Interesting question needs answering

[Ncdan]

So I was getting on my 02 Stone leaving the restaurant where I had some Of my buds, when an older gentleman, in his 80s approached me and said. “I had a friend who had a Mota Gutsey(his pronunciation) but it had the heads that laid down flat”.
I responded “are you sure it was not a BMW, as I’m not aware or such a Moto Guzzi design during the mid seventies as you said it was”
His response was “no and I’m adamant about it as I’ve got a very good memory, they laid out flat not in a V shape like yours”
“Well Sir, I guess I’ll need to do some research but I respect your word on the issue”.
I’m not going out on a limb here but was the ole guy right, did MG have a bike in the 70s with flat heads like the BMW ?
If so, I’m glad I was respectful to the gentleman 👍

[guzzisteve]

Only a single that went flat out front.

[Vagrant]

Pre-Viagra!

[Tom]

Not a Moto Guzzi.  Another model that would be close is the Bicylindrical but it's in the frame like a single.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

I interchange the pronunciation...
I say Goozy when talking about individual bikes "I really want to buy another Goozy but I dont have enough garage space"
I say Gut-zi when I use the full company name "I first became interested in Moto Gut-zi motorcycles around 2010"

it makes no sense and I dont know why.

As for chatty old dudes who 'used to ride' or 'knew a feller who had one just like that' at gas stations, restaurants, and cruise-ins...  well I haven't met one yet who knew what the hell they were talking about (on a variety of subjects)!

[cliffrod]

Even the early Bicilindrica wasn't a flat twin, but it did have the more familiar horizontal front cylinder of the singles of the period.





There's no telling what kind of bike he was thinking about..  I bought a whole load of Triumph parts from a scrapper, who pointed directly to the "Ducati" lettering on the numerous side covers and said "when I saw it said "Triumph" right there on them, I knew you would want them..."  I said "thanks, man" and paid him for everything.  There was no reason to critique his literacy and miss out on the next load.

[Tom]

Even the early Bicilindrica wasn't a flat twin, but it did have the more familiar horizontal front cylinder of the singles of the period.

My point exactly.

[jbell]

Coulda been a BMW drivetrain in a Guzzi frame.

[Markcarovilli]

Had this exact discussion at least 3 rimes . Then there was the guy who wanted to know where I found the engine in the /5 . There is an entire thread about stupid things people say about motorcycles . Everyone has an uncle Bob who had a Harley in the 60's and knows more about motorbikes than anyone alive .

 The Sultan

The Sultan……

So is that anything to do with Swing?  New monicker?

[guzzisteve]

I have a friend that swears Carlo bought the rites from Indian for the V Twin 90* motor.

[Ncdan]

It was probably just an airhead , people get confused . Have had at least 3 guys say the same thing .

 Dusty

That what I figured too but when I suggested that to the ole fella I could tell he was totally convinced in what he was allowing and I didn’t have the heart to contradict his memory. 🤔

[fotoguzzi]

Must have been the California VW

[reidy]

Maybe it is just an older model and things had started to droop.

[cliffrod]

Someone here tells a story about an old fella complimenting him on his "BMW" . He politely explains it is a Moto Guzzi , as the guy turns to walk away he looks back and says "I think you'll find that is really a BMW" .

 Dusty

Sounds like my crazy gearhead uncle telling me about the "real thumpers" Ducati built that he and his buddies used to ride back in the day. "No, those 450s you've got are just starter bikes.  We had 600cc and 800cc Ducati singles - the REAL thumpers." He knew lots more than me.  it was no use to do anything except say "Is that right?"......

[Dirk_S]

Maybe the guy saw a Guzzi on a really hot day, and the jugs were saggin’ a bit.

That’s at least what I yelled at the vintage races when the announcer called out the MG sidecar rig, and all I saw was a Norton and a BMW Boxer out on the track.

[Scout63]

I must have at least three “I used to have” conversations a week in store parking lots.  It’s always nice when someone takes an interest. I usually genuinely enjoy the conversation, but even when they drag a little I try to stay respectful.  It really amazes me that someone could confuse a BMW with an MG, but I think that we here operate at a different level of MC knowledge.

[Ncdan]

I must have at least three “I used to have” conversations a week in store parking lots.  It’s always nice when someone takes an interest. I usually genuinely enjoy the conversation, but even when they drag a little I try to stay respectful.  It really amazes me that someone could confuse a BMW with an MG, but I think that we here operate at a different level of MC knowledge.

This ole guy was so convinced that he knew what he was talking about he actually had be wondering if there had been a Guzzi in the 70s that I may not be aware of. When I question the possibility that his memory may not be correct and he looked me straight in the eye and said “I’m adamant about it was a Mota Gutsee” I figured I had better ask the historical minds on WG👍