Author Topic: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?  (Read 11037 times)

Offline Spuddy

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GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« on: January 06, 2015, 03:22:31 PM »
Think I asked before, but I'm still looking...

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #1 on: January 06, 2015, 03:31:56 PM »

Cam Lay is in Helena ... well, in the boonies around it somewhere.   ;)

Actually, Cam has defected to Krautrads as he now rides a R1200RT.

But his wife rides a V11 LeMans.

Bill




Offline motoguzzibill

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #2 on: January 06, 2015, 03:54:51 PM »
Hi Spuddy,
  Nice to know others are out there. I've been in Laurel for the past 30 years but will be moving into Billings in the next few months. I've had/ridden Guzzi's for the last 15 years or so and currently have a V11 Sport, Norge, and Eldorado. Also enjoy/have Ducati, Triumph and BSA's. Met and rode with Jon B. some years ago but haven't seen him in many years. Only other Guzzi rider I know is Justin in Missoula, who has a Mille, but mainly rides a Triumph Tiger.

  Look forward to meeting you if and when the snow melts.
Bill N.

Offline pyoungbl

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #3 on: January 06, 2015, 04:03:51 PM »
Hey Spuddy, Gar Jorgensen  bought a Norge from me.  Gar winters in California but really lives in Buffalo WY.  Great guy and he loves the Norge.

Peter Y.
« Last Edit: January 06, 2015, 07:01:34 PM by pyoungbl »
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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #3 on: January 06, 2015, 04:03:51 PM »

Offline cloudbase

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #4 on: January 06, 2015, 04:56:52 PM »
I'll be riding across at the end of May.

Offline Guzzistajohn

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #5 on: January 06, 2015, 05:30:02 PM »
I started a thread like this last summer before my trip to Helena. I got a guy named spuddy ;D
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Offline Spuddy

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #6 on: January 06, 2015, 05:50:49 PM »
Quote
I started a thread like this last summer before my trip to Helena. I got a guy named spuddy

Sounds like a cool dude - I'd like to meet him.
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Offline Lannis

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #7 on: January 06, 2015, 05:56:20 PM »
Sounds like a cool dude - I'd like to meet him.

A guy named after a potato?   Bet he has a hard time getting a date ...  ;)   :D
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Offline Mayor_of_BBQ

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #8 on: January 06, 2015, 06:07:57 PM »
Won't be long.. I had been planning a move to Missoula last year but the girl MUST be near the family 'we' have decided... Helena it shall be.. I should be back by summer.

I lived in Greenough (at the 'big cow' on MT200) for a bit a few years back when I was Chef of a resort between the Blackfoot & the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Looking forward to getting back, but will deff miss Asheville!
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Offline moltoguzzi

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #9 on: January 06, 2015, 07:00:37 PM »
Won't be long.. I had been planning a move to Missoula last year but the girl MUST be near the family 'we' have decided... Helena it shall be.. I should be back by summer.

I lived in Greenough (at the 'big cow' on MT200) for a bit a few years back when I was Chef of a resort between the Blackfoot & the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Looking forward to getting back, but will deff miss Asheville!
Why Missuola and why leaving Ashville. My retirement is getting close and I've narrowed it down to the mountains of NH, the Ozarks, Blue Ridge and Montana. So I'm very interested in other people opinions that have actually lived in those areas. Mucho grazies, molto grazie, thanks.

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #10 on: January 07, 2015, 09:13:50 AM »
Why Missuola and why leaving Ashville. My retirement is getting close and I've narrowed it down to the mountains of NH, the Ozarks, Blue Ridge and Montana. So I'm very interested in other people opinions that have actually lived in those areas. Mucho grazies, molto grazie, thanks.

I would never leave Asheville in a million years if it wasn't for a woman. This is truly the best place on earth to me.

I can't imagine retiring to Montana? Who is going to shovel your snow & carry in groceries in the 50mph winds? Who is going to maintain your house that basically gets pounded into oblivion 4 months a year and takes most of the summer to get it back winter-proofed?

There is no reason to live there unless

1. You are an AVID fly fisher, elk hunter, snowmobile rider or xc skier

2. Your family lives there and you MUST be near them

3. You like week-long strings of subzero temps, cleaning snow off your vehicles, short riding season


And remember, you are getting this feedback from someone who loves MT and is moving back there :thumb


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Offline Lannis

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #11 on: January 07, 2015, 10:03:35 AM »

There is no reason to live there unless

1. You are an AVID fly fisher, elk hunter, snowmobile rider or xc skier

2. Your family lives there and you MUST be near them

3. You like week-long strings of subzero temps, cleaning snow off your vehicles, short riding season


4.  You are the superintendent of the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historical Site (like my cousin is)

5.  You are an inmate of the penitentiary in Deer Lodge (in which case you don't generally have to shovel snow and someone else feeds you.

Otherwise, there's lots of reasons why it's so empty and wide-open ..... !

Lannis
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Offline Spuddy

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #12 on: January 07, 2015, 12:01:05 PM »
Quote
I lived in Greenough (at the 'big cow' on MT200) for a bit a few years back when I was Chef of a resort between the Blackfoot & the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Looking forward to getting back, but will deff miss Asheville!

I can definitely see looking back towards Asheville, but I am looking forward to your BBQ.

Gimme a call (if you can tolerate someone 169% your age) I can give you the lay of the land.

Paul 'Spuddy' Smietanka
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Offline Guzzistajohn

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #13 on: January 07, 2015, 05:47:03 PM »
Montana is a wonderful place to visit, But I'd rather live in the Ozarks. I wouldn't want to deal with the winter in big sky country.
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Offline Mayor_of_BBQ

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #14 on: January 07, 2015, 06:25:16 PM »
Yo Spuddy I'm sure I'll have to bust out a boston butt or two immediately upon arrival! The folks will require it I'm sure!


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Offline rboe

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #15 on: January 07, 2015, 07:53:07 PM »
Missoula is a nice college town but have never been there in the Winter. Can't be worse than Duluth Minnesota. Dog friendly too. :D

It's up there for my retirement village. Low population density is a GOOD thing in my book. More people than deer and we have too many deer.  :pop

I grew up in the south eastern part of the state, the area that is hard to appreciate unless you grew up there. They do need to get a handle on DUI, still treated with a soft hand and not taken that seriously. If you hate winters, it will be a poor choice, on the other hand, it tends to weed out the wimps. :)

Several years ago there was a Guzzi owner in Livingston, but I know this as he was selling a couple bikes on here so maybe he is out of the game now.
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Offline acogoff

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #16 on: January 08, 2015, 08:35:06 AM »
     You would think there would be a few Guzzis around Columbia Fall where there used to be an actual Dealer.
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Offline Spuddy

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #17 on: January 08, 2015, 08:54:53 AM »
I dunno if its saying much, but Helena winters are generally a lot easier than Chicago's.  And when it does get cold, it's regularly broken up by a chinook in 2-3 weeks.

Inversions are not that common in Helena as the east slope winds usually blow out the weather after about a week.

You used to be able to push towards 8 months of riding but the cold and wet springs [climate change - whatever the cause] of late, are dampening that.  Suppose my age is softening me up too. 

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Offline rboe

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #18 on: January 08, 2015, 02:15:38 PM »
Helena is nice but I prefer Missoula; probably because of the river that goes right through town. Just seems nicer too.

Livingston has some attraction as well as White Sulphur Springs; although it can look a bit rough. :)
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Offline toolittletime

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #19 on: January 08, 2015, 07:53:22 PM »

Not Montana......but right next door in N Idaho

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hammick

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #20 on: January 08, 2015, 10:49:58 PM »
We own property in MT between Red Lodge and Belfry.  It is very remote and has no power available.

Any of your guys in the business of building pole barns or garages?

I can't see spending an entire winter in MT but we have fallen in love with the state and we try to get there as often as we can.

Offline toolittletime

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #21 on: January 09, 2015, 09:20:31 AM »
LOL.  I lived in Coeur d'Alene, too.  I guess the white supremacists have moved in north of there (Sandpoint, Hayden Lake).

No, honestly we ran that group out of town on a rail....actually good lawyers (what?) and I'm even farther north than Sandpoint....30 miles to the Canadian border where incidentally we do most of our riding.
I know the Justin in Missoula....we were MSF coaches together. I get to Kalispell all the time in the summer and there is nothing like the ride through Glacier Park on US 2. Yea, it's a little cool in the winter (-15 here 2 weeks ago) but I still manage to ride about 8 months of the year (heated gear). Best thing about Montana is the 70 mph speed limit, even on small 2 lanes, and the absolute lack of traffic. I have ridden the road over the Yaak, for 40 miles without seeing 1 car.  makes it all worth while.
I also act as a tour guide for any stray Guzzis.   ;-T ;-T ;-T

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Offline moltoguzzi

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #22 on: January 09, 2015, 09:37:07 AM »
I would never leave Asheville in a million years if it wasn't for a woman. This is truly the best place on earth to me.

I can't imagine retiring to Montana? Who is going to shovel your snow & carry in groceries in the 50mph winds? Who is going to maintain your house that basically gets pounded into oblivion 4 months a year and takes most of the summer to get it back winter-proofed?

There is no reason to live there unless

1. You are an AVID fly fisher, elk hunter, snowmobile rider or xc skier

2. Your family lives there and you MUST be near them

3. You like week-long strings of subzero temps, cleaning snow off your vehicles, short riding season


And remember, you are getting this feedback from someone who loves MT and is moving back there :thumb


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Thanks! It seems people that live in the Ashville area are very happy living there, I quite a few others say the same.

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #23 on: January 09, 2015, 10:31:00 AM »
Honestly it blows my mind there was a Guzzi Dealer in Columbia Falls??????  that is so weird.
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Offline Spuddy

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #24 on: January 09, 2015, 12:46:33 PM »
Quote
Honestly it blows my mind there was a Guzzi Dealer in Columbia Falls?Huh??  that is so weird.

Long time ago...

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Offline idahorider

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #25 on: January 10, 2015, 03:03:02 PM »
Joe Erickson of Great Falls is a regular at the Broken Arrow Rendezvous each summer at Gibbonsville,ID. Real nice guy.
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Offline Cam Lay

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #26 on: January 12, 2015, 12:50:07 PM »
When the Goddess and I first came out here (Helena) for job interviews, we were struck by two things immediately: unlocked bicycles in the front yards, and small children running around the neighborhoods without hovering parents. 

This morning my hat fell out of the car when I dropped my son off at the high school. I didn't noticed because it was dark. When I got to work I seriously considered not even going back for a look - it had been 10 minutes, another hundred kids had been dropped off. I figured some kid had a new hat, or it was pulped in the gutter.

There are two trash cans where I drop off the kids. One was covered in snow, and the other had been brushed clean. And there sat my hat, perfectly clean and dry.

This is not the place for you if you don't like snow and cool temperatures. Helena just doesn't seem to support much variety in restaurants, either, though there are two good breweries with attached pubs. It's the state capitol, so you're going to deal with NGOs, legislative hangers on, lobbyists and assorted axe-grinders.

If you think "diversity" means a bunch of people of different skin tones sitting around discussing how great their progressive ideas are, there ain't a lot of diversity here. If you want to see everything from Hutterites to hippies, Indians to androgynes, spend an hour at the Farmer's Market on Saturday morning.

And nobody much cares. There's a strong small-l libertarian streak here. You leave people alone to live their lives as they see fit and they'll pretty much extend you the same courtesy. State government is small and solvent, and most things are done fee-for service.

The flip side of that is that there is less of a safety net than you may be used to, there aren't as many public services (some of that is simply a tax-base argument; with barely a million people, you don't light rail), and if you need complex medical care you're going to Seattle or Salt Lake City.

We like it here a lot. Many people don't. Your mileage may vary.

Take care,
C

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Offline Mayor_of_BBQ

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #27 on: January 12, 2015, 03:15:49 PM »
One odd Helena fact.. Gotta be the lowest rate of pet-friendly landlords on earth. I've been looking for 2 weeks with terrible luck


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Offline Cam Lay

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #28 on: January 12, 2015, 06:52:46 PM »
That surprises me. My impression is that it's very dog-freindly here. It's not uncommon to see people bringing their dogs into stores. The Goddess brought the Anxiety Hound into the airport, in fact, to meet me when I got back from Christmas. And the boy and I took him to the farm and ranch store and to the local hardware store Sunday, where the clerk gave him a crunchie-bit and complimented him on his fine manners.

Craigslist has quite a few that show up as "dogs OK." We rented for a year when we moved here, and spent a lot of time looking at real estate. If I can help feel free to email me.




One odd Helena fact.. Gotta be the lowest rate of pet-friendly landlords on earth. I've been looking for 2 weeks with terrible luck


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Offline Tom

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Re: GUZZISTAS IN MONTANA?
« Reply #29 on: January 12, 2015, 11:58:09 PM »
My SP winters in the Sandpoint area, if that counts.  I have spent a fair amount of time there also. ;-T BUT not winters.
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