selling Guzzi's going to Honda

[twowheeladdict]

I know the OP has made his decision but thought I'd weigh in with some comments:  Good friend who has owned 20+ bikes of all types over the last couple of decades bought one of the new Gold Wings about 1.5 years back. Beautiful bike, gorgeous paint, think it had every option you could get.

Some observations from him and me.

1. Side cases were on the small side.
2. Top case was non removable. This really bothered him as he likes to throw on a large waterproof duffle for the convenience of carrying everything into the motel/hotel.
3. The electric reverse is very nice to have and saved his bacon once or twice.
4. He really liked the adjustable windshield and for his height he was very comfortable behind it and remarked it was relatively quiet regardless of speed.
5. He didn't like the stock pegs and upgraded to the larger OEM versions.
6. While I didn't ride the bike even though he offered I sat on it. As already mentioned, it has a very neutral seating position more akin to a comfortable/relaxed sport tourer then a traditional American cruiser seating profile.

The GW owner, a mutual friend on a CB1100 and I on a 2005 Road King completed a multi-day loop ride last year through the Big Horn Mts to Buffalo, then Sheridan, Cody and on through Yellowstone to Jackson. Leaving Jackson via the Snake River to Alpine Wy and then secondary two-lane roads through sparsely populated counties onward to our homes.

1.  Like Kate Upton it carries its weight well.  The Wing ran those roads flawlessly without a hint of drama.
2.  Always in front with my one bud on the CB and I on the King continuously struggling to catch up.
3.  That Gold Wing CRUSHED the ascend into the Big Horns and ran like it was on the old Tyco magna traction slot car tracks on the twisty stuff.
4. There was a stretch between Boulder and Sheridan where he opened the throttle and like the opening scene from the old Star Trek series when the Enterprise went to warp the GW just disappeared into the distance at an astounding rate considering its size and 
    marketing niche.


When he replaced the rear tire before the trip I remember him having sticker shock. Can't remember the exact price for tire and being mounted but I remember it being pretty steep.  His dealership experiences were all good according to him. I took the CB1100 to the same dealer and always had the exact opposite experiences. Might be something to that GW brand cashe.

Your friend should have bought the one without the trunk. 

[Bulldog9]

Nice bike FK.
A bit of a prediction here…
After one year it’ll have 1,200 miles added and be up for sale. The reason(s) will be as follows.
“Too big and heavy to push around the garage”
“Did not find it inspiring”
“Power delivery bland and disinteresting”
“Too hard to do your own servicing”
You’ll sell it and buy a low mile V100, but for now it’s a good choice…

Back in the early 90's I tried one of the ST's and 1100 I think. I had it 3 weeks. I was coming off 70k miles on a C10 Concours and many years on my xs11. I wanted to like the opposed twin, but I missed the IL4 motor and went with an FZ1 with FJR bags. Wrecked that on the Cherahola Skyway, and settled on an FJR that I had till 2015 when Dave Richardson got me addicted to Guzzis.

The GRiSO is a powerful entry drug.

I've often wondered how I would find the BMW these days after years on the Guzzi twin. I did cross shop the 9rt (or whatever it is called) when I bought the GRiSO so I guess that answers that.