1980's SB or 750 Breva

[stuv65]

I have two 1980's small blocks (a Lario & a V65) but keep looking at the 750 Breva.

I can't work out whether I like the 'classic' bike scene or would just prefer to ride a more modern bike.

I guess the 1980's was MY time to get hooked on bikes, so my 2 small blocks resonant with me, but they are a little uncomfortable to ride and I am very aware I might be pushing an old engine a bit too hard, at times.

Conversley, will the Breva win my heart or just be a modern bike like any other.

Discuss.....

ta
stuart

[bad Chad]

 I had to be 65 it was a nice bike and pretty reliable.   But the brevis 750 is a Sapir your motorcycle in almost every category with the possible  exception of aesthetics.   

[Guzzi relic]

I can't help answer your question Stuart but I can certainly sympathize. I turned 16 in 1974 so for me its 70's bikes. I have four on the road and my newest is a '76. I'm a tech at a dealership, (not Guzzi) so I'm tempted by showroom and trade in bikes on a daily basis. And the other mechanics, (well in truth the entire staff) think I'm nuts for riding old bikes.
But after a day of working on modern machines, constantly connected to lap tops etc I relish my ride home via points and condensers and carbs. 
I may not always get where I'm going but at least I can fix almost anything I ride at the side of the road.

All that said, I have always thought the Breva 750 would suit me just fine. I sat on one at a Guzzi Rally back in 2008 and it felt right. I'm short with a short inseam and I'm getting up there so the size and weight seem manageable.
I'll just have to wait a few years until the used ones come down in price.

I'll watch your thread and look forward to seeing which way you go.

Ken

[Chuck in Indiana]

Chad was obviously talking into his phone, so I'll translate..  yes, the baby Beaver is a superior motorcycle. The transmission and rear drive have been updated, so you don't have to jump through *those* hoops to make it reliable. The fuel injection is dead simple, too.
That said, I prefer the older machines. Once you've done the things that have to be done to the old small blocks, they'll be just as reliable. Simpler. Lighter. <shrug>
If you are *not* a mechanic, and not willing to do the work that has to be done.. especially with the Lario (!).. go with the modern bike. No brainer, there.

[jas67]

If you like classic looking bikes, go slightly newer than the Breva and get a V7.
The earliest ones, the 2009-2012 V7 Classic should be able to be had for as little as $3,000.

[pete roper]

If you like classic looking bikes, go slightly newer than the Breva and get a V7.
The earliest ones, the 2009-2012 V7 Classic should be able to be had for as little as $3,000.

Ding Ding! We have a winner!

[chuck peterson]

Both...at $1776 for that baby Breva in the classifieds, how can you go wrong?

[Dharma Bum]

Except the $1776 Breva is no longer for sale, since I bought it!  I'll try and contact Dan and have hi modify the post.  I think the $1800 one from Albequerque is still for sale.

[bad Chad]

Chuck, what would we do without you??  I thought it went through like butter on pancakes, but when I just read it I thought, "oh God, they are going to figure out how dumb I really am!" 
Thanks, you were 100% on target!

[huub]

personally as a replacement for my lario i would be looking at a v7, the breva styling just doesn't fit me.
i'm not sure the riding position of the modern smallblocks will differ very much from your lario...
basically , do a test ride, an decide if you can live with a modern bike.
I keep coming back to the old crappy bikes. every time i test ride something modern .....

[malik]

Stuart, get a Breva and try it out. I've a mate with one, and a Monza & an Eldo. He was too short for the V7. Another mate fitted a Breva so perfectly he immediately bought another & put it in the lounge room (where it stayed until the first one stopped running - but it turned out to be an easy fix, so now both are on the road). He also runs a LeMans & a Bellagio, but the Brevas do the bulk of his riding. Your existing skills are directly transferable & many of the parts are the same (the drive shaft, for one). If you tire of it, the engine will fit the V65's - there was a chap on this board who put a Stone (1TB) motor into his V65, with carbs & the old ignition - just had to plug a couple of sensor holes. Whichever way it turns out, you win. You will have scratched that itch and it's unlikely all 3 would be off the road at the same time. Then there's the NTX.

[stubbie]

I have a 750 Breva. It's a great bike for around town. Light, agile and can get me to 140km per hour with no problems out in the country. I can highly recommend them.

[SmithSwede]

Chuck:   baby Beaver?

Were you also talking into your phone?

 

[Chuck in Indiana]

Chuck:   baby Beaver?

Were you also talking into your phone?

 

Duh.. *everybody* knows the "baby beaver" is the little Breva.. 

[stubbie]

Flying High all over again.

[Huzo]

I thought, "oh God, they are going to figure out how dumb I really am!" 

I used to worry people would figure that out about me..
Then I stopped worrying when I came to the conclusion that I'm actually a lot dumber than anyone could imagine..!
So the upside is, people always think I'm smarter than I actually am.
So there's a huge bonus...!
(I think.. )

[Huzo]

Chuck:   baby Beaver?

Were you also talking into your phone?

 

If you said that in Oz, you'd be viewed in a different light...

[SmithSwede]

Huzo:  I freely admit that going to Australia is on my bucket list.  You guys all seem crazy, albeit in a good way.

But ever since I watched a documentary on Cane Toads, I have been a bit spooked. 

Tell me.  Do cane toads really spit poison onto your Guzzis?

[pete roper]

No, they have glands in their neck that release a neurotoxin if you traumatise them but unless you bite them or make tea out of them they are harmless, albeit ugly! (They aren't even a native!)

We have plenty of other things to kill you though who will do it with a casual lack of malice but you have to be dumb as a box of rocks to get bit in most cases.

The only things that are deliberately malicious are Crocs and they are simple enough to avoid if you don't go swimming in nice looking billabongs in the tropics. There are the sharks  in the sea but once again, if you don't want to get eaten don't dress up as a seal and go into their environment where they are the alpha predator! Having a large brain and opposable thumbs counts for dick if you can't swim faster than they can!

Pete

[SmithSwede]

I never really got into Cane Toad tea.   Must be an acquired taste. 

[hidn45]

if it's just a matter of styling, just google "red bull breva":





I wouldn't go THAT far myself, but it illuminates the possibilities.  They are all Guzzis underneath, after all....

[Chuck in Indiana]

^^^^^ Now, *there's* a sheep in wolf's clothing.. 

[Hugh Straub]

As a 750 Breva owner, I know the bike to be an utter delight.  Highly recommended.

[Chuck in Indiana]

As a 750 Breva owner, I know the bike to be an utter delight.  Highly recommended.

Yes, they are very nice motorcycles.

[hidn45]

^^^^^ Now, *there's* a sheep in wolf's clothing.. 

;^)

I'll admit to a BIT of poser-ism.... occasionally....

So, how much work WOULD it be to slap a Made in India Lemon tank on the Little Beav, a little rearset action, bumstop.... doable?  In no way a "modern LeMans", but maybe a nod to the heritage....  Not the best of both worlds, but at least a bit of both....?

[malik]

;^)

I'll admit to a BIT of poser-ism.... occasionally....

So, how much work WOULD it be to slap a Made in India Lemon tank on the Little Beav, a little rearset action, bumstop.... doable?  In no way a "modern LeMans", but maybe a nod to the heritage....  Not the best of both worlds, but at least a bit of both....?

A plate across the frame to take the V7 tank, a plate bent to bolt on the rear subframe for the V7 seat, a nut welded to each of the bottom frame rails to take the Racer rear sets, then you are left with cosmetics - mudguards, fork brace, handlebars & such. End up with a 2TB V7. Have most of the bits, just got to get around to putting it all together.

[hidn45]

A plate across the frame to take the V7 tank, a plate bent to bolt on the rear subframe for the V7 seat, a nut welded to each of the bottom frame rails to take the Racer rear sets, then you are left with cosmetics - mudguards, fork brace, handlebars & such. End up with a 2TB V7. Have most of the bits, just got to get around to putting it all together.

Well, there ya go!  Get crackin' - sounds like a plan....  And remember - pic's, or it didn't happen....  ;^)

[stuv65]

So here's where I ended up...

A couple of 750 Breva's up for sale.  Similar age, mileage, price, etc  - But I didn't buy either of them.

The last time I rode a 750 Breva I had a Suzuki Freewind and remebered at the end of the test ride saying to the shop owner "nice - but no wow factor".  He handed me the keys for a Bellagio - now that was a totally different bike!!

So in conclusion, having 2 V65's already getting a Breva 750 is just too much of the same thing (ok it's more comfortable, etc).  I would struggle to part with my V65's as I've had them so long, rebuilt them, know them inside out - they are MY bikes - so would end up with 3 SB's.  In fact, I'd probably move on the Breva.

Having done a 150mile round trip on my V65 this week, I have decided to keep the SB's and have my KLR650 when I want to ride something different.

ta
stuart

[malik]

Good thinking. Only keep an eye out for a cheap, wrecked, low mileage 750 - we know the engine fits, & likely lots of other bits - spare parts for when bits of your V65s pass thir use by date. Convenient if you already have something on the shelf. Now, a Bella at a decent price is another matter entirely. Start setting aside the shekels.

[sign216]

As a 750 Breva owner, I know the bike to be an utter delight.  Highly recommended.

Small blocks all the way.

The misunderstood step child of an obscure brand.

And that's the summation.

Joe T.