Billy Joel built Springsteen Bike merged threadfest

[Matteo]

The rest of the story, looks like a custom Cali 1100, I like!

https://motorbikewriter.com/billy-joel-built-bruce-springsteens-moto-guzzi/

[Yeahoo Whoyah]

From the article:

The Boss also has a long association with various motorcycle brands and was the lead act at the 105th Harley-Davidson anniversary in Milwaukee in 2008.

Bruce, what's your plans for 2021? Maybe bring your band to Italy and perform at the Moto Guzzi 100-year gathering?

[bad Chad]

Its a California Vintage, with a Loop frame tank and side cases.

[CPRMan]

 Wow, this means I've two things in common with the Boss, riding a CalVin and breaking down because the battery went flat.

[Cam3512]

Someone should tell him to ditch the 50W spotlight bulbs!

[Kev m]

Someone should tell him to ditch the 50W spotlight bulbs!

Right, and how sad that Billy Joel's custom shop didn't know that when they "built" it.

[bad Chad]

I wouldn't go tossing the shop under the bus boys.  It's certainly possible that indeed that's what took place, and if I were going to bet money on it that's were I would put it.  However, it may have been something else.  The claim is the battery went flat, maybe it did, or maybe it had nothing to do with the battery.  I'm just saying I wouldn't be surprised if there were another cause.

[Kev m]

This isn't an issue of national security that needs to be vetted that well. The harm of throwing the shop under the bus is about zero since it's supposedly not open to the general public anyway. That said the report of a flat battery certainly is believable. Not that it matters.

[giusto]

The rest of the story, looks like a custom Cali 1100, I like!

https://motorbikewriter.com/billy-joel-built-bruce-springsteens-moto-guzzi/

yeah and if wasn't for that darn Yoko

[Matteo]

yeah and if wasn't for that darn Yoko

[Cam3512]

My buddy Danny is his band's photographer, and I told him to tell Bruce to replace the spot bulbs with PIAA 35W bulbs.  Bet that was it, combined with him lugging the engine.  The charging system blows.

Regardless, the bike looks great with those tins and Craven bags.

[arveno]

http://www.motoguzziclassics.com/mgccustom5.asp


Was not built at motoguzziclassics ?

[Huzo]

My buddy Danny is his band's photographer, and I told him to tell Bruce to replace the spot bulbs with PIAA 35W bulbs.  Bet that was it, combined with him lugging the engine.  The charging system blows.

Regardless, the bike looks great with those tins and Craven bags.

What's the reason that lugging the engine adversely affects the charging system ?

[Kev m]

What's the reason that lugging the engine adversely affects the charging system ?

Low out put, crankshaft mounted alternator (stator/rotor) assembly doesn't make peak power until higher in rev range. But I believe those spotlights are known to be above output anyway.

http://www.motoguzziclassics.com/mgccustom5.asp


Was not built at motoguzziclassics ?

They look pretty similar at a glance, but the more I compare the pics the more differences I see which include:

1. Engine cases look black on Bruce's.
2. Front fenders are different, Bruce's has the chrome support rail.
3. Turn signals and spotlights in opposite positions.
4. Different side covers. No tool kits on Bruce's.
5. Bruce's has lower fairing on front crash bars.
6. Bruce's has rear crash bar, other one has chrome rear grab handles that are missing from Bruce's.
7. Different grips.
8. Different color rear turn signals (yellow on Bruce's).
9. Different rear fenders.
10. Bruce's has large chrome throttle body covers.
11. Different seat covers, Bruce's has Moto Guzzi lettering on back.
12. Bruce's has black handlebar clamp and triple trees, while the other has silver.

[Kiwi_Roy]

Pehaps it was just out of tune

[Rough Edge racing]

 I didn't know Joel was a bike guy....And I would have thought Springsteen would ride a Harley ...

[giusto]

There's a pretty funny OCC show about a Billy Joel build...

The Boss is Italian American and too old for a Duc lol

[Cam3512]

Billy Joel's shop on Long Island.  A bunch of us Guzzi guys spent all day there hanging and talking to his mechanic/caretaker Alex.  He was working on a Tonti Eldo for Billy several years ago.  Bruce's is definitely a Calvin with custom tins.  They don't sell any of their bikes, but Alex did mention letting a custom Harley go to Bruce in years past.  Springsteen INSISTED on going for a ride on it in mid February at 25*F.  This is where I got the idea for the Brown sidestand on a Tonti Guzzi.  Joel's guy does it on all his.

http://www.20thcenturycycles.com

[elvisboy77]

I posted a comment as to the model on the website with the story.

[steven c]

 I never understood why Guzzi never made this bike like this. Would have been so easy.

[Murray]

I never understood why Guzzi never made this bike like this. Would have been so easy.

They have its called the 1400 Eldorado.

[elvisboy77]

They have its called the 1400 Eldorado.

 

[Arizona Wayne]

If you lug a Guzzi motor like you do a Harley motor, yeah, the battery isn't going to get enough juice to be happy.  Then if you add more 50W lights than the charging system was designed for to boot............the battery dies.

I remember back in `99 during Daytona Bike Week I was on the beach @ Daytona and a guy was on a new Ducati poking along on the beach sand until his bike battery died and he wondered  why?   Maybe if the bike had a volt meter he could have seen why.     Had he been in a car maybe he would have been OK.

[twowings]

There exists a hilarious video of Billy Joel being interviewed about selling and buying his bikes and how much the price increases if he can assure the buyer "Christie sat on it"....

[steven c]

Not really. A Tonti frame with Loop like sheet metal.

[Lesman]

Billy Joel has a looper with USD forks from a Guzzi Bilbao? Just beautiful setup. Retained loop gauges.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Billy Joel has a looper with USD forks from a Guzzi Bilbao? Just beautiful setup. Retained loop gauges.

No, but Greg Field does.

[rodekyll]

Iirc, Billy Joel was photographed sitting on Greg's loop.

[Cam3512]

Iirc, Billy Joel was photographed sitting on Greg's loop.

Correct!

[rodekyll]

That's the only thing I got right all day.