Why Do We Buy a Guzzi?

[DougG]

Why do we buy a Guzzi?  (And why does it own us?)

I have a theory, not a law, natural or otherwise…that’s different, just a theory.   Here’s how it goes:
You start off as a mere mortal…logical, inquiring mind, relatively healthy body, clear soul.  Then you see your first Guzzi ride by.  The mind says, “What the heck is that?”, the body says, “I wonder how that feels?”, the soul is still clear and uninterested. 
Then, you actually see one up close and personal (in a parking lot, dealership, friend’s house…wherever).  The mind begins to dull, the body says, “I want to know how that feels”, the soul is still clear.   
Then you sit on one.  The mind is now completely out of the loop, the body says, “Yes!” and the soul is now awakened.

Then you ride one… (I refer to this as stage four, or terminal Guzzi-ism).  The mind has long since left the building, the body is fully engaged, and the soul is captured…the look, the feel, the sensation.

That night and several thereafter, you have subliminal dreams, long forgotten endorphins begin flowing and the next thing you know you’re looking at your bank account, credit rating, investments, space in the garage…the kid’s inheritance.   
OK, we all know what happens next…

So here’s my theory;  it’s not mind control, not body control…it’s soul control!  Sure, they have engineers who design the bikes, assemblers who make them, test riders who do their thing, but the real money makers at Guzzi are the “soul controllers.” 
They have us by the soul…we are powerless to resist.

Be well,
DougG
P.S.  They got mine, for sure. 

[guzzisteve]

I used to work in more than a few Guzzi/BMW shops. My boss's used to have me tell the customers why I rode a Guzzi. It's like this " Do you want a 1/4 of a V8 or a 1/2 a Volkswagen" The Guzzi motor reacts to tuning exactly like a V8. It just makes sense for a gearhead to ride one.

[johnwesley]

I get asked from time to time why I ride these old Guzzis when I’ve got newer, more modern bikes sitting in the shop.

Logically, it’s a fair question.

They aren’t fast.
They’re not the most comfortable.
Fuel mileage isn’t great.
Handling isn’t class-leading.

I rode my ’03 all the way out to the Washington National MGNOC in ’24 and it did just fine—but nobody would confuse it with the “best” tool for the job.

They’re also affordable. Cheap on the used market, really. Parts are available, and they’re easy to work on. No black magic. No laptop required. If you’re willing to turn a wrench, they’ll meet you halfway.

So why ride one?

My honest answer is usually, “I don’t know. I just like them.”

The more I think about it, the more I realize it isn’t one thing—it’s all the little things people complain about. The light, almost loose feeling. The motor talking to you with its ticks and pulses. That exhaust note that makes me smile every time. The way it kicks sideways when you hit the starter or blip the throttle at a stop.

Even the weird stuff—the heel-toe shifter, the brake pedal with the heel knob. The things that make it imperfect to most folks are exactly what draw me in. If you smoothed all that out and fixed everything people don’t like, I’m not sure I’d like the bike anymore.

There’s no single feature that makes an old Guzzi special. It’s the sum of the imperfections that makes it fun. Endearing, even.

My dad probably said it best:
If you’ve got something that puts a smile on your face, you should keep it—because that’s valuable, and hard to find.

[Tkelly]

Years ago Gordon from MG Cycle told me that they were organic,makes sense to me.The fellowship of owners and rallies are icing on a great cake.

[Bulldog9]

There are probably a thousand other reasons, but speaking intellectually,

For me, a Moto Guzzi is an air-cooled shaft Drive motorcycle.

That's what I wrote exclusively for years with my Yamaha XS 1100 and 750 motorcycles. From 2000 to 2015 I was stuck on water cooled in line four Japanese motorcycles like the zg1000, fz1, and fjr 1300. All great, But they were so refined they felt like appliances. Not wanting to deal with a Harley or BMW, I really thought I was stuck with water cooled bikes for the rest of my riding life. Even though the fjr was a brilliant powerful beast of a motorcycle, it did nothing for me and after 8 years and 60,000 MI I just had no desire to ride it. While I did spend nine out of the 12 months of 2015 in Afghanistan, when I came back I only Rode 500 mi the rest of the year. I really thought I was finished riding and that I had grown older and had changed.

Then in 2015 with a visit to Moto International, Dave Richardson introduced me to the GRiSO 1100 and my passion for riding was reinvigorated in less than 500 ft. For me there is something honest and real about a Guzzi..... That's why I buy the them, ride them and love them.

[Oca Grassa]

Maybe I’m just different….I ride a Guzzi because I wanted a shaft drive bike for the winter. I didn’t want a BMW. Yamahas don’t move me to buy them…and frankly neither do Hondas. Cruisers do zero for me either. That doesn’t leave a whole lot to look at.

My tastes lean heavily towards Italian bikes. There were 3 Ducatis and an Aprilia in my garage when I brought home my Norge. Not gonna lie; I’ve always admired the Moto Guzzi Sport 1100i and Daytonas.

I find the Norge comfortable. Very comfortable. The heated grips are a game changer along with shaft drive that to me, make it the perfect winter commute bike. That I can also tour on it is a bonus in my mind.

I ride a Guzzi because the Norge is practical, comfortable and does what I want it to do. Not for any other reason.

[cliffrod]

I used to work in more than a few Guzzi/BMW shops. My boss's used to have me tell the customers why I rode a Guzzi. It's like this " Do you want a 1/4 of a V8 or a 1/2 a Volkswagen" The Guzzi motor reacts to tuning exactly like a V8. It just makes sense for a gearhead to ride one.

The V8 correlation was a big part of my early transition into Moto Guzzi and it remains relevant.  Bevel Ducatis require a certain unique set of skills, knowledge and tools. Japanese bikes have a range of their own “building a better mousetrap” specifics.  Older HD are very simple but they’re not a V8 car platform.    After years of doing cars, my V7 Sport required very little new thinking compared to other motorcycles.  Since then, nothing has rivaled my Guzzi.

Now I just like them, at least the old round head bikes.  Everything after that becomes increasingly foreign to me.  Never got into the outlier “something no one else has” mindset that many tangent to the marque seem to enjoy & cultivate. Too many of those self-identified aficionados are happy to poo-poo on my imperfect bikes that should be brought up to their standards.  Life is too short for that stuff. 

An old Guzzi is a great machine. 

[Stretch]

"It’s the sum of the imperfections that makes it fun. Endearing, even.

My dad probably said it best:
If you’ve got something that puts a smile on your face, you should keep it—because that’s valuable, and hard to find."

You're dad is a wise man!

Imperfections are what make us unique, and what make us human.
For instance, let's say AI can generate a "perfect" musical tone. It can
play music - composed by humans - pretty well. But what would you rather listen
to: soulless AI-generated crap, or old Louis Armstrong and Rafael Mendez records?

That's kinda the way older bikes are. Are they "perfect?" Or are they something
you want to ride? Do you want slick quick shifting with no vibration from the machine?
Or do ya want the intellectual AND visceral satisfaction of operating the brakes, throttle,
and gearbox beautifully yourself through that set of bends?

                                                                -Stretch

                                                               

[kingoffleece]

A Guzzi requires a certain amount of involvement from the rider.  One doesn't 'Ride" the motorcycle, one needs to partner with it.
SO many motorcycles are like an appliance.  They do whatever the riders commands.  A Guzzi, when the rider partners with it, will gracefully work with the rider.
Sort of like a great dance partner.  A Guzzi reminds you that THIS gear is proper now.  THIS is where I (the bike) wants the rpm's.

It's exactly what some new owners do not understand when they first get a Guzzi.  We see it here often. "My bike shudders (or some such thing) at 3K in top gear.  What's wrong?"  Nothing.  Listen to the bike and ride it like it wants to be ridden.

[blu guzz]

All of the above and I really love parking it next to a line of Harleys at the local hang out.