The Centauro

[MGrego]

For me, the styling is "Centaur - No ".....

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

Talking to these guys outside Agostini’s, I thought chopping away some of the bodywork did the looks no harm.

Wow this looks great!

[bigbikerrick]

I think the Centauros are beautiful! Especially that green one...pure sex on wheels!
The modified one Huzo put up looks good too.  They are such low volume bikes, that it would almost be "wrong" to customize one, but looking at that one in front of Agostinis, makes me think you can build a badass custom out of one of those that is visually very appealing.
Rick.

[poorBob]

I understand the eye of the beholder 100% and while I favor more traditional looking bikes, I love the Centauro. Don't know why! I would love to have one. Come to think of it, my Stelvio is a funky looking bike but it's my favorite. Maybe it's a Guzzi thing.

[JJ]

For me, the styling is "Centaur - No ".....

Yes, that's the way it was when it was first introduced...riders either LOVED it...or HATED it... ...and there was no in-between....   Two comments from Guzzi riders at various rallies I have attended:

1. "It looks like a pregnant shrimp..."

2. Sitting on it is like straddling a cow..."

That's nice...

[Huzo]

Wow this looks great!

Yeah, both nice guys too..
From Switzerland. They bought my lunch for me for some inexplicable reason..!

[Wayne Orwig]

Back in the day??? A friend sent of a picture of this thing called a Centauro. Ugliest thing I ever saw. But I kept looking at it, which was a mistake. The more I looked at it, the more I liked it. I ended up getting a 98. I really enjoyed the 'beast'. It did tend to go through rear tires. But it was a joy to blast around on. I put about 60,000 miles on it, and sold it to get the Stelvio. The main negative I have is that I was using it as a daily commuter. There are some things about that bike that aren't really intended for a daily use vehicle like that. If I recall, they even recommend that the entire drive shaft be replaced every 10,000 miles or so. Not that you actually had to, but...............

[Tusayan]

As many including Wayne will know, the driveshaft replacement schedule was set for early Daytonas that had no U-joint grease fittings. They were actually recalled and replaced but the recommendation never changed.  I’ve yet to hear of a Centauro style driveshaft failing, I’m sure it’s happened but it’s certainly proved to be a durable assembly.

[twowheeladdict]

The 8V Daytona motor is fierce, especially above 5,000 RPM.  Like a buddy said when he rode it...."It's a different motorcycle above 70pmh."

That is an interesting comment.  I normally hear people say. "It's a different motorcycle above xxxx RPMs"  about different bikes.  What makes it different above 70mph?  Is the suspension and chassis tuned for higher speeds instead of lower speeds?  Or the opposite where it gets scary above 70mph?

[Frenchfrog]

When they first got to market I thought they were pig ugly but then seeing them in the flesh my opinion totally changed....two things stop me from owning one : parts availability and their local reputation for being a license looser.

[JJ]

That is an interesting comment.  I normally hear people say. "It's a different motorcycle above xxxx RPMs"  about different bikes.  What makes it different above 70mph?  Is the suspension and chassis tuned for higher speeds instead of lower speeds?  Or the opposite where it gets scary above 70mph?

What makes it different above 70mph?  Is the suspension and chassis tuned for higher speeds instead of lower speeds?

Yes...As several have pointed out...the Centauro is NOT a daily commuter.  It is not an "in-town" bike....What makes it different above 70 mph is the bike starts to feel secure and smooth...and the suspension becomes more stable.... and fun and managable to ride at higher speeds.

[Lannis]

What makes it different above 70mph?  Is the suspension and chassis tuned for higher speeds instead of lower speeds?

Yes...As several have pointed out...the Centauro is NOT a daily commuter.  It is not an "in-town" bike....What makes it different above 70 mph is the bike starts to feel secure and smooth...and the suspension becomes more stable.... and fun and managable to ride at higher speeds.

PLUS, back in the day, when 8 valve engines were not common in the Guzzi world and comparisons were more contrasting, the power delivery, the "top end rush" as I used to think of it on mine, was fierce compared to a normal 1100 cc 4 valve engine.

Lannis

[twowheeladdict]

What makes it different above 70mph?  Is the suspension and chassis tuned for higher speeds instead of lower speeds?

Yes...As several have pointed out...the Centauro is NOT a daily commuter.  It is not an "in-town" bike....What makes it different above 70 mph is the bike starts to feel secure and smooth...and the suspension becomes more stable.... and fun and managable to ride at higher speeds.

 

[JJ]

Over the last 5+ years that I have owned my Centauro GT, I have ridden it from my home in northern Arizona:

* 600+ miles to Datil, NM and back...at least 6-7 times
* 1200 miles to Lake Henshaw, CA and back...2 times
* 50-100 miles at a time when I ride it locally..dozens of times

It's just fine on the open road, and I rarely FLOG it...cruises at 75-80 mph all day long in top gear...However, and again, it is NOT a bike to just "putt around town", slowly...It has an inherent "BLIP" (hesitation) at about 3800-4000 RPM, which is annoying sometimes, but I believe that is probably just a characteristic of the motor...

At Datil, one of the guys offered me to ride his new V85TT (photo below), but I declined, because I knew if I rode one...I would want one!!

[Lannis]

It's just fine on the open road, and I rarely FLOG it...cruises at 75-80 mph all day long in top gear...However, and again, it is NOT a bike to just "putt around town", slowly...It has an inherent "BLIP" (hesitation) at about 3800-4000 RPM, which is annoying sometimes, but I believe that is probably just a characteristic of the motor...

I had a Creedon C4 chip, carefully balanced throttle bodies, carefully adjusted TPSes and a Stucci crossover; ran great but still had that "blip".

Replaced the plastic cylinder head temperature sensor holder with a brass one and even that "blip" went away .... butter smooth from idle to redline ...

Lannis

[flangeman_70]

I love mine.
I used time to sort it and it rocks. Both MyECU and Creedon chip and hesitation is GONE! It also sounds awesome with Agostini cans and a crossover.
It goes like stink, brakes are fantastic, handles surprisingly well, is a talking piece and it is truly unique even though it's like throwing a leg over an elephant
Mine is in pieces now as I have repainted the engine after soda blasting due to needing to repair the gearbox rear housing and the rear main seal was toast. The heads are getting K lined, one intake valve guide was cactus, undersize and therefore wore the valve stem, so i decided not to mess around and get it done before it was too late



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The valve covers will be re-done as the wrinkle finish didn't go off correctly




Adam

[twowheeladdict]

Over the last 5+ years that I have owned my Centauro GT, I have ridden it from my home in northern Arizona:

* 600+ miles to Datil, NM and back...at least 6-7 times
* 1200 miles to Lake Henshaw, CA and back...2 times
* 50-100 miles at a time when I ride it locally..dozens of times

It's just fine on the open road, and I rarely FLOG it...cruises at 75-80 mph all day long in top gear...However, and again, it is NOT a bike to just "putt around town", slowly...It has an inherent "BLIP" (hesitation) at about 3800-4000 RPM, which is annoying sometimes, but I believe that is probably just a characteristic of the motor...

At Datil, one of the guys offered me to ride his new V85TT (photo below), but I declined, because I knew if I rode one...I would want one!!

Yep.  The V85 is the best looking adventure bike out there right now.  I sat on one in the showroom for 30 minutes but didn't ask for a test ride.  I'm surprised the dealer didn't push me into taking one.  It would have been hard to decline.  I don't know where a V85TT would fit into my current lineup.   

[Lannis]

One model I never see anyone talk about is the Centauro.

Just think, you've singlehandedly changed that!

[Chuck in Indiana]

I had a Creedon C4 chip, carefully balanced throttle bodies, carefully adjusted TPSes and a Stucci crossover; ran great but still had that "blip".

Replaced the plastic cylinder head temperature sensor holder with a brass one and even that "blip" went away .... butter smooth from idle to redline ...

Lannis

We must be brothers from different mothers. That was exactly the way mine was, too. 

[Vince in Milwaukee]

Quite a few years ago, I remember someone affectionately referring to it as The Shrimp.     That's exactly what I think of when I see one.  The styling is so out there, it's actually cool.  I shy away from owning one, though, because of all the required maintenance. 

[Huzo]

Still reckon they are in the same genre’ styling wise as Suzuki’s Hyabusa.




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