The V85 is a new direction for Guzzi... And probably not for me.

[s1120]

I don't know how he can afford to floor all those new Guzzis (did you see the other dozen in the loft?).

That said I think I saw at least 5 lifts in the shop all with bikes actively being serviced, so I suspect that had something to do with it.

Yes I did get to see the loft. Really an amazing place for a old gearhead!!  Ive not ever seen that many Guzzis in one place before!! 

[blu guzz]

Cadre in Cincy is very similar.  You definitely get nostalgic walking in.  But, unlike other brands that force dealers to have a Disneyland store, these guys can afford their rent and with careful management and a strong shop can actually make a little money.  The BMW shop that folded in Cincy 15 years ago was in a huge space with a $6,000 a month rent and probably another $2,000 in utilities.  How do you make money under those circumstances if things slow down even a little?

[Bud]

     I think most motorcycle shops make most of their profit on service not sales. Jim Hamlin and the guys know their stuff and provide customer service, a thing of the past in most places. Being about an hour and a half drive for me, I schedule for Saturday and Jim always gets it done for me on the same day.
     By the way Kev did you see the pool table and hang out area on the second floor?

[Kev m]

     I think most motorcycle shops make most of their profit on service not sales. Jim Hamlin and the guys know their stuff and provide customer service, a thing of the past in most places. Being about an hour and a half drive for me, I schedule for Saturday and Jim always gets it done for me on the same day.
     By the way Kev did you see the pool table and hang out area on the second floor?

Yeah to both. But they have to be doing serious bank on service to floor plan $200k+ on new Guzzis and Aprilias.

Saw the pool room on the way to the loft. Nice touch, but I'm more impressed with the people and the shop.

[Tusayan]

The BMW shop that folded in Cincy 15 years ago was in a huge space with a $6,000 a month rent and probably another $2,000 in utilities.  How do you make money under those circumstances if things slow down even a little?

A BMW motorcycle dealer friend of mine spends more than three times that much on rent today, not sure about utilities.  Things have slowed down in the last 1-2 years but it’s still a money making enterprise given the money per unit spent by BMW people.  At a dealer that size, staff costs more than rent regardless.

GP Motorcycles (Ducati, Guzzi, Aprilia now KTM and etc) used to have a wonderful old brick building, gigantic and as I was told on a long term lease locked at only $4K per month rent (this was over 10 years ago). That allowed them a lot of freedom and space that seemed to disappear when the owner went in deep, bought a different building and started making money on RE appreciation as well as motorcycles. It’s the way of the world, eventually successful small businesses start to see that the way to wealth, retirement etc is rational property investment, supported by cash flow from the business.  I’m not a huge fan of GP’s current digs, but I guess the location has more character than most dealerships now.

[blu guzz]

We are in a small mid-west city compared to the large west coast towns.  It is all relative.  For our area, that level of overhead was impossible to sustain.  He had started out in a much more modest and affordable space where they had been successful.  Whether pushed by BMW Corporate or his own ideas, they moved into the huge space and did alright until the change-over in the 4th quarter of 2005 when the RT changed from the flowing lines of the 1150 series to the more controversial style and 20% price bump of the 1200 series.  The entire region of 12 dealerships sold 11 bikes that quarter, thus the beginning of the end.  Even with a good shop operation.  No new bike sales= far diminished accessory sales.   

[twowheeladdict]

     I think most motorcycle shops make most of their profit on service not sales. Jim Hamlin and the guys know their stuff and provide customer service, a thing of the past in most places. Being about an hour and a half drive for me, I schedule for Saturday and Jim always gets it done for me on the same day.
     By the way Kev did you see the pool table and hang out area on the second floor?

Sloans in Murfreesboro carries like 13 different marques but they are a family owned and run business for 50 years.  Not sure how knowledgeable they are to specific issues Moto Guzzis may have, but like most dealers rely on input from area reps for warranty related issues.  One thing I can say is if you make an appointment they will service your bike the same day and you can spend the time test riding bikes. 

[twowheeladdict]

As promised:

I have yet to see the V85TT in person, but I did have the opportunity to sit on the V9 Sport.  IMO, the rider triangle felt more like a UJM than a cruiser.  Sloans has had a '17 bobber for a while that they can't seem to sell.  If this one gets discounted, Mmm. 

The reality is that adventure/dual sport bikes are better suited for exploring all the little roads in my area.  It is nice to be able to go down any road and not have to turn around.  We have roads that start out with double yellow lines, then to no lines, then to chip n'seal, then dirt, and a natural water crossing before working their way back to double yellow line.  I didn't realize how many roads I was missing out on until I got into dual sports. 

[Kev m]

I totally get the functional appeal of adventure bikes (even when they don't leave the pavement) and I equally understand the appeal of dual-sports.

I'm ~5 miles from 100,000 acres of woods with tons of legal unpaved roads. The problem is much of it is deep sand and really more suited to small and fat tire bikes that probably aren't nearly as good on the street. I don't think the V85 would do well there, or the Stornello.

And everyone had to draw the line somewhere... For now that's my line.

That Bobber though. ...

[jas67]

I totally get the functional appeal of adventure bikes (even when they don't leave the pavement) and I equally understand the appeal of dual-sports.

I'm ~5 miles from 100,000 acres of woods with tons of legal unpaved roads. The problem is much of it is deep sand and really more suited to small and fat tire bikes that probably aren't nearly as good on the street. I don't think the V85 would do well there, or the Stornello.

And everyone had to draw the line somewhere... For now that's my line.

That Bobber though. ...

DO IT!   

[twowheeladdict]

I totally get the functional appeal of adventure bikes (even when they don't leave the pavement) and I equally understand the appeal of dual-sports.

I'm ~5 miles from 100,000 acres of woods with tons of legal unpaved roads. The problem is much of it is deep sand and really more suited to small and fat tire bikes that probably aren't nearly as good on the street. I don't think the V85 would do well there, or the Stornello.

And everyone had to draw the line somewhere... For now that's my line.

That Bobber though. ...

If I lived there I would have a TW200 or the Van Van 200.  Oh wait, I already have the Van Van 200!  BTW, it is fine on the street up to 55 mph. 

[alanp]

Tires on that Bobber are pretty fat.  Would probably be good in sand.   

[Kev m]

If I lived there I would have a TW200 or the Van Van 200.  Oh wait, I already have the Van Van 200!  BTW, it is fine on the street up to 55 mph. 

Yeah, the TW is the poster child for that forest.

[PJPR01]

The Bobber was certainly getting a lot of attention at COTA this year for Moto GP.  They were of course "modelling it" nicely, as in "If you buy this Bobber, you might qualify for ....  :)

[Gnirwin]

Kev M, been riding for 50 years. Have owned everything from 90cc to 1500cc. I am absolutely in love with the way my bobber rides and handles and you hit it on the nose when you said it has noticeably more power than the V7. There are "professional" reviews that state the same. There are also on line reviews that say the same thing you and I do about how well the bike handles with the fat tires even going so far as to say that the bike turns and handles better than the "gulp" thinner tired Roamer.

[jas67]

Kev M, been riding for 50 years. Have owned everything from 90cc to 1500cc. I am absolutely in love with the way my bobber rides and handles and you hit it on the nose when you said it has noticeably more power than the V7. There are "professional" reviews that state the same. There are also on line reviews that say the same thing you and I do about how well the bike handles with the fat tires even going so far as to say that the bike turns and handles better than the "gulp" thinner tired Roamer.

That likely has more to do with the Roamer front being a 19" than the width.   An 18" front wheel would make it turn better.

[s1120]

I gotta say it looked nicer in person. I never cared for the V9 in pic...  but Looks nice in person. I didn't get to ride one, because I didn't have time, but it looks like a nice ride.

[Kev m]

I gotta say it looked nicer in person. I never cared for the V9 in pic...  but Looks nice in person. I didn't get to ride one, because I didn't have time, but it looks like a nice ride.

Paul, which day were you there?

[s1120]

Paul, which day were you there?

I saw it up in Americade when I was there.

[Kev m]

I saw it up in Americade when I was there.

Ahhh, duh, I remember you saying that now.

[roadscum]

The V85 TT is likely not the bike for me either but a more street/classic design could be the one.

After serious consider of the V( and V7 I chose the V7. The thin seat, smaller tank, taller gearing, and ergonomics of the V9 pushed me to the V9. I will admit the V9 Sport is one hell of a good looking bike but not for me for the above reasons..

Paul

[alanp]

So Kev, how would you compare the ergos of the Bobber to the V7?  I have heard they are a bit "feet forward", but the peg placement doesn't seem that way. 

[Kev m]

So Kev, how would you compare the ergos of the Bobber to the V7?  I have heard they are a bit "feet forward", but the peg placement doesn't seem that way.

Good question.

Not sure.

If I had to guess from memory I'd say they were slightly more forward. But they're in a position I like.

I suspect they must be a little more forward or something else in the triangle was different because it felt slightly less compact than the V7.

I might go check out the demo fleet again on Friday. I'll pay more attention.

[jas67]

So Kev, how would you compare the ergos of the Bobber to the V7?  I have heard they are a bit "feet forward", but the peg placement doesn't seem that way.

The first year V9's had the pegs a few inches further forward.   Guzzi moved 'em back a bit for the 2nd and subsequent years.
The V9 Bobber Sport looks like the pegs are in the same position as the other 2017+ V9's with more rearward pegs.

Look at pics of the Bobber Sport and V7III, I'd say the ergos are likely very similar.

[alanp]

The first year V9's had the pegs a few inches further forward.   Guzzi moved 'em back a bit for the 2nd and subsequent years.
The V9 Bobber Sport looks like the pegs are in the same position as the other 2017+ V9's with more rearward pegs.

Look at pics of the Bobber Sport and V7III, I'd say the ergos are likely very similar.

That's what I was thinking looking at the pics.  I sat on a 2017 Roamer and thought the pegs were too far forward.  But that Bobber pic Kev posted looks pretty good.  Peg is right under the tank/seat "seam", which is roughly the same as a V7.  I like the look of the new Bobber Sport. 

[Kev m]

With regards to the V9 vs V7 ergos, the V9 seat is different, tank length might be too, so the rider triangle feels a little different.

[kingoffleece]

Guzzi provides a kit with the bike to locate the pegs up or back.  This is not new news.

[Zoom Zoom]

Kev, I seriously doubt the tank would be any different other than a paint job. That just seems illogical.

As for the V9 series, I had mentioned some time ago how impressed I was with the engine when I had one for a day. It is a pretty decent package with more power than I was expecting. It felt good on smaller roads, merged onto the freeway with ease and had something left to accelerate if needed.

John Henry

[Kev m]

Kev, I seriously doubt the tank would be any different other than a paint job. That just seems illogical.

As for the V9 series, I had mentioned some time ago how i

I was responding to the immediately preceding posts and talking about the V9 tank and ergos compared to the V7. I'll edit the middle of the night post to clarify.

[Zoom Zoom]

Ah, yes. That makes sense. Thanks for clearing that up.

John Henry