Guzzirider

Hi Ross- welcome to the forum!! If you are not already a member it is worth joing the Moto Guzzi Club GB- details on this link: MGCGB Regards Guy

I think it is one of those bikes that will look better in the flesh, especially when painted a brighter colour like red or yellow. Next time you see a Mito 125 have a good look at the size- it is like a tiny 916- and the 500 shares the same frame and cycle parts except wheels. Guy

New 500 Mito Half the weight of a V11, with 60BHP? Should go well. Guy

Getting colder every day here- and a stormy night on Sunday blew a couple of tiles off the roof. Global Warming? Bollocks more like! Guy

Nice collection- they look in good nick too. Did I read somewhere you were adding a Harley to your collection Steve?

I guess when you are on tour, the usual barriers are broken down and you all become mates together! I can remember this- was in a French lay by when we were on route from the Black Forest to Montmedy in June 2004. Magnus was very gentle with me, and I made sure he bought me dinner first. Guy

Antonio has made a film? Wow!!

You may have read that Valentino Rossi has entered the WRC Rally Of New Zealand and he has now moved up from 24th, to 11th place in his privately entered Subaru. BBC Sport Scrub that last comment- he is now running in 6th overall!!

Basically the bus has been heavily modified with Porsche 911 3.6 biturbo and trick wheels and suspension. Think its Dutch not German.

Click here and play the video

This is all getting a bit silly- you can tell the winter nights are drawing in.

Maybe us Poms are just fussy!!

I completely agree that Guzzi need to build bikes that people want to buy. A recent success was the Breva 1100- many have been sold and you see them regularly on the road in the UK. As for the rest of the range? It took weeks for my main dealer to sell his first Norge. The Griso? Not many of these flying out of the showroom either- I am yet to see one on the road despite a summer full of rallies and riding. A few popping up used which is compromising the market for new ones. Nevada 750- I only ever see old ones. Breva 750s- see quite a few that are 3 years old but never a new one. Californias- not selling at all. I visit the local Guzzi shop regularly and the same stock is normally sitting there in dust. I am not sure if this is the same picture worldwide, but the other post today about discounts and finance incentives in the USA lead me to believe it may be the case. I can't really see the new models setting the world on fire either- they probably were not intended to, but it would help the company if they could draw in new customers, not just the enthusiasts like us who buy the odd one anyway. If I am wrong, and they sell like hot cakes and there are waiting lists for the things I will be really pleased. I guess the yearning for a sporty bike is a heart thing- think of the heritage of Moto Guzzi- and the fact that not all Guzzi riders want to grow facial hair, and moan about the fact that they remember when it was all fields round here! A good little pokey sports bike with lots of character could also be a sales success. Guy

Ratch Do you have a job, mate?

Motorcycle Emptiness by the Manic Street Preachers: Culture sucks down words Itemise loathing and feed yourself smiles Organise your safe tribal war Hurt maim kill and enslave the ghetto Each day living out a lie Life sold cheaply forever, ever, ever Under neon loneliness motorcycle emptiness Under neon loneliness motorcycle emptiness Life lies a slow suicide Orthodox dreams and symbolic myths From feudal serf to spender This wonderful world of purchase power Just like lungs sucking on air Survivals natural as sorrow, sorrow, sorrow Under neon loneliness motorcycle emptiness Under neon loneliness motorcycle emptiness All we want from you are the kicks youve given us All we want from you are the kicks youve given us All we want from you are the kicks youve given us All we want from you are the kicks youve given us Under neon loneliness motorcycle emptiness Under neon loneliness motorcycle emptiness Drive away and its the same Everywhere death row, everyones a victim Your joys are counterfeit This happiness corrupt political shit Living life like a comatose Ego loaded and swallow, swallow, swallow Under neon loneliness motorcycle emptiness Under neon loneliness motorcycle emptiness Under neon loneliness motorcycle emptiness Under neon loneliness everlasting nothingness

There are plenty of songs written about riding bikes- what is your favourite? I'll start off with one from one of my favourite bands Rancid: MOTORCYCLE RIDE If you wanna make a move then you better come in It's just the ability to reason that wears so thin Living and dying and the stories that are true The secret to a good life is knowing when your through... .. Sara ceased existing right before she died a fifth of bourbon and a motorcycle ride... ...If you wanna make a move then you better come in It's just the ability to reason that wears so thin If you wanna make a move then you better come in It's just the ability to reason that wears so thin .. Sara ceased existing right before she died I bit the bourbon and I'm on her side... If you wanna make a move then you better come in It's just the ability to reason that wears so thin ...before she died I bit the bullet on a motorcycle ride

I don't think sexuality has much relevance to the marque of bike you ride- I know a gay bloke who rides a Guzzi, and a lesbian couple who ride a Ducati and Yamaha respectively. James Blunt is definitely heterosexual, but I still think he is a puff for wimping out on riding his Guzzi because his record company say it is dangerous. Ask Billy Idol- bikes are as safe as houses! Guy

Well I could not wait to get home from work tonight and log on to see the new Guzzis but I feel a little underwhelmed. The custom thingy- who designed it? Stevie Wonder? I mean its just plain fugly- nearly as naff as Ducati Indiana or Honda CX500 Custom- its badly proportioned and just not pleasing to the eye. The lines are all wrong. A Tonti framed Jackal looks much nicer if you like this sort of thing. And why the new motor capacity- what is the point? The Griso 4V- more interesting and maybe more fun than the 1100 but why? Lets say it really makes 100hp at the rear wheel- why not make an MGS02? Or why not put the 4V motor in the new 1200 "Sport" instead. Maybe that is the long term plan. The 850 Bor(g)e- I expect this has been made to suit local European markets where it is too expensive to own a big capacity motor due to insurance or licensing reasons. Can't see anyone else wanting the smaller motor with the same weight as a 1200 Norge unless they are insane. May I suggest that Italian designers go back to their roots and design bikes in the afternoon after they have shagged their secretaries and drunk 2 bottles of vino rosso during a 3 hour lunch break- that way we may get something a bit more exciting. Guy

By Puff, I meant big girl's blouse rather than gay!

Alex Harvey clips on YouTube Some of these are really good- he was a true entertainer.

My local dealer has about 5 of these Guzzi helmets on his shelf if anybody wants one.

I really think we ought to leave this thread alone now out of respect for those who it was intended to remember. Plenty of other places to discuss the folly of war. Guy

I like it- I bet it looks even better in the flesh- Ducatis always do. Japanese? What planet are you guys on? Tell me how many Jap bikes have a trellis frame, beautiful single sided swinging arm, and an L twin motor and are finished in that deep red colour??? Its true that Japanese sports bike design has improved over the years, but that is because they have been influenced by Italian design. Bet it goes like a bastard as well as looking great. Guy

First option for me!!

Hmmmm.... looking out the window right now, I'd say that Waterworld had arrived already!