Moto Guzzi sales pretty sluggish?

[Motormike]

HD dealers in at least some geographic areas are reportedly awash in new unsold inventory.

Harley has the problem of too many dealerships.  Moto Guzzi has the exact opposite.

[Huzo]

Your personal preference for chrome/paint aside, no one who was going to buy an Aprilia is going to buy a Guzzi cause it's bright.

No one who was gonna buy a Guzzi buys an Aprilia instead for the same reason.

Well.
I owned an MV Agusta F4 then a Guzzi, so where does that reasoning land ? The blacked out Guzzi’s are just fine if you like that look, but they do look like military vehicles, or something that came from a Bulgarian state owned supply warehouse.

[Huzo]

included in the recent email I got from Moto Guzzi.

"Produced in the new factory at the historic Mandello Del Lario site, the V7 Sport ignites Moto Guzzi's sporting DNA with new grit and character.
Are you ready to experience it?"

doesn't sound like a company being shut down.

Grit…!
Probably because the airbox doesn’t seal properly, I prefer my bikes not to have “grit…”

[Huzo]

If I'm in the minority there are a lot of brands making styling mistakes right now.

There are, have you heard of KTM ?

[Kev m]

Well.
I owned an MV Agusta F4 then a Guzzi, so where does that reasoning land ? The blacked out Guzzi’s are just fine if you like that look, but they do look like military vehicles, or something that came from a Bulgarian state owned supply warehouse.

Sometimes you play dumb so well you make me wonder if it's an act.

I've owned different types of bikes too.

But I never went shopping for a sport bike and bought a retro classic.

And before you say it, sure I'm sure that's happened, but it's the overwhelming minority.

[Bisbee]

Bulgarian state owned warehouse. Priceless! Bravo!

[twowheeladdict]

Grit…!
Probably because the airbox doesn’t seal properly, I prefer my bikes not to have “grit…”

I think it is a John Wayne reference.  "True Grit".

[Huzo]

Sometimes you play dumb so well you make me wonder if it's an act.

I've owned different types of bikes too.

But I never went shopping for a sport bike and bought a retro classic.

And before you say it, sure I'm sure that's happened, but it's the overwhelming minority.

You’re unusually tetchy today Kev…
But under the circumstances I guess it’s understandable.

[9fingers]

I'm doing my part. I bought the Corsa last June from Hamlin's, added Matris fork internals, Shock Factory shocks, Mistral pipes, Dunlop Mutant tires, and now it is balanced, controlled and fantastic! And it is shiny! And picking up a Nero grey Stelvio next week from Jim Hamlin. It is flat grey paint but still really good looking. My existing and exiting V Strom 650 Adventure is flat paint so no biggie at this point. I think bike sales, in general, are off in the USA, due to whatever reason you prefer. They even have leftover shiny Mandello's, and that is a fantastic bike for the price. Moto Guzzi is a niche bike, and I like it that way. I was waiting for the Honda NT1100 to come in and then Honda blew it and is only bringing in the DCT version, and it is a relatively boring bike anyway.  Honda doesn't care about the USA market any more IMO. At least Guzzi comes out with interesting bikes and is improving them. But if the tariffs on EU goods is enforced, it is going to hurt sales further, of course. This is why I grabbed the Stelvio now.

[Tkelly]

Recently visited local Triumph dealer and was shocked to see a low mileage loaded 15 year old Electra Glide for 8 grand.Now that I’m too old and weak they are affordable.Too many good and cheap used bikes out there .

[Moparnut72]

I am not a fan of shiny gray paint and strangely enough not a fan of satin or flat paint. BUT I own a Navale which is both gray and flat finish and to me it pops. When I walked into the dealership showroom it stood out from all the rest of the bikes. Now I get to look at it everyday and I still love the look.
kk

[Clifton]

I am not a fan of shiny gray paint and strangely enough not a fan of satin or flat paint. BUT I own a Navale which is both gray and flat finish and to me it pops. When I walked into the dealership showroom it stood out from all the rest of the bikes. Now I get to look at it everyday and I still love the look.

Flat paint on ceilings fine, but not on automobiles or motorcycles. In 2022 I wanted a Goldwing and unfortunately the only color was flat dark blue. I bought it in spite of the paint and still hate the dull finish. But it's more of a point A to point B machine for me with lots of plastic so it works for its intended purpose.

.

[MerleLowe]

Harley has the problem of too many dealerships.  Moto Guzzi has the exact opposite.

Except in Georgia.  I have two within an hour and two more around 2.5 hr.

[Scott Carpenter]

Seem to be doing OK in the UK - more and more members in the club, and I see more and more Guzzis around - particularly the V7s. There's a reason for that I think. They are an "authentic" bike, they are made in Italy, they look good and "it does what it says on the tin". No cooincidence that 650 Enfields are big sellers - they do the same job. Sometimes people don't want to pretend to be a racer, either on a track or in the desert, don't need to embrace a "lifestyle"......they just want to go for a ride. V7s are great for that.

[Clifton]

I'm glad they're selling well there, Scott. And I'm with you 100% on the V7's, they're classic motorcycles that Guzzi has done a nice job of modernizing and improving. The V85's seem to have a cult as well. I just wish my dealer was able to turn his Guzzi inventory a little quicker. BMW is their main line and he turns them over faster, but he said it's taking BMW incentives like rebates or subsidized interest to do so. The MC market here in general has been soft since last year. It's a good time to buy, new or used, but selling the one you have could be a little difficult.

[Scott Carpenter]

I suppose when I buy my new V7 850 Sport I wont be thinking of selling it - after all this is my 21st year on a Breva 750, and I'm a 1 bike person. I expect to keep it until its too heavy for me to manage - 15 or 20 years.

[SIR REAL ED]

I am not a fan of shiny gray paint and strangely enough not a fan of satin or flat paint. BUT I own a Navale which is both gray and flat finish and to me it pops. When I walked into the dealership showroom it stood out from all the rest of the bikes. Now I get to look at it everyday and I still love the look.
kk

Put some cool stickers on it, like fake bullet holes!!!

Or get it wrapped!!

[SIR REAL ED]

Seem to be doing OK in the UK - more and more members in the club, and I see more and more Guzzis around - particularly the V7s. There's a reason for that I think. They are an "authentic" bike, they are made in Italy, they look good and "it does what it says on the tin". No cooincidence that 650 Enfields are big sellers - they do the same job. Sometimes people don't want to pretend to be a racer, either on a track or in the desert, don't need to embrace a "lifestyle"......they just want to go for a ride. V7s are great for that.

Well said!  My standard reply for when i tell people I ride motorcycles, and they ask why I don't ride a Harley Davidson is: "Because I wanted to buy a motorcycle, not buy into a religion!"

It's nice to belong to a group, as long as the requirements of membership aren't too severe...

[SIR REAL ED]

Sometimes you play dumb so well you make me wonder if it's an act.

Careful buddy!

There's a lot more of us dumb people out there than there are of you smart people!!!

 

[SIR REAL ED]

You’re unusually tetchy today Kev…
But under the circumstances I guess it’s understandable.

About 4 days each month, I get testy too.....

[Moparnut72]

Put some cool stickers on it, like fake bullet holes!!!

Or get it wrapped!!

I never thought of fake bullet holes. Great idea I'll have to look for some.
kk

Edit: Most people wouldn't understand the significance.

[SIR REAL ED]

I never thought of fake bullet holes. Great idea I'll have to look for some.
kk

Edit: Most people wouldn't understand the significance.

Helping people get over the big hurdles in life.... it's what I do!

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bullet+hole+stickers+realistic&language=en_US&adgrpid=1234751903605913&hvadid=77172161903781&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=82811&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-77172272790555%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=23459_13598667&mcid=fd315d997967394a9c85c6dd59f3c090&msclkid=5bbafa5881491033fe69925caf9c1d5b&tag=txtstdbgdt-20&ref=pd_sl_937loy98m7_p

[Trialsman]

I never cared for flat paint on a bike or car, but decided to give it a try with my second V85.  It lasted one month and I couldn't stand it.  Paint was the cure and now I love it.  In fact when Enzo saw it he snapped a picture and sent it to Piaggio saying" This is how you should have painted it."  Here is a before and after;






Again with my Stelvio, it was a satin finish.  This time I already knew when I picked it up from Kissell's that I would be painting it gloss.  The day I got it home I started tearing off the pieces to be altered.  Again the results were totally gratifying and I still get compliments anywhere I go.  Here is the before and after;






It's ONLY PAINT.  If you don't like it - change it!!!

[Moparnut72]

Helping people get over the big hurdles in life.... it's what I do!

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bullet+hole+stickers+realistic&language=en_US&adgrpid=1234751903605913&hvadid=77172161903781&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=82811&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-77172272790555%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=23459_13598667&mcid=fd315d997967394a9c85c6dd59f3c090&msclkid=5bbafa5881491033fe69925caf9c1d5b&tag=txtstdbgdt-20&ref=pd_sl_937loy98m7_p

I ordered some from ebay. I don't do Amazon, long story.
kk

[DoubleGuzzi]

It's ONLY PAINT.  If you don't like it - change it!!!

It's ONLY MONEY. If you don't have it - can't do it!!!
 

[Guffman]

I think there is a lot of doom and gloom on this thread. V7 and V85TT has been a sales success (well for a Moto Guzzi that has been struggling for decades). V7 is the best selling naked/standard in Italy and seems to do pretty well in other markets as well. The real question is how well the new Mandello/Stevio is selling. I'm a millenials who has bought 3 new Guzzis in my time but haven't pulled the trigger on the new water-cooled models yet. Honestly it would probably be a proper sporting Guzzi that would get me excited.

[fossil]

In 2024 Piaggio had world wide losses. Three models however sold above expectations: That Aprilia 457, the Guzzi Stelvio and the V85. Here in Germany Guzzi had an increase in sales of 35.1% in 2024. My Guzzi dealer, who also sells Aprilia, Vespa, Kawasaki and Royal Enfield beside others, tells me, the Guzzis sell like "sliced bread".

[tazio]

I never cared for flat paint on a bike or car, but decided to give it a try with my second V85.  It lasted one month and I couldn't stand it.  Paint was the cure and now I love it.  In fact when Enzo saw it he snapped a picture and sent it to Piaggio saying" This is how you should have painted it." 
rl]





It's ONLY PAINT.  If you don't like it - change it!!!

STILL the most purdy v85 I've seen yet! Bravo!

[Clifton]

.....The real question is how well the new Mandello/Stevio is selling.....

Kissell seemed pretty disappointed in sales of the Stelvio. He thought at around $10K less than the new R1300GS it would sell well, but it hasn't. The basic design is good but IMO Guzzi needs to update the Stelvio. Get rid of the awful clunk going to first gear, it's an adventure bike so widen the gear ratios, give it a nice compliant suspension, fix the wobbly shield, offer some striking gloss paint colors and maybe charcoal or black drivetrain.

[yackee]

Obviously the total lack of a dealer network keeps US sales low. Even where they have dealers, in my neck of the woods (Wisconsin) they tend to be weird used/"exotic" Euro-car outlets.

But a constant can't explain a change.

I think the overall market explains a lot. Harley is in the dumps. For kind of the opposite reason as MG, but also kind of the same. Limited selection of models. Harleys are all massive touring gargantuan, MGs are all light. Neither has a proper sport bike.

Maybe Harley and MG should merge? I guess the TT & PA couldn't both survive--interesting to think who would win--but imagine the V7 as the new Sportster...

I know this is crazy BS, but...