Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: bad Chad on June 05, 2020, 05:33:20 PM
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. :shocked:
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.
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My T, in 1983. Loved it then, love it now.
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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.
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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!! :thumb: :thumb:
Still have and ride that bike and the Ambo I bought a few years latter.
Tom
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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.
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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.
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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.
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This gem....
(https://i.ibb.co/gTVXzX1/IMG-20200605-134839616-HDR.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gTVXzX1)
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.
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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!! :thumb: :thumb:
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
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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. :grin:
GliderJohn
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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... :wink:
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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
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1993 Americade Rally in Estes Park Colorado
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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In 1977 I bought a Silver 1976 Convert with a Vetter fairing from my grandfather. That did it for me.
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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.
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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.
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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. :thumb:
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'01 V11 Sport, silver with red frame. I loved it but it wasn't the sort of bike I was seeking at the time.
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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The first time that I rode a Guzzi was when I bought my Jackal 9 years ago. RIP Too-Loose Le Goose.
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2001.
Bumped into a bloke on an 1100 Sport like this one..
(https://i.ibb.co/VxjVJD8/3-CFE2451-F13-A-40-B1-8-C96-F507-BAB59-AB7.png) (https://ibb.co/VxjVJD8)
He forced me to have a go on it and he would “follow” me on my Suzuki GSXR 1100.
The Guzzi felt “alive” and ballsy by comparison although the performances were worlds apart. I don’t know why I waited so long to get my Norge in ‘07, but I had a Triumph Daytona 955i , an MV Agusta F4 and a 1050 Triumph Sprint ST in the interim, so it wasn’t all bad.
The Sport though felt raw and dangerous like an exciting extra marital encounter at 2 in the morning...
I felt like I’d been somewhere illicit and had a great time. Getting back on the Suzuki felt bland and sterile by comparison...
But fast..
On the topic of the Suzuki you felt like your knees were up around your armpits and your feet a metre apart..(reminds me of the 2 am affair....)
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My first ride was on the 96 1100i that I bought in 2001. My previous bike had been a Suzuki VX800. I absolutely loved the feel of engine but wasn't sure about the floor boards and the "agricultural " transmission. That was an in town ride. I was thinking WTF had I just gotten myself into! Two weeks later I was on tour to NM and western Colorado and I knew I was hooked for life.
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Hi BC, 6-6-20
My first was in 2015 on a Cali 1400 sport at Matthews Fun Machines. The engine sputtered when the RPM was between 2300 and 2800. After that, it dug in and did its job. I spoke with the salesman and told him about the issue. He said that "It's a demo bike." It took me two months and several phone calls to the dealership. They fixed the bike, I rode it again and bought a Cali 1400 Tour. Never looked back.
Be well,
DougG
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I did a fly & ride from Chanute AFB in ‘77 . I bought a 71 Ambassador from my dad. It had about 50K miles on it. I rode back to the base to out process, then back to Redwing,MN. On the way back, the battery ran dry and smoked the generator. I would periodically stop and charge the battery. On the last leg of the trip it was late, about 11pm and I was running up the Great River road, next to the Mississippi River with no lights. At one point I followed a car that was hauling butt, he had no idea I was there. The clouds lifted to reveal a bright moon that I could see well enough after he had turned off near Lake city. I made it home, fixed the generator, put in a new battery and rode it to my next base , Beale AFB in California . I fell in love with it running across the Great Plains, I even bought another one so I had two. I wish I still had them but I got rid of all my loop frame stuff in ‘93 .
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The spring of 1971 I was at my girlfriends house to see one of the matching pair (her sister got the other one) of BMW R75's she had gotten from her dad for her birthday when a friend of her father rolled up on an Ambassador. I couldn't believe how it sounded, and while I didn't actually ride the bike the guy took me with him on a short ride.
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2014 when I happened upon the 2010 Cafe Classic while searching Craigslist for a Triumph Scrambler. There was something about the way it looked that made me have to go take a look. I took it for a test ride and it had a charm about it, combined with its looks that I couldn't resist. I realized it was much more beautiful than it was enjoyable to ride so it spent most of the time I owned it sitting on a table. The previous owner felt the same way since it only had 750 miles on it when I bought it.
(https://i.ibb.co/5c4M48S/2010-Moto-Guzzi-V7-Cafe-Classic-02.jpg) (https://ibb.co/5c4M48S)
(https://i.ibb.co/KsyfPzb/2010-Moto-Guzzi-V7-Cafe-Classic-01.jpg) (https://ibb.co/KsyfPzb)
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2011, when I bought my new Breva 1100 in Dahlonega GA.
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I'd have to say that it was the summer of 1988. I was home on leave from Camp Lejeune, NC and my buddy had a California II. I wasn't a rider at the time, so we would go two up on occasion. I wouldn't say that I was hooked, but along came a Le Mans III for sale in 89 that we bought together. A year later, I bought out his half and got my license on it. 30 years later, I still have that Le Mans. Looking back, I initially knew that there was something special about the Le Mans, but couldn't quite place it. I now know that the engine placement and shaft drive rocking got me hooked. I've owned 3 BMWs in the last 25 years, all of which are gone. The Guzzi is a keeper until I go ride that great highway in the sky. It is my intention to pass it on to a deserving friend or family member.
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Early to mid 90's at Americade in Lake George. It was a Cal III (?). The wife and I went out-Guzzi had a good ride, no pussyfooting about, and the lead rider was good. Even with floorboards and heel/toe shifter, that bike could HAUL! And TURN! Two up! What a revelation! I've always liked 90(ish) degree twins; they feel right and sound great.
Picked up a Jackal end of 2000; still love that thing.
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New leftover 2007 Griso in 2011. Saw it on an eBay auction well below MSRP made an made an offer and it was accepted. Next day picked it up.
Both the Griso and the dealership are long gone.
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This is from the first post in my Racing Rhino blog and tells the story.
As I have said, I bought my V7Sport in 1978. This was in Ipswich where I grew up. At the time, I had actually only ever seen a Moto Guzzi once before. That had been a V7Sport in Revetts bike dealers in Norwich Road and I had been very impressed. I found out what I could about Guzzis in magazines and, although they seemed very expensive, decided I would have to try one. Up till then, like most of my friends, I had been riding Japanese 2-strokes. I’d had a Yamaha RD250 and owned an RD400 at the time.
I saw the bike advertised in the “Evening Star”, the local paper, and it seemed like too good an opportunity to miss. I went to view the bike and the owner took me for a ride as pillion out toward Tattingstone. I shouted over his shoulder something like “how fast can it go?”, “120” he said and proceeded to prove the point. He then let me have a go on my own. So I set off leaving him at the side of the road. The bike felt very different to what I had been used to but I loved the way it went. In the end I needed to stop to turn round and nearly crashed the thing! In all the excitement I’d forgotten his warning that the brakes and gears were on the “wrong sides” and shot through an open gate! I didn’t tell the seller. I was too busy preparing myself for the pillion ride back to town. I’m not keen on riding pillion and Glenn, who was selling the bike, was very um, enthusiastic.
I didn’t buy the bike that day. I told the seller that it was too much for me. I was also mindful that I had been told by my parents not to come home with any bigger bikes. However, after a couple of days I had borrowed the necessary funds from the bank and went back to see the bike again and buy it. The owner said “I knew you’d be back” as I handed him the £750. There was trouble when I got home!
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This one, '98 V11. Bought it on sight in 2014 without even riding it, rode the snot out of it for 4 years, never a hiccup.
(https://i.ibb.co/fvHh123/100-2117a.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fvHh123)
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I'd fancied one for a while, but wanted a test ride first, which was a California following the salesman who on a Harley of some sort with shot gun exhaust
I didn't get that one, but spent a number of years trying to swap my VFR750 for one.
Finally it took writing off the VFR to realise the cash to get my own Cali which I rode 150 miles home
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My first Moto Guzzi ride was in 2014 when I got my G5 at an estate sale. I loaded, unloaded, and pushed it around the garage quite a bit before I was actually able to fire it up and ride it.. After about a week or so of asking questions and reading posts here, ordering some parts, I got it up and running and rode it around the block and it was everything I hoped it would be. I think I've pushed my bikes around more than I've actually ridden them... I'd like to change that some day :grin:
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Hello,
My first ride wasn't really a ride: in 1989, in a dealer shop, i put my ass on a Calif III and ..... whoooaaa it's what i need. I sold my BMW R65 and search for a CalifIII. I found it in Tarbes in the south of France. So made 1000 km to go to buy it. THe same day I came to home with it.
Regards,
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Back in 2003 I was looking for another bike WITHOUT CHAINS (many many miles on a G3L Matchy cured me of chains). My wife wanted the CS 650 BMW (belt drive) but I wanted to try a shafty first. BMW shaftys don't inspire me at all, so finally the loaner Breva was available for a test ride. I climbed on board and familiarised myself with the switch layout. My wife said later she knew that was the bike we would get; she had never seen me look so at home on a bike. She was right, a deposit secured me the only red (fastest colour :grin:) one coming in to new Zealand. January 2004 I took delivery, and I still have it. I still love it.
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My first Moto Guzzi ride was in 2014 when I got my G5 at an estate sale. I loaded, unloaded, and pushed it around the garage quite a bit before I was actually able to fire it up and ride it.. After about a week or so of asking questions and reading posts here, ordering some parts, I got it up and running and rode it around the block and it was everything I hoped it would be. I think I've pushed my bikes around more than I've actually ridden them... I'd like to change that some day :grin:
Funny you say that. When I first joined this forum I was thinking that about most of the folks posting. Then I realized there were some who rode, and some who rode when they were younger. I was starting to wonder if my future would be motorcycle owner instead of motorcycle rider. :grin:
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In December 1973 I rode my Metralla to the local dealer in Norton, Ducati and Guzzi to buy bike.
I left the Metralla there and hitchhiked home having agreed to trade it on a new '73 V7 Sport that had been on his floor a long time.
Picked it up the following June after earning the money, my parents took e over. Still one of the most exciting motorcycling days . Rode off on my first ride on it in the lovely June evening.
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I still haven’t. I’m halfway through my G5 custom build and can’t wait. Same with my Commando. I never rode one until I rebuilt one. Love that bike. I think the Guzzi will be just as special.
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Would have been about 1970, maybe 1971. I'd have been 11 or 12. On the back of my dad's new Ambassador 750, on the Pacific Coast Highway, around sunset. CLUNK into third. Magic.
It was his first big bike; he'd come from a (1969?) Honda CL175 Scrambler. I was on a Honda CB100 at the time.
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I worked with a guy in New Zealand who once owned a Guzzi, I don't think he was that fond of it but the name always intrigued me.
Ten years later I saw one for sale on craigslist a crashed VII Sport written off by the insurance company I thought I would go and take a look, it was love at first sight.
A week later I paid cash for it and rode it straight to a local dealer to have it inspected, the rest is history.
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November or December 1969, I was at Ft. Gordon, GA anticipating orders shortly for a year-long vacation trip to Vietnam. Saw a Moto Guzzi dealership just off base, went in on a whim, and sat on an Ambassador. Didn't ask for a test ride at the time. 45 years and a dozen or more different motorcycles later, I finally went on a Retrotours weekend ride and chose their V50 as my primary ride since I hadn't ridden a Guzzi up to that point. It wasn't impressive until I got up to 30-40 mph and onto curvy roads, but then - wow! Shortly thereafter I stumbled across the Mille I still have, and although it doesn't handle like the V50 it does have a lot of low-end torque, which I like. I rode the Retrotours Ambassador a couple of years later on another weekend getaway. I was, ahem, considerably older than I had been when I first sat on a Guzzi, so the more sedate pace the Ambassador was capable of was perfectly fine, and the charm of riding "classic iron" bit me hard! So, after a lot of searching I bought my current Eldorado and will probably keep it for as long as I can physically manage to ride.
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Summertime in 87’ a riding buddy offered up his, new from Spare Parts MG, 1986 blood red Le Mans 1000 for a run through the Pocono mountains. My SR500 was getting tires, and, so off we went. First thing I noticed was the cacophony of different sounds, exhaust, valves, clutch etc. By the time we got to some curvy roads, I was bonding with the machine. The tree stump pulling, freight train torque felt incredible. It rode like no other motorcycle I had ridden before. Still remember that ride.
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I had seen a Moto Guzzi Lemans, early 80's. I thought it looked cool, but I was on my new 83 Interceptor and didn't think I could be happy with only 2 cylinders. Fast forward to around 2005. I had sold my GS1100 years earlier when the first kid started college, but my wife and I had a deal that when we signed the last student loan and knew what the budget looked like, I could get another bike. I started looking at various sport touring bikes. We were at Costco, and I heard, then saw, a green V11. Wow. A couple weeks of lurking here and on the V11 Lemans board and I was convinced. I bought a Tenni from a guy in Fresno- it had 723 miles on it.. I bought a shift spring, loaded a backpack with the tools I might need and flew to Sacramento. Rode it around the airport parking lot, got completely enamored with her, handed over the money, and rode back to Portland. Financial hard times in 2010 forced her sale, and I really miss her. Went through a couple of $300 specials, but last year I got a bonus and my wife suggested I spend it on a "real" bike. Found my Stelvio. I will keep this one until I pine box it out of here.
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May 2005 I added my EVT to go with a Suzuki VX800. Brought it home via trailer from Union Cycle having only ridden it around the parking lot to get to the trailer. First ride was 2 up for about 60 miles and the first thing I thought was, "what in the world have I bought?" A few rides later and a few visits to this page I started to understand better and 15 years later the EVT is still here and the VX is long gone. Shift points and braking are the main differences.
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2001.
Bumped into a bloke on an 1100 Sport like this one..
(https://i.ibb.co/VxjVJD8/3-CFE2451-F13-A-40-B1-8-C96-F507-BAB59-AB7.png) (https://ibb.co/VxjVJD8)
He forced me to have a go on it and he would “follow” me on my Suzuki GSXR 1100.
The Guzzi felt “alive” and ballsy by comparison although the performances were worlds apart. I don’t know why I waited so long to get my Norge in ‘07, but I had a Triumph Daytona 955i , an MV Agusta F4 and a 1050 Triumph Sprint ST in the interim, so it wasn’t all bad.
The Sport though felt raw and dangerous like an exciting extra marital encounter at 2 in the morning...
I felt like I’d been somewhere illicit and had a great time. Getting back on the Suzuki felt bland and sterile by comparison...
But fast..
On the topic of the Suzuki you felt like your knees were up around your armpits and your feet a metre apart..(reminds me of the 2 am affair....)
. So....the F4 was not a “keeper”? People drool over those bikes, including me. I have never ridden an F4 before, but it seems like something that I just have to experience. I sometimes wonder if the F4 is nothing more than an Italian version of a Honda. Except with all the downfalls of Italian machinery. Good looks, no heart and soul, no reliability? I just find it surprising when people sell their F fours and don’t keep them.
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1984 I purchased a brand new BMW R65LS from a local dealer. The following week a friend told me about a Guzzi that had been traded in and was out the front of the same dealership for sale. I thought I'd go and have a look just to see what it was like and as soon as I saw it I wished it had been there before I bought the BM. I ended up buying it and enjoyed riding it more than the BM even though it was in poor condition and had been neglected. It was a 1976 T3 and in hindsight it was hard to understand how a bike that was only 8 years old and would not have been cheap to buy in 1976 could have been so poorly treated.
Anyway it was my first but not my last, now have a MK2 Lemans, T3 and a T under restoration none of which will be leaving until the kids inherit them.
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2020, about a month ago.
I test rode a brand new V7III Stone Night Pack at a dealer. I followed the salesman on a pretty lame loop around the dealership for a few miles. It wasn't better at anything than the bike that I rode there on, except for comfort.
A month later I'm on a Guzzi forum and I don't even own one. Yet.
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It was in 2014. I rode a V7 Stone, and it was like riding an airhead beemer, and I fell in love on the test ride. Traded a Versys, a completely soul less bike in on it, and haven't looked back. I flew out to Oregon and rode home a calvin I bought from a friend. I like it, but I think it will be sold soon, but I don't see me ever getting rid of the V7.
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I was working for a multi brand dealer in the late 90's that carried Guzzi's. I prepped an EV, rode it (1st time on a Guzzi) and hoped to never have to experience that again. Shortly thereafter MG came in and pulled the franchise from the dealer. I now own 3 Guzzi's and enjoy them all. :smiley:
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2020, about a month ago.
I test rode a brand new V7III Stone Night Pack at a dealer. I followed the salesman on a pretty lame loop around the dealership for a few miles. It wasn't better at anything than the bike that I rode there on, except for comfort.
A month later I'm on a Guzzi forum and I don't even own one. Yet.
There are lots of choices on Shakedown Street, you just have to poke around.
http://www.mgnoc.com/classifieds.html
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Cut and pasted from a similar thread in 2016:
I decided (in 1989) that owning a car in NYC was impractical so I learned to ride a motorcycle, a friend's Kawasaki 440 custom, which I piloted around the Brooklyn Navy yard. Having researched used bikes I determined that a used Moto Guzzi V65 would be an economical and reliable choice. The price was right at $1,500 but sadly, at 6' 4" and 225 Lbs., I was a poor fit. The nice man at Ghost Motorcycle sales in Port Washington NY suggested an Eldorado and offered a pristine white example formerly owned by local resident Billy Joel. I demurred due to the rock star price premium and eventually located a well used 1972 Eldorado and made arrangements to pick it up at the Finger Lakes Guzzi Rally.
I drove up in my Father's 1982 Cadillac Fleetwood accompanied by my then girlfriend "that crazy redhead". The plan was for me to ride the bike back to the city (150 miles?) with the redhead running chase in the Cadillac. Obstacles included the fact that I had never ridden ANY bike on the highway and an adjustment to the Eldorado's upside down shifting pattern.
We left the rally in good form, I stalled the bike once at a stop sign but adjusted to the clutch and heel and toe shifter quickly. We were soon on NY Route 17, a deserted stretch of two lane marked at 55 MPH. With an eye on the Veglia speedometer I cautiously ran the bike up to 45 and looked back at the redhead. She smiled and waved so I shifted into third gear and was almost immediately at an indicated 60 MPH on the dial. The bike was rock solid on the road so I glanced back once again to see the redhead making a shooing motion with her hand.
It was a gorgeous Sunday in June, an empty road and a thrilling sound from the exhaust. I shifted into fourth gear and saw 75 MPH on the dial. The road wound along above a river gorge and the Guzzi tracked happily through the gentle curves. I took in the limitless blue sky, the puffy clouds and checked the mirror to see the huge chrome grille of the Fleetwood uncomfortably close. The redhead was riding my tail and waving at me to go faster!
At an indicated 75 I had no intention of going any faster but she continued to wave and make faces at me.
That was when we heard the siren.
Behind the Fleetwood was a NY Highway patrol car with lights on and siren wailing. There was a scenic pull-off just ahead and I eased the Guzzi into it as the officer whipped past at warp speed giving me a scornful look as he passed. I was very shaken up and happy to get off the bike for a bit. The redhead informed me that I had failed to exceed 45 MPH and was wondering if there was something wrong with the bike!
Further testing revealed that the speedometer, plainly marked MPH, was reading in KPH. We proceeded on our way and I kept the speedo around 120 for the rest of the trip without further incident.
After years of riding Eldorados I still have one in the garage next to the GRiSO. It provides a nice contrast to the G12 and reminds me how far we (and Guzzi) have come in forty years. This is the '72 post restoration:
(https://i.ibb.co/k55w67r/72-Eldo.jpg) (https://ibb.co/k55w67r)
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Cut and pasted from a similar thread in 2016:
The redhead informed me that I had failed to exceed 45 MPH and was wondering if there was something wrong with the bike!
Further testing revealed that the speedometer, plainly marked MPH, was reading in KPH. We proceeded on our way and I kept the speedo around 120 for the rest of the trip without further incident.
Ha! Reminds me of my first highway ride on my 73 Eldorado, riding on I-270 and US-340 over to Charlie Mullendore's to get new tires put on the bike. I was going an indicated 60-65 most of the way, but people kept passing me like I was riding backwards. Charlie was amused by my story but only said "Guzzi speedos can be a bit unreliable" or something like that. A couple of days later I put an older GPS I had laying around on the bike and took it back out on the highway and discovered that an indicated 65 was just barely over 50. I went home & got a copy of the published Eldorado rpm figures at various speeds and calculated the road speed for each 1000 rpm increment, and confirmed that my speedo was off at an indicated 30 mph and WAY off at 65 mph, confirming my GPS information! Anyway, shortly thereafter I sent the speedo out for recalibration and now it agrees, within a mph or 2, with the GPS at least up through 65-70 mph. Wasn't cheap, but it was worth it to have an accurate speedo in the land of speed traps and predatory traffic enforcement.
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My first ride on a Guzzi was in 2001, I went to the BMW/Guzzi dealer in Oakland Ca. to buy a bike cover for my 1994 BMW 1100RSL, I saw a GREEN V11 Sport in the parts department and I had to own it! I went home and told my wife I wanted this bike, she asked did I ride it, I answered no. Went back and purchased it and rode it home after it was prepped. Boy, what a feeling! I rode it a year then decided to sell the BMW as it was never ridden again!
The first day I owned the Green V11 Sport, I went to fill the tank at the local gas station. As I was filling the tank, a guy circled around the block and drove up to me, he said he saw that bike at the Bay Area International Motocycle Show and it was Beautiful!
(https://i.ibb.co/cQWw85y/V11S-03.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cQWw85y)
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There are lots of choices on Shakedown Street, you just have to poke around.
http://www.mgnoc.com/classifieds.html
That's what I was thinking. Thanks for the link.
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Bought my '76 LeMans in '78 from the original owner. I had owned my 750 Norton already for 7 years and my first impression of the "big" twin is it had no torque. Took me awhile to get used to power band but gradually realized the Guzzi picked up where the Norton left off. Above 80 the Norton was getting into white knuckle territory due to questionable handling of the isolastic frame. The Guzzi just got more stable the faster it went. Still have them both.
Pete
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Mine was on my new 2012 Stelvio leaving Pro Italia in Glendale, CA. I did a fly-n-ride from SF. I got on the Slelvio at the dealer and didn't get off until I stopped for gas 170 miles later. Then I rode another 300 miles to Mammoth Lakes. About an hour before I stopped for the day I felt a rock hit my left boot. It wasn't until I got on the bike the next morning that I realized it wasn't a rock but my left-side amber turn signal lens. It came loose from the mirror and the wind sent it into my boot. When I got home I installed the Euro turn signals. The first day I stopped for lunch in Lone Pine and I was sitting on a bench on my phone outside the restaurant and a father and son pulled in next to the Stelvio. They got out and walked over to look at it and the father said "that's a bad ass bike."
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My first time on a Guzzi was in 1969 or 1970. I was looking for a new bike. I had a BMW R50/2 which had a a fine bike when I lived in Conn. But I was now living in Colo and due to the altitude and high passes it was less than adequate using all of it's 26 horsepower to just maintain any kind of speed. I was planning on a new R75/5 but I wanted to try a Guzzi before getting the Beemer. I rode an Ambassador and liked the bike but I felt the Beemer was a bit more sporty and nimble so that is what I bought. I had the R75 for quite a few years and miles but replaced it with a R90/6. But I always maintained a soft spot in my heart for Guzzis.
I quit riding for a few years and then wound up on the Harley bandwagon with a Sportster for a couple of years, then a Twin Cam which unfortunately was lost in a fire. Upon looking for a replacenent in 2017 I test rode an Eldorado. I liked the bike but it wasn't quite what I was looking for. I was really interested in the Audace on the foor way in the back. The dealership said it hadn't been serviced and couldn't be ridden. I actuality I don't don't think they wanted to move a bunch of bikes to get it out. So I bought a Harley Slim S. After a couple of years I got tired of the poor suspension and a few other things and started looking for an Audace again. I found one and traded the Harley for it. It turns out it was the same bike I had looked at 2 1/2 years earlier.
Anyway I have often wondered how my bike riding would gone if I had chosen the Guzzi instead of the Beemer those many years earlier. Someone, earlier in this thread mentioned Harry's in Denver as a dealer for MGs at one time. I have been unable to remember who the dealer was back in those days but after hearing about Harrys I think that may have been the dealership I visited back then.
kk
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Yesterday My brother in law and I went out for his first ever European motorcycle experience. I live the Ozark mountains of Arkansas, About 20 miles on my R1100RT we stopped and he was pretty excited about the experience. We traded rides, now he's on my 2007 Breva 1100 with a very nice Corbin saddle. 25 mikes later we came to a stop and he jumped off the seat "DUDE, I will NEVER spend money on a Harley again" I have known him for 35 years and never seen him this excited. I mean like a kid in a candy store with topples waitresses serving free beer. Next he said I think I need to get me a new bike. He has owned 3 Harley bikes and a Harley trike. "No wonder you like these so much" "I mean the BMW is great but holy crap that Guzzi is unbelievable!" I said "y'all thought I was shitting ya when I said you don't know what your missing but you just had to have your Harleys." he said never again will he spend a dime on Harley. I only wish I had him on video. When we got back to the house he was still talking it up. Some folks ya just gotta prove it to them.
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. So....the F4 was not a “keeper”? People drool over those bikes, including me. I have never ridden an F4 before, but it seems like something that I just have to experience. I sometimes wonder if the F4 is nothing more than an Italian version of a Honda. Except with all the downfalls of Italian machinery. Good looks, no heart and soul, no reliability? I just find it surprising when people sell their F fours and don’t keep them.
It’s just a chance to open your wallet and show off.
Probably more of a status symbol than anything…A “look at me” bike.
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As far a
It’s just a chance to open your wallet and show off.
Probably more of a status symbol than anything…A “look at me” bike.
I have a friend that owned a 2009 F4 for a few years. I rode the bike quite a few times, and It did feel like a big inline Honda 4 cyl, like a CBR 1000. It also felt top heavy, and had a "heavy" feel to the steering. It was a beautiful bike, but not fun to ride, like a Guzzi, IMHO. The paintwork on the F4 was also pretty fragile, and would scratch easily. Cool looking bike, though, and those 4 pipes sticking out the back, are as sexy as they come! :thumb:
My first Guzzi ride was on an 01 Rosso Mandello. a different friend bought one new,and I ended up trading him the Rosso, straight across for an Isuzu trooper I had. That was it, the hook was set.What awesome torque! I guess you can say I swallowed the hook,line,and sinker!
Rick D.
Rick.
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Boring answer because my first ride on a Guzzi was in 2015 when I bought my LM2 and, to date it's the only Guzzi I've ridden. :embarrassed:
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In 2004, a friend of mine bought a left-over 2001 Jackel in the winter. When the weather got a little better, I got a ride. I didn't like the seating position, but loved the engine and the balanced feel in the handling that only a Guzzi has. Unfortunately, it had a factory defect in the clutch and dealers were dropping like flies in those early days of the 2000s so he sold it off pretty fast (he has always been lucky). When we got Cadre, my next ride was on a V7 II while my BMW was in their shop around 2015 or 2016. The same great handling was immediately apparent and this bike had a much more modern feel than the Jackel. But, I wasn't in the market then.
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I was in Alaska serving in the military 1978. A friend let me drive his 1976 850 Le Mans. Wow! I have been riding Italian bikes ever since. Maybe one or two exemptions.
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In spring of 79 I bought a 73 Eldorado in Chicago for 850$ ,the customary used bike fmv in those days.I had a Kaw 900 and a r60 bmw and a Honda 400 four,so the ride ,handling,and power didn’t impress me much,especially the brakes.That all changed when I bought a t3 in the fall,I thought I would never want another motorcycle.I got rid of the kaw and bmw and bought my wife a new v50.We moved to WI and got rid of all the bikes after I hit a cow with the eldo in 84 and we started having kids.Got back with another 800$ T3 in 97 and haven’t looked back,have a Stelvio,SP,T3, same V50,another r60 and a 175 kaw dirt bike,too old to buy any more but wish I could.
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2015 for me. Instant bond. I had been on an FJR 1300 for 8-10 years and was bored to death. Thought I had changed and lost the bug, but the Griso Converted me in the first 100 Feet. Dave Richardson was the best salesman. Told me to go out as long as I wanted. What I really wanted was to get back and seal the deal!
(https://i.ibb.co/NZ3LDhL/01010-3-Hp-TEc8-NAGy-1200x900.jpg) (https://ibb.co/NZ3LDhL)
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1971 My best friend bought a 71 Ambassador from Dolenzo? brothers in Chicago. I rode it and thought it was a pregnant hippo. In 72 when the 850 Eldo was released I got one and there has been a Guzzi in the garage ever since. 3 right now.
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It must have been in 1991. Got to try my brother's 1971 V7 750. It had the wrong cam and made little power, vibrated uncomfortably, and not only had the rear brake pedal and gear shifter on the wrong sides, but also a reverse shift pattern. Combined with a massive flywheel that kept the revs up for what felt like a minute during ever gear change, it was the most horrendous ride of my life after attempting to ride a moped with a flat front wheel and a Sachs engine having more neutrals than gears. I could not find one thing to like about the V7 other than its looks.
Next Guzzi ride some years later, again on my brother's bike, this time a Lario of 1986 vintage. Other than a heavenly sound from the LaFranconis, the bike left no particularl impressions on me. It was simply meh.
Many moons later, my brother again bought a Guzzi, a Cali II. For me, that bike had zero positive sides. I found nothing to like, but lots to dislike. Reminded me of the old V7 with worse looks.
A few years after that, he got himself a Cali EV. That was so terrible that if it was the only bike available in the world, and I could not alter anything, I would have stopped riding alltogether. However, it did finally have a decent engine, albeit with a bad midrange dip in torque, and handling that was familiar to me coming from mostly Japanese bikes. Only real gripe, other than the torturous riding position, was a gearbox that refused to engage a gear after sitting in neutral. With a better, taller seat, proper footpegs back where they belong, a normal shifter and brake pedal, plus handlebars shaped to fit a human instead of a monkey, I could easily see myself owning one. Oh, forgot to mention that I'd remove that terrible linked braking system as well.
With all that history, it is amazing I love my V9 Roamer so much. But it is so much better than the bikes above (for me) that they simply do not compare.,
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I got a late start. After 40 years of powered 2-wheelers I got my first sample of Guzzi in late '22 test riding my V85TT. A few hours later I was riding it home.
Now I have a 2010 V7 as well.
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10-23, 2003 Stone. Handles like a boat anchor, drifts in turns and constantly look for parts falling off. It’s a keeper.
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I bought a new leftover 2007 Griso from Europa Macchina through eBay in mid-July 2011 . I made a low offer and they accepted and I became a Guzzi owner. At that time I had heard the words Moto Guzzi but never even saw one. I can't even remember if I trucked or rode it home?
I put 4,409 miles on it and sold it on 12/21/12 then bought about a dozen more Guzzi's over the next few years.
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When I sold my last bike I thought I was pretty much done with cycling at my age. Turns out I wasn’t. In 50 years of riding I had never ridden a Guzzi and had only seen one once. I believe it was an older Convert. Never considered one and didn’t even know there was a dealer around. I saw an advert for a V7 and was intrigued by the general design and configuration. I found Cadre’s webpage and started looking. He had a used V9 Roamer that I liked the looks of as the profile kind of reminded me of an XS650 I used to have. I called and talked to Enzo for a while and made the deal. He delivered it to my house 90 miles away. Something I’ve never done before this was buy a bike sight unseen or no test ride. So began my journey down the Guzzi rabbit hole.
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My first Moto Guzzi Ride
August 1, 2023 is the date, Its was my first ride and ownership of a 2020 V85TT. Since 1967 I have only owned Hondas and one Suzuki 2020 650 VStrom. I have owned a half dozen or more CB750 SOHC’s I kind of love them because they are a simple machine. I also have owner more modern Hondas, the last one was a VFR1200X. Then I downsized to the VStrom. In July of 2023 my wife and I were at the Top O Rockies BMW rally in Paonia CO. I saw 4 of these V85TT bikes there and fell in love. I spoke with all of the owners and they were from all parts of the US and all had doing but good to say about them. That was the start of my research and from mid July to August 1 is the time it took to find one, ride it and buy it.
Now I live in south east Arizona about 6 or so miles north of the border. The bike I found was in Denver, a bit over 800 miles. We drove up to Denver, completed the deal on the bike and took the back way through the mountains back to home. We left early afternoon and clocked 200miles before stopping for the day. Day two clocked 560 miles before we stopped because the Jeep broke down a 100 miles from home. Got a tow for the Jeep and completed the trip on day 3.
5 1/2 months prior to this trip I had screws and rods put in my back L3-L4, L4-L5. So major back surgery. The doctor said a one year timeframe for total recovery. Well I didn’t listen since two weeks before the wife and I did 1800 miles to and from Paonia and now another 800 plus miles on a new bike.
Since August 1 I have clocked over 6000 miles on the V85TT. I guess I like the bike. It always puts a smile on my face. And like the CB750 SOHC it is a simple machine. I do my own maintenance and this was a key factor in buying it. Anyway that is my story and I am sticking to it.
(https://i.ibb.co/X7fcGJm/Screenshot-2023-08-15-at-7-04-13-PM.png) (https://ibb.co/X7fcGJm)
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I saw my first Guzzi, a 69 Ambassador, in 1969 at a dealership just outside of Ft. Gordon, GA. First ride didn't happen until decades later when I rode a V50 for a day on a RetroTour weekend in Pennsylvania. I'd been riding a 75 Norton for many years by that time and although the V50's handiing was great, I missed the low-end torque of the Norton. A couple of years later I rode the RetroTour's Ambassador on an overnight tour and liked it overall, although I remember that I struggled a little to adapt to the 1-up, 3-down shift pattern. At any rate, after riding the Ambassador I stumbled across a 1990 Mille GT not far from my home and bought it. Loved the low-end torque and styling, and although the handling wasn't nearly as quick as my Norton, it was still moderately fun on curvy roads and felt rock-solid at highway speeds.
Started looking for an Eldorado 850 after the Mille GT started getting too uncomfortable to ride for extended periods & found one to my liking a couple of years later in 2018. Turns out that the Eldo's handling sort of splits the difference between the Norton & the Mille.
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"How come you remember when you bought your first Guzzi but you can't remember our anniversary or my birthday." asked my fifth wife.
Texas Turnup.
I love this comment. Thanks for the morning chuckle.
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"How come you remember when you bought your first Guzzi but you can't remember our anniversary or my birthday." asked my fifth wife.
Texas Turnup.
I love this comment. Thanks for the morning chuckle.
After having had 5 of them, I’d be surprised if he could remember her name…!
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2016. My Honda Deauville had been written off by insurance after a very minor accident and I was looking for another shaft-drive bike. The Breva seemed the most practical (and best looking). One appeared for sale in a town (Traralgon) 400km away so we went for a drive.
It turns out the owner was 84 years old. When the bike fell over in his shed and he couldn't pick it up by himself he decided he needed a lighter bike. He bought a KTM 350 I believe.
I took the bike for a test ride, liked it, bought it. We had dinner in the pub, stayed the night in a motel and I rode it the 400km home the next day.
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2016. My Honda Deauville had been written off by insurance after a very minor accident and I was looking for another shaft-drive bike. The Breva seemed the most practical (and best looking). One appeared for sale in a town (Traralgon) 400km away so we went for a drive.
It turns out the owner was 84 years old. When the bike fell over in his shed and he couldn't pick it up by himself he decided he needed a lighter bike. He bought a KTM 350 I believe.
I took the bike for a test ride, liked it, bought it. We had dinner in the pub, stayed the night in a motel and I rode it the 400km home the next day.
Great story, I love that stuff…
Have you still got it ?
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Great story, I love that stuff…
Have you still got it ?
(https://i.ibb.co/7JnLW2w/Screenshot-2024-01-19-103022.jpg) (https://ibb.co/7JnLW2w)
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(https://i.ibb.co/7JnLW2w/Screenshot-2024-01-19-103022.jpg) (https://ibb.co/7JnLW2w)
Beauty…
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When I bought my well used 74 850-T in 79 ,I was so used to my 550 Honda with a Yosh cam and Kerker I didn't noticed that clutch was slipping I just thought it felt normal ,( you had to get the rpm's up on the 550 to go anywhere) I got an early introduction to doing a clutch on a Guzzi.
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When I bought the leaking from every seal Vert, I didn’t know the fuel taps.
Ran out of gas w fuel onboard!
Worse, I had to have it towed…
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Made a deal on a LeMans Tenni. Flew from Portland, OR to Sacramento, rode it around the airport parking lot. Paid the man and rode it home. Had to sell her a few years later in a time of financial crisis, but my next and current, and likely my last bike, is the Stelvio. Nothing else has this much soul.