Author Topic: Thinking about selling Sophia, what do you guys think? (Read 7080 times)

Leo · « **on:** May 17, 2016, 10:58:46 AM »

Hi everyone,

So I'm thinking about selling Sophia, my '72 Ambassador that was custom built by Charlie Mullendore. I've been sitting around not buying a modern bike for a couple years, and I think it's time for me to move to a late-model Guzzi California. Is there anyone on the board who's interested in Sophia?

She's an 1972 Ambassador but really a 2008 custom bike -- Charlie built her from scratch with a 949cc engine, 5 speed transmission and matching rear drive. I'll update this post with the specs once I can get them up on a Dropbox link.

Oh and -- anyone have recent experience with the new California? I'm thinking about a 2014 or 2015 model.

steven c · « **Reply #1 on:** May 17, 2016, 11:13:03 AM »

Leo buy the new Cal, then you can let me ride it!

mtiberio · « **Reply #2 on:** May 17, 2016, 11:33:27 AM »

LOCATION?

oldbike54 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 17, 2016, 11:52:18 AM »

Quote from: mtiberio on May 17, 2016, 11:33:27 AM

LOCATION?

His sig line says Philadelphia Mike .

Dusty

Cam3512 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 17, 2016, 12:13:51 PM »

Yo Leo, long time no hear. How about poppin over to Jersey once in a while? Any way to keep Sophia AND get a modern bike?

Cam

lucian · « **Reply #5 on:** May 17, 2016, 12:24:58 PM »

You'll love the refined ride of the new cali , but your going to miss all that nostalgia, chrome and real metal. If it's causing you no pain, I would try living with both. At least until your certain. Love my 14 Custom, but too much plastic to live to a ripe old age IMOP.

Guzzistajohn · « **Reply #6 on:** May 17, 2016, 12:41:18 PM »

You asked what we think. I think you should love the one your with, that's a great looking bike without all the un-needed farkles of a new machine.

twhitaker · « **Reply #7 on:** May 17, 2016, 12:45:41 PM »

Gorgeous. Probably the only Teleo Rosso Loop east of the Mississippi.

mtiberio · « **Reply #8 on:** May 17, 2016, 12:55:47 PM »

Quote from: oldbike54 on May 17, 2016, 11:52:18 AM

His sig line says Philadelphia Mike .

Dusty

I have sig lines turned off.... 8^((

Leo · « **Reply #9 on:** May 17, 2016, 01:00:44 PM »

Quote from: mtiberio on May 17, 2016, 12:55:47 PM

I have sig lines turned off.... 8^((

Yup, I'm in Philadelphia, no worries I understand about having the signature off! If someone's within 500 miles or so I'm happy to meet half way. :)

Leo · « **Reply #10 on:** May 17, 2016, 01:05:18 PM »

Oh you guys are making me regret this before I've even done it! She's a beauty, and rides like a dream, I've gone up and down the east coast, gone west as far as Colorado (that last photo is in Kansas I think)...

I've been thinking about this a while... I'm in center city Philadelphia, with no garage of my own and no real open space (I've got a yard but I can't get the bike into it, I'd have to ride up the front steps and through the house!), and I'd like to start riding to work (I'm thinking of giving up one of our cars)... riding Sophia to work every morning is a no go, I have two blocks of cobblestone streets between me and the highway, and lots of stop-and-go traffic and it just doesn't work. So that's why I'm thinking about a modern bike...

I'd love to live with both, but garaging them both is expensive... sigh... I'm still kind of on the fence about it, but if there's someone in the group who'll give her a good home, I mean hell, I get a pretty big chunk of money and I use that to buy a new California and she stays in the community... and if I hit the lottery maybe I'll commission another custom bike from Charlie!

Leo · « **Reply #11 on:** May 17, 2016, 01:11:48 PM »

Quote from: Cam3512 on May 17, 2016, 12:13:51 PM

Yo Leo, long time no hear. How about poppin over to Jersey once in a while? Any way to keep Sophia AND get a modern bike?

Cam

Cam, I'd love to, I was abroad for a while actually (see below) I'm closer to you guys now from Philly than I was from Queens actually. Are you still doing the get togethers at the airport?

steven c · « **Reply #12 on:** May 17, 2016, 01:35:12 PM »

Leo for your commute sounds like you don't need a Cal 14 you need a KLR650. Pick one up for 2k,and no problem riding through the house.

twowings · « **Reply #13 on:** May 17, 2016, 01:41:34 PM »

"She's a beauty, and rides like a dream"

How many times are you going to be able to say THAT in your life?

1. Find her some garage space with a buddy or Guzzisti near you
2. Buy a V7 to commute on
3. (optional) Ride her to the National in John Day, OR, take the highest offer, and fly home. At least have one last long-distance mad, romantic fling with her before saying goodbye...

Leo · « **Reply #14 on:** May 17, 2016, 02:04:35 PM »

Quote from: steven c on May 17, 2016, 01:35:12 PM

no problem riding through the house.

Do you want to tell my spouse that or should I? :) :)

Lcarlson · « **Reply #15 on:** May 17, 2016, 02:36:20 PM »

<<Oh and -- anyone have recent experience with the new California? I'm thinking about a 2014 or 2015 model.>>

I just cranked over 6000 miles on mine, purchased last July. It's a superb motorcycle, strong, smooth, comfortable, full of character. The motor gives you two for one: pulls like a Harley off the bottom, but over about 5000 rpm changes character and zings to the rev limiter with a cammy burst. I thoroughly enjoy and unequivocally recommend it. BUT, it IS a heavyweight cruiser, and might not be the best choice for the use you describe. It'll handle your commute just fine, but for less scratch, so will a small block.

kidsmoke · « **Reply #16 on:** May 17, 2016, 03:53:54 PM »

If not for the reality of your storage issues, I'd respond to your original question....you're nuts.

Beautiful machine. If it's still in your hands come the fall.....

Cam3512 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 17, 2016, 04:49:40 PM »

Quote from: Leo on May 17, 2016, 01:11:48 PM

Cam, I'd love to, I was abroad for a while actually (see below) I'm closer to you guys now from Philly than I was from Queens actually. Are you still doing the get togethers at the airport?

Yes, we get together at least once a month. Sky Manor airport THIS Sunday. Check the forum link in my signature line. I always post it here too. Sounds like a V7/V9 is what you're looking for.

Muzz · « **Reply #18 on:** May 17, 2016, 05:24:23 PM »

Sell the house and buy one with space for two bikes + any other vehicles you may have, keep Sophia, buy the Cali. There is your problem solved. <shrug>

lucian · « **Reply #19 on:** May 17, 2016, 05:43:52 PM »

I agree that the cali may not be the best choice for a commuter, especially over cobble stones. I enjoy my 2014 custom 1400 but use it primarily for two up, open road trips. It is a bit of a hand full in stop and go traffic , and really prefers to cruise the big slabs with the cruise control set to 75 - 80 mph. I would think a small block or a Griso would be a better choice.

Leo · « **Reply #20 on:** May 18, 2016, 08:56:49 AM »

Quote from: lucian on May 17, 2016, 05:43:52 PM

I agree that the cali may not be the best choice for a commuter, especially over cobble stones. I enjoy my 2014 custom 1400 but use it primarily for two up, open road trips. It is a bit of a hand full in stop and go traffic , and really prefers to cruise the big slabs with the cruise control set to 75 - 80 mph. I would think a small block or a Griso would be a better choice.

Yup, I'm getting a sense of that from the feedback on this thread... I just prefer a big cruiser overall, and I think I could deal with it in traffic, considering what I'm coming from. I guess I just feel better on a bigger bike on the open road, and I'm trying not to accumulate multiple bikes (that I have to pay to park). The scariest experience I ever had on a bike I think was on that BMW GS I rented for a while when I was in Dubai. Going on the highway there to get to the mountains where I liked to ride was quite an experience--once you get out of Dubai proper it's two lanes each way, the right lane has trucks chugging along at 45mph or so, while the right lane paces at 90-95mph, and on that small motorcycle I felt pretty invisible in either lane!

Lcarlson · « **Reply #21 on:** May 18, 2016, 10:26:06 AM »

Quote from: Leo on May 18, 2016, 08:56:49 AM

Yup, I'm getting a sense of that from the feedback on this thread... I just prefer a big cruiser overall, and I think I could deal with it in traffic, considering what I'm coming from. I guess I just feel better on a bigger bike on the open road, and I'm trying not to accumulate multiple bikes (that I have to pay to park). The scariest experience I ever had on a bike I think was on that BMW GS I rented for a while when I was in Dubai. Going on the highway there to get to the mountains where I liked to ride was quite an experience--once you get out of Dubai proper it's two lanes each way, the right lane has trucks chugging along at 45mph or so, while the right lane paces at 90-95mph, and on that small motorcycle I felt pretty invisible in either lane!

If you prefer a big cruiser you will be very pleased with the Cali.

steven c · « **Reply #22 on:** May 18, 2016, 11:30:58 AM »

Leo ,Norge. Your up higher better view over SUV's, your on a motorcycle you are invisible anyways.

LaGrasta · « **Reply #23 on:** May 18, 2016, 01:15:31 PM »

Great name for our Italian bikes, however Sofia in Italian is with an F, the Greeks use the PH.

Moto · « **Reply #24 on:** May 18, 2016, 01:31:31 PM »

Quote from: Leo on May 18, 2016, 08:56:49 AM

... I just prefer a big cruiser overall, and I think I could deal with it in traffic, considering what I'm coming from....

I hope you have taken a test ride on a new California, because if "what [you're] coming from" means Sophia, it's nowhere near a big cruiser in the sense of the new one!

I'd agree with others in recommending you hold on to Sophia too for a while, to make sure you're ready for a permanent change.

Antietam Classic Cycle · « **Reply #25 on:** May 18, 2016, 04:03:38 PM »

Quote from: LaGrasta on May 18, 2016, 01:15:31 PM

Great name for our Italian bikes, however Sofia in Italian is with an F, the Greeks use the PH.

I named the bike after Sophia Loren - tell her that she spells her (stage) name wrong.

Leo · « **Reply #26 on:** May 18, 2016, 10:46:26 PM »

Quote from: Antietam Classic Cycle on May 18, 2016, 04:03:38 PM

I named the bike after Sophia Loren - tell her that she spells her (stage) name wrong.

:)

Leo · « **Reply #27 on:** July 01, 2016, 03:12:41 PM »

Hi everyone,

So I've thought about it, and I'm going to go forward with selling Sophia. I've got a new Norge coming, and it's going to be difficult to store and maintain two bikes. I've gotten a few inquires now, and I'm thinking of an asking price in the $12,000 range "or better offer." The very crazy part of my brain wants to see if anyone wants to trade bikes for a very well taken care of fully original stock Eldorado, but that's crazy talk. Sooo... please PM me if you're interested, if you have thoughts about it, etc. I travel a lot for work and don't get on the forum as often as I'd like but I do get PMs!

Cheers,
Leo

samfrank · « **Reply #28 on:** July 01, 2016, 04:42:13 PM »

So instead of the cruiser you went with a sport tourer! Excellent choice! I can't do cruisers and have been on sport tourers since '04. You gonna like it!

JJ · « **Reply #29 on:** July 01, 2016, 06:30:08 PM »

Since you are somewhat emotionally attached to "Sophie", (beautiful vintage Guzzi, by the way!),

, try and keep it for awhile longer while you adjust to whatever new Guzzi you choose.

It might be less painful, when you finally part with Sophie...

I also like that one riders comment: "Love the one you're with..."

At the end of the day, we are all just caretakers of these fine machines, nothing more.

I have owned 34 motorcycles in 49 years of street riding...and have enjoyed each and every one of them, but I never get too emotionally attached to any, because there is always something new to explore and ride.

This is my 5th Guzzi...and I always wanted a Centauro...and finally got one, so now I am having fun with it.

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Author Topic: Thinking about selling Sophia, what do you guys think? (Read 7080 times)

oldbike54

twowings

Lcarlson

Lcarlson

LaGrasta

Moto