How many of you red guzzi owners get ducati all the time?

[Doppelgaenger]

Now that I've gotten the Breva 1100 out into the motorcycling scene some more, it's been surprising the amount of people that take one look at it, see a red italian bike and just assume it's a ducati and ignore it.

And then it either happens on it's own or I have to say it's not a ducati, but people suddenly see the bike for what it is and not a duc, and they trip out when they actually start to see how, well... Guzzi it is. I have to say I do love watching people trying to figure out what exactly it is they're looking at, this is one of the fun parts of guzzi ownership :)

So the question is: How many of you guys get ducati? And what bike do you ride that makes them say that?

[normzone]

My Bassa does not bring the Ducati content but there are two classes of responses it gets.

The first is when people come up and ask you what the hell it is - even though it says Moto Guzzi all over it.

I find those boring. The other response it draws is the one that makes me laugh.

You're going down a city street and a bicyclist going the other way about falls off his bike trying to get a better look at it as you go by. Or the person at the bus stop cranes his neck as you pass. I had a homeless guy crossing the street in front of me at a stoplight give me a knowing look and a nod with a big grin as he went by. Didn't have to tell him...

[Doppelgaenger]

You're going down a city street and a bicyclist going the other way about falls off his bike trying to get a better look at it as you go by. Or the person at the bus stop cranes his neck as you pass. I had a homeless guy crossing the street in front of me at a stoplight give me a knowing look and a nod with a big grin as he went by. Didn't have to tell him...

Yeah I like those moments. Too bad it's always men that look at you that way...

[Sanders]

Doesn't have to be red, I have a black Griso and get the "nice Ducati" comment often.  I also have an old Buell thunderbolt that gets mistaken for a Ducati.  I never thought Buells looked Italian.  Although my wife thinks all bikes look the same, so...there's that.

[Two Checks]

I like the people who call it a "Jap bike" because it's a MOTO Guzzi.

[twodogs]

I like it when they ask me what it is and I tell em its a motorcycle :BEER:

[Guzzistajohn]

I mostly get " I didn't think they still made those, is that new?"   no, 1983

[dilligaf]

Never.  I'm seldom asked "Who made it".  I frequently hear "Nice Guzzie" or "I use to have one of those".  And quite frequently "Are they still making those"? One person did insist it was made by BMW.  When I corrected him he told his friends I didn't know what I was talking about.  "That motorcycle is made by BMW".   :BEER:
Matt

[Gliderjohn]

Since I bought my Norge most uninitiated folk think it is a BMW. Don't have that problem with the T-3 and almost always get positive comments or old Guzzi stories.  ;-T
GliderJohn

[willowstreetguzziguy]

Since owning mine for a little over a year, never had the Ducati think asked.

But I did have a young kid pull up beside me in a car and ask..."Does that have a driveshaft???"

[cj750]

I was once mightily entertained at a gas station by a man explaining to his wife that my (red) Jackal was a "BMW racing motorcycle." It does have low bars, rearsets and a café fairing, but otherwise its pretty much your standard-issue Jackal in appearance, complete with a set of hard bags. Anyhow, he was having quite a time holding forth about how "regular BMWs" can't be raced because their cylinders are to low. So they tilt 'em up on their racing bikes to go around corners. When the wife asked why it said "Moto Guzzi" on the tank if it was a BMW, he explained that "Moto Guzzi" is a famous European racetrack, and "that's how they name race bikes over there."

[Bill Hagan]

I was once mightily entertained at a gas station by a man explaining to his wife that my (red) Jackal was a "BMW racing motorcycle." It does have low bars, rearsets and a café fairing, but otherwise its pretty much your standard-issue Jackal in appearance, complete with a set of hard bags. Anyhow, he was having quite a time holding forth about how "regular BMWs" can't be raced because their cylinders are to low. So they tilt 'em up on their racing bikes to go around corners. When the wife asked why it said "Moto Guzzi" on the tank if it was a BMW, he explained that "Moto Guzzi" is a famous European racetrack, and "that's how they name race bikes over there."

That is a stupendous story.  I may use that again with some relatives.   ;)

As for my own experiences, hardly "all the time," but it's happened now and then.

My most memorable of those was in in fall '12.







In the middle of nowhere, Illinois (a statement that does not narrow things too much   :D), when I got pulled over for speeding.

While no saint on the open road, (for several reasons; some altruistic) I do not go over the posted limit in towns.

I could not figure out why this guy -- the "Chief," according to his badge -- pulled out and lighted me up.  I even thought for a moment that (as did guzziknight here) he might be a Guzzista.

Uhm.  No.

His first words were: "That a Ducati?" 

My initial reaction was "Whatever you want it to be, Officer."   :D

But, I said, no, it was a Moto Guzzi.  His response?  "But it's red."

He seemed a bit relieved when I assured him that, as are Ducatis, my Norge was Italian.  As does my Kathi, his last name ended in "ski," so such slavs are often satisfied with simple answers.   ;D

I really did not know where to go with the conversation, especially as I realized that I did not have my proof of insurance and, worse, I had the Griso's registration.

I still do not know exactly what happened back then, as he spent some time in his Crown Vic, returned my (Griso's!  :o) registration, did not ticket me, and was unclear about how fast I was going.  I sure wasn't about to press him for details.

So, I just remounted my Ducati ... Norge, and got of of Dodge.   :D

Bill

[Tobit]

Never got the "Nice Ducati."  Either it's a thumbs up, "nice Guzzi," or no comments but curious looks from young guys when it's parked.  Seems that more hipster dudes around here know more about Guzzi than other non-riding 20-something males.  I see them around occasionally on Ts, Eldos or Ts cafe'd to resemble old V7 ratbikes.

What I get a lot of are guys in Mustangs, trucks or Camaros rolling down their windows and riding off either rear quarter listening to the LeMans IV as we motor along together, then a wave when we part.  That big-valve, big-block Lario does make a nice sound.   :bike

Tobit

[Chuck in Indiana]

That big-valve, big-block Lario does make a nice sound.   

 ;D

[oldbike54]

I was once mightily entertained at a gas station by a man explaining to his wife that my (red) Jackal was a "BMW racing motorcycle." It does have low bars, rearsets and a café fairing, but otherwise its pretty much your standard-issue Jackal in appearance, complete with a set of hard bags. Anyhow, he was having quite a time holding forth about how "regular BMWs" can't be raced because their cylinders are to low. So they tilt 'em up on their racing bikes to go around corners. When the wife asked why it said "Moto Guzzi" on the tank if it was a BMW, he explained that "Moto Guzzi" is a famous European racetrack, and "that's how they name race bikes over there."

 I never tire of that story  :D The part , left out here, where he told his wife that only BMW could poke their cylinders out to the side still cracks me up  ;D Oh , maybe that was Shorty ... still ...

  Dusty

[rocker59]

I was once mightily entertained at a gas station by a man explaining to his wife that my (red) Jackal was a "BMW racing motorcycle." It does have low bars, rearsets and a café fairing, but otherwise its pretty much your standard-issue Jackal in appearance, complete with a set of hard bags. Anyhow, he was having quite a time holding forth about how "regular BMWs" can't be raced because their cylinders are to low. So they tilt 'em up on their racing bikes to go around corners. When the wife asked why it said "Moto Guzzi" on the tank if it was a BMW, he explained that "Moto Guzzi" is a famous European racetrack, and "that's how they name race bikes over there."

Classic!

[dilligaf]

I was once mightily entertained at a gas station by a man explaining to his wife that my (red) Jackal was a "BMW racing motorcycle." It does have low bars, rearsets and a café fairing, but otherwise its pretty much your standard-issue Jackal in appearance, complete with a set of hard bags. Anyhow, he was having quite a time holding forth about how "regular BMWs" can't be raced because their cylinders are to low. So they tilt 'em up on their racing bikes to go around corners. When the wife asked why it said "Moto Guzzi" on the tank if it was a BMW, he explained that "Moto Guzzi" is a famous European racetrack, and "that's how they name race bikes over there."

That one is going to be hard to beat. Love it.  :BEER:
Matt

[Lannis]

I was once mightily entertained at a gas station by a man explaining to his wife that my (red) Jackal was a "BMW racing motorcycle." It does have low bars, rearsets and a café fairing, but otherwise its pretty much your standard-issue Jackal in appearance, complete with a set of hard bags. Anyhow, he was having quite a time holding forth about how "regular BMWs" can't be raced because their cylinders are to low. So they tilt 'em up on their racing bikes to go around corners. When the wife asked why it said "Moto Guzzi" on the tank if it was a BMW, he explained that "Moto Guzzi" is a famous European racetrack, and "that's how they name race bikes over there."

He probably got his practice telling these porkies when he's explaining to his wife why he's coming home from work so late .....

Lannis

[cj750]

I never tire of that story  :D The part , left out here, where he told his wife that only BMW could poke their cylinders out to the side still cracks me up  ;D Oh , maybe that was Shorty ... still ...

  Dusty

No, you're correct. Part of his spiel was that BMWs are the only motorcycles "allowed" to have a sideways piston layout, so whenever you see cylinders sticking out from the sides of a bike, you know you're looking at a BMW.

[cruzziguzzi]

I've never gotten "Ducati" from my red Spot that I can recall.

I have however lost count of how often my Calvin is called a Harley.

Todd.

[Perazzimx14]

I've never gotten "Ducati" even when riding my Ducati. Either people around where I live a oblivious to what I am riding or are smart enough to read the manufactures name on the fuel cell.

[pressureangle]

Never been accused of being a Ducati...here 90% have never heard of Moto Guzzi. They read the tank badge, screw their foreheads and ask what 'kind' it is.

The few who have heard the brand tend to ask 'Is it as fast as they say they are?' I just say something like 'I don't know, it scares me too much to find out' and let it ride.  

[D Knaus]

I don't think my red Sporti has ever been mistaken for a Ducati, but in the early 80's before Ducs were well known and I rode a Darmah, it got a lot of attention with people looking at that bevel drive motor, and not many people knew the Ducati brand.

Last year at Bixby, Missouri, - a little crossroads with a small store and deli in the middle of some nice curvy roads that sportbikers frequent - a guy on a late model sportbike looked at the Sporti and remarked "Gee, a Moto Guzzi.  I've never seen one in the wild before."
I couldn't even come up with a reply.
-Dale

[cruzziguzzi]

Another I get from time to time:

Moto Guzzi (insert your own experiences with pronunciation difficulties here) who makes that?

[pressureangle]

Another I get from time to time:

Moto Guzzi (insert your own experiences with pronunciation difficulties here) who makes that?

Exactly.

[Vasco DG]

Even more fun is when you get a gawper when you're on an Aprilia Mana. Open the 'Glove Box' and they stare in amazement! "Where does the petrol go?", "Oh it doesn't use petrol," (Point at air cleaner.) "it's got a nuclear reactor in there."  ;D

Pete

[cj750]

Did anyone save the video of the two good ol' boys checking out a Guzzi, that someone caught with their GoPro? It doesn't seem to be on YouTube anymore.

[Vasco DG]

YCRN as it as his avatar.

[Guido Valvole]

No one has ever called any of my Guzzis Ducatis. Otoh I have gotten the "who makes that?" and "are they still in business" questions plenty of times.

And at the local Ducati Night, several times the newer Ducks have been ignored and passersby have asked about the Guzzi.  ~; 8)  New Ducatis are commonplace, older Guzzis (and bevelheads) much less so.
cr

[Chuck in Indiana]

Looking at the color of my hair, I've gotten the "what are YOU doing on a crotch rocket" several times.. ;D