Piaggio Group Should Rebadge Aprilia to Moto Guzzi

[MadMike]

So I'm thinking not many non-riders have heard of Aprilia or their limited racing heritage. Why bother building this brand up as a racing/ tech heavy arm of the Piaggio Group when Piaggio already owns a brand with tremendous racing history. The Moto Guzzi singles, the fore and aft V-twins and the mighty V8 are all legendary. There is no reason a Moto Guzzi has to be a Port to Starboard V-twin engined motorcycle. Polaris purchased a legendary brand and now they are giving Harley a run for their money. Piaggio Group owns a legendary brand with tremendous racing heritage but has decided to turn the flying eagle into a retro cruiser product tailored for bearded hipsters.

I say release Moto Guzzi from the pigeon hole yoke of the sideways V-Twin and reintroduce the brand as a cutting edge motorcycle back in the business of winning trophy's. Relegate Aprilia to scooters and mopeds. Piaggio group can surely win races under the Aprilia banner but no matter how much marketing they throw at a scooter manufacturer who up until a couple decades ago was using Rotax engines, Aprilia will never be able to build a heritage equal to Moto Guzzi.

[oldbike54]

  Problem is , how many people know what a Moto Guzzi is ?

 Dusty

[tazio]

It's time the world learned. Again!
 

[rocker59]

Aprilia is well known in Europe...

Personally, I don't care for Aprilias.  Never have.  If Piaggio started rebranding Aprilias as Guzzis, I'd be out of here...

[oldbike54]

Aprilia is well known in Europe...

 Yeah , and followers of SBK or GP racing from the 1980's are familiar with Aprilia . Moto Guzzi not so much .


 

It's time the world learned. Again!
 

 We're tryin' dude 

 Dusty

[cruzziguzzi]

How many people knew of MV Augusta 10 years ago? They reinvented themselves and did quite well outa the chute.

Heritage is heritage and is fairly easily resurrected if given a solid foundation.... Indian?

A guzzi need not be a v-twin nor even a flat single. Hell, they were innovation rolling for a long time. No need to go "full Harleytard" now!


Todd.

[Chuck in Indiana]

How many people knew of MV Augusta 10 years ago? They reinvented themselves and did quite well outa the chute.

Heritage is heritage and is fairly easily resurrected if given a solid foundation.... Indian?

A guzzi need not be a v-twin nor even a flat single. Hell, they were innovation rolling for a long time. No need to go "full Harleytard" now!


Todd.

Agreed.

[Travlr]

>There is no reason a Moto Guzzi has to be a Port to Starboard V-twin engined motorcycle

Stick a fork in Aprilia and bring back the Guzzi V-8.

M

[oldbike54]

How many people knew of MV Augusta 10 years ago? They reinvented themselves and did quite well outa the chute.

Heritage is heritage and is fairly easily resurrected if given a solid foundation.... Indian?

A guzzi need not be a v-twin nor even a flat single. Hell, they were innovation rolling for a long time. No need to go "full Harleytard" now!


Todd.

 I seriously doubt if very many non-enthusiasts have heard of MV Agusta either . I have never ever heard someone say "yeah , I had one of them there MV Agustas back in 1972" 

 Dusty

[father guzzi obrian]

I am a long time guzzi enthusiast, but how many Aprillias sold vs Guzzi, and what was the mix?  I really like the Mana , and it seems to be Aprillias turd in the punchbowl.   I don't know what to think of Guzzi now that they are appealing to an entire different market, seems that owners of CARC models will have classics soon that are still great bikes....    (Bill Ross, sell me back my Griso :) )

[pikipiki]

 Like the rebadged Benelli's like that worked!
No. Guzzi's are made in Mandello de Lario, that's it, full stop, end off, punto, finalle.

It's kind of like Parma Ham. The factory's small MG production will never top 10,000p.a.

Ok I know Harleys are now made in India but it's not quite the same Indian's really wanted Harleys, that was like when Pepsi went to the USSR.

There you have it. MG Parma Ham, HD Pepsi.

[oldbike54]

Like the rebadged Benelli's like that worked!
No. Guzzi's are made in Mandello de Lario, that's it, full stop, end off, punto, finalle.

It's kind of like Parma Ham. The factory's small MG production will never top 10,000p.a.

Ok I know Harleys are now made in India but it's not quite the same Indian's really wanted Harleys, that was like when Pepsi went to the USSR.

There you have it. MG Parma Ham, HD Pepsi.

 Isn't Parma ham made in Ohio  Seriously Mr Piki , your assertion makes perfect sense , although modern Bonnevilles are made in Thailand and sell like hots cakes . (Lisa Douglass reference}

 Dusty

[pikipiki]

Isn't Parma ham made in Ohio  Seriously Mr Piki , your assertion makes perfect sense , although modern Bonnevilles are made in Thailand and sell like hots cakes . (Lisa Douglass reference}

 Dusty

Ohio, quite probable and Birmingham Alabama too but NOT Birmingham UK.
You see there are EU rules on these things:

http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/parma-ham-welcomes-the-european-court-ruling-on-slicing-and-packaging-pre-sliced-155440065.html
(Asda is Walmart UK branch)

Personnaly I don't much like these hard written down rules makes you want to go out and brake 'em. But the unwritten rules I go along with and I think there's an unwritten rule now Guzzi's are made in M'Lario

[Mark West]

It would make no sense at all in my humble opinion. Two totally different platforms, targeting totally different consumers. Furthermore, I think a lot more people know Aprilia than MG and that includes riders and non riders.

Guzzi may have a racing heritage and I see nothing wrong with using that as part of their marketing a retro style bike, but I don't think anyone is assuming that means they are competitive by modern sportbike standards.

[Toecutter]

No.

Also, the term "hipster" needs to die. It's lost all meaning and become ironic in it's use. "I liked this before that guy did... he's such a hipster for liking it now".

[oldbike54]

No.

Also, the term "hipster" needs to die. It's lost all meaning and become ironic in it's use. "I liked this before that guy did... he's such a hipster for liking it now".

 Hipster must die 

 As for playing on racing heritage , it doesn't work , especially based on heritage from what , over 50 years ago now . Don't bring up the Dr John bikes , hell , that was 30 years ago , no one cares . If racing success breeds huge sales , why hasn't Aprilia sold in huge numbers ? Or why hasn't HD made more than a token attempt to go racing ? Heritage sells motorcycles , and badging V4's as Moto Guzzis isn't heritage . As for the legendary V8 , show me a race it ever won . The V twin is the Moto Guzzi heritage , at least since 1967 , way more built than any other engine configuration. If you want to go fast , buy a Ducati , or a Honda , or do like so many here have done , buy an older hot rod Guzzi and update it .

 Dusty

[Penderic]

And call the new company Muto Gozzilla! 

[canuguzzi]

Quote a difference in a heritage here (Indian) and trying to resurrect an Italian one in the US where it never really existed. That isn't to say the US market is all important but when you compare a resurrected Indian brand to Moto Guzzi it doesn't work.

What works, heritage or not is making bike people want to buy. It doesn't matter what the heritage is, if the bikes don't appeal to buyers it makes no difference.

Look at HD. It had to change to get new buyers, it was stomped on by Honda and everyone else. If they kept making the same bikes in the way they put them out, HD would be the Moto Guzzi of the market instead of a leader.

If Piaggio wanted to use a name to affect perceptions it could simply call itself "MOTO" and then have divisions:

Moto Aprilia
Moto Piaggio
Moto Guzzi

More people probably know about Piaggio from buying scooters than know about Aprilia and Guzzi combined.

[pikipiki]

But they are working on a shaft drive Aprillia!

So there wont be a Norge/St..io but there will be an equivilent Aprillia (if there isn't already)


http://www.morebikes.co.uk/scoop-shaft-driven-aprilia-on-the-way-patents-show-radical-plan/

So this spells a shrinking use of Guzzi brand not an expansion.

[Arizona Wayne]

When I tell  bystanders my MP3s are made by Piaggio their faces go blank, but then I tell them Piaggio makes Vespas too.   They go Ahhhh   

I like that:  Moto Aprilia
                 Moto Piaggio
                 Moto Guzzi

[canuguzzi]

When I tell  bystanders my MP3s are made by Piaggio their faces go blank, but then I tell them Piaggio makes Vespas too.   They go Ahhhh   

The MP3 is an under utilized model line. Saw one the other day outfitted for distance. It was the 500 model. Looked like the rider was headed across the country.

So add Moto Vespa to the above.

Moto Guzzi would become the GMC of MOTO. A brand with a loyal following but not in the limelight all the time.

Isn't it time for  850 MP3 , motor out of the Mana?

[oldbike54]

 Hmm , maybe the smart business move would be to just badge every product built under the Piaggio umbrella as Vespa 

 I can hear on of those breathless British announcers for SBK . " Sylvain Guintoli on the Vespa goes to the lead" 

 Dusty

[pikipiki]

Moto Gilera? No I think that one must be Gilera-Moto.

Don't know about the MP3 being under utilized. They have really tried, 125,350,400,500, Hybrid elecric, wide track, narrow track,Fuocco just hasn't had the market impact although I here they sell well in France?

[Steph]

But they are working on a shaft drive Aprillia!

So there wont be a Norge/St..io but there will be an equivilent Aprillia (if there isn't already)


http://www.morebikes.co.uk/scoop-shaft-driven-aprilia-on-the-way-patents-show-radical-plan/

So this spells a shrinking use of Guzzi brand not an expansion.

Here's your answer on CARC replacement, Aprilia's V4 With a shaft for the new Griso.
Coming to your local showroom next summer 

[Arizona Wayne]

Moto Gilera? No I think that one must be Gilera-Moto.

Don't know about the MP3 being under utilized. They have really tried, 125,350,400,500, Hybrid elecric, wide track, narrow track,Fuocco just hasn't had the market impact although I here they sell well in France?

Mp3s are very popular in Europe, not much here.  I ride my 400 all over the west and most every biker waves to me now.  I call it a poor man's trike that leans. 

[Arizona Wayne]

The MP3 is an under utilized model line. Saw one the other day outfitted for distance. It was the 500 model. Looked like the rider was headed across the country.

So add Moto Vespa to the above.


Isn't it time for  850 MP3 , motor out of the Mana?

On the MP3 the single motor is literally right under your seat.  If the Mana motor was added there would be no step thru any more and that is part of what's great about a scooter for us oldsters.   Really I don't feel a need for more power on my 400(39 hp) MP3.  With the CVT it does just fine, even up 6% grades I can still maintain 65 mph or higher fully loaded, cruise @ 80 mph if I want to on level ground.   Top speed is 90 mph.  There are faster maxi-scooters, but when you are on 1 that's not your mindset.   Mine is comfort, load capacity, mpg, weather protection.

[omega1987]

Aprilia have been making excellent 50, 125 & 250cc bikes for years so they have a bit of a cult following amongst younger riders here in the UK who often progress onto their bigger bikes.

I think I'd go for either an Aprilia or KTM if I was looking for a sportsbike.

[twowings]

If you really want to help, patronize the fine Guzzi dealers and parts suppliers who are part of this forum, deal with Guzzi dealers for new bikes and warranty service, and rescue any stray Guzzi you can...now that my CARC bike is a 'classic', I'm going to start saving for a parts Norge...Piaggio is going to do whatever the hell they want to do, so supporting the brand is up to YOU...otherwise, contact Piaggio and tell them you have a couple of billion you want to invest and I'm sure they will listen to your ideas then....

[LowRyter]

You might recall that I was advocating that we could share some Aprilia hardware and Guzzify it.

I thought a big bore Tuono set up for Sports and Sport Touring would be a hit.  With classic styling rather than the folded paper bodywork. 

Now Aprilia has already come out with an 1100 (vs the 1000 sportbike). 

And I was thinking the GP version would be a Guzzi and the Superbike would be an Aprilia. 

Anything to update the Guzzi product from cruisers. 

[Arizona Wayne]

 

Anything to update the Guzzi product from cruisers.
[/quote]



There are more cruisers on the road than any other style of MC.  If MG had more dealers with competent mechanics they would sell more MCs.  But at the same time a dealer has to sell more brands than just Moto Guzzi to survive.  Now maybe the Piaggio family of scooters, Guzzis, Aprilias is a good combination.   A little something for everyone.