What Has Gotten Into Me?
. . . . I find myself prowling the Guzzi websites, showrooms and now the MGCL. What is happening here? I've never ridden a Guzzi. What is it about these machines that is so compelling? Are they reliable or finicky? So many questions...
Gregg
As a fairly new MG owner (one year and one week) mine has proven to be reliable for the 24K miles or so I have put on it. (bought used with 12K on the odometer)
It has survived my efforts to make it run "better", and given me many hours of pleasure.
It doesn't care if I wash it or not, although it actually seems to enjoy being ridden in the rain
It always weighs roughly 545+ lbs, which seems awfully heavy sometimes, except when it is moving. It is a gazelle in elephant's clothing. It is both the ugliest, and the most beautiful motorcycle I have ever owned....often in the same day
The engine noises that bother me trolling along in stop and go traffic are it's way of protesting what I am making it do, but it doesn't hold any grudges....100 or 800 (now I'm bragging!:-) miles later in the same day, it still sounds the same, but the collection of sounds now seems to be humming a mantra....the mantra has two words "keep going".
Sometimes I go out in the garage, look at this bike, and think "When am I going to sell this ugly POS"? Sometimes I just stand and stare at it with the sort of affection usually reserved for one's children and pets.
It's just a machine, but I swear it has blood running through it's veins, not motor oil. If you get one, be prepared to do a lot of soul-searching....it'll take you anywhere you want to go, without complaint, but it will make you feel awfully guilty when you put the sidestand down.
It is very often one of the few things in my life that makes any sense. You can mentally disect the thing and find fault with every part that goes into it, if you want to, but the sum of what it is, is impeccable.
Yeah, I guess I like mine ok....I might keep it for another 20 or 30 years.
Hubert Few
98 EV
Heh, heh, heh...If you think this is bad, wait till you own/ride one for a little while...Personally, I have been known to go into the garage just to stare at my Moto Guzzi every so often..warms my heart....You are not alone with the compulsion. Guzzis are reliable and not finicky. They are the best friend a motorcyclist can ever have. My blood type is Guzzi Positive. Go for it. You will not regret it.
Mike
1979 CX100
1979 KZ1000
Huntington Beach, Ca.
I have one of those folding lounge chairs, with a soda holder in the garage... I usually just open the garage door, take a piece of shop rag, and sit there, sipin' the soda, and once in a while, whipe a spec of dust or somthing that catches my eye on the V11 Sport.
...this morning, AGAIN, as I pull in the motorcycle parking area in the lab (I work at NASAs JPL center in Pasadena, CA), a couple of guys on Kawasakis came over, and said they've been admiring that bike for the past few weeks, and wanted to meet the owner.....
I don't know ANYONE who has gotten so many positive comments about their bike....not even the Harley guys who spend 25K on their Fat Boy!!
-arbi
01 V11 Sport (SHREK)
EVERY,bike is a little different,ya gotta bond,and figure out the sweet
spot,kinda like a woman.
mark
Once again, he's right on. Of the 9 Guzzis we've owned (8 carburated, 1 EFI), they've all started a little differently. There have been major similarities in the best starting procedure, but subtle differences. The EFI bikes are pretty straightforward compared to the carburated. With carbs you have to consider ambient temp, engine temp, and elevation in order to meter the fuel to give upon starting (choke vs. accelerator pump).
My bike is a woman.
Kevin Hamann
Tijeras, NM USA
MGNOC #11852
Rd/Wht/Blk 89 LM
Mark, read your post and it sent shivers down my back, my Guzzi like a woman, I feel I have a much better relationship with my Guzzi....JoeB coming up on 27 years of indentured matrimonial bliss...in reality she suppports this insanity I have with riding very well. Have a good one!!
joeb