a LeMans MkIII, and a little later between K100RT and SP1000 (then wife was half-funding that purchase - she voted K100). I still think the MkIII is one of the most aesthetically pleasing bikes ever made. In the end, the Duc was easier to ride (despite less power and even though it was kick-start only) and there were more places to get 'em fixed, especially outside the city. But I've never fallen out of love with the MkIII .. the brutality of the new Guzzis just doesn't do it for me, but the V7 is such a balanced design, aesthetically. I was unaware of the small-block engine issues, so thanks for the heads-up (think my wee bike with remain the red Vespa for now)

Yep, I loved my R80 mono, too - and my R65LS. Both had the same restrained balance of line of the MkIII. Both could lope along forever (although the short-stroke R65 was more of a revver and struggled at sustained highway speed)
http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/ ... iii%20.htm
http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/ ... S%2081.htm
http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/ ... 0%2084.htm

I do kinda like the aggression of the Griso - the way I like compelling, angst-ridden paintings in a gallery ... yet I always choose something more pacific and gentle for my home.

[goo]

http://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle_ro ... io_1200_4v

[DeltaDagger]

I really like the Griso 8V.