Moto Guzzi’s new Trip 500 in the works

[Bulldog9]

Well I for one am happy to see Moto guzzi expanding its offerings, but this would not be something on my future purchase checklist.

Air-Cooled shaft drive has been my preferred motorcycle experience since 1986. I don't see that changing for the rest of my life.

But if this pulls in some of the youth, you know the latte sipping skinny jeans computer nerd kids? Well then I'm all for it.

[TN Mark]

Please excuse the following rant but it’s been building for quite a while and now is the time.  After about 40 continuous years of purchases, ownership, enthusiasm for Moto Guzzi and countless visits to Mandello, I’m done.  Piaggio has been a problem for 20 years now, with the ever present possibly that they’d destroy Guzzi as they did Gilera and others.  Now its gone too far, I’m not interested at all in badge engineered, Indian made Piaggios, and there is no chance of me buying any more of anything Piaggio makes.  I’ve just sold my V85TT and won’t be buying another Piaggio-Guzzi, new or used.  I’ll keep my Daytona and Le Mans and enjoy them, continue to include Mandello in my tours for its history and Guzzi culture (and ice cream  ) but I’m moving on to other interests with my motorcycle money - there are plenty of other places to spend it (I have ten bikes) and I get a sense of freedom from finally just writing off Piaggio as a dead loss.

100% on this. I threw up a bit into my mouth reading about an Indian/Piaggio/Moto Guzzi ‘Trip 500’.

[Bulldog9]

100% on this. I threw up a bit into my mouth reading about an Indian/Piaggio/Moto Guzzi ‘Trip 500’.

I get what you're saying, and as I said above I have no interest in this model, but manufacturers need to do what they need to do to stay solvent.

I'm more of a Porsche fanatic than I am a Moto guzzi fanatic. The fact is if Portia had not drawn outside the lines and released models like the 944, or their Macon SUV or Cayenne SUV, they wouldn't be in existence today..

And because of those models, We y arguably have the best 911s ever.

So if they sell a bunch of these mongrels, and it keeps the company solvent and allows them to continue to develop and produce the classic V-Twin shaft Drive Moto guzzi, we should all be in favor of it.

In my opinion it's pretty ridiculous to swear off a brand because they draw outside the lines.

The one manufacturer that I will exempt myself from is General motors.

I was a long time Oldsmobile And Saab fan. In fact between my dad and myself and my brother, we had a continuous train of Oldsmobile ownership from 1968 until 2015. General motors killed Pontiac, then they killed Oldsmobile, then they killed Saab, then they killed Saturn,...... Unforgivable and I've written them off. Will never own another GM product the rest of my life.

But I think we should give piaggio and Moto guzzi a chance. If this entry-level model is a sales hit and it pours money into the coffers to keep them developing and keeping air-cooled shaft drive motorcycles alive into the future? I think that's well worth it.

But that's just my two cents from my little corner of the cabbage patch.

[Tusayan]

But I think we should give piaggio and Moto guzzi a chance. If this entry-level model is a sales hit and it pours money into the coffers to keep them developing and keeping air-cooled shaft drive motorcycles alive into the future? I think that's wells worth it.

I’m not particularly attached to air-cooled shaft drive motorcycles, although I’ll admit that four of mine are that, and two of those are Guzzis. What I was interested in when buying a Moto Guzzi is firstly that it was designed with knowledge and appreciation of Guzzi’s philosophy, which historically includes a lot of innovation, applied in a practical way.  Also important was the old world longevity and maintainability that Guzzi came to represent in the decades before the company and its design capability was dissolved.  And some style and taste contributed by designers who have it.  I don’t want to buy an Indian made Piaggio with a Chinese engine designed and built by people who have no idea what Moto Guzzi is all about, looking ugly as a KTM, and only a Guzzi by virtue of having that badge on the tank to help it sell to people who may recognize the name more than some other name.

I had hoped that my V85TT would be a real Guzzi for me, combining Guzzi values with modernity, but I found it too generic and I never really connected with it.  I replaced it with a clean, low mileage ‘92 BMW R100GS that’s better.  Meanwhile I have the opportunity to buy a V100 Mandello S with less than 1000 miles on it, at a very low price, but will stick with my Le Mans and Daytona RS.  I’m tired of being disappointed by Piaggio, and won’t buy more from them.  I also have an ‘86 Laverda SFC 1000 that I’m recommissioning, so I’m not bored.  Laverda is BTW another name that Piaggio owns and has wasted, like Gilera.

[Frenchfrog]

If DeTomaso had his way, Guzzi would have been selling rebadged Benellis and nothing else. Legend has it that he went though the factory swinging a samurai sword and yelling "no more stupid twins". Guzzi would have died on his watch (or went back into government management).

Some how Guzzi survived his tenure though...even the horrid  80's  slab plastics and 16 " wheels !!!!! Benelli did not....camshafts made out of playdough  didn't help for sure !

[Frenchfrog]

I’m not particularly attached to air-cooled shaft drive motorcycles, although I’ll admit that four of mine are that, and two of those are Guzzis. What I was interested in when buying a Moto Guzzi is firstly that it was designed with knowledge and appreciation of Guzzi’s philosophy, which historically includes a lot of innovation, applied in a practical way.  Also important was the old world longevity and maintainability that Guzzi came to represent in the decades before the company and its design capability was dissolved.  And some style and taste contributed by designers who have it.  I don’t want to buy an Indian made Piaggio with a Chinese engine designed and built by people who have no idea what Moto Guzzi is all about, looking ugly as a KTM, and only a Guzzi by virtue of having that badge on the tank to help it sell to people who may recognize the name more than some other name.

I had hoped that my V85TT would be a real Guzzi for me, combining Guzzi values with modernity, but I found it too generic and I never really connected with it.  I replaced it with a clean, low mileage ‘92 BMW R100GS that’s better.  Meanwhile I have the opportunity to buy a V100 Mandello S with less than 1000 miles on it, at a very low price, but will stick with my Le Mans and Daytona RS.  I’m tired of being disappointed by Piaggio, and won’t buy more from them.  I also have an ‘86 Laverda SFC 1000 that I’m recommissioning, so I’m not bored.  Laverda is BTW another name that Piaggio owns and has wasted, like Gilera.

Sorry but all these arguments have a bit of a tired sound to them : The British bikers have been singing that song since BSA crashed and triumph mutated.
Now the French have a deep nostalgic fondness for the  Citroen DS or 2cv's but honestly I do not see anyone screaming for their continued manufacture...plent y of the nostalgics rebuild and maintain the originals but have as daily drivers something much more modern.
As for parts availability, under EU provisions a manufacturer is bound to supply spares for 10 years...after that it's up to the aftermarket or  a particularly well stocked and beneficent manufacturer. As far as I know this applies to the japanese manufacturers and spares availability is not any better for those either.

[SIR REAL ED]

Now the French have a deep nostalgic fondness for the  Citroen DS or 2cv's but honestly I do not see anyone screaming for their continued manufacture...plent y of the nostalgics rebuild and maintain the originals but have as daily drivers something much more modern.

One of the machine designers I used to work with was a former auto mechanic.  He had a saying:  "The French copy no one, and no one copies The French!"

Bad designs are universal.  Pride and economics prevents some from correcting their mistakes.

[Tusayan]

Sorry but all these arguments have a bit of a tired sound to them : The British bikers have been singing that song since BSA crashed and triumph mutated.
Now the French have a deep nostalgic fondness for the  Citroen DS or 2cv's but honestly I do not see anyone screaming for their continued manufacture...plent y of the nostalgics rebuild and maintain the originals but have as daily drivers something much more modern.
As for parts availability, under EU provisions a manufacturer is bound to supply spares for 10 years...after that it's up to the aftermarket or  a particularly well stocked and beneficent manufacturer. As far as I know this applies to the japanese manufacturers and spares availability is not any better for those either.

I have little appreciation for the products or fate of the 70s UK motorcycle industry, nor am I great fan of the current Triumphs.  What I’m talking about is something completely different, understanding who you are and building on it using current non-retro, non-copy-cat technology, and selling to a market that can see who you are through your products.  I’m afraid the Europeans, manufacturers and buyers both, are a bit lost in doing this.  Enfield does it better than Triumph and sells a lot more bikes.  The best Piaggio has come up with in that regard is the V100, but stuff like dealer only service light reset turns me away -  mandatory dealer service by a Piaggio dealer (God help us) is exactly the opposite of what I want in a Guzzi.

Government legal requirements for parts supply have little to do with motorcycles or the real world.  Nobody in their right mind buys an expensive motorcycle thinking it will be maintainable for only 10 years.  The law is also lost and inapplicable.

Honda and BMW are best for parts availability.

[kingoffleece]

"I don't like xxxx that they make so…….

Sounds patently ridiculous to me.

[Bulldog9]

I've always wanted one of those citroen s with the air suspension where you could literally drive it with one tire off the ground. One day I'll find one.

When it comes to the v85, it's definitely not the same as a pre CARC Guzzi, but I've been pleasantly surprised to find it is stuffed with small block character. I've been very happy with it. I was concerned it was going to be bland like the V7III, But I find the motor has a lot of character and that nice thump thump thump feel to it. The balance between character, refinement, and power is just about perfect. But it is tall, intended to be ADV, So I understand how some people might not like it. Handling however and the suspension is probably the best out of the box of any motorcycle I've owned.

I'm still not a fan of the dual headlights and Woody woodpecker front fender but it's growing on me. One day when I have the time and resources, I'm going to look real hard at mounting a V7 850 headlight and standard front fender. But for now I'll take it for what it is.

It's probably going to be the last new motorcycle I will ever buy, but it probably also will not be the last motorcycle I'll ride. That will probably be the Stornello.

Even though I would not be buying this new 500cc water-cooled chain driven twin, Moto Guzzi definitely needed an entry-level model in the $4 to $5,000 range new. If it's a gateway drug to real Moto guzzi's then I'm in favor of it.

[bad Chad]

I don't think it's going to be quite that inexpensive.  With discounts a new 457 Tuono is in the upper $5000 range, before taxes.  But if Guzzi can come in around the same cost, I think it might help them sell quite a few more motorcycles.

[Vagrant]

I predict $7995. Then three years later closed out for $4995 when they don't sell.

[Vagrant]

I've always wanted one of those citroen s with the air suspension where you could literally drive it with one tire off the ground. One day I'll find one.

When it comes to the v85, it's definitely not the same as a pre CARC Guzzi, but I've been pleasantly surprised to find it is stuffed with small block character. I've been very happy with it. I was concerned it was going to be bland like the V7III, But I find the motor has a lot of character and that nice thump thump thump feel to it. The balance between character, refinement, and power is just about perfect. But it is tall, intended to be ADV, So I understand how some people might not like it. Handling however and the suspension is probably the best out of the box of any motorcycle I've owned.

I'm still not a fan of the dual headlights and Woody woodpecker front fender but it's growing on me. One day when I have the time and resources, I'm going to look real hard at mounting a V7 850 headlight and standard front fender. But for now I'll take it for what it is.

It's probably going to be the last new motorcycle I will ever buy, but it probably also will not be the last motorcycle I'll ride. That will probably be the Stornello.

Even though I would not be buying this new 500cc water-cooled chain driven twin, Moto Guzzi definitely needed an entry-level model in the $4 to $5,000 range new. If it's a gateway drug to real Moto guzzi's then I'm in favor of it.

I have a feeling with the computer control and can-bus you might not be able to do a different head light.

[Bulldog9]

I have a feeling with the computer control and can-bus you might not be able to do a different head light.

If I do it it would be with the headlight from the most recent V7850 with the DRL eagle, etc.