Considering a Norge

[BRIO]

Hi everyone,

I recently started riding on a KLR 650. I'm. 31 years of age and live on the Treasure Coast of Florida. For the longest time I wanted a Harley but after riding the KLR I've started to change my preferences. I've  decided that I enjoy the mechanical and performance aspect of a bike more than to look "bad ass" or fit a certain image. I also got turned off by the longevity of HD's compared to the Guzzies and Beemers. I feel that if a low revving, loping, large capacity engine is sold at a premium it ought to be more durable than say a KLR. In short, I felt that while they are high on cool factor they are short on substance.


So, I migrated from the HD to wanting a naked/retro bike and considered the BMW nine T and also the spoke-wheel Griso in Green. The Griso ended up being my favorite because I think the nuveau-retro style of the 90 is going to look dated quicker than the more original Griso.

However, I have dreams of doing more than riding locally and because of the instability, noise, and buffeting of the KLR I decided I wanted something that could do 2 up highway riding for hours. Still, I wanted it to have the character and style for me to look back a second time in admiration as I leave it parked. Obviously the Griso pushes more of the emotional buttons but the Norge seems like the intelligent choice until I can afford a Griso as well.

I found a local 09 Norge ST in black with red valve covers and calipers. It has done just over 4000 miles, has been parked in a climate controlled garage next to the owners Ferrari 550 Maranello and looks new. It was ridden by a very wealthy 76 year old and serviced regularly by a reputable shop. I can buy it for $7000. The only reservation I have was a slight scrubbing sound when pulling the clutch at idle. Owner said it was normal. Is it?

I intend on getting the top box with the back rest. Bearing that in mind, how comfortable would it be for me (5-11/185lbs) and my girlfriend (5-3/98lbs)?

What do you fellows think of the price?

Thank you!

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

If you mean a clatter/chatter with the clutch pulled in, yes it is normal for the dry clutch, the Carc bikes all do it. You get used to it. I found it pretty alarming on my Breva when I first got it, but barely hear it anymore.

I think the price is a little high for the bike you are describing, but from the description~~ it must be a very good specimen

You can probably get a newer one cheaper, but if it's got a clean service history, low miles,and great condition; the piece of mind may be worth it to you. sound's like youve discovered a gem. 

[atavar]

As a Norge rider I cannot praise the model enough.  It is a dam fine all round bike, leaning toward a touring specialization but holding its own well in the sport category. 

If I were to say anything negative about the bike it is a bit heavy, and can be finicky at parking lot speeds. At highway speeds and above it is one of the most stable and comfortable bikes I have ever ridden.  This is the perfect bike if you are considering IBA rides.

I would strongly suggest that before you buy the bike take it for an extended test drive if the current owner will allow it. Find some corners and play in them a bit well within your skill limits, check it out at 3mph, do a couple of roll-ons from cruise (3-4000 RPM) at WOT.  When you get back look in the mirror and see how wide your smile is, it might surprise you.  Of course remember this is a test ride, no scraping pegs or pushing the tach in to the red until the bike is yours.

If the bike is for you it will be readily apparent.  I think it is worth a little extra to find a well maintained pristine specimen.  At that price though you are approaching the point where you *may* be better off looking at a new zero mile bike.  I believe the dealers have some really good incentives available to them right now, and if you are financing your payment on a new bike could actually be lower than a used bike.

Good luck on your future travels!

[atavar]

The Norge will run two-up at highway speeds and above all day long and remains a nimble and responsive steed.  There may be some tendency to drag the center stand on left turns when two up but that can be ameliorated with shock adjustments.  I am close to 300 pounds and SWMBO is not a tiny person either, but the Norge handles the two of us in the saddle quite well. 
Gas mileage and range are  only minimally affected two-up.  The impressive torque of the Guzzi engine will serve you well when fully loaded for touring with a pillion.
Even two up your biggest problem with the Norge may be avoiding speeding tickets.  ;) I would not hesitate to do a coast to coast ride two up with this bike.

[Gliderjohn]

If you can test ride an 8V (from 2011 on). Some great deals out there on them. The 8V version refined a number of things over the earlier versions.
GliderJohn

[BRIO]

If I seach country wide on Craigslist I find a few bikes advertised at $6000. Those tend to have done 20-30k miles. On cycle trader the prices seem higher but most of the bikes are either second gem around 10k or cheaper higher mileage gen one as mentioned above.

What would you say it was wotrh then? Are you guys saying that I should be able to find a near new norge for close to $7000?

[Mike Craven]

Test ride one!  My wife and I have about 25k miles on our '07 4V (another 15k me only) and greatly enjoy it.  It's a little snug and we're not too big (180 and 115 lbs) compared to a K1200 we've ridden.  We have a 40L top box with back rest pad and I think that makes a huge difference for the wife.  Test ride one.  Don't often have to down shift, just open up the throttle.

I have three speeding tickets and they're all the Norge's fault.  Test ride one.

Price?  It's the fun and enjoyment per dollar that counts.  I value mine at less that half what you looked at, but it's relatively a beater with 40k miles.

Test ride one,
Mike

[atavar]

The new Norge will likely be double that and change, but they will finance longer so your monthly can be lower.  This does not appl if you are paying cash.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

If I seach country wide on Craigslist I find a few bikes advertised at $6000. Those tend to have done 20-30k miles. On cycle trader the prices seem higher but most of the bikes are either second gem around 10k or cheaper higher mileage gen one as mentioned above.

What would you say it was wotrh then? Are you guys saying that I should be able to find a near new norge for close to $7000?

I don't think you can find a near-new one for $7k, but you can deff find an 8 valve (gen2) with more miles for $7k

There are several threads comparing the 4v vs the 8v  I suspect you might be able to see people's impressions with search

be aware the 4 valve 1100 engine is also commonly referred to as the '2 valve' (two per side!); while the 8 valve is always referred as 8v or 8 valve...  even though it has 4 per side...  so searching for 2v 1100 norge vs 8v 1200 norge would somehow make sense in this universe! 

[Vasco DG]

All Norges are 1200's.

[Dean Rose]

These bikes really don't get broken-in until around 10,000. So there's nothing wrong with buying a GUZZI with a little mileage.


Dean

[JeffOlson]

That is a very low mileage Norge. My 2014, that I bought new this year, has 4,000 miles on it. Sounds like a good specimen!

[BRIO]

Thanks guys! I think I'm going for it!

[JeffOlson]

Best of luck!

[canuguzzi]

About $2500 too much. It isn't about miles and shouldn't be. An 09 with such few miles hasn't been ridden enough for the "sorting out" as we like to call it. You'll go through the trials and tribulations that an owner of a Norge with 20-30k miles has already been through and taken care of, hopefully.

Things need to be worked, moved and cycled to keep them in good condition. Rubber deteriorates sitting unused as it is a self lubrication sort of thing. The brake lines, hoses, seals etc have been sitting, not getting worked and just hardening away, from the inside out.

You're likely to put another $1000 into it, sort of the way things go unless you wrench it yourself and then it's time and money still. Bike may have been manufactured in 08 which makes it about 6 1/2 years old and ridden less than a decent summer's worth. The rest of the time, sitting.

Tires are the first thing, a battery too as even maintained, it is over 6 years old. Fluids? You're into more than a couple hundred just on tires.

Adding a top box? They aren't exactly cheap and now your close to barely used 2012 models.

For a lot less money you can find a really nice Norge with lots of nice goodies that you'd have to pay a lot of money for and something that's been ridden and worked out.

Low miles are tempting but not even close to the whole story.

At $5000, sure and even then, that is a bit high. Really nice Norges can be had for $5000, they come up regularly.

$11,000 and change (plus the usual fees) gets you a brand new Norge with a 2 year unlimited mileage warranty. 8V engine, updated fairing and all the improvements made since 2010.

A Norge, 2013 with less than 4k miles on it goes for $9400 asking. Not too difficult to get that to $8500 I bet, maybe lower. That 7 grand plus a top box and what you're likely to put into it is going to get very close to that and it comes with a top box.

[blackcat]

I'd look for a second generation Norge for one reason in your particular case: heat. The early bikes can direct heat to the rider and when temps get up there along with humidity, especially in Florida, the bike becomes unrideable. I don't like getting on mine from June until maybe October.  The 8V Norge seems to have solved that problem.

[PJPR01]

From NADA guides, you can see pricing and get a feel for it.

Private price definitely seems on the high side, on the other hand, if it's well maintained, about the only thing I would imagine needing repairs could be valve cover gaskets which might leak.  If there's any tire rot, a few hundred, but if it's mechanically in good shape, maybe just a quick tune up.

Riding the Norge 2 Up is fantastic...and super comfortable both on highway as well as on twisties.  Personally I prefer the 2V version throttle response, as in my limited (3) rides of three different 2011 Norges, I have found the roll on throttle response to be stiffer than my 2008 Norge.  Could just be that Larry and Mike at MPH keep mine running so smoothly that I see no reason to go for the newer bike.  The Norge like any other moto definitely needs to be driven, but sounds like the guy who owns is a collector, has tons of hobbies, actually surprised he'd have put that many miles on it...basically weekend riding.

Offer him $5000 and have fun negotiating from there...I don't think it's a bad price and you'd be basically able to start breaking in the bike.  It gets smoother and smoother as the miles go by, so even at 4k it may feel a little rough for you until around 7000 or 10000, as long as you're patient and willing to put in the miles, this model will be rewarding!

[Bill Hagan]

This same question arose recently in another form, but (I think) from a different OP.

Responded there, and will just link that, FWIW:

http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=19112

Best wishes on that decision, and hope the process is fun.

Bill

[Scott of the Sahara]

I have the '08 with about 26,000 miles. I am very happy with the bike. I prefer the simplicity of the 2v engine.
Sounds like a good deal if the bike fits your needs. Don't worry about other examples that may come up. I think 4,000 miles is very low. I would have put that on in a little over a year.

[BRIO]

Thanks.

I obviously don't want to pay more than what's fair. I think 6500 is where I'm at now. That was my original max, and then I got emotional

[JeffOlson]

Price is a funny thing. Theoretically, it should be what a willing seller and a willing buyer say it should be. Personally, I always, as a rule, seem to pay too much and accept too little. It's just the way of things.

If this bike stirs your loins, and if you and the seller can agree upon a price, then God bless you!

[canuguzzi]

When breaking in an older bike with low miles you pay for everything. When you get the same bike already broken in, with things that need fixing having been fixed plus some goodies, you get to enjoy it rather than pay for gorwing pains.

On the tires, don't kid yourself. 6 year old tires are a disaster waiting to happen. Old tires can appear perfectly sound, no cracks and so on. Maybe if you are in the car where you have four of them and one going isn't the end of you. On a bike, all you have is two and when you consider what we expect from them, riding around on old tires, like worn brakes isn't smart, save money on coffee not tires.

[BRIO]

When breaking in an older bike with low miles you pay for everything. When you get the same bike already broken in, with things that need fixing having been fixed plus some goodies, you get to enjoy it rather than pay for gorwing pains.

On the tires, don't kid yourself. 6 year old tires are a disaster waiting to happen. Old tires can appear perfectly sound, no cracks and so on. Maybe if you are in the car where you have four of them and one going isn't the end of you. On a bike, all you have is two and when you consider what we expect from them, riding around on old tires, like worn brakes isn't smart, save money on coffee not tires.

I Agree fully on the tires. I did the same on my KLR.