All engine and tranny parts lovingly lapped with Agip for 65000 miles

[ohiorider]

My bikes don't feel tight and precise once they've been ridden for several years.  But, if things are in tune, brakes good, etc, there's just a certain something about an old Guzzi or Beemer with more than a handful of miles that just feels good.  Not like it's worn out, but more like it's been honed to a fine edge, and it works like it should have worked when it was new.  If you've not kept one of these bikes over several years and several thousand miles, you might not identify with what I'm saying.

But I suspect a few of you who have owned a Guzzi since new, and put some miles on it will identify with this.

Had the 1200 Sport out today for slightly over 200 miles on some of Ohio's finest roads (IMO) and simply couldn't get over how sweet this old gal runs! 

Bob

[twowings]

I suspect many of us of a 'certain age' grew up with machines that were chock-full of tactile experiences: sight, sounds, vibrations, smoke, steam, oil, etc...and many of us learned to do much of our own maintenance and repair work, experiencing along the way how a machine sounds and feels 'right' or 'wrong'...

Guzzis have that indescribable 'something' that all well-engineered machines exude that reaches out and touches you and pulls you into a man/machine symbiotic experience that is brief but beautiful...

I love the sounds and sensations of my Guzzi so much I wouldn't dream of listening to music or phone calls or anything that would intrude on that experience...

We are lucky guys! 

[Chuck in Indiana]

^^^^^ Most excellent, twowings.  Sums up the Guzzi experience. You almost have to be a certified gearhead to *really* enjoy them. 

[SmithSwede]

I was thinking along similar lines last week.   Seems like the more miles I rack up on the Guzzi, the smoother and slicker it gets.   It's a very mechanical thing. 

This process reminds me of my experience with the old, blued, carbon steel Smith & Wesson revolvers from the 1960s or earlier.   The more you use them, the slicker they get.   They don't really "wear out," they "wear in."

[jwinwi]

Exactly!
Ex Convert hauled a sidecar for 50K miles but has been solo for the past two years: the perfect choice to ride slowly on a day with crowded roads. She just loved being out in the fresh air!

[Chuck in Indiana]

The more you use them, the slicker they get.   They don't really "wear out," they "wear in."

That's a fact. I have a Guzzi friend that is a retired cop. He has S&W revolvers, and they are as smooth as glass.
"Several thousand rounds will do that.." 

[Arizona Wayne]

For decades it's taken a new Guzzi at least 15K miles to be broken in, even before it had nikasil cylinders(`84).  After that point the whole drive train starts to feel like it's in synch. The power goes up, the smoothness of shifting goes up, the whole bike starts to feel as if it's 1.    Doesn't matter what brand oil is in it.