Breva 750

[Trogladyte]

I've got one on loan again. Who's got one? What do you use it for?

I've been on this one in central London for much of the day. It's very light on its toes, and flicks easily through the traffic. And it's quite quick off the mark, too. But there are a few things that would bother me if it were my main bike.

- it seems to get a bit wheezy as the revs rise, with a fair bit of top end clatter at high RPM. I can't imagine it cruising at high speed.How do they do on long trips?
- the front brake is not very inspiring. But the back brake is. It seems to need both to really stop. I'm used to barely using the rear brake. Are they all like that?
- the suspenders seem very soft. It bounces around a lot. Is that characteristic?
- and it sips fuel.The tank range must be awesome. How far do they go on a tankfull?

Just wondering -I'm not likely to trade it for my Griso.

[ScepticalScotty]

Last month Plymouth to Aberdeen and back - no worries. South of France and back from Croydon. Next weekend riding down to the Pyrenees from Roscoff. I have hard luggage on mine and ride it to work, for fun on short rides, or pack a sleeping bag, matt, and tent on the back and head off into the wild blue yonder.

I cruise on the motorway at 75, its comfortable there, but I prefer the twisty roads and the mountains. I fill up every 150 miles. Mine has 44,000 miles on it and going strong.

[Trogladyte]

Last month Plymouth to Aberdeen and back - no worries. South of France and back from Croydon. Next weekend riding down to the Pyrenees from Roscoff. I have hard luggage on mine and ride it to work, for fun on short rides, or pack a sleeping bag, matt, and tent on the back and head off into the wild blue yonder.

I cruise on the motorway at 75, its comfortable there, but I prefer the twisty roads and the mountains. I fill up every 150 miles. Mine has 44,000 miles on it and going strong.

Wow.

I loved this one in London traffic. But from what you say there's more to them! You in Croydon much? You could gob on it from here.

[ITSec]

Back when I had a Breva 750, my comments would have been:

A great city bike, but capable of full-day rides (250-500 miles) without being uncomfortable. I had the larger HB hard bags on mine. I have done a 1000-mile ride on one in about 16 hours, and it runs along at 70-75 mph for as long as you like. However, passing semis requires a bit of tactical planning.

Designed for someone about 5'8" - and I'm 6'0". I's also designed for someone who is 155 lbs - and I'm nearly 200 (honest, I only get heavy in the winter!).

The front brake benefits greatly from a change to EBC HH pads.

Front suspension can be markedly improved with an oil change, even more with new springs. The back is just plain too wimpy and is one of the things most frequently upgraded.

The tranny is OK, but not great. It is notchy between 1st and 2nd, benefits from feathering the clutch in a bit while shifting from neutral into 1st, and really wants the sixth gear they finally added in the most recent small blocks.

My typical range was 225-260 miles per tank, depending on my behavior and headwinds.

I would wholeheartedly recommend it as a commuter bike and occasional weekend warrior, particularly for one-up riding. I always tell beginners to start with a smaller bike, preferably in the 250-500 range - but once they've outgrown that, this is a great machine for their first 'real' motorcycle, and one they won't outgrow until they have decided they really want to do touring, adventure riding, or serious sports riding.

[MikeW]

My partner has been commuting on one 3 to 4 days a week since 2004.

It's done nearly 100,000 ks now and is still going strong. The only issues we have had in that time are a couple of neutral switches and relays. The bike does sip a bit of oil but it's always done that since new. The only real bummer is that all the chrome has fallen off the exhaust system, other wise it still looks pretty good when given a wash.

I've ridden it a fair bit and really like it. It has a nice torquey motor, handles quite well and I didn't mind the brakes apart from the fact that the rear locks up if you aren't careful.

Mike

[Muzz]

Trog, I would suggest that yours needs a bit of a tune.

Front brake is brilliant. Will lock up two up down a steep hill if I want it to. Very progressive.
Motor is fantastic from go to bloodline. No wheeziness.
Gearbox has always worked snikkety snick, in spite of having problems with the hardening on 5th gear.
Tours just great, very comfortable.
Suspension. Not so good. Front suits my weight. Sachs units on the back are just crap.
I get over 240 miles with about 1 litre left
I have no desire to change mine, especially as it is in the fast red colour.

[ScepticalScotty]

Spit on Croydon?? Well I used to live in Purley (say no more!) but used to work in Croydon for the Council.

If I HAD to replace mine I would get a V7 Stone II, swap the hard luggage over, small screen, and call it done. What I dont like on my 2004 model is the chrome rusting, the rear shocks, and the paint coming off the engine. But to be fair the Brev lived outside under a cover for its first 11 years.

If my job had just been abolished  I would be planning on;

1. Stripping and re-coating the wheels.
2. Full exhaust stainless from OS Pipes.
3. New custome shocks
4. New strings in the forks and an oil change.

The she would be ready for another 12 years of fun, tooling around, touring, and whatever.

[Noguzznoglory]

Really like mine. Mostly use it touring around back roads for relaxation. But I can take it onto theUS interstate highways  and it'll cruise along very nicely at 70-80 mph.  the Breva is the bike I'm most comfortable on for fast cornering and twisty roads.

[ScepticalScotty]

The other thing is that after 12 years on a Guzzi, only a Guzzi will do for me.

As its extremely likley I will be made redundant in the next 8 weeks, its this particular Guzzi I will be sticking with.

A great regret for me was that they never made a "Mini-Norge" based on the 750 platform in some way or other. Or even with the 940 engine.

My ideal bike would be like the Breva in weight and size, with a 1/2 fairing and a single shock, better forks. Maybe the 850 engine hotted up may turn out to be in something like that??? One day.

[BMCMOTO]

Please check out this blog to find out what Breva 750s are capable of   http://motoguzziriders.com/author/motoguzzimomma/.  These fine folks have extreme mileage 2up on a B750.

Brian

[ITSec]

A great regret for me was that they never made a "Mini-Norge" based on the 750 platform in some way or other. Or even with the 940 engine.

But they did - and if you were a policeman in Berlin and some other locations, you could have had an 850 Norge!

[Jeffles]

Scott, they did in fact make an 850 Norge, but only available over the channel I believe... can't find anything for sale though and I imagine they share the frame with the 1200, so it's not a 'short' bike...

[ScepticalScotty]

Its not short and its not light either!

[Noguzznoglory]

A great regret for me was that they never made a "Mini-Norge" based on the 750 platform in some way or other. Or even with the 940 engine.

My ideal bike would be like the Breva in weight and size, with a 1/2 fairing and a single shock, better forks. Maybe the 850 engine hotted up may turn out to be in something like that??? One day.

 :1:

[ScepticalScotty]

Well I'm back from the Pyrenees and my riding friend on his Norge that we had to bump start every day  told me we did about 1600 miles in the week. The Breva 750 did great, only faltered when I got bad petrol from a rude man in Andorra, and was just the ticket for the mountain roads.

[ITSec]

Well I'm back from the Pyrenees and my riding friend on his Norge that we had to bump start every day  told me we did about 1600 miles in the week. The Breva 750 did great, only faltered when I got bad petrol from a rude man in Andorra, and was just the ticket for the mountain roads.

I'd love to ride those roads one of these years. Tell your friend we know how to permanently fix that starting problem on the Norge!

[ScepticalScotty]

We believe its a "cactus" starter solenoid. All I can say is its a ride very much worth doing, and I cant wait to go back. Maybe this time I would avoid so much of France and try and get a ferry to Bilbao.