Are we part of the problem?

[yackee]

I bought my first Guzzi when I was 22, in 1997, an old SP1000, after drooling over the Centuaro, which I couldn't afford.. Now I'm 51, and I've been riding a '76 T3 for 18 years. Every time I think about buying a new bike, I think, wow, I knew *nothing* about mechanics when I bought that SP, and it forced me to learn. And now I can't do everything on the T3, but I can do a lot, at least in a bodge kind of way that keeps her running. And it still runs great! And I look at the new V100 and see that the bragging point from the company is all of the modern electronics, and it turns me off, massively so. But the 100+ HP is a different story.

Does me e owning and riding a nearly 50 year old motorcycle do the company no good? Should I feel guilty about it? Do you feel guilty about your own vintage fetishes? don't tell me the solution is to have both bikes in the garage. My wife is already ready to kill me on account of the '82 fiat and the two vespas.

[Tkelly]

What is the problem?Whatever it is ,riding a Guzzi will help you feel better.

[bronzestar1]

"Does me owning and riding a nearly 50 year old motorcycle do the company no good?"  Yes, it doesn't do Guzzi any good...

"Should I feel guilty about it?"  Absolutely not, you can be an ambassador for the brand! 

"Do you feel guilty about your own vintage fetishes?"  Depends...my "oldest" bike right now is a '23 Guzzi V7 Stone Special Edition.  The oldest Guzzi out of the seven I've owned was a '74 Eldorado LAPD.  The "oldest" vehicle currently in the stable is a 1981 Lancia Zagato.  Old technology, but a very cool car in its own right, like a 50-year old Guzzi would be. 

"Don't tell me the solution is to have both bikes in the garage. My wife is already ready to kill me on account of the '82 fiat and the two vespas."  I've never been happy with just one motorcycle...ever.. .

[guzzisteve]

The Problem is about not buying a new bike often or even once. My last new was 93 & 1st new was 76. I can't afford a new one. I have enough of what I bought to enjoy . and I still enjoy them. 2 that I bought new. They made their dealer network or lack of. The customer is not the problem.

I bought to ride the life of what I enjoy      I don't feel bad about it.   Instead of blaming someone, just do your job Importer.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I did my part back in the '80s - I bought two new Guzzis during a period when they needed the $$ the most. 

[Oca Grassa]

I don’t think the problem is the same for almost all the manufacturers. Few people are buying new because there is a glut of used bikes available. Riders have aged out, gotten out or were forced to sell for any number of reasons.

New bikes are way too expensive and near impossible for the average rider to wrench on. There’s so much tech on a bike these days I find it an absolute turn off. Then there is the physical beauty of the machines…or lack there of.

Seriously I’ve not seen a bike made post 2018 or 19 that made me look twice. That used to happen on a daily basis. Almost all bikes today are either retro (not my thing), adventure (also not my thing), cruiser ( still not my thing) or hump backed, electronic everything with unattractive plastic that looks pieced together rather than having smoothly flowing lines (yet again, not my thing)

Haven’t bought new since the mid Y2Ks. My newest bike to me and in year of manufacture is my Norge from 2008. Right next to it is my S2R from 2007. The next newest is a 2004 GSXR. 2008 or 9 is when I started to lose interest in anything new I saw in magazines or showrooms.

An 848/1098/1198 would get my attention but I don’t want or need another SBK. Same goes for Aprilia’s RSV4. The RS650 made me look twice or even 3 times. I dunno if I’d actually buy one, even used. If I wrote that I’m more than happy with what’s in my garage now, I’d be lying….but also not.

There are still bikes I’d love to have but the ones I REALLY loved to have are in my garage already. Do I feel guilty about not buying new? Not at all. In a free market it’s about supply & demand. Supply is overly abundant. Demand is historically low. What’s to feel guilty about?

Wanna sell more bikes in that market? Gotta stand out from the rest in value, looks & performance. Ease of maintenance is a huge plus too. Still not buying an overpriced ugly motorcycle . Let’s face it, none of us NEEDS a new bike. New to us maybe but we don’t NEED a new bike.

That’s the whole point that isn’t understood by corporations. Want us to buy? Make something with the visual impact of a 916, the price of modern 650 and the comfort of a Norge or a Monster. The same ol, same ol of the last 15 years isn’t gonna cut it.

[cliffrod]

It’s not your responsibility to be the advocate for their company.  It isn’t like they’re sending you commission checks (or are they?)

If not, I’m pretty sure they aren’t losing sleep over whether you or I will buy their new widget.  They sure aren’t making every part I need for the  40-50+yr old Guzzis that I’ve owned for decades.  I’ll have my old V7 Sport until they pry my cold dead fingers from the clip-ons…. Brand loyalty can be irrelevant to what De Tomosa or Piaggio does.  Your bike, your rules. 

I trust the old bikes, not their new ones, in spite of what they are and aren’t.  It’s up to Moto Guzzi to live up to the (significants imho) standard they have established, not for the dedicated customers to prop up the company,

[blu guzz]

The problem is Moto Guzzi.  If they don't build what the public wants to buy, no one should feel any guilt about not buying a new one.  Right now, there is a 23 V100 Navale for sale in my area for the price of a V7 with 500 miles.  It just does not whisper in my ear "take me home".  I am sticking with my 1400 beast with 30,000 miles.  Nothing else on the market right now does a thing for me.  I love Harley, but they are digging their own grave right now and while sorry to see this, I feel no obligation to rescue the motor company.

[PeteS]

I chipped in with one used bike and two new ones over the years. Looking to buy another new one but as Steve says they have a dealer problem. Do I go to the one 250 miles away or the one 350 miles away? There was a time when there were three dealers within 60 miles of me. All good to excellent.

Pete

[blackcat]

I don't know how many times I've read the "Guzzi doesn't build what we want" complaint. No, they are not going to build an Eldo, T, T3 with carburetors, points and priced at $3,500 bucks.

[PJPR01]

The bikes last so well, it's hard to get rid of them, then the constraining factor becomes garage space and time.

2002 Scura
2008 Norge
2015 Griso

Some of the newer bikes do look and ride great, but I can't get rid of any of the existing ones yet to make space for a new one as they still bring enjoyment every time I ride.

Many of these older 40-50 year old bikes still bring the same enjoyment as well.

There will be enough new buyers coming in...just like I was a new buyer back in 2008.

[blackcat]

Some of the newer bikes do look and ride great, but I can't get rid of any of the existing ones yet to make space for a new one as they still bring enjoyment every time I ride.

True, I don't have room for another bike in the garage unless I sell the el Camino.....but it may be time to move that thing down the road.

[steven c]

My last new bike was a 1982 leftover Yamaha XT250, in red. And having bought and sold a bunch of used bikes I guess I'm part of the problem.

[ridingron]

True, I don't have room for another bike in the garage unless I sell the el Camino.....but it may be time to move that thing down the road.

Let me know about the El Camino, I may be interested. 

[Joliet Jim]

My issue was always needing to part with one to be able to have space for a new one. The Stone was bought new in 9/01. The Centauro came along a few years later and was the bike I'd have to give up for that V11 Lemans or the Breva 1200 sport. The Griso was just a more refined version of a Centauro and never a serious consideration. Another problem is I got bigger and their bikes got smaller.

[SemperVee]

 I can afford a new bike, I am just not excited about a new bike with all the electronic things to go wrong and no dealership nearby.
   I love my Norge but less and less want working on it sitting on the ground. Hmmm There might be a V85TT travel in my future if they change from that gold colour.  LOL!

[Frenchfrog]

For years Guzzi's biggest problem has been their lack of dealers , back up and the ensuing frustration that that has caused owners.
That's given the brand a bad reputation from the motorcyclist community at large and it's in some ways deserved added to which the bikes themselves are rather atypical.
On the other hand try to find another brand that has got such a good parts availability for models that are 55 years old and have a simple, reliably engineered  and are good performers.There's only one other brand I can think of that can match that and it's European too.The difference between the two is that the latter has always enjoyed he huge financial back up of a car manufacturing parent company with an extensive and reasonably efficient international dealer network.
Another thing is that the English would call Guzzi  a Marmite brand : a small percentage of potential buyers are so dedicated to the brand that they will buy them no matter what and adore them .The rest of the public take them for a quick test ride or read all the negative things about the brand,dealerships etc and find them yucky.
 

[Luap McKeever]

IMHO, owning a 50 year old product should make any manufacturer smile. It's a testament to their reliability, R&D, quality, etc. Heck, if I'm running the marketing department for them, I'm going to try and figure out a way to get the message out to the masses. For example, there's commercials regarding pickups that goes something like "the longest lasting, most dependable pickups on the road".

Guzzi should mimick that and have multiple pictures or short clips of old high-mileage bikes in it and finish with a short slogan.

Then, open more dealerships so people don't have to drive all day to visit one

[pebra]

What Luap says ^

Yackee, I'd say your owning and riding a 50 yo Guzzi does the company good,  confirming the legacy they're aspiring to.
Surely maintaining the old visual design must imply they're delighted there are still many of their old bikes around?

[monkeyodeath]

If anything, Piaggio should be cutting you a check for doing advertising for them...especially with how popular retro bikes are now.

I've had multiple conversations with people about my 1000SP -- some people wanting to know what it is, others who are interested in Guzzis and want to see one up close.

I actually like some of Guzzi's new stuff -- really intrigued by the V100 especially. But the curse of being able to work on your own machines, at least for me, is that the dealership experience feels weird and the premium for new bikes ridiculous. When you aren't intimidated by having to fix something having a bike that *gasp* is out of warranty, the extra $$ just to buy new feels ridiculous.

[egschade]

Riding an old Guzzi creates just as much - if not more - brand awareness for the company. Having your bike out where people can see and ask about it is free advertising for them.

As far as "building what I want", Guzzi doesn't offer the 400-500cc, lightweight bike I want so I wound up buying a Triumph 400X Scrambler. I highly doubt Guzzi/Piaggio will make another small displacement ADV/Enduro model. Maybe a 457 Taureg will entice me back to the family but it still won't be soled as a Guzzi.

[Moparnut72]

I have had quite a few people who were shocked when I told them my V7lll was a 2019. Oh, I thought it was much older. They don't say that about my Mandello though.
kk

[SemperVee]

People, mostly non riders are always surprised HOW OLD my Norge is when it looks so modern. Still.   

[Moparnut72]

People, mostly non riders are always surprised HOW OLD my Norge is when it looks so modern. Still.

True statement, for riders also. I was surprised also. Italian design  .
kk

[bad Chad]

The problem is Moto Guzzi.  If they don't build what the public wants to buy, no one should feel any guilt about not buying a new one.  Right now, there is a 23 V100 Navale for sale in my area for the price of a V7 with 500 miles.  It just does not whisper in my ear "take me home".  I am sticking with my 1400 beast with 30,000 miles.  Nothing else on the market right now does a thing for me.  I love Harley, but they are digging their own grave right now and while sorry to see this, I feel no obligation to rescue the motor company.

Kind of ironic, as the 1400, as good as they are, where not a sales success.

[bad Chad]

IMHO, owning a 50 year old product should make any manufacturer smile. It's a testament to their reliability, R&D, quality, etc. Heck, if I'm running the marketing department for them, I'm going to try and figure out a way to get the message out to the masses. For example, there's commercials regarding pickups that goes something like "the longest lasting, most dependable pickups on the road".

Guzzi should mimick that and have multiple pictures or short clips of old high-mileage bikes in it and finish with a short slogan.

Then, open more dealerships so people don't have to drive all day to visit one

I think that type of marketing appeals to the kind of rider who is drawn to Guzzi anyway.  What you're describing is likely something that appeals to 90% of WildGuzzi users, but not 20 somethings.   There are tens of thousands of 50 year old Chevy's running around the USA, but I don't think they do much to spur new sales?

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

I think many people put it together that buying a new Chevy isn't the same as buying the Chevy built 50 years ago, and the same applies to motorcycles. Many buyers who want a tried and true motorcycle buy a tried and true (used) motorcycle without the risk of modern tech that hasn't been proved over time yet.

[Frenchfrog]

the opposite is also true...explains the success of the recent small block models and all the other retros .

[blu guzz]

https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=123545.msg1905856#new:~:text=Kind%20of%20ironic%2C%20as%20the%201400%2C%20as%20good%20as%20they%20are%2C%20where%20not%20a%20sales%20success.

I loved it when I first learned of them and when I test rode a 2016 Eldo much like my present bike.  For me, my business had not yet recovered from the throes of the recession and I was being very careful with money at the time.  The next year, I then had the chance to get a 2015 Cali Custom with 500 miles and some factory warranty left for about 1/2 the price of new in 2017 and jumped at that.  I like finding cool bikes I can buy for under $10,000 US.  That 2015 only cost me a few thousand dollars to ride for 2 1/2 years when I traded for the V85.
I just don't think the riding public perceived $16-18,000 of value in the prices of new 1400s at that time, but they were happy to shell out that much and more for other makes.  Go figure.

[Dave Swanson]

I don't think I'm part of the problem.  I have a problem.