Why Do We Buy a Guzzi?

[blu guzz]

It has been years since any other maker has offered anything that interests me other than MG.  It's the whole experience wrapped into one unique machine. Most others have too much plastic and many have looks that appear bizarre to me such as the insectoid front ends of bikes. I don't care how good a bike it is if it doesn't look right and speaking only for myself, if the bike is water cooled, it must have a faring that hides the hoses. Exposed hoses are a no-go for me. M-G's still look like motorcycles to me.

[MikeP996]

"I don't care how good a bike it is if it doesn't look right"

Absolutely!!!  I have never/will never buy a vehicle based only on its performance.  I buy them based on how they look to me.  Sure, there is an element of performance/reliability involved and if I liked the look of two vehicles and one had better performance/reliability I would buy that one.  I could give specific examples but I'm sure that any motorcycle I selected as "ugly" would p1ss off someone who has the opposite view of what is attractive!  ;)

[faffi]

I am generally not a loyalist when it comes to products. My cars have been bought based on what suited my needs. Tried a lot of cars 15 years ago, including Honda and Mazda and Kia and Hyundai and more, but they all had their rear view mirror where I need to see forward, so had to skip them. In general, Volvo, Skoda, VW, Audi, Mercedes and European Ford fit me best comfortwise and functional-wise. Skoda gives the most bang for the bucks for me.

[Tkelly]

My first bike was the ugliest I ever had ,a Honda 300 Dream.I really wanted a cool looking SuperHawk but could only afford the Dream.Sincethen I have learned that the only view of my bike that matters to me is what I see as I ride down the road.If somebody compliments how they look that’s fine ,if they don’t,not a problem for me,my goal is to enjoy the actual riding of the motorcycle.

[Bulldog9]

Seems to me that we are a largely 'enthusiast' community, and that influences our perceptions and priorities.

I've always bought what I liked, and what suited my wants needs and desired.  I was a dedicated Yamaha Owner with few deviations from 1984-2015.  XS1100, XS750, VMAX, FZ1, FJR, with a C10 Concours thrown in for the MC's I rode. I lamented the loss of an air cooled shaft drive Motorcycle. In 2015, I discovered Guzzi, and it clicked.

For me, the heritage of Guzzi, the mostly small niche, hand built low volume nature of the brand became part of the allure, but was a PLUS not the driver of my desire. That said, if Guzzi closed and some Chinese or India based company bought the license or name, I can say without question that those models would not make it to my garage. If Guzzi exported the bulk of their manufacturing to India or China or Indonesia, I'm not sure. That would have to depend on the actual model and how it functioned or felt. It would have SOME impact, and would cause me to pause but being honest, I don't know.  Authenticity matters, but reality and principle has its limits.

It's the same with automobiles. Here in the US, there is a huge Toyota Truck Factory in Texas. They build virtually all of the Tundras there, and once Tacomas as well. As Tacoma demand increased, they built a factory in Mexico. Given a choice, I'd prefer to buy one made in Texas.  Same is true for many GM products who shifted production to Canada rather than Detroit. Again, if given the choice, I'd lean towards a US manufactured Ford. Given a choice between a true Holden or it's Pontiac sibling, I'd take the Holden. BMW and Mercedes has plants here in the US. If given a choice, I'd buy a German made car over a US based manufacture. We could go on and on with examples. For me, it's complicated and absolutes are no longer possible for any mass produced motor vehicle.

Authenticity plays a large role for me, especially for my 'enthusiast' based purchases, but utility matters. Our Family Haulers (when we had kids) was always based on affordability and utility. We had Jeep SUV's Full Size SUV's, Full Size SUV's, and Minivans. At that time it was a balance of affordability utility and reliability.

Buy what you want, what you like, for whatever your reason. I bought my Tundra and caught huge pushback from all my big 3 truck owning buddies.  Now, almost 8 years later, they are on their 2nd or 3rd truck, and mine looks, rides, runs better than theirs, and has been 100% perfect in every way. I also gleefully pointed out that in 2017, the Tundra was the most American Truck sold in the US. Designed in America for our Market, most major components made in America, and built largely by Americans. But THAT was not my goal and objective. At 55, I wanted a 20 year truck. One with rock solid reliability, ease and affordable maintenance, resale value, durability, capability, style AND entry price. The Tundra checked all those boxes, and was $20K cheaper than the GMC, Dodge and Ford trucks I was looking at. I've no regrets.

One final ramble. My kids range in age from 27-37..... A point of fatherly pride for me last year was my kids have become established enough that they were able to buy new cars in the last couple years. A BIG step after years of beaters and 'good enough'  As a car guy, of course I talked them through all their choices, goals, budget, and goals long and short term.  All ended up in Japanese Vehicles. A Honda Civic SI due to it's manual transmission, a non hybrid RAV 4 AWD, a Tacoma TRD, and a Hybrid AWD Sienna Mini Van.  Something that cracked me up was being lectured and chastized by my kids when I sent them a list that included Hyundia and Kias...... LOL....

I think supporting your local community, your particular nations economy, and the heritage associated with them, but in the end, you have to make whatever decision is best for you, your needs, your finances and your conscience.

[wirespokes]

Machinery (cars, trucks, bikes, toasters...) are built with a specific idea in mind, like quality, ease of use, ruggedness, etc. Different brands have a different focus. For instance, the older BMWs were basically a touring machine. They were designed with that as the guiding principle and everything aligned to that view. The Guzzis, on the other hand, were racing machines and the non racers were essentially tuned down racers. Different companies in different countries may have had similar viewpoints or goals, but being of differing mentalities and resources went about it differently. A racing machine from Germany or Italy or Japan would all be quite different. The thing is, the personalities of the companies producing the machines impinges on their products. You might say the machine has a personality even though it's just a bunch of mechanical parts. But the truth is that the design considerations are firmly implanted on the machine and they can be felt. When riding the old BMWs I tend to feel relaxed and easy going, and kind of bored. But on the Guzzi it puts me in more of an aggressive mode - pushing the limits and enjoying the game. It evokes different emotions. So when we talk about brand loyalty, I think what's really happening is we agree with the design considerations the company goes with - it's purposes and its way of going about reaching them. All things change and Guzzi is not the same company it was in the 60s. It changed with De Tomaso and then again with its changes of ownership the turn of the century. It used to produce all sorts of different engine configurations and much more than motorcycles. Now it's only V twins as far as I know. I'm not into complexity with electronics and fuel injection so stick with the earlier simpler machines. I like and agree with the Guzzi that Carlo and Lino envisioned. I like the emotions and sensations they evoke, and their aesthetics. It resonates with me.

[faffi]

Interesting. My brother always said that the most relaxing bikes for him have been the Guzzi California models, 1000 and 1100.