Your first ride on a Guzzi...

[bad Chad]

Mine was leaving South Side Triumph in June of 99 on my brand new 99 Bassa!   I was coming off a 96 Night Hawk 750 and was stunned by the low end power,  I never looked back!

[Dave Swanson]

Around 1999 also.  I found a V7 Sport that needed to be restored.  I had never ridden a Guzzi until I finished it.  I had no idea if I would like riding it, but I was totally enamored with the style of the V7 Sport.  I was hoping that a bike that looked that good would also be fun to ride.   Needless to say I loved it. 

[kingoffleece]

A brand new 2015 V7 from Hamlin's.  Never rode a Guzzi ever.  Rode a Triumph Thunderbird 1600 down to trade.  Hook set, and set good.

[JC85]

Mine was sometime in the late 80s, when my dad put me on his tank and took me around the yard for a bit, then up the gravel road that we lived on and back. I was only about 4 years old, but it's one of my very earliest memories that I retain to this day. First time being in control of a Guzzi was about 3 years ago, when he finally passed the Old Girl on to me, and I got her back on the road.

[LowRyter]

Back in Daytona 2000 test ride.  It was a Titanium or Aluminium, California derivative. 

I revved the crap out of it and knocked out one of the cylinders.  Since it was running on one, they gave the trailing rider's bike.  It didn't have any mirrors.   

I purchased my '98 EV in '07.  Because it was 1) cheap, 2) original, not a clone, 3) mechanic said it would "go". 

Got the EV and after a few months, it ran on one cylinder.  Another story.

No regrets or regurts.

[Testarossa]

My T, in 1983.  Loved it then, love it now.

[MotoG5]

The day I rode out of the parking lot at Goodwin Cycle in Lincoln, NE on my brand new 1972 Eldrado 850. This started a love affair that is still going on today. I sold a 1968 BMW R60US to help with the hefty $1600 price tag. Rode that bike for the next ten years and I know where it is at today.

[Tom H]

About 1980 I found a bike unloved and in bad shape. Looked interesting so I bought it for the hefty sum of two Lite beers.

Learned what it was '72 850 Eldo police, got it running for not much cash. Battery and a few small bits. I fired it up and thought it was a under powered dog. I read the manual on the shift pattern. I was testing it in a very small parking lot. Kicked it into first and really had to slip the clutch to get it going, but that gear sure kept it going. Another attempt and decided to try shifting. Kicked the shifter and the revs came up. What???? Thought the clutch was slipping. Well, shortly I realized the book was backwards for my shifter. All the time I was in 5th starting up. It was then I realized that my Eldo had some power!!

Still have and ride that bike and the Ambo I bought a few years latter.

Tom

[BillinPA]

99 or 2000, I bought a 72 Eldo that was whooped! I had several other bikes, rode the Eldo on local rides. Sold it and bought a Cal II. That Eldo was about 8 Guzzis ago.

[guzzisteve]

Mine was Sept 1976 on my 850T.  I had to ride passenger behind Ellis Gianenni owner(still) of Geneva Cycle Shop, Geneva,IL. He only goes wide open to show you what it'll do, whether you want to or not. What do you want from a flat tracker, he seldom road on the street.

[Turin]

1991, Right out of High school, I bought a beat up T-3. Only ran on one cylinder, had no damping front of rear to speak of, and ran on one cylinder. Didn't know any better at the time and eventually got her running right. Good times. She was totaled in 2004. Never did replace the cylinders.

 I've had and have other bikes, but Guzzi's have been the mainstay.

[Bulldog9]

This gem....




2015 Never rode a Moto Guzzi before or even saw one close up..... Saw one for sale at MotoInternational on Craigslist went up, took a test ride, traded my 05 FJR..... Instant addict.

1000 feet down the road all I could think was "how have I never ridden one of these before? Love it today as much as I did on day 1.

[TodkaVonic]

About 1980 I found a bike unloved and in bad shape. Looked interesting so I bought it for the hefty sum of two Lite beers.

Learned what it was '72 850 Eldo police, got it running for not much cash. Battery and a few small bits. I fired it up and thought it was a under powered dog. I read the manual on the shift pattern. I was testing it in a very small parking lot. Kicked it into first and really had to slip the clutch to get it going, but that gear sure kept it going. Another attempt and decided to try shifting. Kicked the shifter and the revs came up. What???? Thought the clutch was slipping. Well, shortly I realized the book was backwards for my shifter. All the time I was in 5th starting up. It was then I realized that my Eldo had some power!!

Still have and ride that bike and the Ambo I bought a few years latter.

Tom

Love this story. My first ride on a Guzzi included a similar a-ha moment. Holy crap, down is up! Down is up!! After getting used to and preferring that pattern, I had to change the shifting on my Ducati to match.

Nate

[Gliderjohn]

Mine was on the T-3 I still have. Went from a Suzuki GS400 to the T-3 in 1989. Rode it home through the heart of the Flint Hills of KS on the turnpike with winds gusting to 45+mph. First thoughts were:
Damn it is windy.
Although still a handful in those winds, was like I can still stay in my lane.
It really likes 80mph!
It has real brakes. (A laughable statement compared to my Norge).
The sound is WONDERFUL!
Just a bit of difference between the two bikes.
GliderJohn

[Shorty]

Early 90s. Swapped bikes on a round trip Tulsa to Wichita, I was on my 74 R90/6, Tim was on his '80ish SP1000.  Not long after, I got a 71 Ambassador. I abused it for about 5 years. Then I bought that ratty SP. Never learn...

[Texas Turnip]

August 14, 1971 with the full Wixom package. Hard times forced me to sell it a year ago with the odometer showing way over 200Kand it is still running in Baton Rouge, LA. I'm happy for the owner.

"How come you remember when you bought your first Guzzi but you can't remember our anniversary or my birthday." asked my fifth wife.

Tex

[Stephen]

1993 Americade Rally in Estes Park Colorado

[JoeKirby]

About 4 years ago I sold my Thruxton, my son was riding the Sprint and I was done riding motorcycles.  I had always been a Triumph guy, but within the last few years I sold my Triumph TR4 and TR3 cars and was getting ready to sale a Bonneville I owned for 35 years.  Like I said, I was done.  Then a client who knew I had motorcycles asked if I knew anyone interested in his bike.   I told him I would ask around and asked what he was selling.  I only knew he had a BMW so I was surprised he told me he had a V7C, low miles, nice shape with dart windscreen, mistral pipes, cafe seat, stock seat, bar end mirrors and new tires.  I had never seen a Moto Guzzi in real life before but had told my son a couple of weeks earlier that I wouldn't own another bike but may consider a Moto Guzzi - they just seemed cool.  I went out to look at it and was hooked when I saw it in the drive.  It was perfect.  I test drove it to my house about 3 miles away, got money, rode back and bought it.  That bike fits me better than any bike I have ever owned.  My son was so impressed, he sold the Sprint and bought a V9 Roamer. I have put 14,000 on it the last few years and it just makes me smile.

[cliffrod]

During Jan/Feb 94 and divorce #1, I had moved in with my best friend at the time.   We decided to melt the credit cards to rebuild my stuck-engine V7 Sport and his lunched-rod retired Pro Twin national champion 87 Ducati F1B, go to Daytona and watch the 200. We built both bikes, side by side in the dining room.  It was barely a mile from where I found my bike.  We agreed that we would probably never like another dining room better, no matter what.  Still true.

At the end of Feb-pretty sure it was the next to last Fri night of that month- he went to the bowling alley about 3 miles away and I stayed home to try to finish the Guzzi.   I got it running (pretty late, after 11pm iirc), rode to the bowling alley, found him and handed him my helmet.  For a moment he did a double take, then realized I had ridden the Guzzi and the celebration ensued.  Very cool moment.  Great ride.  Great adventure that got better when I sold 5-6 Ducati singles & parts to a buyer in Japan that summer and cleared enough to pay off my Guzzi-stressed credit card.

Man, I like my V7 Sport. 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Initially I thought it was my first Convert, purchased at Snavely Service in Arlington, VA. But, then I remembered the one I test rode before that, "the one that got away" - a well worn '78 Le Mans. I really wanted it, but it was sold before I could come up with the money to buy it.

[blu guzz]

My friend, Steve had been a real Guzzi man.  In the late 90's to early 2000's he had a Centaro, some kind of old Police Guzzi and a 2002 or 3 Lemans.  The last one was a Stone I think and he bought it because it was one of those leftover deals that seemed strange to me at the time before I also fell under the Guzzi spell.  I rode that one in 2004 I think and not much of a ride, maybe 10 miles.  But, the balanced feel of it, the unique sense of rightness got my attention.  But Steve had a lot of trouble with those bikes.  So, since there were no dealers close at hand, I didn't think anymore about it until we got Cadre.  I think a 2016 Eldo was the first one I rode there and it had that same feel as the old Stone my friend had.  Finances were not with me at that moment, but it was not too long when my then current BMW blew its rear drive and got dumped for my 2015 Cal 1400 and I have not looked back.

[TN Mark]

In 1977 I bought a Silver 1976 Convert with a Vetter fairing from my grandfather. That did it for me.

[rschrum]

Rode dad's new 72 Eldo about 70 miles to Omaha for it's first service. They gave me a water buffalo as a loaner. Different times.

[Guzzistajohn]

1988 a friend rode a V50 to my house. He was not happy with his purchase because he thought it was an underpowered POS, I made an offer and he took it. He was right, it was underpowered.

[Chuck in Indiana]

A pearl Bassa at a Daytona demo. I don't know now who was the leader, but he said.. "It's not broken in.. run the piss out of it." Put Dorcia on the back and did just that. Fell in love with the engine. I've loved every Guzzi engine since. 

[HarveyMushman]

'01 V11 Sport, silver with red frame.  I loved it but it wasn't the sort of bike I was seeking at the time. 

[s1120]

90 or 91 I think it was. Amercade in Lake George NY. First guzzi was a 1000S. First thoughts were..  MAN these throttles are hard to turn!!, and MAN this seat is like a rock! ...and MAN I want this bike!!! That week I must have rode that bike 6-7 times. Also a LM.. not sure the model.. maybe a IV back then??  liked it...but it was no 1000s...  and a Mille..Didnt like it.  Had a great time, and it was a great group of guys. They even invited me on a after hours ride they were taking one day. Sadly it took untill last year to get a Guzzi...  but Ive wanted one since that day.

[aproud1]

4/21/2020

Went in assuming I'd buy a V9. Rode a V7 and V9. V7 stole my heart and bought on that day. Picked it up the next day.

Sat on a lot before buying my V7. During the test ride I laughed because it was so fun.  Never did that before

[larrys]

1974 I was stationed at Hurlburt Field in FL. I was running a '68 rigid Bonneville chopper, that I still have. My shop chief, Tsgt Fair, had an Eldorado. He let me take it for a spin. Wow! Way different animal than my Triumph. I said then that I would own one some day. Bought my first, a '76 Convert with a California sidecar in 1980.
Be well,
Larry

[Scott of the Sahara]

in 2010 I was looking for a touring bike. FJR, ST1300, Concourse, BMW 1200 RT, Suzuki Bandit. All of them had the same problem. Too High seat! My inseam is about 28" on a good day. I was planning on taking my wife with me on some rides and putting both feet down at a stop was important.
I tried my friend's Breva 1100 and I was impressed. I choose the Norge for the better wind protection and hard luggage.
A couple of weeks later we went on a 9 day trip to Glacier and back.
I still have the Guzzi but my wife prefers riding in a Ural sidecar.