Wildguzzi.com

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: LeakyLogic on May 12, 2016, 11:38:44 AM

Title: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: LeakyLogic on May 12, 2016, 11:38:44 AM
I recently purchased a 2007 Breva 1100 and took my first ride today. I stayed in my neighborhood and concentrated on getting familiar with clutch pull and how it relates to the tall first gear. It was a great experience and I'm sure we will have a beautiful relationship together. So, it's official. I'm a proud Guzzi owner.
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: John Ulrich on May 12, 2016, 11:42:18 AM
Congrats!!!!   :gotpics:

Remember not to "lug it"....they like rpms.
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: normzone on May 12, 2016, 11:43:38 AM
Bravo, and welcome !

So what sequence of events and/or head injuries led you to join this merry band? I was just a kid, I can claim I didn't know any better.

 :popcorn:
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: Craig in Alabama on May 12, 2016, 11:44:21 AM
Congratulations on your new ride! I'm sure you'll have many miles of motorcycling pleasure from  it. Guzzis are great bikes as I'm sure you'll discover. Maintenance is easy and this forum is a great wealth of information when you need it.
Post some pics when you can get around to it!

Cheers!
Craig
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: LeakyLogic on May 12, 2016, 11:50:39 AM
I decided on Moto Guzzi based on my desire to do my own maintenance. I am sure this will be some kind of learning experience. This is Eric's old bike. Here are the pictures he took, as I have yet to take some of my own at this time.

(http://thumb.ibb.co/hLyHMF/image.jpg) (http://ibb.co/hLyHMF)
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: Guzzistajohn on May 12, 2016, 11:53:20 AM
Welcome aboard! I hope you traumatic brain injury gets better. Like John U says don't lug her, let her RIP!
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: twhitaker on May 12, 2016, 12:20:30 PM
Welcome to the madness.

Ready to start an oil thread?  :evil:
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: LeakyLogic on May 12, 2016, 12:29:54 PM
Thanks for all the advice. I'll skip starting yet another oil thread for all our sakes.
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: Johncolleary on May 12, 2016, 12:32:15 PM
welcome to the fold!!
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: flip on May 12, 2016, 12:58:40 PM
Welcome and nice choice in bikes! I what part of the world are you located?
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: Chuck in Indiana on May 12, 2016, 01:06:18 PM
Welcome, and you'll like it a lot better once you bond with it.
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: LeakyLogic on May 12, 2016, 01:07:37 PM
I'm located in southern New Jersey.
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: Spuddy on May 12, 2016, 01:13:25 PM
Quote
I'm located in southern New Jersey.

That's okay. Not all of us can live in Montana some 600 miles from a dealer...

Spud
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: twhitaker on May 12, 2016, 01:21:35 PM
I'm located in southern New Jersey.

So is Kev M.
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: flip on May 12, 2016, 01:23:05 PM
That's okay. Not all of us can live in Montana some 600 miles from a dealer...

Spud

I feel blessed, there is a Guzzi dealer in my state!
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: Lcarlson on May 12, 2016, 01:30:34 PM
I feel blessed, there is a Guzzi dealer in my state!

Me too -- there is a Guzzi dealer in the next town! And Welcome, Leaky.
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: flip on May 12, 2016, 01:36:00 PM
Leaky, if you get a chance, find a Guzzi rally that you can attend this summer. You'll get to see what others have done to their Guzzi's and you will meet some very nice folks.
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: LeakyLogic on May 12, 2016, 01:51:29 PM
I'm currently in process of registering for my local owners group. That should help me get to know some other Guzzi people.
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: Tom on May 12, 2016, 02:24:48 PM
The Jersey owners are helpful.  "Youse in 'da Piney's?"  How far south? 

Do not throw any money at it till you put some mileage on it.  As John suggested.  Keep the rpm's up.  Shift at 5K.  Cruise at 4K.  5th is overdrive.  Launch in 1st at around 3500K rpm.  The tall gear will not be a problem.  Enjoy!  If you're south enough, take the bridge over to Chester and ride up the SE part of PA.  Fun roads. :thumb:
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: Cam3512 on May 12, 2016, 02:41:08 PM
I'm located in southern New Jersey.

Me too. I'm sure Eric told you about our NJ forum, breakfast meets, etc.?

The forum link is in my signature line.
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: gnorts on May 12, 2016, 02:56:19 PM
Welcome to the subculture!

Or, as some would call it, "cult." :cool:
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: LeakyLogic on May 12, 2016, 03:06:30 PM
I will do my best not to lug it and try launching it at around 3500rpm to compensate for taller 1st. I live in Williamstown. As far as brain trauma that led to my decision to get into Moto Guzzis, it is more like a mental illness. When I was first looking for a bike I sought something with low end torque, and an engine architecture similar to Guzzi. It had to be something I could maintain myself. My mechanical aptitude is good, but my experience is less so. A lot of my research centered around a small block. When I saw this bike I had to have it. It's a little higher revving bike than a V7 but nothing like a pure sports bike. I'll just take my time getting to know her and enjoy whatever experiences on the way.
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: Kev m on May 12, 2016, 03:17:48 PM
I will do my best not to lug it and try launching it at around 3500rpm to compensate for taller 1st. I live in Williamstown. As far as brain trauma that led to my decision to get into Moto Guzzis, it is more like a mental illness. When I was first looking for a bike I sought something with low end torque, and an engine architecture similar to Guzzi. It had to be something I could maintain myself. My mechanical aptitude is good, but my experience is less so. A lot of my research centered around a small block. When I saw this bike I had to have it. It's a little higher revving bike than a V7 but nothing like a pure sports bike. I'll just take my time getting to know her and enjoy whatever experiences on the way.

Ha ha - Yo from Medford!

I had a B11.... now I've got a V7.

Let us know if you run into any questions we can help with.

And hopefully see you at one of the breakfast meets...or running around the local forest roads (Wharton, Bass, Byrne etc.).

Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: kidsmoke on May 12, 2016, 03:30:04 PM
Welcome to the fray, and what a machine!! Well chosen Farkles....lot of work done for you.

Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: Roebling3 on May 12, 2016, 04:26:01 PM
Welcome LeakyLogic. You've done a nice thing. Next? Follow the Jersey Gaggle leader wherever he goes. That way we will meet, sometime in August. Fear not. Trust me. Our initiations have been blown way out of proportion. Besides, the food and wine are delicious.  Good fortune,  R3~ 
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: Tom on May 12, 2016, 05:24:16 PM
No excuse for a bad pizza or bad hoagie.
Title: Re: First time Guzzi owner and first ride today
Post by: Doppelgaenger on May 12, 2016, 06:45:12 PM
Welcome to the B11 club! I hope your bike doesn't ping...

You talk about doing mechanical things and doing maintenance, but hopefully you won't be doing much since there isn't much to do. One of the reasons I bought a guzzi was because there's no chain and the valves are a 30 minute job with no disassembly required. I've only adjusted the valves and changed the fluids and spark plugs on mine. Oh and the rear wheel oil seal failed on me a while back but was an easy fix.

Word of advice, buy at least 2 valve cover gaskets now. That way when you take them off to do the valves and one of them breaks you'll already have a spare. I've had one of the two break every time I've had the covers off.

I test rode a V7 and a B11 one right after the other to see if I wanted a small block or a big block. The small block made me smile, but the big block made me laugh, it wasn't a hard choice and I got a killer deal on mine so it was even cheaper in the end. Once you get used to the clutch you'll be launching like nothing.