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I may buy a new to me Guzzi this spring and get a Cali II or even take a giant leap towards modernity and get a spine frame bike.
I like the *Old* bikes for heavens sakes but if you want an old bike then why not just buy one rather than gleefully trying to paint a once highly inovative company into a stagnant backwater?
Again with the "if you like old bikes, then why you just not buy on" argument?Those that buy a "classic" bike (and there are many, cause, as said, the style is very popular today) don't want an old bike. They don't want to spend their life in the garage servicing it, and have in exchange crappy brakes and suspensions. They want a bike built with modern tecnology and reliability with a simple, user friendly, look. What they don't mind is having the fastest of the bunch, cause they realized that, in any case, 90% or the riders are not capable to use much more than a fraction of the possible performances of a modern bike.Is the Street Triple a great bike? Obviously it is, but the bike that Triumph sell the most is the Bonneville, and the new Bonneville line is admittedly their biggest design effort so far. Shun Miyazawa, Product Manager of Yamaha Motor Europe, presenting the XSR700 said that they expect that the market of the "classic looking" bikes will double in the next four years. Their answer to the demand can't be: "If you like old bikes, then go buy an XS650, we produce the MT09 nowadays".
Sorry! Hoist on your own pettard! The whole argument I'm making is that *The Customer* shouldn't have to deal with that shit!
Wayne, I've had cables go, generally a long way from home, and on Italian bikes that had a parts supply in our great nation that required innovation on my part. I'll take my chances with RBW. But more than that, it just works better.On the original question-before I bought the Scout, I considered a Griso, a Cali 1400 and (what I really liked) a V7. I excluded the Griso and Cali on fairly logical ground based on size and intent-but I really liked the V7.But the fueling was crap. Brand new bike, and it surged and such, throughout the ride. Possibly related, the driveline was making sounds I didn't like. Unacceptable for a new FI bike.
Aaron, my 750 Breva was the 1st Guzzi to have the EFI closed loop system and it has none of the issues the V7 you rode has. If it did I wouldn't still have it. It's throttle is impeccable from day 1 to 48Kmiles later. I put lighter/louder mufflers on it and the ECU adjusted by itself to them. When I 1st got the Breva it felt like a Swiss watch it's so precise. The only complaint I have of it is it's gas tank of 4.7 gal. is really only good for 4.0 gal between fillups, so I carry an extra 1 gal. on trips.
The glaring open slot in the Guzzi lineup is a sporty bike. The Griso is a little too much of an acquired taste for some people. I think the next bike from the factory will be a resurrection of the Le Mans name. ...
Another glaringly open slot for Guzzi is the cheep commuter. A small single or twin such as one that a high school student might use. That area is the bread and butter of a motorcycle manufacturer.
Is it? Maybe in some parts of the world, but not the US.
Guzzi, a niche brand that as much as we complain about Piaggio would be dead by now if they were independent. The only analogy I can think of is in the bicycle world. It use to be cyclists longed for a Cinelli, Masi, Colnago, De Rosa, all beautifully hand crafted Italian lugged steel frames. Down tube Campy Super Record 6 speed, you can see where I'm heading.
Dunno about that Kev. Honda and others did very well with such machines there. Manufacturers who got into trouble and /or were taken off the board had almost invariably ignored that market.
What I don't get about the V9 is the foot-forward pegs and trying to appeal to the cruiser crowd. I mean is there a big market for small displacement cruisers? Do they really expect to get a significant share of that market?I can understand the strategy of making Guzzi a legacy/retro brand but I think they would do better sticking at what made the old Guzzi's so popular. Good all around performance, great touring platforms, reliability, etc.I think the new electronics are a good move, but I think they should also focus on having quality suspension bits and a tank that allows for a reliable 200 mile range.
What I don't get about the V9 is the foot-forward pegs and trying to appeal to the cruiser crowd. I mean is there a big market for small displacement cruisers? Do they really expect to get a significant share of that market?I can understand the strategy of making Guzzi a legacy/retro brand but I think they would do better sticking at what made the old Guzzi's so popular. Good all around performance, great touring platforms, reliability, etc.
What I don't get about the V9 is the foot-forward pegs and trying to appeal to the cruiser crowd.
Man, all I'm saying is Guzzi MUST be doing something right as per design because I haven't seen so many old coots get their suspenders and knickers in a knot since Geritol threatened to leave the market.