Introductions thread...Introduce yourself to the group !

[Nick_W]

Nick Webb
55 (age, not preferred speed limit)
Translator
Lincoln, Nebraska (the state with no bends)
2004 Breva 750
Likes: sleeping, riding, what else is there?
Dislikes: chrome, chains, anything with more than two cylinders

[Muzz]

Nick Webb
55 (age, not preferred speed limit)
Translator
Lincoln, Nebraska (the state with no bends)
2004 Breva 750
Likes: sleeping, riding, what else is there?
Dislikes: chrome, chains, anything with more than two cylinders

Come on Nick.  You dislike chrome and have a SILVER Breva!   ;D

[RoMoMoTo]

Bob Herman, age 59
Rocky Mountains, Colorado
Owner, Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Tours

Interests: besides old motorcycles, middle-aged motorcycles, a few newish ones
Lots of other interests...

[RoadPirate]

Figure this is natural place for my first post  :)
Brendan
37 years old
Dallas, TX (Never thought I'd be a Texan; but I'll have been here 15 years this summer: longer than any place else!)
Consultant/Trainer for legal practice solutions company
Married to Holly 8+ years
No kids; but we have a 12 year old lab-mix (took us a while to get around to getting married).  Used to be like having a kid, getting to be more like having an elderly grandparent living with us. 
Hobbies - motorcycles, scooters, photography.  Travel a lot for work so little time for much else.
Current rides:
Me - 2004 Breva v750ie.  I'll post more on the "Show us Your Guzzi's" thread, 1988 (yes, "88") BMW 325i
Wife - 2004 MINI Cooper
Past Rides (Two-wheelers only for brevity):
Me - 2005 Harley-Davidson XL883C, 2003 Derbi GP1, 1970 Vespa Sprint Veloce (in that order)
Wife - 2005 Yamaha V-star Classic, 2005 Vespa ET4

[izzug otom]

Hi, I`m Martin from the UK. I`ve just got my first Guzzi , a Nevada Club 02 model.

I have some issue with cold and hot starting and fluctuating tickover speed, so I will no doubt be starting a thread hoping for some help from some experienced Guzzi folk. ::)

[anklodge]

Don't own a Guzzi - yet!

I heard you did have a Guzzi!!!!
Andrea Ank

Tom Brown

Age 60

Retard (retired) Police Sgt.

Hobbies are motorcycles and collecting WWII gear, US and British.

Work part-time in a pawn shop. Funny, I get to meet the same kind of people I did at my old job!

Don't own a Guzzi - yet!

Sarge

[BryanReid]

Hi Bryan here. New to this forum and still can't see how to post... I'll work on that. I am heading into Alaska from Canada next week. A companion has a new Motto Guzzi which will need servicing and likley new tires sometime in Alaska. Does anyone on the forum know of and Motto Guzzi dealers/service operation in Alaska. No end of Googling has found anyone.
Appreciate you help.
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[deweyvicknair]

Dewey Vicknair

Lititz, PA

Self-employed gunsmith  (www.vicknairrestora tions.com)

Age: 41

Married, 3 children, 3dogs, 0 cats

Hobbies: riding motorcycles, restoring motorcycles, wooden airplanes, wooden boats

Current Bike:1986 LeMans IV

Former Bikes: Aprilia Caponord
                    Husqvarna 510 supermoto
                 

[g®eg]

I guess I should post up over here too.

Greg Jarvis, 48.
I live in Bristol, RI, but I am a Canadian by birth & a British subject by virtue of my parents.

I have a 2008 Norge, a 1996 Triumph Sprint and a 2004 Honda XR 650-L

I sell sailcloth for a living, and used to be a sailmaker (still am I guess).

I also teach the MSF rider course many weekends in Massachusetts.

stuff I do: http://www.naisp.net/gjarvis/

[Rusty goose]

Hello all-

Another new guy here, Rusty Newman, originally from Colorado  (the state I claim),  now residing in Chesapeake, MD.
39 yrs, married 14, two boys.

Hobbies include restoring bikes and cars/trucks, shooting, anything outdoors.

I'm a G-man, Firearms Instructor for one of the many Federal acronyms.

I've been riding 34 yrs, had many machines, but my G5 is the first Guzzi for me.

[MrTricky]

What the hell

Frank
42
Brisbane Australia

Sometime IT person

1 missus
6 daughters
1 dog
1 cat
1 '96 Black Sport 1100
1 '91 RGV 250 (It is still a twin)
1 Bianchi 928L push bike
1 Fender guitar
1 surfboard
Just put me down for 1 of anything really I think

[dave1068]

-Dave
-40 yrs old
-R.I
-Investigator (background and security clearances)
-Soon to be Breva 1200 Sport owner

[azguzzirep]

Tom Short
Phoenix born and raised.

Just turned 50, waaah! Arizona MGNOC Rep.

Bought my first Guzzi from the Arizona Hiway Patrol in 1980, a 1974 Eldorado. Been on Guzzi ever since

Hobbies are much like everyone else's, guns, booze, bikes, broads. Never married, no kids.

I've been to Mandello and loved it! Been to a Guzzi rally in Germany, too!

Grazie, Carlo! Multi Grazie!! Mille Grazie!!!!!!

[nosail]

Why not. Born and live in Vancouver, BC. I own a small non ferrous foundry and machine shop. Our own product line is fire fighting equipment. Been married 32 years. Have 3 kids and 1 grandson as of last month  :). Road raced bikes in the PNW from 1972-1985. The last 7 years as passenger on a sidecar rig. Haven't ridden much since 1985 and decided it was time for something different (thus the Guzzi). I've called a fellow I used to race against who has a V11 LeMans and rides the odd Sunday with 6-8 other Guzzis and plan on riding with them. So far I love this bike and as others have said it is fun to ride at any speed.

[Gordon]

Gordon

Grew up in Houston and have been in Tulsa since 1981.  (My wife was from Oklahoma and convinced me it was a tropical paradise--I'm less gullible now)
65 years old, 64 good ones, last year off the bike for chemo and surgery
Physician, now part time
Married 31 years, 2 grown children
Hobbies include playing the cello, chamber music, golf, cooking.  Enjoy riding eastern OK and western Arkansas.

Norge 2007, red (traded in the Nevada 750)
Ducati S2R 800, also 2007, also red

[ROBOTMAN]

Jonathan

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Architect, recently laid off.  Formerly a robot-combat promoter, before that a molecular Biologist, before that a professional musician. 

recently married, 40 Years old

Like to sketch, Cyberpunk fiction, building things. 

Current owner of a 1968 Fender Jaguar, a 1993 MG 1000s, a neat little Lincoln Wire-feed welder, some lovely Deco furniture from the 20's (birdseye maple veneer).  All the other stuff I own is essentially crap, and completely disposable. 


 

[rdbandkab]

Richy

47
West Virginia (northern panhandle)
1 black 06 Breva 1100

Sometime IT person too!

1 missus of 20 something years
1 dog
2 birds
2 cats
1 05 Gas Gas ec300
1 2000 Xr650r (street legal)
1 02 aprilia Futura (flame red)
1 Cannondale Jekyll
1 Cannondale Prophet
I like to ride with said missus (kab)

[bloodweiser]

Raj - 24 - upstate NY
perpetually in college, aspiring teacher.
Looper for 2 years, Looper for life.
Someday I'll have a le mans!

[n2f]

Hi, I'm Lisa.  My main hobbies are motorcycling and scuba diving.  This is a pix of my Guzzi:


2002 Guzzi V11 Le Mans

I'm the second owner.  Bought it with 9,500 miles back in March of this year - took it in for it's 12K service yesterday.  It's my first Guzzi and I love it!  

[TassieMike]

Hey y'all.
TassieMike here.
I'm 49, an Emergency Physician, and live in Tasmania, AUS, home of the best biking roads in the galaxy.
I am in the process of cleaning up a V50 ('78 model), with a few mods to make it a bit more "personal".
It's my second Guzzi; the first was  a V65TT about 20 years ago.  Wish I still had that one.
If I could have any other Guzzi, it would be either a V7 Sport or a V11 Sport Scura.  Although the new 750 Classic is tempting.

[QCGoose]

Name's Chris. I'm 24 from Davenport, IA. I'm a Union Pipefitter/Welder and just started my 4th year of a 5-year apprenticeship. My current Guzzi is a '98 V11-EV with 31,xxx miles on it (I've put a bit over 2K on it since I got it 2 months ago). I absolutely love this bike and plan on adding at least one more within the next few years.

[rocker59]

Hi, I'm Lisa.  My main hobbies are motorcycling and scuba diving.  This is a pix of my Guzzi:


2002 Guzzi V11 Le Mans

I'm the second owner.  Bought it with 9,500 miles back in March of this year - took it in for it's 12K service yesterday.  It's my first Guzzi and I love it!  

Welcome!  Nice bike.  I'm kinda partial to the spine-frame bikes, myself.

A good set of tires and a weekend in the Ozarks, and you'll never want another bike!

[sundancer]

Steve Quigley
soon to be 52..
married - 2nd time is the charm
2 grown Daughters (currently in Orlando and Cary, NC)
App Analyst for http://www.amerigroupcorp.com/Pages/Home.aspx
dog and cat.. city pound rescues
1 bike - Christine (only a 1 car garage..)
fishing, boating and the obvious.. 

Virginia Beach, VA

[Thunderbox]

Dave Lindhorst 53 for now.
Foreman Police garage, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Retired from the military after 20 year of playing soldier.  Was a great thing to do but when it's time it's time.

Just new to the site and ride a newly purchased 04 V11 Sport with just over 1100 miles on it.  Nice bike, the catch word here is fun.  Always wanted a Guzzi so I finally decided it was time.  Other bike is an 06 Buell Ulysses.  Another fun bike.

I am a V twin guy as evidenced by my past bike purchases.  never owned an I4 and never really wanted one either.  They can have them.

Hobbies, Music, motorcycles, movies, boats, traveling and I was once an on air radio host.

If you are ever past here let me know.  I have a spare bed, tools, access to a garage and a kick ass BBQ.  Not to mention beer and a hot tub too.  Sometimes that's nice after a long ride.

[larrys]

Larry Stannard, soon to be 56. Building Inspector for 15 years in SE CT. Riding and wrenching since 1969. Mostly Limey stuff til 1980, bought my first Guzzi, a '76 Convert sidecar rig. Have owned a '70 Ambassador, '83 SP, LM IV, V50 II, presently love my '95 Cal 1100 that I bought wrecked in '02. Married 23 years, daughter in college, one dog, 6 cats. Am messed up on power boats and racing sailboats, too.

Larry

[Tom]

I thought you were okay till I read the last line on the boats. ::) Boats will mess you up.  Good thing you have a bike to ride to keep you balanced. ;D

[988940]

My name is Ross, 38 Y.O., from NY.

Haven't street ridden much over the past 5-10.
All my friends ride Harleys these days.
I had an FXDX-T last year.  Got rid of it QUICKLY, after 1k mi or so.
Very ill-handling bike.  Death wobble.  Poor chassis design.

So now... Guzzi time.
Just picked up a clean '04 EV11 Touring.
6,400 mi on the odo.
Paid a lot for it, but hot bikes and hot chicks ain't cheap, are they?

Not a lot of street riding time in my schedule,
but did manage to ride 150 miles in the past week  ;D

Likes:
-style
-torque curve

Dislikes:
-rear brake pedal (WTF??) (and no cheap fix either  ??? )
-linked brakes (WTF again)
-heel-toe shifter (which I 'kinda' seem to be getting used to, but still, WTF)
-Mickey Mouse mirrors (who sells lower profile ones?)
-Vibration felt in hand controls kinda sucks.
-Seat is shitty.  Too low, and shape is a little too cupped.


Misc thoughts;

Everyone who sees the bike compliments the styling.

I'm not too thrilled about the fairing style
nor the turbulence it created (I already took it off).

The lower fairing thingies cause motor heat to roast my feet (took them off too).

I need tires! Previous owner wore the center of the Mich Macadam tires
from too much straight-line riding.
The bike is not handling acceptably at the moment due to this.
What tires are good??
Also- can I put radials?
The way bias tires follow grooves and cracks is weird and creepy.


In general, my impressions are kinda in-line with the reviews I've read online.



The only other person I know that has a Guzzi is my uncle in Italy.
I'm not keen on models, but it is really old, it is all red, and I think it's a single cylinder.

So then-
so far, I haven't been struck by any kind of thunderbolt of passion for the bike.
(Like the thunderbolt that my '92 Duc 900SS struck me with  :o )

I like the new offerings like the Griso, Stelvio and the Vintage (much cooler bags than mine).

I dunno- the style of these Guzzis gets me going pretty good,
but their function is a question mark so far.
(what's up with these valvole idraulico's)

I know it's different,,
it's not a UJM.
Will it be a keeper?

Time will tell!  Looking forward to finding out...

[r11rider]

Hi...can't believe I haven't posted to this thread before!

John Van Deren, 63
Montpelier, VT.
Married (twice), four kids total (hers and mine), 1st grandchild due Oct 1.
Grant writer for a local non-profit family center.
Got back into motorcycles in the 90s after divorce (great therapy), had a few BMWs (R75/6, R100CS, R1100RS) before finding my V7 Sport...loved the Sport for 8 years and sold last summer to finance my "new"  Italian love...2004 Aprilia Futura (a poor financial decision to trade an appreciating asset for a depreciating one, but the Fut stirs the juices like no other ST bike I've ridden!).

Hobbies other than bikes: woodworking, movies

[Tom]

My name is Ross, 38 Y.O., from NY.

Haven't street ridden much over the past 5-10.
All my friends ride Harleys these days.
I had an FXDX-T last year.  Got rid of it QUICKLY, after 1k mi or so.
Very ill-handling bike.  Death wobble.  Poor chassis design.

So now... Guzzi time.
Just picked up a clean '04 EV11 Touring.
6,400 mi on the odo.
Paid a lot for it, but hot bikes and hot chicks ain't cheap, are they?

Not a lot of street riding time in my schedule,
but did manage to ride 150 miles in the past week  ;D

Likes:
-style
-torque curve

Dislikes:
-rear brake pedal (WTF??) (and no cheap fix either  ??? )
-linked brakes (WTF again)
-heel-toe shifter (which I 'kinda' seem to be getting used to, but still, WTF)
-Mickey Mouse mirrors (who sells lower profile ones?)
-Vibration felt in hand controls kinda sucks.
-Seat is shitty.  Too low, and shape is a little too cupped.


Misc thoughts;

Everyone who sees the bike compliments the styling.

I'm not too thrilled about the fairing style
nor the turbulence it created (I already took it off).

The lower fairing thingies cause motor heat to roast my feet (took them off too).

I need tires! Previous owner wore the center of the Mich Macadam tires
from too much straight-line riding.
The bike is not handling acceptably at the moment due to this.
What tires are good??
Also- can I put radials?
The way bias tires follow grooves and cracks is weird and creepy.


In general, my impressions are kinda in-line with the reviews I've read online.



The only other person I know that has a Guzzi is my uncle in Italy.
I'm not keen on models, but it is really old, it is all red, and I think it's a single cylinder.

So then-
so far, I haven't been struck by any kind of thunderbolt of passion for the bike.
(Like the thunderbolt that my '92 Duc 900SS struck me with  :o )

I like the new offerings like the Griso, Stelvio and the Vintage (much cooler bags than mine).

I dunno- the style of these Guzzis gets me going pretty good,
but their function is a question mark so far.
(what's up with these valvole idraulico's)

I know it's different,,
it's not a UJM.
Will it be a keeper?

Time will tell!  Looking forward to finding out...

Keep the rpm's up shift at 5K.  Cruise between 4K and 5K.  For the heel toe shifter.  Think of your left foot pivoting at the ankle and rock your foot that way.  When shifting make it a definite positive push on the lever.  No finesse style like shifting like riding a UJM.  Foot braking.  Use the little nub for your heel instead of leaving it on the floor board.  Just some minor foot adjustments.  It'll make sense to you after riding around for awhile then you can stretch out for the highway on the boards.

[gentlemanjim]

Hi,

I've been rattling around here for a while and thought I'd make my intro formal.  I have owned 23 bikes over the years My present daily ride is a BMW k75 standard.   I just purchased my first Guzzi and I'm doing a restomod of a V50 III as a tribute bike to the US unavailable V7 Cafe. Her's my progress so far.





Here's my BMW


I have to say this is the most active, informative and fun group and glad to be a member.

Jim