Do you like where we’re going ?

[Huzo]

I sure do.
When I look at new bikes these days, more and more I’m dragged back to my memories of how they were, without the bad bits.
Stuff like the re birthed Z900, RE Himalayas thru’ to Interceptors, and all the others.
All that sort of thing.
When I look back to the race rep craze (which I willingly took part in), I’m glad they’re disappearing in my Norge mirrors.
Recently in Europe, it became obvious that there’s a seismic shift in long distance high speed biking culture on the mega highways of Germany, Italy and France etc.. The weapon of choice for those guys is starting to become monster GS Beemers, KTM 1190’s, Honda Africa Twins et al..
Not a speck of mud under any of them, but who cares ?
Happily, it seems that an “adventure” bike can be used to achieve that end either on dirt or otherwise.
I saw a guy in Italy heading from Milan to Perpignan on a GS. I swear he must have been 210 cm and 140 kg and went past me at every bit of 160 k’s, the bike fitted him like a glove and he was representative of a large proportion of distance crunching Euro bikers.
I know he was huge because I met him (much) later, nice bloke. He wanted to know if my Norge “is OK, no?”..
Anyway.
I hope it all stays naked and old school until I drop stone motherless dead..
I like it this way and think/hope Guzzi are about to peak at just the right time. Are they fitting in with a trend or helping to form one for once ?

[egschade]

If it were not for the market swing away from crotch rockets and cruisers I wonder if Guzzi would be relevant. I've like all the different models I've owned because they all stayed centered on the ride. The EV, V7, B11 and Griso are all very good all-around bikes that do well in most riding conditions. Guzzi falls right into the market shift we're seeing an offer a very attractive alternative to the hyper-priced Euro and Autobot Japanese bikes. Triumph is probably the closest manufacturer and they're doing pretty well.

What's the saying - What's old is new again? Seems like the market has come full circle and practical but modern performing bikes are hot. Hope you're right and Guzzi is able to ride this wave for a long time. Now if they'd only improve their dealer network...

[LowRyter]

Uhm, not so much.

[Lannis]

I'm not even on that bus, so .....

[Devildog]

We spent two weeks in SW England last month, and saw lots more Japanese sport-bikes, ridden by young people possibly local and their only means of transport. We saw no 'modern retro bikes', but like Huzo, on the motorway saw tourers on GS's, in pairs or groups, many from across the Channel.

[oldbike54]

 Full on repli-racers are rare here now , we are seeing a few more of the 250-300 CC sporting models . We are seeing more of the new middleweight standards and retro models , and of course porcine cruiser bikes are still common .

 Dusty

[frozengoose]

Full on repli-racers are rare here now , we are seeing a few more of the 250-300 CC sporting models . We are seeing more of the new middleweight standards and retro models , and of course porcine cruiser bikes are still common .

 Dusty

Yeah I've noticed a lot more kids riding smaller enduro-type bikes. Of course there's still lots of Hogs, mostly old farts, and crotch rockets, likely military and college kids. I'm glad MG's developing the small blocks, when I got my 850T, figured the T stood for tank, it's by far the heaviest bike I've owned!

[Smithy]

Nup, big bore sports tourer with all the options.. TFT, cruise, heated grips, electronic adjustable suspension, 4 cyl 200hp, 15k service intervals that dont cost $1000.

[molly]

I  bought a 2010 R1200GS in January, mainly for the suspension set up. I stripped off the rear rack, hand guards and cut down the screen to reduce the bulk. One thing you can't do easily is reduce the height of the thing, I'm 6'2" tall and still having trouble getting my leg over (no sniggering at the back).
Giant adventure bikes have become the go to touring weapon for the Euro biker but why they need 150+bhp and mounting ladders is beyond me, still everyone to their own.

[blu guzz]

I was thinking about the bike i owned in the past with the best wind coverage and it was a 2004 RT.  Best being not barn door, but well designed so you knew you were still on a bike, but well covered in cold or rain.  In 2004, I got that bike new for $15k.  A lot of money, but I thought at the time and still do that it was a good value for the money.  I could, but won't add $10k to that figure to get another one.  Also, now, at 60, it is too tall and bulky for me.  The Cali does not have the same level of coverage, but it is good enough and though a little heavier, it carries its weight lower.  I got mine used for a very good price.  But, compared to its competition, I think MG offers good value even in today's market, think V85 vs. Tiger/Rotax BMW over $15k with comparable equipment.  In MG world, the 1400 series is an outlier and most of the bikes sold are the small blocks.  If the V85 engine finds its way into more standard applications as well as a Norge replacement, then I think MG might be in for a small comeback.  I don't see them being more than a niche player, but on solid footing at least to get to the 100th aniversary.  I just hope they get about it quickly (I know, forlorn hope).

[yogidozer]

Triumph Bonneville weighs at least a hundred pounds more than they used to.
Progress? Which would you rather have?


 

[Kev m]

WAIT the CRAZE WAS Crotch Rockets?!? WHEN???? They (anyone) sold how many, four or five of em?

[s1120]

I like the new tack the biz is taking... And you know, its not just the specialized bikes.. ie touring, sport...  but the cost. Really with the sport bikes getting faster, and faster, and smaller and lighter... the prices kept shooting up...  Same with the tourers..  bigger and bigger... It had to stop.  I think a lot of people just want a "bike"  you know that can do most anything, and that a everyman can afford..  And really...  Im even starting to see them on the road..  granted in my area its 90%HD....  I like it, and I think it will help the market.   

[oldbike54]

Triumph Bonneville weighs at least a hundred pounds more than they used to.
Progress? Which would you rather have?

 Yeah , but you aren't going anywhere on that TT Special /

 An old Mini Cooper 1,000 weighed less than 1,400 lbs , the new Mini weighs about twice that much .

 Dusty

[yogidozer]

Yeah , but you aren't going anywhere on that TT Special /

 An old Mini Cooper 1,000 weighed less than 1,400 lbs , the new Mini weighs about twice that much .

 Dusty

Not sure what you mean by not going anywhere?
Picture was suppose to be a street legal Bonneville.
I had a friend who had one, let me use it, what a bike!
So light and responsive. And I like kick start bikes 
I would imagine the older Mini's were quite a difference too.
Just like an Austin American.
Good to see you posting, even when you're wrong 
That was a joke, not always apparent on internet

[oldbike54]

 ^^^The picture is of a T120 TT Special , kind of a production flat track bike . No lights or mufflers from the factory . I owned probably 6 T120 or TR6 versions of the Meriden Triumphs , and a couple of T 140 models . I simply don't romanticize the old Brit twins . They shook like a paint shaker , had didgy electrics , leaked oil , and weren't even as fast as my worn out Jackal . Yes , they were light , and beautiful , which I believe clouds people's memory and perception of the old clankers .Memories of youth are sometimes clouded by , well , youth 

 Dusty

[mechanicsavant]

Getting back to the question “do you like where we’re going “ yup!

[yogidozer]

^^^The picture is of a T120 TT Special , kind of a production flat track bike . No lights or mufflers from the factory . I owned probably 6 T120 or TR6 versions of the Meriden Triumphs , and a couple of T 140 models . I simply don't romanticize the old Brit twins . They shook like a paint shaker , had didgy electrics , leaked oil , and weren't even as fast as my worn out Jackal . Yes , they were light , and beautiful , which I believe clouds people's memory and perception of the old clankers .Memories of youth are sometimes clouded by , well , youth 

 Dusty

Yeah that picture I pulled up on google. Didn't have any pictures from back in the day.
Paint shaker? I have an Iron head Sporty (roadster actually ) so I wouldn't even notice a Triumph 
Fast? Where your travelling on pine tree winding roads, ask yourself, does it really matter?
And given an option, I'd prefer a horse, and not a racehorse. JMO

[oldbike54]

Yeah that picture I pulled up on google. Didn't have any pictures from back in the day.
Paint shaker? I have an Iron head Sporty (roadster actually ) so I wouldn't even notice a Triumph 
Fast? Where your travelling on pine tree winding roads, ask yourself, does it really matter?
And given an option, I'd prefer a horse, and not a racehorse. JMO

 If your point of reference is an Iron Head , well...

 My point is , like the perception many people have of those muscle cars from the '60's , sometimes we view old clankers like vertical twin Brit bikes thru a distorted lens of youth . I recently rode a T140 that a friend bought from me in 1989 , it has all of the modern fixes , electronic ignition and voltage regulator , more modern Premier Amal concentrics , a Japanese rear disc brake conversion , and some other highly touted improvements . The engine was rebuilt to the highest spec available about ten years ago , maybe 10,000 miles since the rebuild . It still put my hands to sleep and made my feet hurt , the clutch requires a Herculean grip , and starting it reminded me why my right knee is shot . Other than that it was a lovely experience 

 Dusty

[JJ]

Question:  "Do you like where we are going?" - simply put, "YES!! "

"Onward Through The Fog!!" - - because there is no going back!!

"At twenty, a man is full of fight and hope.  He wants to reform the world.  When he is seventy, he still wants to reform the world, but he knows he can't..." - - - Lawyer Clarence Darrow

[Darren Williams]

I've got several different bike in the stable. Some are for just running around acting the hooligan, others for more serious fun, and others still for long distance touring with a sporting flair.  It is nice to me to have very capable and dependable modern bikes to ride where what spares and tools will be required are not much of a consideration when packing for a trip.

"I've never arrived home from a motorcycle trip wishing my bike had broken down to add more excitement to the trip".  I'm reciting from a poor memory and don't remember the author, but I agree with him.

[Tusayan]

I’m happy that the newest trend is to simpler, lighter bikes and that BMW’s overcomplicated range of elephants are actually part of a receding trend.  I’m also happy when sport bikes are less mainstream, as I can remember when (roughly pre 1983 Honda Interceptor) Joe Average in the US had little idea that twisty road riding was fun, you had to buy something exotic and very possibly Italian to do it, and none of the best roads were heavily patrolled or heavily populated by motorcyclists.  I wouldn’t mind at all if in 10 years we were back to that situation.

[ScepticalScotty]

Love the way it's going. Waiting for the V85 road versions to see if it's worth getting a loan for a replacement of my 2004 Breva...

[Huzo]

Love the way it's going. Waiting for the V85 road versions to see if it's worth getting a loan for a replacement of my 2004 Breva...

I really hope they throw everything at it..
Ohlins, radial top spec Brembo stoppers, braided lines and someone who understands Italian styling (someone who REALLY knows.. is there a young Tamburini out there ?), it won’t be a deal breaker if it comes in a bit pricey for anyone who really wants one.
It really needs to hark back heavily to the roots of the Mk1 & 2.
This is what people have been screaming out for, don’t give ‘em what they “need”, give ‘em what they “want”.
“If you’ll pay for it, we’ll build it”, type thing.
 We all know that there are concessions that must be made due to new regs, but cashed up old riders will want one.
And make sure the red is the same darn colour with accents of the dayglo orange.
Any of the doubters who come up with the usual retorts regarding the foregoing, will have this post trotted out for re reading, when Guzzi can’t keep up with demand.
If you’re going to laugh..?
I’d get it done now, most will forgive or forget... (we don’t want another V85 mass reversal)

[yogidozer]

If your point of reference is an Iron Head , well...

 My point is , like the perception many people have of those muscle cars from the '60's , sometimes we view old clankers like vertical twin Brit bikes thru a distorted lens of youth . I recently rode a T140 that a friend bought from me in 1989 , it has all of the modern fixes , electronic ignition and voltage regulator , more modern Premier Amal concentrics , a Japanese rear disc brake conversion , and some other highly touted improvements . The engine was rebuilt to the highest spec available about ten years ago , maybe 10,000 miles since the rebuild . It still put my hands to sleep and made my feet hurt , the clutch requires a Herculean grip , and starting it reminded me why my right knee is shot . Other than that it was a lovely experience 

 Dusty

point of reference is an Iron Head ? Well I suppose if you live in the midwest with long, flat, boring straightaways, lined with endless cornfields, you might notice vibration more.
But I live in the northeast. Roads are rough, you're either going up hill, or down, short straightaways, lots of turns, and oh yeah, pine trees.
Know what they look like? Rarely on a highway, never more than a handfull of cars. So vibration isn't really noticed.
You might not like the non cancelling turn signals, only 4 speeds. No digital gear indicators, tune up uses a feeler guage, not a laptop.
Power hits right off the bottom, you can start off in 2nd if you like.
So Jimmy, BAZINGA 🤣

[ScepticalScotty]

I think Huzo you are hankering after a V85 based Le Mans. That would be nice, but I'm after a V85 based Breva or a Mini Norge with a 1/2 fairing based on a V85. Like a FJ900 Tracer but based on the V85. Maybe.

[LowRyter]

I think I'd rather have Tuono based LeMans instead of a V85, even a 1400 LeMans.

[Tusayan]

I think Piaggio may have learned with the success of the V85TT not to produce quite such banal retro as a stylistic copy of an early Le Mans.  Vaguely retro (e.g. classic enduro) plus significant original style works... assuming the original concept was functionally good, the new bike even better and the concept is otherwise weakly represented in the current market. Guzzi is Italian, not British like Triumph, and an Italian brand image correlates with tradition, but not with intransigence.

Copying BMW as per Breva etc doesn’t work either, because it likewise projects a weak brand image to those who care about image - which is a lot of buyers.  Guzzi has to beat its own drum to succeed, and it also has to show innovation in some sense that buyers understand, even if there is retro in the mix. 

My studied 2 cents worth only 

[twowheeladdict]

WAIT the CRAZE WAS Crotch Rockets?!? WHEN???? They (anyone) sold how many, four or five of em?

Depends where you live. A lot of sport bikes here in TN where the curves are everywhere. Rarely do you see them used as commuters though.

[Kev m]

Depends where you live. A lot of sport bikes here in TN where the curves are everywhere. Rarely do you see them used as commuters though.

My point being that in the US they always represented a small fraction of total sales.

And considering worldwide sales have largely been small utilitarian bikes, I bet they weren't any more prevalent elsewhere.