New Moto Guzzi Door Mats Available Now
Not quite yet I have found the 8V engine to run greatly hotter than any of my other 5 Geese I've owned. It's still not as hot as the otherwise fantastic 1100 Breva I test drove a couple times, but still significantly warmer than the other MGs. Right now in KY, ambient temps are 70F at most and that's actually nice but that neat little comfort now will be changing somewhat as temps increase outside. Has anyone here tried a map, tuning, whatever that gets it to run a bit cooler?
There are some interesting opinions in this thread. I find the two motors quite different, and for my style of riding the 8v is by far the most satisfying.The 8v Griso feels like two different bikes. For most day to day riding, below about 5.5k rpm, it feels like a traditional big twin. There is oodles of torque, and the motor feels very muscular. But there's another side to the 8v. If you keep going up the rev range, the lump spins up readily and the bike feels like it picks up its skirts and buggers off very sharpish indeed. It delivers a real kick in the seat of the pants and surges with power. It doesn't last long, as you hit the red line very swiftly, and you need to change up.If you keep the motor in this range, dancing on the gear change, the bike feels more like a sporty multi than a big twin torque monster. And some sports bike riders who expect the bike to perform like a Harley or a BMW boxer get a bit of a shock!
this thread somewhat annoys me. true im a 4v. but why did guzzi produce the 8v? to make more hp. and at the top end obviously. but did they just wake up one day and say hey. lets make 8v. centauro notwithstanding. no they did it because the 1100 cc 4v is perceived to be underpowered in the days of the 200mph street bike. all this said. it'd be great if the 8v was bulletproof. but even ford has had some issues with their turbo diesels. so nobodys perfect..
nostalgia and emotional attachment "when" substituted for reality is for those that live in the past .Living in the past would be the end for any manufacturer , hopefully Guzzi moves on with modern machines for those that embrace change .Change is good ...............
...there are quite a few folks who are currently driving a 2V who are not living in nostalgia, but actually enjoying it in the present and will be well into the future...
I for one haven't denied that the 8V became stronger than the 2V throughout the rev range once the improved maps became available. But I do like the 2V for itself.One thing I remember -- perversely I suppose -- is my disappointment with how quickly the 8V motor wound up through the gears when I opened it up, and how little time I had between needed gear shifts! I like time to savor acceleration, even if it is locomotive-like.As for redlines, I'm always bumping up against them, no matter what the engine. My 2V gets wound up all the way when I'm in a hurry. I can't see why anyone would ride any other way, and am mystified that some seem to think the 2V doesn't work above 5000 rpm. It works fine.
One thing I remember -- perversely I suppose -- is my disappointment with how quickly the 8V motor wound up through the gears when I opened it up, and how little time I had between needed gear shifts! I like time to savor acceleration, even if it is locomotive-like.As for redlines, I'm always bumping up against them, no matter what the engine. My 2V gets wound up all the way when I'm in a hurry. I can't see why anyone would ride any other way, and am mystified that some seem to think the 2V doesn't work above 5000 rpm. It works fine.
I think there were a couple that said "runs out of steam" Kev, I mean every thing runs out of steam depending what you compare it to doesn't it ? Maybe we should all just get a Hyabusa or GTR 1400 Kawasaki then the problem would be gone as to who has the biggest and "best"!
To quote Dr. Ferry Porsche...Change is Easy, Improvement is Hard.My own addition to that mantra is...Not all change = Improvement.As far as nostalgia...that seems a little odd as well, there are quite a few folks who are currently driving a 2V who are not living in nostalgia, but actually enjoying it in the present and will be well into the future, even if the design was from the past. There are many "old" Porsches still on the road and being enjoyed, and some of them are accompanied by a newer one as well in the garage, but it doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the older versions...quite the opposite I believe as it's nice to feel the connection from a prior generation to the current one.
If anyone said the 2V runs out of steam at 5k their bikes were broken or they're nuts.
You were doing fine until you raised that ancient spectre "better."Truth is, that really depends on the parameters.If the ultimate yardstick is top speed or lap times, then no Guzzi makes the grade, or even graces the top ten.My yardstick had always leaned heavily to other factors, feel, efficiency, smiles/mile.To me, the 8V isn't the "better" bike.Hell the 2V big block, being an improvement, was still not equal to the joy of a smallblock.Life is funny that way.
Kev as i have not ridden a small block please share with me the joy of one in your opinion as compared to 2v or even a 8v big block as i have through the years been more dedicated to large displacement motorcycles..I want to know how life is funny that way..
Well, I've posted about it many times, but one more won't hurt.As I said it's all about parameters.I would summarize it as "It's more fun to ride a slow bike fast, than a fast bike slow".Subjective for sure, but my argument is this.Whenever I've owned or ridden high hp, very capable bikes I've found that it is too easy to be lured into speeds (be it corners or straightaways) that are, to put it delicately, questionable considering my long term desire to come home safely to my family. They slow your perception of speed, make you feel like you're crawling when in fact you're already far above any posted suggestion (and I don't mean the yellow colored ones).Let's face it, performance bikes have far outpaced both the abilities of most riders and the conditions available on the street. You cannot hope to use but a fraction of their performance for any length of time without taking increasingly anti-social risks.In contrast, take a bike like a smallblock. A high 13 or low 14 second 1/4 mile which was once considered fast is now a shadow of fast (9 or 10 second 1/4), but that doesn't change the fact that it CAN still corner and overtake at speeds that are well above the aforementioned suggestions. It's just that you're using 8/10's or 9/10's of the bike instead of 5/10's.The difference is, at those same cornering speeds, be it 70 in a suggested 35 or 40 in a 20 or ... you get more of a perception of speed.The more diminutive size of the bike, the feedback from the motor that is working harder at that speed than a CARC bike would, hell the more rudimentary suspension that Pete references, all add up to an experience that satisfies more with less.And doing more with less has become a theme for me (especially in motorcycles).It's more efficient (mpg), cheaper to buy ($), lighter in the turns, and somehow more satisfying to run locally or distance for me.Now all of this is not suggesting that I can't (or you shouldn't) appreciate the rush of a faster, smoother, more comfortable bike. As I said, it's all subjective so the yardstick is metered with the variables about which you care. But I've found a ton of smiles per mile on bikes that slow me down a bit.Look I have no qualms with indulging in some excess from time-to-time (sometimes too much). But I've found with regards to performance machines that once you reach a certain point the rest goes unused. And if a certain percentage is always unused, then what was the point of having it in the first place. It's like a section of your closet that contains things you NEVER, EVER wear. Now if it's that suit you want to have to pull out once a year when the occasion arises, then fine, that's great go for it. But me, I'd rather use what I have.
It's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than riding a fast bike slowly.
Quote from BRIO:Also fun to ride a fast bike fast when one has the opportunity. A Norge can be pushed surprisingly fast through tight curves if you are able and willing to "manhandle" the bike. GliderJohn
