I Hope This Clears Out The Moto Guzzi Warehouse

[TN Mark]

http://www.motoguzzi.com/us_EN/special-offers/special-offers/

     I had posted recently about my appreciation of the red and black Eldorado 1400. I saw it in person at RPM Cycle in Dallas a few weeks ago. Last week I was in Austin, TX and stopped in at AF1 Racing. AF1 only had one 1400, a new MGX-21. They did have a lot of the V7 variants as well as some V9's. I did inquire about pricing on a leftover 2016 Eldo. Yes, I know it would be brand new with a warranty. But as soon as you sign the paperwork it becomes a used bike. According to NADA a 2016 Eldorado is worth $8055 (low retail) to $10,600 (ave retail). KBB says $8,260 Trade In and $11,560 Retail. Those prices are within about $500 of my 2012 Victory Cross Country Tour.

     So, for now I'll continue loving on my CCT. I'll wait to see what, if anything, Piaggio does with the next round of 'big' Moto Guzzi bikes. That or I'll look at a used red and black Eldorado at some point. A used one would likely already have much of what I'd want on it anyway. I have zero interest whatsoever in the in the rumored water cooled 1200cc engine or what bikes may be based from it.

     Like the title says, I hope Piaggio will be able to empty their warehouse of the current and non current Guzzis to help them justify bringing in the newer models. I also hope this promotion helps the dealers move their inventory. I started on a 1976 Moto Guzzi in 1977 and I ended my Moto Guzzi ownership with a 2009 Cal Vin in 2013. I'll get another Moto Guzzi some day, just not today and not under this current promotion. I'm also very pleased that Piaggio keeps Moto Guzzi alive, unlike Polaris who killed off their own Victory line for the Indian name they purchased.

[fotoguzzi]

i some day, just not today and not under this current promotion.

get an old Eldorado from the 70's?

   I'm also very pleased that Piaggio keeps Moto Guzzi alive, unlike Polaris who killed off their own Victory line for the Indian name they purchased.

well said..

[Aaron D.]

Polaris is not a great analogy. The Victory brand weren't much..regardless of the quality of the bikes.

[twowheeladdict]

Sloans was already discounting '17s before this promotion. 

[Toecutter]

I tend to agree with Aaron. Victory has no history to it, and keeping it alive would have simply been competing with one's own products.

Piaggio has no other entries in the Guzzi demographic.

[JJ]

Polaris is not a great analogy. The Victory brand weren't much..regardless of the quality of the bikes.

Agreed...not a fair comparison....Victo ry's, like Buell's are EXCELLENT bikes in their own right (IMHO)...and they both just suffered from market conditions and inept corporate "buffoonery!" 

[Two Checks]

Does that mean Indian and HD will fail also? Same corporations.

[Perazzimx14]

"According to NADA a 2016 Eldorado is worth $8055 (low retail) to $10,600 (ave retail). KBB says $8,260 Trade In and $11,560 Retail. Those prices are within about $500 of my 2012 Victory Cross Country Tour."

According to the buying public these numbers are meaningless as are KBB and any other "book value"! The market is so soft right now for motorcycles it pathetic unless you are a buyer then its a golden age. Asking and getting prices are two different things.

Also to your point as soon as you sign the paperwork its a used bike. You are correct and whats worse is its a used Guzzi with almost zero buying demographic. To make matters worse the mother ship routinely cuts thousands off the retail price to move NOS furter killing the secondary market.

[redrider90]

I tend to agree with Aaron. Victory has no history to it, and keeping it alive would have simply been competing with one's own products.

Piaggio has no other entries in the Guzzi demographic.

Bump

Oh wait we do not bump anymore: we click on the  "like" icon. 

[Toecutter]

"According to NADA a 2016 Eldorado is worth $8055 (low retail) to $10,600 (ave retail). KBB says $8,260 Trade In and $11,560 Retail. Those prices are within about $500 of my 2012 Victory Cross Country Tour."

According to the buying public these numbers are meaningless as are KBB and any other "book value"! The market is so soft right now for motorcycles it pathetic unless you are a buyer then its a golden age. Asking and getting prices are two different things.

Also to your point as soon as you sign the paperwork its a used bike. You are correct and whats worse is its a used Guzzi with almost zero buying demographic. To make matters worse the mother ship routinely cuts thousands off the retail price to move NOS furter killing the secondary market.

Unfortunately, the reverse is true in Canada. Used bikes are ridiculously high priced up here, and even "new but old on the showroom floor" aren't great deals.

[Perazzimx14]

Unfortunately, the reverse is true in Canada. Used bikes are ridiculously high priced up here, and even "new but old on the showroom floor" aren't great deals.

Wanna import some bikes to Canada and we'll split the profit. Can't barely give the darn things away here

[Ncdan]

I think most of victory's buyers were limited to folks that were pissed off at HD for what ever reason. JMHO

[Kev m]

I think most of victory's buyers were limited to folks that were pissed off at HD for what ever reason. JMHO

By all reports (and by my test rides) they were great bikes. I think their primary problem was one of marketing and lack of brand image coupled with funky styling. I suspect the styling was an attempt to establish their own brand image (i.e. purposely not be Harley). The problem with that is JAPanInc. has been purposely trying not to be Harley (while trying to mimic Harley at the same time) for so long that Victory's default brand image was "metric".

Indian gave them the excuse to largely build the same product with a more traditional American look that was not specifically "Harley" and viola you have a brand identity which is more accepted, so come the sales.

I still think Victory could have been brought under the umbrella of Indian in one way or another and the cannibalism reduced or eliminated by concentrating on new products such as Scout engine based platforms like say a dirt tracker, a scrambler/adventure bike, a standard American (*gasp*) Sportbike!

But oh well, maybe Indian can pull that off all under the same brand. Lord knows Harley hasn't been able to to that for 50+ years. 

[SemperVee]

 After owning 14 HD's, 8 of them dressers and an 07 Norge, 05 FJR,  along with an 05 BMW K1200LT and 3 Goldwings I have kept my 12 Cross Country longer than any bikes previous. Is it perfect?  No, but it is perfect for me.   The reason I bought it are numerous and they fixed with their technology MOST all the issues I found wrong with all Harleys. My CCT has been the most comfortable, best handling, reliable and most storage of any MC I have owned.  I went and wrote a check for it an hour later after taking a new 2013 HD road glide ultra on a 41 mile test ride.  Serious helmet buffeting and my right thigh was on fire from the cylinder head heat. I am probably buying a 8V Norge but will keep the Victory.  A cross of Art-deco and Americana Cruiser with few complaints. Out of business -  Not good but If I can find parts online for Guzzi and air cooled bmw twins I have litte worry about finding parts for VroomHilda.  :^)   A V85 might take the place of an 8V Norge.

[Ncdan]

By all reports (and by my test rides) they were great bikes. I think their primary problem was one of marketing and lack of brand image coupled with funky styling. I suspect the styling was an attempt to establish their own brand image (i.e. purposely not be Harley). The problem with that is JAPanInc. has been purposely trying not to be Harley (while trying to mimic Harley at the same time) for so long that Victory's default brand image was "metric".

Indian gave them the excuse to largely build the same product with a more traditional American look that was not specifically "Harley" and viola you have a brand identity which is more accepted, so come the sales.

I still think Victory could have been brought under the umbrella of Indian in one way or another and the cannibalism reduced or eliminated by concentrating on new products such as Scout engine based platforms like say a dirt tracker, a scrambler/adventure bike, a standard American (*gasp*) Sportbike!

But oh well, maybe Indian can pull that off all under the same brand. Lord knows Harley hasn't been able to to that for 50+ years. 

Good points Kev👍

[TN Mark]

I do love my Victory CCT and don't see us getting rid of it. There's absolutely nothing from any manufacturer that can best it IMHO. After 60K miles it continues to do everything and anything I've asked of it exceptionally well. But I am still a bit mad at Polaris. I don't trust them at all so a Polaris Indian is out as a consideration. Since Polaris killed their own creation (Victory), I certainly wouldn't trust them with the name they bought. Others do and so Polaris Indian's are being sold. Polaris's biggest issue is two fold as I see it. One, they're simply not trusted in the overall biker community after they killed off Victory. Two, their bikes are way over priced compared to H-D. I'm well ingrained in the 'biker MC' community. I don't want an H-D but their dealer and customer service is far and away the best in the business.

The Polaris Indian Scout, was designed and patented as the Victory Octane. The Octane was shown to Victory dealers at the dealer meeting and they were promised it was coming out within months. Polaris brought it within months, as the Indian Scout at Sturgis.

The Victory Motorcycles division losing $100M line is also pure Marketing spin, smoke and mirrors. And the competing with themselves line is also pure nonsense. Polaris 'had' two of the 3 American brands. One as a heritage line and one with modern styling and performance. Why should thewy have even cared if they sold a Victory or a Polaris Indian? But too bad, the Victory brand is dead and gone so let's move on.

My wife and I just did a five day ride on the CCT and I just can't see why I'd replace it. Plus my wife loves it as well so that's also a very large feather in the CCT hat. Like I've said, I'll look at what Piaggio has in store for the Moto Guzzi line in the coming years. Hopefully something like an Ambassador set up for touring. The Eldorado aesthetics with purpose designed bags, a trunk and maybe even a fairing. Put an 1800cc engine in it, give it 'American' rider and passenger accommodations and they'd likely sell well. IF, Piaggio can get a dealer network built and maintain it. That's a very big if. My Victory CCT and the Guzzi 1400's have nearly the same wheelbase. But the rider and passenger accommodations are so very different.

[Litre1000]

I was a victory motorcycle dealer from 1998 to 2000. Having owned three of them and keeping two of them, I must say they are very special machines. I can’t remember any other manufacturer putting so much heart and soul into developing such a special bike. I’ll likely never sell either of my Victorys, but I can see adding bikes to the stable. The Griso would most likely get the nod....maybe a modified red Norge...? Right now, I have trouble deciding whether I take the Vegas out, or...the Vision. Adding more bikes could be a problem....!


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