Planning to buy a Trip 500...

[SLDMRossi]

I've already informed my local dealer (Hamlin Cycles -- Bethel, CT) that I plan on buying a Moto Guzzi Trip 500. So much so, that I've requested Serial No. 1 from the U.S. Importer.

No doubt, there's controversy about the parallel twin engine ... but those that think that the Moto Guzzi V-Twin and Shaft Drive are the be-all-and-end-all are not digging deep enough into Mandello del Lario history. Because there were certainly plenty of Singles, both four-stroke and two-stroke. Including Flat, Inclined and Vertical. With chains and sprockets, too.

For Moto Guzzi to remain relevant they must stay in tune with the market. Affordable singles and twins from offshore sources is the only segment of the new motorcycle market (along with e-Off Roaders) that's growing. A good example is Triumph's 400: 50,000 sold in one year! Royal Enfield, meanwhile, has come from zero to hero.

And the competition continues to accelerate. Since I already have a parallel twin Benelli TNT 300 (which has been bullet-proof and fun, fun, fun!), I was waiting for the reinvented Morini 3 1/2 to arrive. But that's been dragging on for so long, my sights are being reset toward the Moto Guzzi Trip 500. Coincidentally, I just spent the weekend on my V50.

So moving forward, do keep an open mind. There's no right or wrong answer here. Just what works for you, personally...

More to follow,

Steven Rossi
CT-RI MGNOC State Rep.
East Haddam, CT     

[skippy]

I am genuinely impressed Moto Guzzi is putting a bike like this to market. I was hoping for a modern interpretation of a Falcone but this is a good looking bike with some decent performance figures for the capacity.

Nice job Moto Guzzi.

[SLDMRossi]

Tooling up a new engine and bringing it to market is a colossal expense. And being a Falcone fan/owner, I hear ya'.

But I have another motorcycle that went through that exercise.  It's called an MZ 1000S. After returning to the market (when the Berlin Wall fell), MZ hit the street with Rotax...and then Yamaha-powered...machines. They started to make inroads. So then, they did their own 125 with positive results. But ultimately flew too close to the sun with their own 1000 Twin...which drove them into bankruptcy.

So, Moto Guzzi's doing the right thing by leveraging the Aprilia (leading Moto GP, by the way...ahead of Ducati) relationship. After being connected to Mandello del Lario for 45+ years...and having watched/lived through so many tumultuous times...there's no doubt that Piaggio is the best thing that ever happened to them.

SR