WARNING - LONG POST - see bold for sub-topics - read what you want (or just look at the pics):Last week Jenn and I finally snuck away for the day to visit Coopersburg EuroSports (a "local" as in < 100 miles away) Triumph/Ducati/Guzzi/Aprilia/Vespa/MV Augusta) dealership.
It's a pleasant place, staffed by enthusiasts and the customer service generally shows (I believe much of the staff is involved with racing).
Our specific reasons for the trip were:
1. Get the maintenance light shut off on Jenn's Monster (Siemen's ECU doesn't leave many aftermarket options for that).
2. See about finally getting the UPDATED OEM map for the V7. I guess technically that was the first time the V7 has been back to a dealer since I bought it almost 3 years ago now. (Not counting Pete's reflash when she was months old, but that was the same old map at that time).
This left us about an hour or so to putter around the showroom.
A few observations:
ELDORADO:The Eldo is BEAUTIFUL. No offense to those who like the more modern fender on the Touring/Classic/Audace, but I cannot emphasize enough how much better the more traditional fender/trail light looks on this bike. And the more I look at it, I think the pinstripes are key too, they REALLY add some depth and flow to the overall look of the bike.
It's funny, but little details like that can make or break a bike for me and I find myself more seriously considering the Eldo now. I just wish it had the round headlight of the Audace and some color on the tins too! But both are manageable problems if I ever decide to go that route.
I met a number of Guzzisti in that short hour - 2 who were there on their V7s, and one lady who was there on her Cali 1400C. The lady was funny. I don't want to stereotype, so I'll assume our conversation was the result of the normal odd expectations of a Guzzi owner:
I approached her while she was standing up the Eldo and commented what a nice bike it was.
She said "I know, I have one"
I asked "Which model?"
She said "A Cali"
I asked "Yeah, but which one"
She said "A Moto Guzzi"
She said "Like This"
I asked "An Eldo?"
She said "No, but like this"
I asked "Which one"
She said "A Cali"
I asked "I know, I've had a couple of Guzzis, which model Cali 1400 are you talking about a Touring, A Custom, an Audace?"
She paused "I, Uh, it's got a lot of accessories"
(I saw it later, it was a Custom).
V7IIAs I posted elsewhere, I finally got a chance to crawl around the V7II. All in all, I think they've done a great job with the upgrades since my V7 Stone. I like the cosmetic touches, and the revisions seem pretty well integrated, even if the ABS and Traction Control lights do appear a little crude in their placement (like an afterthought, "hey, let's drill the upper tree").
For those who haven't seen it yet, the ABS modulator is at the top front of the motor, right behind the frame neck and regulator:
Unfortunately that means there is quite the run of brake lines too and fro the rear master cylinder:
And it occurs to me looking at this photo that the transmission filler plug has been moved. Is that it on top of the transmission now? At least you don't have to relocate the rear brake guard to get to it, though looks like another funky funnel will be needed. Did I read it's also a long term service item? I seem to remember something about that.
Lastly, I noted that the EVAP canister had been relocated between the V. This visually cleans up the area under the transmission right behind the oil pan (making access to that rear drain plug easier). Though it makes it more of a PIA if you ever need to get to it.
It's hard to see in this photo, but the canister is about at the dead center of this picture right between the Y of the intake manifold, just above the ground strap you can see below the manifold:
Ducati ScramblerJenn has the right formula for happiness that sometimes escapes me. I'm always looking at the next bike or next car. Jenn is very happy with what she has. As such she rode her Harleys for 7 seven years while occasionally mentioning she really liked the Ducati. Even test rode a new M620 and a new M695 before finally getting an M696 in 2011.
It's pretty much the only bike she rides now. She's abandoned her Harley (I happily took it over) and though she HAS ridden my V7, she's not particularly smitten with it. Truthfully the Duc is more slick and less rough around the edges than the V7 (that's NOT to criticize the V7, it's just the nature of the beast, the V7 is supposed to be less modern because it IS by design). The fueling on the Duc has always been spot on (never had any low speed surges during warm up), the balance/handling is even better than the V7, the brakes and suspension are better, etc.
So despite having 2 other bikes in the garage, that have full sets of luggage (hard, waterproof, locking, bags and topcases) when we travel Jenn still chooses the Ducati, simply strapping a bag to the back seat:
But we've got 2 young kids now, and in a few years they'll both be able to ride with us. At which point I don't think the Monster is going to cut it for a passenger. Jenn's going to want a topcase or backrest or something for Fi or Shay to sit more securely back there. I always assumed that she'd take the V7 or maybe buy that Bonnie she's talked about and demoed occasionally over the years.
Coopersburg has a showroom full of Triumphs as well, so Jenn stood up a Bonnie... and what once felt small and relatively light to her (compared to her Sportsters) now feels big and heavy.
Enter the Scrambler. Turns out you can put HB C-bows and a topcase rack on the Scrambler. Hmmmmmm.
Next thing I know she's sitting on one, chatting up the sales person about putting a Green Tank from the Enduro on the Icon to go with the brown leather seat they had on one of them...
Well, she's got time to think about it as Shay won't be old enough to ride for years. But I left the dealership with the distinct impression that we may someday be a 2 Ducati household (and both will belong to her lol).
The culprit:
LASTLY
GUZZIS AT EUROSPORTSCoopersburg is being good to us and I'm very happy to have found a dealer that I can approach for help if I decide I need it. Also one to give our new bike purchases too.
I know it was only one small data point, but meeting 3 other Guzzi owners in the course of a single hour in the middle of the week would certainly make it seem like there should be a continued future for Guzzis at this dealership. I hope that's the case.
I will however add that ALL THEY HAD were V7s (2 V7II's, 1 2015 or so Stone, and 1 2015 or so Racer), and a single Eldo. Now it IS nearing the end of the peak season, and heck, they only had 2 Bonnies in the relatively small showroom floor (and 2 more outside), so maybe that has something to do with it. And I do hear that the V7s and Calis are the big sellers.
But it did worry me a little that there wasn't a CARC bike to be seen.
There was however a CARC MOTOR (Spare?) - right by the front door:
