Does Guzzi need a small bike?

[earemike]

Yeah, I thought that they already had a small bike....   DonG

Exactly 

[Kiwi_Roy]

Suzuki had a nice V twin to go with the S40 the S50 aka intruder, I bought one when I got back into motorcycles a lovely bike but no soul.
It doesn’t seem to matter what bikes Guzzi make, it’s never right for some guys.
As long as you guys are happy to buy the new Guzzis then sell them to me at 10c on the $ I’m happy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jcctx]

Half a 900 turned N/S with a balance shaft and a narrow belt drive (like the short lived 305 Kawasaki). 400 cc @ 325 pounds would do nicely??????????

[twowings]

Here ya go:

[cbrider]

Obviously I'm not Shorty , but yes that is a Bonneville Hack . Come to Cedar Vale and see it in person , and meet the , er , well "eccentric" guy that owns it 

 Dusty

Ha! Since I've not had the pleasure of meeting you, your height's not so obvious! 

I don't think making the trip to Cedar Vale this year is in the cards for me, I'm sure I will miss a good time with a bunch of good folks.

The name Shorty brings back some good memories for me. I always called my Grandfather "Shorty". Shorty got his first motorcycle right after I got my first bike at age 15. He said he always wanted a bike but didn't want to be a "bad influence" on his grandkids.
 
We had many fun rides together. We would pack up our bikes and head out for a week or so, covering several thousand miles.

Good times!

[cbrider]

Yes. 2005 Bonneville with unknown age Dnepr sidecar.




img free

That's a good looking rig!

[SLDMRossi]

Try a Benelli TNT 300...now available in the U.S.

https://media.zigcdn.com/media/model/2016/Feb/benelli_tnt300_600x300.jpg

Steven Rossi

[canuck750]

NO

Guzzi is a niche brand recognized for its venerable 90degree V twin, please don't chase the crowd building small displacement bikes. Others manufacturers have the resources to compete in the small bike market and they probably do it better than Guzzi ever could.

Guzzi had their kick at small displacement 350 and 500 cc V Twins and they were not very successful.

Build a 1000 ~ 1200cc true performance bike with top quality components. Make the ergos friendly for us older fellas and style it to appeal to the younger buyer.

If it were red and had a bikini fairing with a dayglow orange patch and a nice pair of  black exhaust pipes it would probably sell.

[JJ]

QUOTE:  If it were red and had a bikini fairing with a dayglow orange patch and a nice pair of  black exhaust pipes it would probably sell.

You mean like this?!? (lol) 





I sat on these two 200cc, fuel-injected 4-strokes, dual-sport Suzuki's at lunch time today...just for fun...and I fit on both.







I am thinking of adding something like this to the stable...as I slowly morph into total "GEEZER-DOM!" 

[oldbike54]

Ha! Since I've not had the pleasure of meeting you, your height's not so obvious! 

I don't think making the trip to Cedar Vale this year is in the cards for me, I'm sure I will miss a good time with a bunch of good folks.

The name Shorty brings back some good memories for me. I always called my Grandfather "Shorty". Shorty got his first motorcycle right after I got my first bike at age 15. He said he always wanted a bike but didn't want to be a "bad influence" on his grandkids.
 
We had many fun rides together. We would pack up our bikes and head out for a week or so, covering several thousand miles.

Good times!

 It's kinda weird , I've known Shorty for 20 plus years , and have never really noticed how tall he is , but he is certainly an entertaining fella , but don't ask him to predict the future .

 "I got yer dot.com right here" 

 Dusty

[keener]

NO

Guzzi is a niche brand recognized for its venerable 90degree V twin, please don't chase the crowd building small displacement bikes. Others manufacturers have the resources to compete in the small bike market and they probably do it better than Guzzi ever could.

Guzzi had their kick at small displacement 350 and 500 cc V Twins and they were not very successful.

Build a 1000 ~ 1200cc true performance bike with top quality components. Make the ergos friendly for us older fellas and style it to appeal to the younger buyer.

If it were red and had a bikini fairing with a dayglow orange patch and a nice pair of  black exhaust pipes it would probably sell.

 :1:   do it Guzzi

[Moto]

I don't see a point in building any "small" bike except a Falcone.

A large part of Guzzi's attraction to both old fogies and young hipsters is its unique, retro character. For young hipsters, that's probably the only attraction.

Only a traditional bike will set a small Guzzi apart in the market. But the old 350cc transverse v-twin just won't be powerful enough or different enough. A Falcone would be completely unique. For hipsters, 25 hp is enough. The more it looks like the old model, the better.

Speaking as an old hipster,

Moto

[Chuck in Indiana]

I don't see a point in building any "small" bike except a Falcone.

A large part of Guzzi's attraction to both old fogies and young hipsters is its unique, retro character. For young hipsters, that's probably the only attraction.

Only a traditional bike will set a small Guzzi apart in the market. But the old 350cc transverse v-twin just won't be powerful enough or different enough. A Falcone would be completely unique. For hipsters, 25 hp is enough. The more it looks like the old model, the better.

Speaking as an old hipster,

Moto

I agree, and I'd shoo the moths from my wallet and  (cough cough) buy one. Gimme 35 hp, though. 

[Guzzistajohn]

Don’t know why we would need a bike whimper than a small block 

[JohninVT]

Negative, Ghostrider.  As someone else mentioned, the current crop of 400's have the same performance as the V7.  Guzzi doesn't have the resources to develop a smaller displacement engine.  They'd do something stupid like sleeve the cylinders on the V7 and end up with a 470lb bike with 15hp. 

How about a classically styled(1000S) with the 1400 engine instead?  They'd make more $ per unit and probably sell more than if they built a small bike.   

[Hymes Inc.]

If they would make a Falcone, I would buy a new one. The older it looks the better it looks. HP doesn't really concern me, as long as I can ride 60mph comfortably I'm good.

[Sheepdog]

A 350cc, horizontal single In a Vintage-looking package would be an interesting bike. 30-35hp would be possible from a clean-sheet 4-valve, liquid-cooled, fuel injected power plant. Weight should come in at about 350 lbs in street trim with electric start. Yes, I�d be interested. However, it would be tough to meet the right price point if it is built in Mandello...

[kidsmoke]

Small Bike ethos is in fullswing with these guys. Read the statements about why they do it.
Interesting operation. They sell tickets for Saturday tours which includes a tour of the shop, a twenty mile rural tour with on the bikes with the owner/builders, and lunch as a group at a local sandwich shop.

MII (Made in Indiana) I'm planning a visit.

https://www.janusmotorcycles.com/

[j.r.r.]

Small Bike ethos is in fullswing with these guys. Read the statements about why they do it.
Interesting operation. They sell tickets for Saturday tours which includes a tour of the shop, a twenty mile rural tour with on the bikes with the owner/builders, and lunch as a group at a local sandwich shop.

MII (Made in Indiana) I'm planning a visit.

https://www.janusmotorcycles.com/

7K for 250cc bike seems excessive. For the same cash I would get Vespa 300, way more fun to ride and definitely more practical when comes to baggage loading capacity. In addition I would be riding a real thing not some retro looks like replica 

[kidsmoke]

7K for 250cc bike seems excessive. For the same cash I would get Vespa 300, way more fun to ride and definitely more practical when comes to baggage loading capacity. In addition I would be riding a real thing not some retro looks like replica 

I agree 7k is steep for a retro 250. But when you figure it's a USA shop, with 7 guys paying USA cost of living, and hand building many of the components, and trying to be profitable, I can see why they need to go for that. Plus every single bike is a custom build. There's no assembly line.

These items are all fabricated in house, then of course all finish and assembly is in house:


And lets face it, while the Vespa is a lot more technology...they are very very different machines

[JohninVT]

I agree 7k is steep for a retro 250. But when you figure it's a USA shop, with 7 guys paying USA cost of living, and hand building many of the components, and trying to be profitable, I can see why they need to go for that. Plus every single bike is a custom build. There's no assembly line.

These items are all fabricated in house, then of course all finish and assembly is in house:


And lets face it, while the Vespa is a lot more technology...they are very very different machines

The Janus has a Chinese engine. 

[kidsmoke]

The Janus has a Chinese engine.

yep. other imported components as well. I listed the only parts Janus itself fabricates.

[Dharma Bum]

An upgraded version of this, for the hipsters, young and old!

[RRider]

I believe a small bike would be a difficult thing for Guzzi guys to do.

There are many small bike champions...look at KTM for example. They've sold loads of single cylinder bikes that are both affortable and good quality. Now they've planted the engines into Husqvarna street brand....and as a result, one can by a futuristic cafe racer with a high tec 690cc single cylinder unit, pushing closer to 100hp and dry weight closer to 150kg...with a price tag of a V7. A milder version, still almost as powerfull as a V7, with the famous 390 unit costs about the same as the Vespa mentioned above.

I agree with MG sticking around the V-engines and unique bikes. V85 concept is promising, something for the street side would be nice too.

[bad Chad]

The Janus has a Chinese engine.

Indeed.  You can get the exact same motor and drive train, in a much more versitle package for $2200, or about $2500 to your door, fuled up and ready to ride!  I know because I have one.  I have over a 1200 easy, no problem miles, and so far all is great.  With 16hp I can get my largness 250 plus pounds to an indicated 68mph in a tuck!
http://www.cscmotorcycles.com/CSC-TT250-2018-p/ztt250-2018.htm

[rdbandkab]

They need a new Breva 1100 GT.

[Devildog]

Benelli copy of a Honda with Guzzi badges.

But still pretty cool looking.

[bad Chad]

I don't have a pic, but if you google you find it, cool was the Guzzi 254!   Four cyclinder in line 250, street bike cira early 80s!

[Luap McKeever]

I'd absolutely LOVE a good trail bike. Like 400cc or so.  Something around 300 lbs that I could throw around these Ozark Mountain trails. A competitor to the suzuki DR-Z400S.

[Smithy]

No.

Guzzi can position themselves at the top end of the market.

They need:

Big block Lemans
Better dealer networks.
Get out and advertise. Most people know of Guzzi but are surprised and impressed with the modern stuff. They just have never seen them.