Author Topic: Tired of negativity- Tell us how good your Guzzi has been to you (Read 20443 times)

prof_stack · « **Reply #30 on:** July 03, 2015, 03:38:49 PM »

My 2007 Breva 750 fits me like a glove. The Progressive Suspension shocks lower it but give a better ride. Dart Marlin flyscreen is awesome. Insurance is cheap. New tires help the handling. Carnauba wax makes it shine purdy!

What's not to love?

Bill N · « **Reply #31 on:** July 03, 2015, 03:47:16 PM »

Love my 98 EV. Never left me stranded and she's pushing 130,000 miles. Clutch replaced at 90,000 miles. Even when it came apart I was able to nurse it the 40 miles to home.
Bill

Steve Scott · « **Reply #32 on:** July 03, 2015, 03:47:42 PM »

Paraphrased from "A Christmas Story"

charlie b: Dadgummit! Broken cable! [on the highway, the Moto Guzzi has broken a throttle cable]
Mr. Parker: Ah ha!
[excitedly gets off the bike]
Mother: Not again.
Mr. Parker: Twenty minutes... Time me!
[narrator] Actually charlie b loved it. He had always pictured himself in the pits of the Bol d'Or.

boatdetective · « **Reply #33 on:** July 03, 2015, 03:58:30 PM »

Love my 1200 sport. However, i give the credit to the original design, advice I've received here, and my own hard work and willingness to do the work myself. My experience with the original build quality in Guzzis and the availability of "expert" professional help generally is negative.

BTW, "negativity" is one of those invented newspeak words that grates on me.

toaster404 · « **Reply #34 on:** July 03, 2015, 04:05:34 PM »

So far, less getting used to issues than any other exotic I've experienced. The exotic (relatively) cars I've helped get really working were a bitch. This bike (1400 touring) has (in the first few hundred miles) exceeded my expectations. I had an impossible time getting the "MENU" to show up. Don't understand how that fixed itself. Found out the beast takes odd plugs & filter (who knows what HiFlo she takes?). Mirror slipped & slipped until I squeezed the flange? tight. Chrome friction against chrome proves amusing! Paint shaker idle is a bit much. Sure, copy Harley, but hey, leave out the idle!! Just kidding. Windshield should not be sold without lowers. Seat is HARD. But I have an Air Hawk that is comfy on concrete. Mileage is averaging about 35 mpg. Had hoped for better.

On the other hand, the overall experience in riding over a range of conditions has exceeded my expectations by a large amount. Tremendous bike to ride. Relatively rare, somewhat exotic, looks like a cruiser, acts like a heavy sport touring, soft lamb glove enclosing an iron fist. I'll get it sorted and be very very happy. It's a bit bigger than I need, but hey, it's amazing!

Now if I was not reasonably competent with the mechanical end of things and if I didn't trust the basic power train design, I'd be concerned.

My Suzuki VL800 feels like cardboard in comparison, but is easy to handle. It took several jetting experiments, a new diaphram, wheel truing, aftermarket saddle, aftermarket pegs, and lots of misc tweaking to get optimized. Took about a year. I've almost got the 1400 there, except for suspension, which likely takes money.

I'm happy. The electronic complexity worries me, but I'm still happy.

sib · « **Reply #35 on:** July 03, 2015, 04:33:03 PM »

Quote from: Vasco DG on July 03, 2015, 07:03:20 AM

So far my 'gina remains resolutely un-packed with sand.......

I'll try to remember that phrase.

beetle · « **Reply #36 on:** July 03, 2015, 04:47:54 PM »

My Griso is only a baby at 24,000km. Never failed me. Leaking front boot on the bevel box is the only hiccup at 22,000. Oh yeah, the little screw on the clutch master cylinder needed adjusting at some point. I never felt the urge to become a needy, whiny, sooky-la-la. It just needed adjusting.

You'll have to pry the Griso from my cold, dead hands.

Bjorn Are Stolen · « **Reply #37 on:** July 03, 2015, 05:01:47 PM »

Got my "mini-LeMans" (V65Lario) when I was 19 years old and sold my V50 to my father

Have had tons of fun with it. Tok me to and from the army-camp, never letting me down. Later, I had some lovely trips with my woman, we even lifted all our stuff when we moved after we were finished studying

That it's supposed to be a bad bike is not my experience. After some 20 years of driving, I've only had two cases where it needed repair.

roofus · « **Reply #38 on:** July 03, 2015, 06:05:58 PM »

I have owned 7 Guzzi's over the years.

I currently own 3 Guzzi's

Not one of the Guzzi's has ever made me walk!!!!!

This is more than I can say for Ford or GMC or Toyota!!!!

MotoGoosy · « **Reply #39 on:** July 03, 2015, 06:09:45 PM »

There is a thread I started a few months ago titled: "What I like about my Guzzi". But don't see any problem with posting issues with your bike in the hope that others of similar ilk might have dealt with same.

bad Chad · « **Reply #40 on:** July 03, 2015, 06:22:48 PM »

99 Bassa. Had for years, never a single issue I didn't cause.
07 Breva 1100. Flawless to date, and takes a beating and asks for more. Best motorcycle I have owned to date.

cloudbase · « **Reply #41 on:** July 03, 2015, 06:44:34 PM »

While I can't say they've been trouble free, they've never left me stranded.

malik · « **Reply #42 on:** July 03, 2015, 06:50:53 PM »

The V7C - in 4 1/2 years and 120,000kms it has had a few problems - gearbox bearings collapsed - warranty issue, burnt out regulator wires, rusted drive shaft, leaking bevel box seal, melted ignition switch, broken gearshift return spring, and now a worn out clutch. BUT, 120,000km is a lot of fun and I expect to get at least that much more on it. The problems have been Adventures, and have been easily and cheaply sorted, and I now know the bike more intimately than otherwise.

The 1100 Sport in NZ - 30,000km on 3 trips so far in that biking paradise - have only had wear issues (head stock bearings, clutch thrust bearing, bevel box seals, brake pads, rear disc rotor) but it had 62,000km on it when I bought it and several previous owners. A joy to ride. Magnificent to look at.

The V7S - to tide me over while replacing the clutch & gearshift return spring on the V7C - only 11,000km so far in the 3 months I've had it (is it that long?) and no problems whatsoever. A magic ride.

I couldn't be happier.

Mal

Idontwantapickle · « **Reply #43 on:** July 03, 2015, 06:56:46 PM »

Hmmm.....
Norge? Runs great (thanks Molly) ride it all the time. Just got an AirHawk for it and looking to evaluate that quite a bit this weekend.
Eldo? Runs great, ride it all the time. But that's no surprise. It's an Eldo!
Laverda? Even this one runs great, ride it all the time just not as far.
I can't complain!

Hunter

wymple · « **Reply #44 on:** July 03, 2015, 07:13:19 PM »

I have owned a V65C and a Cal II, both vintage 1984. They both went to Arizona, and many out of state trips pretty much without issue. The Black Hills on the Cal II was memorable as my favorite trip experience. Both engines/clutches/trannies combos have been totally bulletproof. I had the clutch on the Call II upgraded at 58K when it got a touch grabby in hot weather, but it was more I want than I need. My boys still have both bikes, says enough, really. I think they are the only 2 bikes I've ever had that I could say are like part of the family. I've liked lots of bikes, and always want something else to use at times. But Guzzis are bikes you want to keep regardless of the rest of the herd. Not many other brands inspire long distance confidence at over 30 years old. One more thing, they never burned a drop of oil or leaked without human error (forgot a couple hose clamps. Built for crossing continents, not states.

Guzzistajohn · « **Reply #45 on:** July 03, 2015, 07:36:24 PM »

Quote from: oldbike54 on July 03, 2015, 07:20:34 PM

If mine could cook I would marry it

Dusty

Your new spouse might not like that much

DudenLA · « **Reply #46 on:** July 03, 2015, 08:38:24 PM »

When you're lost in the rain in Juarez
And it's Eastertime too
And your gravity fails
And negativity don't pull you through....
--- B. Dylan

I really am growing to love my V7, nothing but grins and compliments. Don't want to explore gravity with it, but I'm sure the torque will pull me through.

Greenman · « **Reply #47 on:** July 03, 2015, 09:53:58 PM »

I've a Sport 1100 carb, life would be boring without it. The only time it ever let me down is when it ran out of fuel when I first bought it.

ohiorider · « **Reply #48 on:** July 03, 2015, 11:10:47 PM »

Horrible start with the brand in 2010. 1200 Sport. Handled like a lead sled. Hard to counter-steer into a turn, then, once into the turn, bike wanted to fall too deep into the turn. One conversation with Jim at Rose Farms, and life improved! Now running my 3rd set of Pilot Road 3 tires, and she's a heavy but docile machine. Love this big lady! Not bad in town, but amazing once the traffic clears.

The Sport led to a 2nd Guzzi, a 2012 Griso 8vSE. Flew to Atlanta, Rider Hill picked me up, took me to Dahlonega, where I took delivery, rode for 500 miles, Guzzi Steve performed first service, and I was off for home, NE Ohio. Never quite bonded with the Griso like I have with the 1200 Sport, but the Griso is still one hell of a rat terrier of a bike.

56.400 miles on the Sport. Just turned 10,000 today on the Griso.

Hate that worn-out expression of 'it puts a smile on my face,' but how else to say it?

Both these bikes have been bullet-proof, but above the dependability, they have been a hoot to ride. They look good, they punch above their weight.

I dislike the fact that the dealer network is so thin, but to this point, I've been able to keep both on the road with minimal maintenance.

And when there was a warranty issue or recall, ClevelandMoto came to the rescue!!

Do I like these bikes? No! Do I love them? Absolutely!

Bob

canuck750 · « **Reply #49 on:** July 04, 2015, 06:06:59 AM »

I have had a lot of different bikes, some have been very comfortable, some quite fast, others very frugal and several have been almost unbreakable.

I don't have a lot of miles accumulated on my Eldorado or V7 Sport but for sheer pleasure to ride, being connected with the machine, and the consistency to which they make me smile as the wheels turn, they are the best. If I had to choose just one it would be the Eldorado, its riding position, the drone of it motor and the big heel toe shift clunking the gears does it for me. The older I get the more I am drawn to the simplicity of the Eldorado. As enjoyable as the V7 Sport is to ride it's a bike that insists upon being revved and swung about with a lot more vigour.

Are they reliable? well both are 40 or more years old and though they have been rebuilt there is always another niggle to sort out, just like any other long time relationship some care and attention will always be required.

rocker59 · « **Reply #50 on:** July 04, 2015, 07:52:10 AM »

Guzzis have been good to me.

Sea level to over 14,000 feet. And, over 100,000 miles. Sometimes a thousand miles at a time...

guzzisteve · « **Reply #51 on:** July 04, 2015, 08:33:15 AM »

Good to me too!! At over 400,000mi after some 26 different Guzzi's bought & sold, 5 new ones. Only brand I have owned since 1976, cept a 70 Ducati 350 Desmo. Been my life & passion most my life.

rbm · « **Reply #52 on:** July 04, 2015, 09:16:51 AM »

My Guzzi V7 is a survivor. It was an insurance recovery having been involved in a building fire. Most would have (and did) pass up on this vehicle, but me being the sucker type bought the bike and restored it. It's worked flawlessly ever since. The bike runs well and handles nimbly, and I can't be happier with it.

rocker59 · « **Reply #53 on:** July 04, 2015, 09:19:19 AM »

Quote from: guzzisteve on July 04, 2015, 08:33:15 AM

Good to me too!! At over 400,000mi after some 26 different Guzzi's bought & sold, 5 new ones. Only brand I have owned since 1976, cept a 70 Ducati 350 Desmo. Been my life & passion most my life.

guzzisteve · « **Reply #54 on:** July 04, 2015, 09:24:34 AM »

And I don't need a dealer network, cept if I want work.

segesta · « **Reply #55 on:** July 04, 2015, 09:30:33 AM »

I've had as many problems with my 2014 California Custom as I've had with my 2014 Mazda. That is to say, none.

nick949 · « **Reply #56 on:** July 04, 2015, 02:56:07 PM »

How to say this..........ah yes.

Almost everything didn't break during my 130 mile back road ride on my Nuovo Falcone today. Now, if only Moto Guzzi could make a gear shift return spring that would last more than 41 years, I'd be completely satisfied (although that is what bungees are for).

Nick

Guzzistajohn · « **Reply #57 on:** July 04, 2015, 03:06:06 PM »

She's been a good 'ol gal

guzzi4me · « **Reply #58 on:** July 04, 2015, 04:58:28 PM »

Quote from: oldbike54 on July 03, 2015, 07:20:34 PM

If mine could cook I would marry it

Dusty

Something to be said about the Jackal/Stone series...simple and reliable.

Many thanks to Dusty (and Jay!!) for giving my Mistress a great new home.
Still miss the old girl...

but Giada keeps me happy too!!!

Maybe someday I'll see my Mistress again....

Ride safe and often...

Jeff

fotoguzzi · « **Reply #59 on:** July 04, 2015, 05:44:35 PM »

my 99 Bassa was completely trouble free and smooth shifting with a nice sound from the Staintune pipes. I'd even buy it back if I remembered the buyers info... you here?

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Author Topic: Tired of negativity- Tell us how good your Guzzi has been to you (Read 20443 times)

prof_stack

beetle

Bjorn Are Stolen

MotoGoosy

DudenLA

canuck750