Will you continue to ride Moto Guzzi's if they eliminate the 1400 line?

[oldbike54]

I listen to you, Chuck. 

 Same here , always listen to the smart folks 

 Dusty

[LowRyter]

I listen to you, Chuck. 

Chuck?

Chuck who?

[blu guzz]

give him this frightening statistic.  in 2005-06 they produced over 1/2 million Harleys, the last year with stats, I think 16 or 17 put the number at 146,000.  that number is not going to go up.  younger riders just can' afford it with student debt and we old guys are moving to smaller bikes or coffins.

[oilhed]

NO, no, No, nO, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. God not the flaccid whale penis mistake of a tank. Just NO!

Less cruiser, more "classic standard" - Eldo, Ambo - ish.... look and ergos and BAMN - it's would be a hit.

[not-fishing]

Yeah I'll still ride Guzzi's.  I NEED to add a sidecar rig and I desperately lust after a 500 cc single.

Guzzi could bring back the bologna slicer.  Refit it with disks and put some panniers on it a great townie vehicle.

[Kev m]

give him this frightening statistic.  in 2005-06 they produced over 1/2 million Harleys, the last year with stats, I think 16 or 17 put the number at 146,000.  that number is not going to go up.  younger riders just can' afford it with student debt and we old guys are moving to smaller bikes or coffins.

I don't disagree that I probably wouldn't be opening/buying a Harley dealer right now (unless the price was right), but those numbers are inaccurate.

2005: 329,017
2006: 349,196
____________
total: 679,815

2016: 262,221
2017: 241,498
____________
total: 503,719

That's a much different picture than you were painting, and far from out of business.

As long as we're comparing peaks and lows, it's a far cry from 1986 - 1987

1986: 36,735
1987: 43,315
_____________
total: 80,050

[M0T0Geezer]

Why would I stop riding the brand I prefer just because they discontinue a line I never liked in the first place?

Mega Dittos on that.  Piaggio/Guzzi blew a lot of pasta trying to make yettanuther kroozer.  Shouda spent their lira on optimizing their big & small block lines.

I've had both and love them, and will keep riding them.  Still... there were/are more than a few embaassments in design and quality that should never have happened to the once-proud Guzzi line.

'Geezer

[twowheeladdict]

give him this frightening statistic.  in 2005-06 they produced over 1/2 million Harleys, the last year with stats, I think 16 or 17 put the number at 146,000.  that number is not going to go up.  younger riders just can' afford it with student debt and we old guys are moving to smaller bikes or coffins.

I didn't buy my first Harley until I was in my early 50s.  There will always be someone turning 50 with the kids out on their own and finding themselves with some extra money.  When I can no longer safely move it around I will do something different.

I was that younger rider who couldn't afford it.  Harley have always been more expensive than the Japanese bikes.  They are something for young people to aspire to owning or they are buying used sportsters if they can't wait.

[Toecutter]

I didn't buy my first Harley until I was in my early 50s.  There will always be someone turning 50 with the kids out on their own and finding themselves with some extra money.  When I can no longer safely move it around I will do something different.

I was that younger rider who couldn't afford it.  Harley have always been more expensive than the Japanese bikes.  They are something for young people to aspire to owning or they are buying used sportsters if they can't wait.

The difference is... when you were younger, a Harley was "the bike to have".

In 20 years, it could very well be that a Triumph Bonnie is "the bike to have", because they "always wanted one when they were younger". Obviously, a lot of folks these days don't care much for the big ol' cruiser model, can't see why they'd start when they hit 50, they'll want what they wanted when they were younger and money was tighter. The times they are a changin'.

[Muzz]

I listen to you, Chuck. 

You're not the only one.

Seems like Dusty does as well.  You're on a roll Chuck!

[bad Chad]

I don't listen to Chuck, why would I?  Just look at him!

[Chuck in Indiana]

I don't listen to Chuck, why would I?  Just look at him!

You're just jealous beause I have hair.. 

[lucian]

We all of course to listen to Chuck, It's why in hell he listens to us that 's curios. 

[Kev m]

The difference is... when you were younger, a Harley was "the bike to have".

In 20 years,

Wait, wait, how young do you think he is?

Hell, Harley wasn't the bike to have when I was a kid.

They were just climbing out of the shadow of AMF and a stereotype of bag reliability 20 years ago.

So I'm not so sure about your connection to childhood aspirations equaling adult sales.

Hell for many bikes weren't on childhood radar, but they became aware later in life.

But time will tell.

[Turin]

Quote

 



Quote from: Kev m on Today at 09:36:56 AM

NO, no, No, nO, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. God not the flaccid whale penis mistake of a tank. Just NO!

Less cruiser, more "classic standard" - Eldo, Ambo - ish.... look and ergos and BAMN - it's would be a hit.

That's what's needed, a 1400-T. Make mine Brown with gold Mylar striping.  ( kidding about the brown )

[Bulldog9]

Those numbers are crazy big. I wonder, in the 90 + years Moto Guzzi has been manufacturing motorcycles, how many have they made? with those numbers, Harley has probably produced more motorcycles in 5 years than Moto Guzzi has in its entire history. But I have no idea I'm just speculating.

I don't disagree that I probably wouldn't be opening/buying a Harley dealer right now (unless the price was right), but those numbers are inaccurate.

2005: 329,017
2006: 349,196
____________
total: 679,815

2016: 262,221
2017: 241,498
____________
total: 503,719

That's a much different picture than you were painting, and far from out of business.

As long as we're comparing peaks and lows, it's a far cry from 1986 - 1987

1986: 36,735
1987: 43,315
_____________
total: 80,050

[harry h]

Harley has something like 6000 employees, MG has I think 100, think about it.  Yes I already have a 1400 and if its gone, would consider another one in the line. 

[rocker59]

My dream bike at age 16, in 1983, was a Harley...

XR-1000 !!!   

[LowRyter]

My dream bike at age 16, in 1983, was a Harley...

XR-1000 !!!   

I've ridden it. Meh.

Owned a Seca 550 at the time.

(I've learned that those bikes could be potent with simple mods, stock/OEM, meh)

[Furbo]

Well,

back to the question "will you continue to ride"

Shite - of course! Never had a phookin' 1400 and never intend to.

Guzzi's problem is not Riders...it BUYERS. 

Now - "will you continue to BUY NEW": no, and in fact I ceased to do so decades ago....for multiple reasons.

[oilhed]

My dream bike at age 16, in 1983, was a Harley...

XR-1000 !!!   

I remember seeing one at a mc show a year or so after I got my license and bought my first bike. I loved it!  It was nothing like the Harley's I'd seen. I had no knowledge of flat track racing but I wanted one. Years later if Harley made a Sporty like that I'd have to buy one. Beautiful motor!

[twowheeladdict]

The difference is... when you were younger, a Harley was "the bike to have".

In 20 years, it could very well be that a Triumph Bonnie is "the bike to have", because they "always wanted one when they were younger". Obviously, a lot of folks these days don't care much for the big ol' cruiser model, can't see why they'd start when they hit 50, they'll want what they wanted when they were younger and money was tighter. The times they are a changin'.

I guess it depends of they stay local riding or start touring.  When I got my Voyager XII and started riding cross country to attend American Voyager Association Rallies I was amazed at how far I could comfortably ride.  I've had at least one touring bike in the stable ever since. 

[Jim Rich]

I've owned 6 types and they have all been discontinued.  I still love to ride em.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

They only 1400 that even gets a second look from me is the Audace.... 

Since I need to get the Ambo on the road, and the v65 cafe project is never-ending....
AND I would want:
V85tt
Sport 1100
V11 Lemans with the full fairing
Tonti hack rig

all those would have to be in my garage (on top of the Guzzi I already have) before I even thought about something from the 1400 range... it's not looking like I will ever own any type of California, least of all a 1400

[ChuckH]

The 1400 was always too heavy and cumbersome, the smaller bikes were too small for comfortable touring.  The Stelvio was the best match for my touring needs.  Unfortunately, I got old and it had to be sold.

[Darren Williams]

Just got back from OKCs new dealer (on the ride home fell in love with my Griso again with the clutch working good) and he said he was told by Guzzi at the HQ dealer meeting he had recently that the 1400 engine stays in production. It is Euro 5 compliant and will remain in the Eldorado and Audace. The MGX21 and California line will go away and another platform will be added with the engine. I asked if he knew what it would be, such as a retro standard and he said they were tight lipped, wouldn't reveal what it would be.

He seems to me to be a no BS kind of guy, so I think he was shooting straight and not just spewing opinion. Also, if we want Moto Guzzi to continue, we need to support our dealers and the company. It's a big investment to be a dealer and I recall my old dealer said in his good by post he was happy that now he could be riding on Saturdays instead of selling and fixing other peoples bikes.

[oilhed]

If they did a redesign of the 1400 Eldo with a bat wing fairing, cop like hard luggage and tasteful mag wheels or tubeless wire spoke wheels it just might be the only big Guzzi they need.  Just get rid of the plastic cut-outs on the fuel tank.  But if the 1400 can't meet future Euro regs there is no way Piaggio will replace it.

[Luap McKeever]

Just got back from OKCs new dealer (on the ride home fell in love with my Griso again with the clutch working good) and he said he was told by Guzzi at the HQ dealer meeting he had recently that the 1400 engine stays in production. It is Euro 5 compliant and will remain in the Eldorado and Audace. The MGX21 and California line will go away and another platform will be added with the engine. I asked if he knew what it would be, such as a retro standard and he said they were tight lipped, wouldn't reveal what it would be.

He seems to me to be a no BS kind of guy, so I think he was shooting straight and not just spewing opinion. Also, if we want Moto Guzzi to continue, we need to support our dealers and the company. It's a big investment to be a dealer and I recall my old dealer said in his good by post he was happy that now he could be riding on Saturdays instead of selling and fixing other peoples bikes.

That's good news. The 1400 motor is too good to pull the plug on IMO.  Agree 200% with supporting your dealers. Guess I need to make a trip to OKC this year and meet our new dealer.

[mnuttall87]

@Luap McKeever - what are your thoughts on them ending the MGX-21?  I looked at one at a dealer and loved it, but I wasn't sure if I could handle a bike that big.  I've seen them selling new as low as $13k but would hate to jump on something that loses support.

[rocker59]

If they did a redesign of the 1400 Eldo with a bat wing fairing, cop like hard luggage and tasteful mag wheels or tubeless wire spoke wheels it just might be the only big Guzzi they need.  Just get rid of the plastic cut-outs on the fuel tank.  But if the 1400 can't meet future Euro regs there is no way Piaggio will replace it.

The 1400 Eldo has tubeless spoked wheels...  Alpina type...