Why Do We Buy a Guzzi?

[kingoffleece]

Solitary animals get together every year to mate............

[dlapierre]

I've had 4 Guzzi's over the years. It began with me finding this site and seeing all the knowledge and helpful information there was, meaning I could do my own upkeep and repairs usinfg this infomarion. That's why I bought my first  one. The ones since were me upgrading. My son has the last one I owned...a 1200 Sport that he fusses over. Now I putt around on a couple of Royal Enfield Himalayans. I just turned 79.

[davethewelder]

In 2008ish, I test rode a Griso 1200 if if memory is correct, damn was it sweet.  Just enough power, very stable.   It was until 2022 until I found a dealer in SW Florida that appeared to be stable and bought a V85TT, sold it and now have V7_850 Stone TEN, this bike is special.

[Vagrant]

Solitary animals get together every year to mate............

Now there's a good reason to never go to rallies!

[Kev m]

Solitary animals get together every year to mate............

I have NEVER SLEPT with anyone from WG!!!   


I mean, same room but you know what I mean.... 

[shaggy]

For me I rode only offroad bikes with a bunch of other guys who also road street bikes. I didnt have a road bike and bought a V50 from one of the guys. a few years later i bought a wrecked SPlll. I still ride it 77,000 miles later

[davethewelder]

Back in around 2008 at Mid Ohio Sports Car race track in Mansfield Ohio, I test rode a Griso and I said this one is special.  In 2022 bought a V85TT, then rescued a V7 2014, sold them both and later bought a V7-850 Stone TEN.  I dont know if my V7 is a freak or what but the way it delivers the power, I swear it would out run the V85TT.  Only thing I have added is Wilburs springs up front, maybe a set of slip ons with an Upmap.

[Moparnut72]

No Dave I think my '26 Special would give my former T120 a run for its money. I think the new V7's are under rated.
kk

[faffi]

Unless your 1200 is very sick, there is no way a 67hp V7 will keep up with a 104 hp 1200. It may FEEL as fast or faster, and to me that is more important than actual numbers, but it is bound to be slower.

For instance, my XL500S felt more eager than my brother's KZ1300 DFI, but the big six blew past like the XL was chained to a tree. Regardless, my XL was fun to ride, the KZ (which my brother bought from me, and I the XL from him) felt so lame and tired, despite its 140 mph indicated top speed. The power came in so gently, so smoothly as to be almost undetectable. Only the rapid progress of the speedo needle told you the thing was quick and fast.

[Kev m]

Unless your 1200 is very sick, there is no way a 67hp V7 will keep up with a 104 hp 1200. It may FEEL as fast or faster, and to me that is more important than actual numbers, but it is bound to be slower.

T120 Bonnie - 79-80 HP / 520#'s wet.
V7 - 67 up / 481# wet

[faffi]

Thanks, Kev, it is good to see that my memory still fails me with utter reliability

[SIR REAL ED]

I have NEVER SLEPT with anyone from WG!!!   


I mean, same room but you know what I mean.... 

It will all be OK Kev. 

Don't take it personally.

Rejection hurts, but only for a little while....   

[SIR REAL ED]

Unless your 1200 is very sick, there is no way a 67hp V7 will keep up with a 104 hp 1200. It may FEEL as fast or faster, and to me that is more important than actual numbers, but it is bound to be slower.

For instance, my XL500S felt more eager than my brother's KZ1300 DFI, but the big six blew past like the XL was chained to a tree. Regardless, my XL was fun to ride, the KZ (which my brother bought from me, and I the XL from him) felt so lame and tired, despite its 140 mph indicated top speed. The power came in so gently, so smoothly as to be almost undetectable. Only the rapid progress of the speedo needle told you the thing was quick and fast.

I let a friend ride my Suzuki DR650.  He was convinced it had more power than his son's Suzuki GSXR600!

I assumed he never got the GSXR above 5,000 rpm.

[davethewelder]

T120 Bonnie - 79-80 HP / 520#'s wet.
V7 - 67 up / 481# wet

.  V7 wins in 2 categories, V7 is better looking and V7 wins with power to weight ratio.

[TN Mark]

T120 Bonnie - 79-80 HP / 520#'s wet.
V7 - 67 up / 481# wet

Are these dyno numbers or manufacturer published numbers?

Aesthetically, the V7 blows away the T120.

Plus the V7 has actual heritage. Triumph moved absolutely everything to Thailand years ago. Many refer to them as Thaiumph as they no longer have any tie whatsoever to England.

[Moparnut72]

Those are published numbers which don't mean an awful lot in my opinion. I am an outboard motor gearhead. Back in the 50's and 60's Mercury sold a 20 Cu In motor called the Super 10 Hurricane with 10hp on the data tag. In later years they were put on dynos and depending on the year produced 16 to 18 HP. Compatible OMC's and larger couldn't even attempt to keep up with them resulting in a popular expression started by OMC. "Mercurys are fast but don't last." Sound familiar?  As I have said I didn't see much difference in the performance of the two bikes. The new, my '26 Special has substantially more power than my previous V7 even though the published HP's are not that much different.
kk

[kidsmoke]

I'm not a fan of white motorcycles.

no? You're breaking my heart....



Nicely surprised with how often the GRiSO is being referenced as a benchmark machine. Many suggest it's a future 1000S in terms of gravitas within the range. Let's hope!

For me it boils down to bang for the buck, DIY accessibility and Heritage. I LOVE riding them. I LOVE looking at (many of) them. And there's lots to talk about in terms of their role in the history of Moto's in general - lending itself to community.

Kev M - I too referred to the Jackal as the red headed stepchild of the community in the 'Best Looking' thread, not having seen your identical comment here til just now.

Your White Jackal was an early muse to me in my Guzzi journey.  cheers to that!