What's In A Name

[TN Mark]

I've recently posted a bit regarding the Eldorado 1400 I saw and sat on a couple weeks ago. When I first started on wildguzzi I was Bassa Mark. I don't recall a screen name prior to that one. I bought a 1999 black Bassa from GP Cycles in San Diego, CA in 1999. I was living in Southern California at the time. We moved to Upper Michigan later that year, I totaled the 99 Bassa and replaced it with a 2000 blue/silver Bassa I went to Miami to for. It was an awesome trip down and back in a pickup truck with my dad. I retained my Bassa Mark screen name in Michigan as well. In 2003 we moved to Illinois and I made the biggest Moto Guzzi mistake of my life. I traded my stunningly beautiful and modified perfectly for me 2000 blue/silver Bassa for a 2004 V11 Sport. I hated the Sport so much that in a year I think I only put 100 miles on it. I couldn't wait to trade it off on the 2009 white Griso 8v I bought from Jim at Rosefarm Classics in IL. Anyway, I went from Bassa Mark to Chicago Mark around that time. I traded away my last Moto Guzzi (2009 white Cal Vin) in March of 2013 on a Victory Cross Country Tour. My activity on wildguzzi went down substantially after I got a Victory. Then in 2014 we moved to TN and I think I changed my screen name to Chattanooga Mark. For some reason or reasons I don't recall, that screen name didn't get retained. I contacted wildguzzi admin and my screen name was set to TN Mark.

Anyway, it will likely be a while before I get another Moto Guzzi. But the red and black Eldorado really does it for me aesthetically and ergonomically. Checking around online it seems they were mostly made as 2016's in their introduction year. I don't see any 2017's or 2018 Eldorados but that doesn't mean they don't exist. I'll wait to see what Piaggio does with the lineup in 2021 for the Moto Guzzi centennial year. Hopefully they'll release some special bikes. Their smaller engine bike lines seem to have been updated a lot so maybe 2021 will bring some attention to the 1400 line.

[Zoom Zoom]

You do get around don't you.

I would imagine the climate is much nicer there. More riding season, nicer roads, etc.

John Henry

[TN Mark]

After moving to the Chattanooga, TN area we quickly realized we should have moved and stayed here a long time ago. It's a wonderful area to live in, even more so for motorcycling. I'm about 20 miles NE of The Scenic City.

[jcctx]

Had you confused with the vet from middle TN; use to ride with Pat Cowden???

[TN Mark]

I'm a vet who rides in Middle TN a lot but I don't know Pat.

[kingoffleece]

Waiting until 2021 seems like a lot of time wasted that could be used riding all over TN.  Why not a "bridge" bike?
Just askin'................... ..........

[jcctx]

I'm a vet who rides in Middle TN a lot but I don't know Pat.

"vet" as in animal doc???

[TN Mark]

Waiting until 2021 seems like a lot of time wasted that could be used riding all over TN.  Why not a "bridge" bike?
Just askin'................... ..........

I really love my Victory and use it as much as I can. I'm not ready to move onto something else with such a capable bike. I'll be doing some basic 60K mile stuff like fork oil, a fuel filter and maybe a drive belt. Other than that, it's easily good for another 60K miles. One or two up, the Vic doesn't seem to even notice. My wife is about 5'5" and 130 pounds. I only notice her being on the bike when she nods off and her helmet hits mine. If I was in the market for a bridge bike now, I would very likely get a Victory Cross Roads. Same bike except for the lowers and the trunk are gone and the fairing is replaced by a windshield. Like many aspects of the Moto Guzzis I've had in the past, the Victory is as reliable as an anvil.

So, who knows, in another 3 years or so Moto Guzzi may come out with something that will get me back onto a Guzzi. Like I've posted, the aesthetics of the black and red Eldorado are to me, just about perfect. In the time between now and 2021 hopefully the accessories department will show a little love to the 1400 line.

[TN Mark]

"vet" as in animal doc???

No sir, vet as in once a Marine, always a Marine. Ooh Rah!

[inditx]

Thank you for your service TN Mark!

[kingoffleece]

I see.  Guess I missed the part about still owning the Vic.  My bad-sorry.

[bad Chad]

It's hard to be happyly content. 

[TN Mark]

Chad,

     Great to read your post and that you still have your 1100 Breva! I miss seeing you and rest of the group at the Junction Restaurant! I also miss riding out to see Jim at Rosefarm Classics. 

     Being content is a huge part of the issue as I've never been so content (with the Victory) with any motorcycle I've ever owned. My old blue/silver Bassa comes close except with two up riding, overall comfort and power are concerned. It didn't start out that way because the stock Victory 106 sounds and feels constipated. Like all bikes, they come out of the crate to perform up to EPA standards. The 106 loves a few degrees of timing, a freer breathing air filter, mufflers and mild cams. I love the aesthetics of the red and black Eldorado, but i'm no where near ready to vacate the Victory.

     The surprising thing is the wheelbase on the Eldorado is about an inch longer than the Victory. Clearly how they use the available space is quite different. The Vic also weighs about 100 pounds more than the Eldo but again, the Hp and Trq are also quite different. The Victory trunk comes off in under 4 minutes and then the bike loses about 60 pounds. It's a big and heavy trunk for sure. I don't know what the Guzzi measures at the rear wheel but I do know my Vic shows 113 Hp and 114 Trq at the rear wheel on the stingy The Vic Shop dyno. That's with some very mild aftermarket items. Many are running their Victory 106 at about 135 Hp and Torque with a bolt on 117" kit. Add forced injection to a stock 106 and Hp and Torque are both over 200. All with excellent reliability. The motor's bottom end and rods are perfectly capable of over 2.5x stock Hp/Trq. Though the clutch needs to be upgraded at about 2x stock numbers. 

Does a big, heavy two up touring bike 'need' 120+ rear wheel Hp & Trq? No, but it sure makes the ride fun. Who knows, maybe I'll find another Bassa to play with for a while.