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The only other engine configuration Moto Guzzi should produce is a V-8. A replica/update of their own GP V-8, that is.
In 1976, Guzzi released the 850 Le Mans also, a cafe racer that was a stylistic masterpiece and still today considered one of the most iconic and sought-after of all Guzzis. My Dad told me he had that bike.
No.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Do you ever wish Moto Guzzi would become like BMW? Yes, I do. And they had the opportunity with the CARC lineup, if they'd only known how to market the bikes. It didn't have to be head to head competition, but running ads and articles that calmly pointed out the similarities and differences between the Italian and German bikes. Guzzi had the lineup:Breva 1100 = R1150R/R1200R1200S = R1200RSNorge = R1200RTStelvio = R1150/R1200GSNot saying the bikes competed head to head, feature per feature. Simply saying that Guzzi had a lineup of bikes that, at their price, competed favorably with anything BMW had at the time the CARC series of Guzzi hit the market.The Guzzi engineers must be some frustrated folks. Imagine designing a bike based on the CARC chassis in such a manner that it could be used across several variations. With similar models to their German competitor. Imagine further the frustration these engineers must have felt when they saw the results of their efforts not making a sizable dent in the market.They had it ....... they missed it.
Erm, no - and I better leave it there.Maurie.
Leave what Maurie ?
My opinion, I have an 1150R that has had almost the full listof problems that BMW swear blind don't exhist - it's presentlyin the shed with a stuffed FD. As my opinion WOULD include many swearwords and as this is a civilised campfire I'm tryingto be good.In simple terms BMW shit me to tears and I'll never touch one again.Ever.
what if BMW Motorrad decided to lift the boxer cylinders 45 degrees up and offers an option of V twins for their boxer lineups?will that steal some buyers from Guzzi?
The writing is on the wall...Guzzi will be forced to go to things like liquid cooling and more sophisticated computer controls by environmental considerations. Once that sort of change occurs, there will be a tempting opportunity to use that larger processing capability to incorporate other technological features. We have seen it in the new California 1400s already: cruise control, ABS, TCS, throttle modes, etc. This sort of change is happening with the venerable "Motor Company," too. The new HD touring platforms have incorporated liquid cooling in the Milwaukee-8 engine, as well as lots of electronics. Japan, incorporated and most Euro manufacturers are headed in the same direction (albeit less reluctantly).So what does this mean? It means that BMW got a head start on the inevitable. More modern technology will have to be incorporated into Guzzis or they will not pass EPA/EURO4 requirements. So what difference remains? Dealer network and support is the biggie to my eyes. This is where their association with Piaggio can make a difference, but hasn't so far. Good motorcycles are not enough, customer access to parts and service is critical to success. BMW, Harley Davidson, Honda, Triumph, etc. have all broken this code, but Guzzi is floundering and is usually a sideshow at the few dealers that carry them. Apart from Moto International in Seattle, every Guzzi dealer I've visited only had a couple of bikes and a few signs in some dark corner. Piaggio needs to step up...
There is an aspect of German society that's both positive and negative, and it equally affects their marketing and consumer 'message': Germans are really into teamwork and team loyalty, that has its obvious benefits but they carry it to the point where they become blind or at least extremely reluctant to accept any reality that might be perceived as 'knocking the team'. That goes for BMW as a company and actually extends to the whole view of German industry by Germans. The point of view is then reflected in PR and advertising, and some international consumers equally drink the Kool Aid and pay for membership in a self confident club. My 'civilized view' is that over the last 15 or 20 years increasing confidence of this type has paralleled a decrease in the reality, and the situation has become nonsense to anybody impartial. Personal opinions vary but at least one US survey has had BMW as the least reliable motorcycle they studied, and they are certainly nowhere near the best.I shared this opinion about German companies, not all of them however. I had Airheads years agoAnd never got a newer one because of bad Fueling and their denial. The lastest VW coverup is a signOf arrogance too. Some Italian companies share this arrogance too and won't admit or improveDefective components. This results in never finishing a product, and since the day of the forum and internet all is shared for the public to see. So when warranties aren't covering these problems or dealersDon't want to deal with them the nameplate suffers. Resale values for Ducatis are pretty low becauseOf the perception of reliability and maintenance costs. One thing that really bothers me is the fact that even though Moto Guzzi came out with some durable and wonderful machines the public never caught on. Same for Victory, what a tradegy , all that great product development story with the engine andComponents only to never wow larger numbers of buyers even though the owners are fiercely loyal.Arrrrg!Guzzi as a brand represents something a bit more open, independent and positive.