Moto Guzzi's Future

[Kristian]

Ladies, lads,

I am becoming increasingly disturbed over the prospect of Moto Guzzi embracing its recently semi – profitable path as retro bike maker, to the exclusion of new clean sheet designs in line with classic Moto Guzzi values. Am I the only one who is dying for a fresh, non-retro Le Mans, with a 1200cc, watercooled, 8V, weighing no more than 525 pounds full of fuel and set firmly toward the sport end of the sport touring spectrum? I understand the sport touring class is fallow, but, it is not dead. Kawasaki, for example, has a stellar new bike in the form of the H2 SX, with many others besides.

Kristian

[egschade]

V85 and some of the 1400's aren't what I would consider retro. Neither are the CARC bikes, even if they are a little dated.

[nwrydre]

I agree with you Kristian. I’d put my hard earned money on a Le Mans without blinking. With the direction of the new motorcycle industry at the present time, I don’t see them going back to that. It seems like they’re catering to the new generation of riders who Re willing to make the investment in a Bike. That means retro style smaller displacement bikes that appeal to the hipster crowd. I like most of their bikes, but being new to the Guzzi scene, I would have easily purchased a Le Mans.


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[nwrydre]

The other thing I hear people saying is that they’re trying to survive in the changing market place. I think Harley Davidson is facing that challenge today as well.


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[Gliderjohn]

No offense, but I have been a Guzzi owner only since late 1989 and even in that amount of time since I don't know how many times I have heard and read doom and gloom about Moto Guzzi and somehow they just keep putting out a limited number of bikes compared to most manufacturers like they always have. Maybe they know the secret sacrifice ritual to the motorcycle Gods that keep them in business.
GliderJohn

[Guzzistajohn]

Moto Guzzi - Going out of business since 1921

[oldbike54]

Moto Guzzi - Going out of business since 1921

                                      Moto Guzzi
                                        Est. 1921
                        Going out of business since 1922

 Dusty

[fotoguzzi]

What's wrong with Retro? give me this with USD forks, a 6 speed and ABS..

[giusto]

oh pshaw you picked the wrong site to dump on Moto Guzzis

[twowings]

Look...it's simple...if you have the credit rating, support your local Guzzi dealer and buy a new bike...alternativel y, if you have some dough, buy a clean used Guzzi or a restoration project...if you are superrich, invest in Piaggio...

[Antiquar]

What's wrong with Retro? give me this with USD forks, a 6 speed and ABS..

 :1:

A new sport would be fantastic.

[Guzzistajohn]

We don't need no steenking RETRO!

[zebraranger]

No offense, but I have been a Guzzi owner only since late 1989 and even in that amount of time since I don't know how many times I have heard and read doom and gloom about Moto Guzzi and somehow they just keep putting out a limited number of bikes compared to most manufacturers like they always have. Maybe they know the secret sacrifice ritual to the motorcycle Gods that keep them in business.
GliderJohn

That just might be their little secret to surviving almost a hundred years, running a lean operation and producing just enough.

[Matteo]

I overheard Piaggio head of product development for North America say that a redesigned Griso was in the works while he was answering questions with Galluzzi at the One Moto show in Portland last month.
Like Deniro says � I heard things�

[LowRyter]

For sure, a sport touring machine.   A new LeMans or Sport with touring capability.  Classic looks.  Candy Apple Green and red frame.

[Kristian]

V85 and some of the 1400's aren't what I would consider retro. Neither are the CARC bikes, even if they are a little dated.

Well, the V85 isn't real, and the CARC bikes are gone, dead. The only make 1400 cruisers and V7IIIs now.

[Kristian]

What's wrong with Retro? give me this with USD forks, a 6 speed and ABS..

Glorious, the world's first retro, too.

[Kristian]

Look...it's simple...if you have the credit rating, support your local Guzzi dealer and buy a new bike...alternativel y, if you have some dough, buy a clean used Guzzi or a restoration project...if you are superrich, invest in Piaggio...

I don't understand your point as it relates to my original statement-

[fossil]

It is that simple: people who buy new Guzzis now (like myself in 2013) do this because they want a bike that looks like a Guzzi, sounds like a Guzzi, is not too expensive and easy and fun to run. A bigger, more expensive sport bike will at once be compared with more modern, faster and stronger bikes. And if Guzzi itself would make a more modern, faster and stronger bike the old customers would say: That´s not a Guzzi anymore. Hence the success of the V7 series. And let´s see what they will do with the V85 - platform.

[steffen]

I overheard Piaggio head of product development for North America say that a redesigned Griso was in the works

Oh, yes, pretty please with sugar on top...

[jas67]

What's wrong with Retro? give me this with USD forks, a 6 speed and ABS..

 :1:

OMG, yes, I'd buy one!

[Aaron D.]

Yeah, the 1000S was a big seller, wasn't it?

[blackcat]

Yeah, the 1000S was a big seller, wasn't it?

I think that the list price back then was somewhere over $10K, which is about $50K in the Guzzi world.

[oldbike54]

I think that the list price back then was somewhere over $10K, which is about $50K in the Guzzi world.

 DING DING DING ! We have a winner . The mothership spends a metric boatload of money to develop a modern high performance motorbike , everyone drools over it in the dealership , 5 are purchased new at something close to retail , the other 995 sit in showroom floors until the price is dropped $3K or more . Kinda hard to make money that way .

 Dusty

[JJ]

Along with that beautiful 1000S, here is another timeless Guzzi classic... :1:

[Luap McKeever]

I'm all about retro too. But, I'm coherent enough to know that if Moto Guzzi doesn't build something that will appeal to the 20 and 30 somethings, they'll be doomed.  Lack of marketing, dealers and young riders is what bothers me the most.

But, I'll keep plugging along on my old 2017 MGX and not worry "too" much about it 

[Chuck in Indiana]

Yeah, the 1000S was a big seller, wasn't it?

  "What's that do that my T3 won't do?" <snapping suspenders>

[jGuz]

If the Griso had ABS from the factory, I would be all over it.

I think the main issue with Moto Guzzi is that they hardly do any advertising.  Most people have no idea what a Moto Guzzi is.  Honestly, I think the V7 is the bike for the "millennial generation" - it's decently built, versatile, has ABS/TC, looks great, is low maintenance, and is relatively inexpensive.

While I generally hate logos, I wouldn't mind doing a bit of free advertising for Guzzi, but I rarely find any Guzzi-branded clothes.  Heck, I wanted a Moto Guzzi riding jacket but the only place I could find them was ebay - and the goods were sketchy at best.  Though the whole "lifestyle marketing" unpleasantly reeks from Harley and Ducati Scramblers, it seems to have worked well.  Baring a Griso upgrade, I think the Guzzi lineup is sufficient, but their marketing is just inadequate.   

[Yukonica]

"What's that do that my T3 won't do?" <snapping suspenders>

? Look sexier than most Italian actresses ?

[RRider]

Sport touring is not an easy category to be in....small volumes and high requirements.

On the other hand, it's easy to believe V85 will develop into something - those ADV/multipurpose bikes are perfect for middle-aged geezers like myself, no need to worry about bending my back, trying to get blood circulate at wrists and worriying about too tight knee angle....just sit on and enjoy.
At the same time, they are quite good to ride on absolute terms too = there's a fit for younger riders too.