Author Topic: What would you think of a water cooled Goose if it looked like this? (Read 8165 times)

Irn · « **on:** November 02, 2015, 04:19:06 PM »

CX500 very "Special" with single sided swing arm!

canuguzzi · « **Reply #1 on:** November 02, 2015, 04:32:42 PM »

Ugly as sin. If they maintained the look of the Guzzi engine and used it in the cross platform styles they have now with some updates, sure.

That thing is about as single purpose as you get. No thanks.

Triple Jim · « **Reply #2 on:** November 02, 2015, 04:37:19 PM »

I don't mind the looks, except for the exhaust system, but I've decided that I don't want to own a motorcycle with a single sided swing arm.

pyoungbl · « **Reply #3 on:** November 02, 2015, 04:51:52 PM »

I am hoping that the Guzzi water cooled lump will be more like what HD and BMW have done, liquid cooling for the heads but air cooled for the jugs. That will keep the radiator size down and allow one to see more of the engine, what sets Guzzi apart from most other brands. The bike pictured is too extreme for my taste (where would you attach luggage for a rally trip?). Single side swing arm...I have appreciated the three that I have owned since they make is so easy to change wheels/tires. My V7 is a comparative pain in the ass when it comes to tire changes. With all that said, it's interesting to see what has been done to this Honda to totally transform it. Hats off to the builder, just not for me.

Peter Y.

flip · « **Reply #4 on:** November 02, 2015, 04:58:38 PM »

I like the looks of that Honda.

I hate exhaust wrap though.

Red07 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 02, 2015, 05:16:50 PM »

If I squint a little, I like the basic shape/style. Those bars definitely need to come up considerably. It might be sacrilege, but put a little more size and gerth for me as well.

Randy

pikipiki · « **Reply #6 on:** November 02, 2015, 05:19:46 PM »

I like it more than the water cooled HD 750 which I really think looks inferior to some of the japanese water cooled cruisers.

I'd like to see a more interesting take on water cooing than the ugly square box prominenti in front of the engine.

Maybe a water cooled Guzzi should revert to the horizontal single layout, maybe with belt drive. radiator could sit above engine. The end result would look a little like a Ducati scrambler but with a radiator where the scramblers rear piston is.

Irn · « **Reply #7 on:** November 02, 2015, 08:33:20 PM »

I have a soft spot for GL500/650 Honda platform, really well ahead of its time and an obvious tip of the hat to Guzzi. Most Cafe Racer builds are not very well thought out, this one was very well executed, except for the exhaust wrap and routing. Read the thread on the builders work, the single swing arm rear, and new forks and brakes, amazing really what he did, would be interested to get a third party test ride.

ajwood · « **Reply #8 on:** November 02, 2015, 09:11:07 PM »

Quote from: pyoungbl on November 02, 2015, 04:51:52 PM

I am hoping that the Guzzi water cooled lump will be more like what HD and BMW have done, liquid cooling for the heads but air cooled for the jugs. That will keep the radiator size down and allow one to see more of the engine, what sets Guzzi apart from most other brands. The bike pictured is too extreme for my taste (where would you attach luggage for a rally trip?). Single side swing arm...I have appreciated the three that I have owned since they make is so easy to change wheels/tires. My V7 is a comparative pain in the ass when it comes to tire changes. With all that said, it's interesting to see what has been done to this Honda to totally transform it. Hats off to the builder, just not for me.

Hows a bout an oil cooler and a small radiator then.

guzzista · « **Reply #9 on:** November 02, 2015, 09:17:10 PM »

In UK they didnt call it the "Plastic Maggot" for nothin'. Technology, yea, great bike, yeah too, but a roach is a roach by any other name...this is a Guzzi Forum, after all. As much as I respect Honda and have paid my mortgage working on them, the ol' cx has a way of turning my stomach every time I look at it so, short of using some Italian choice words, fuggeddaboutit

Arizona Wayne · « **Reply #10 on:** November 02, 2015, 10:39:33 PM »

A poor man's vision of a Honda `80s cx500 Café with a semblance of a Ducati 916. Where's the rear shock? Definitely not of Italian origin.

TobyJug · « **Reply #11 on:** November 03, 2015, 12:10:01 AM »

I had a CX500 for a short time at the same time I had a V50. You'd think they'd be similar but I think there were far more differences than similarities. When it came time to service the Honda is when it went to live with someone else.

SteveAZ · « **Reply #12 on:** November 03, 2015, 12:20:48 AM »

Interesting bike, lots of hard work and an interesting story by the builder. Lots of thought in the swingarm. I mostly like it, except the exhaust wrap (dislike in general) and the tail section (too 90's sportbike). Guy built his dream bike though so good on him.

I've given up trying to imagine what the water cooled Guzzi's will look like. It could go so well, or badly. I really dislike the CX lump personally but they seem to have a huge following now, I hope Guzzi avoids anything like the CX. The new Thruxton set the bar as high as possible so far for looking good with liquid cooling IMHO. Just leave all the fins there, put the water jackets under them and use an oil cooler sized radiator and don't try to hide it, just stick the thing on the front of the frame and let it be what it is. They had to get sort of cute with the exhaust routing for emissions stuff but overall, the Thruxton still looks like a classic motorcycle. I hope Guzzi can do the same some day. I hope there's a physically larger than the V7, standard type bike with around 1000cc and water cooling in the future.

8 Valve heads too

Old Jock · « **Reply #13 on:** November 03, 2015, 03:54:33 AM »

Posted this up on another thread a while back............... .......IMHO even nicer.

Oh & if it looked anything like above pic I'd go for it.

Penderic · « **Reply #14 on:** November 03, 2015, 04:42:17 AM »

Xlratr · « **Reply #15 on:** November 03, 2015, 04:43:23 AM »

The CX 500 got a lot of criticism and ridicule at the time, and I certainly wasn't a fan. But I think it's interesting that a motor that seemed completely over the top, heavy and ugly in the seventies, now looks (to my eyes anyway) clean and elegant. I actually now like the old CX and I could imagine doing a nice project on one. This is a bike from '77 or '78 if I recall! Amazing really, and you still see those things in everyday use.

Water cooling is coming, that's for sure, And actually I'm no longer completely anti. Faced with the future option of an unpleasantly running air cooled motor that just scrapes through the emission regulations, I'd rather go with the water cooling. And Italian engineers can do "design". Maybe they can even make it pretty. If I ever buy another new motorcycle, I guess it will be water cooled.

John

Aaron D. · « **Reply #16 on:** November 03, 2015, 06:05:39 AM »

I love the horizontal single, for looks and the amazing feel.

I've also learned to love water cooling, and a Guzzi could be styled very nicely in that format.

CapitalGoose · « **Reply #17 on:** November 03, 2015, 08:10:27 AM »

I like the look of both of those! I don't imagine they'd be terribly comfortable on a longer ride. Can't get behind the under-tail exhaust or the wrap though. Other than that, they look like fun.

Irn · « **Reply #18 on:** November 03, 2015, 08:59:54 AM »

Thanks for the comments, and Jock for the other project CX. Agree water cooling on the new Triumph series seems to be done very well. Remember these Hondas are 35 years old, and the only other manufacturer to copy the Guzzi twin layout with their own take. Most cafe projects bikes are never this well done. It would be nice to see some true innovation from our friends by the lake. Regulations will catch up to them, so water cool they must. Lets hope for the best.

ken farr · « **Reply #19 on:** November 03, 2015, 09:20:23 AM »

What would you think of a water cooled Goose if it looked like this?

....well, I would wonder why they put Honda stickers on my new Guzzi.....

kjf

Testarossa · « **Reply #20 on:** November 03, 2015, 09:27:47 AM »

I've now had two water cooled bikes and like the smooth quiet power from both. It complicates service but service intervals (other than fluids) are much longer. True, neither bike looks nearly as nice as a Guzzi.

The new 1400s look so massive that water cooling wouldn't change the styling balance much. An 850 small block with a creatively-located radiator might look good.

jas67 · « **Reply #21 on:** November 03, 2015, 10:34:42 AM »

Quote from: Irn on November 03, 2015, 08:59:54 AM

Remember these Hondas are 35 years old, and the only other manufacturer to copy the Guzzi twin layout with their own take.

Actually, others did the longitudinal (crankshaft) V-twin before Guzzi:

http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/barbers-best/1953-victoria-bergmeister.aspx

Marusho Lilac copied this layout from Victoria before Guzzi did it:
http://vintagemotorcyclesonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93:the-lilac-v-twins&catid=52:stories&Itemid=77

Marusho also copied the single and boxer-twin shaft-drive layout from BMW & Zundapp as well. In fact, they copied BMW's 500cc twin to the point that some parts are even interchangeable.

More info here.

jas67 · « **Reply #22 on:** November 03, 2015, 10:40:12 AM »

In the process of trying to remember the name of the Victoria, I found this:
http://thekneeslider.com/revenge-transverse-v-twin/

Harley V-twin combined with BMW driveline.

I question the BMW driveline's ability to handle the torque of the Harley engine, although, I remember from my days of playing with BMW 2002's (cars), that particular car's (manual) transmission and final drive were particularly stout, and could easily handle more than double the stock car's power.

Guido Valvole · « **Reply #23 on:** November 03, 2015, 11:53:46 AM »

Water-cooled Guzzi? You mean like the 50s V8 GP bike? Among others...
cr

Arizona Wayne · « **Reply #24 on:** November 03, 2015, 12:15:49 PM »

Quote from: Old Jock on November 03, 2015, 03:54:33 AM

Posted this up on another thread a while back............... .......IMHO even nicer.

Oh & if it looked anything like above pic I'd go for it.

I see nothing wrong with the looks of this cx, tho I wouldn't want to ride it. The real original cxs were terrible handlers but the drive train turned out bullet proof and like Guzzis have pushrod valves. Honda actually mounted 1 sideways and won many races(Bubba Shobert) against the 750 Harleys on the Miles. I could live w/a w/c Guzzi drive train that looked like that.

This 1 looks like the 650 motor. These 500/650 cx motors are also put in Morgan car kits in the UK. Honda made the Turbo cx model with full bodywork too.

pikipiki · « **Reply #25 on:** November 03, 2015, 05:16:00 PM »

Quote from: Aaron D. on November 03, 2015, 06:05:39 AM

I love the horizontal single, for looks and the amazing feel.

I've also learned to love water cooling, and a Guzzi could be styled very nicely in that format.

That's 2 of us then. Although I have to admit that the chances of a guzzi that not a v twin shaft drive are remote control say the least.

Triple Jim · « **Reply #26 on:** November 03, 2015, 06:31:58 PM »

Quote from: pikipiki on November 03, 2015, 05:16:00 PM

...the chances of a guzzi that not a v twin shaft drive are remote control say the least.

Your auto word complete feature is taking over!

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Author Topic: What would you think of a water cooled Goose if it looked like this? (Read 8165 times)

canuguzzi

ajwood

SteveAZ

Penderic