Guzzirider

Initial impressions from a very slippery ride through Bradford to home: Very well balanced- easy to ride at 3mph in heavy traffic and stay dead stable. Once you get rolling, very flickable, seeming a lot lighter than she really is. Great ergonomics- seat / bars / screen just right for me Obviously running her in, and on new tyres on wet roads so I was taking it easy, but plenty of bottom end grunt and the fuelling is perfect low down- can't comment on higher up the rev range yet. Brakes very good, progressive but powerful. Nice sound. Clocks easy to read. Much smaller than my friends 1150GS who parked next to me at Moto Strada. Finish is superb. Just ordered some factory panniers- about £400. Big shout to Moto Strada- pleasure to do business with them.

Yes its Moto GP time again on Sunday!! Ok practice hasn't even started so here are my wild guesses: 1/ Pedrosa 2/ Lorenzo 3/ Dovizioso I hope I am wrong and young James Toseland kicks arse, but the Spaniards tend to do well at home. What are your predictions? Guy

Like all these concept bikes, put mirrors, indicators, number plate, huge cat exhaust, proper seat, brake lines etc and all of a sudden it looks quite like lots of other bikes!

I am going to see Jethro Tull in York in May- it will be the fourth time I have seen them live but the last time was around 1989. I believe BFG is the lead singer- no time for photoshopping David's head onto Ian Anderson's body but you'll get my drift. Back to the Guzzi / music thing- to me, a Guzzi sounds best when its being thrashed up an alpine pass, the sound of thunder echoing off the mountains. Its great to stand at a vantage point, and just listen to a Guzzi approaching from a couple of miles away, being thrashed within an inch of its life by an enthusiastic rider. So Guzzi music must be deep, loud and thunderous, with the occasional quieter interlude as the revs drop and you cruise along without a care in the world. I quite like all the 60s / 70s blues rock suggested so far, and I guess a lot of Guzzisti would like that sort of stuff too, but for those rev limter bouncing mountain moments may I suggest Slayer- turn your speakers up and rock!!! This track is now getting on for a quarter of a century old- classic rock?

My grandad broke both legs crashing on one of these in the 1950s!

Ah yes I see now- transforms the look of the bike! Much better.

I thought that was the Monza kit?

I wonder what the Superwtin kit looks like on a V11. That would interest me more.

It's all wrong- the angles are all over the place. The Quat D looks really out of place too- would be better with an underseat pipe like an MGS01 I prefer the short and low look of the GB Supertwin, rather than the "I'm a baboon look at my red arse" look of this one. Can't imagine buyers queuing up to buy this kit for their V11. Guy

Errr nope! I will be happy cruising along in a straight line with the front wheel on the ground!

Fun little video http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=REvQnfxEHmU

You will get charged twice as much for labour on adjusting valve clearances!

Yes I've asked the British H & B importer for more info and prices- I'm in no rush.

A man who masturbates- guess that rules out everyone on here......

Mine arrived Moto Strada on Tuesday, having only been built the previous week, so I got the chance to have a good look around. She had been PDI'd and I was able to start her up. Initial impressions: 4v motor sounds completely different- a sort of turbine noise from the top end. Exaust note is quite throaty even with the road legal pipe. Standard of finish is light years ahead of my V11- real air of quality Black version looks even better in the flesh. Headlights make the bike look like a cute bush baby from the front. Even in the well lit showroom they seemed very bright. A lot of normal people don't like the front end, but I've never been one to follow the crowd and quite like its quirkiness. Kill switch is also the starter switch so you cant forget. Spoked wheels with black rims look beautiful- if they made a 17" front rather than a 19" they could bolt straight onto a Griso. The flip up storage compartment in the tank is just a gimmick- it even has a hole at the bottom for when it floods with rain so even Guzzi realise it won't be waterproof. Seems flimsy too. She feels much smaller than a GS, and not really an off road bike- one big crash would cause some expensive damage I am sure. Forks are really chunky- have separate adjusters on each leg, one leg for compression, one for rebound. Preload adjustable on both legs. Very comfortable to sit on, plenty of leg room and very good handlebar position. I just wanted to ride off there and then but was at the time waiting for my insurance to be changed- that is now sorted and I collect her next Friday, and will be doing my first camping trip next Saturday night in the Dales if it stops snowing. No news on factory luggage / accessories yet, although Hepco and Becker have already produced a luggage rack and crash bars for the Stelvio.

I know what the bike is so will let someone else get the point...I have enough! The pic is taken at Motori Di Marino in West Chiltington!

I was 20 years old when fell in lust with a V65 Lario. Sold the rubbish CB900 I owned and took out a loan from work to buy it. I've had the odd flirtaion with other bikes during the last 20 years (mainly Dukes) but have stuck with Guzzi 'cos I like crap bikes, and am a masochist. There is just something about them.......

No worries I think we basically making the same point- they used to make comparitively fast bikes (like the V7sport was in its day) but are unlikely ever too again.

Another sports bike? Buy a book on the company's history- for many years Guzzi were making cutting edge and innovative sports bikes and racers, which in their day were comparitively fast. Mario Columbo's 80 Years Of Moto Guzzi has some excellent info and pictures.

That was pretty good! Serena who is the Secretary of the Moto Guzzi Club GB, and her partner Paul (from Corsa Italiana) unfortunately had a neighbour's firework land on their wooden shed, which then burnt down. It was full of bikes, trophies and other treasured items, so I guess it is worth taking care! Guy

My Mum and my brother had a 2CV- hilarious cars- verrrry slow but good in snow!

That would be too easy, she staretd with Kawasaki but "Quattrovalvole" is next on the list.

My friend Linz can burp "desmosedici". She is coming to Ken Bridge if you want proof!