jbuzbee

The crystal river dealer has a web site, but I can't find any phsycal adress? Do you know where it is? I've tried contacting them via the provided phone number on the site, but that's been disconnected. Crystal River would be perfect! I have a weekend farm in Wesley Chapel . . ..

I live in Tampa, Florida USA. Gainesville is where the Vespa dealer is. Now I went to University of Florida and always LOVE going back to Gainesville - so if they could just do service everything would be sweet. The nearest service center is in Ft Lauderdale. A truely horrendous ride from Tampa. Tampa has an Aprillia / Vespa dealer (who also carries Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki) but no Moto Guzzi. How often do Guzzi's really need valves checked? Could I handle it myself?

I really need to replace my 2004 BMW R1150R and I thought the Stelvio would be it. I can buy one about an hour north of where I live - great! But they don't service motorcycles!! It's a vespa store that just started carrying Aprillia and Moto Guzzi. The nearest MG service center is 400 miles away. Other than valves, I do all my own renching. I have the valves checked on the BMW about every 16,000 miles and they've never needed adjusting (after the initial 600 mile service). Should I be concerned with the lack of service for the Guzzi? The dealer north of me can get parts - so that's not an issue. Signed, desperately seeking a Guzzi

Van, I lurk around alot but seldom post. Your son and family are in our prayers. jb

Thoughts and Prayers go out to the two riders, family and friends. As said before, could have been worse. Seems like this stuff happens in bunches - the rest of you please be extra careful!!! jb

Thanks for all the kind words guys. Boots: hell yes. I'm going to invest in a good pair once the bike gets back together. It was a tree lined stretch of road, at dusk. Not a good situation at all. Went back to the crash site yesterday. Bike slid approximately 90 - 100 feet. I slid around 10 feet less - 80 - 90 feet. Found the missing moto light, and the damn beak (the ugly front fender) survived! the damn thing wont die!! You guys probably aren't to familiar with this bike so here's a before pic: And the after:

Before I begin, I'm compelled to share the fact that I feel much more at home here than over at the BMW site. You guys talk about racing, and customizing, and other really cool stuff. The beemers seem to only debate wind shields, seat comfort, and the benifits of dino over synth. Well, with that said here's the story. Coming home last Saturday night from a weekend with friends in North Florida I was heading down US 41 between Williston and Dunnellon at dusk - in excess of 60 mph. I don't want to think it but I was prolly doing 80. Well, you guessed it: hit not one but two deer. Bike split one deer in two and instantly killed the other (poor buggers). Bike: 2004 BMW R1150R Damage: Fork sliders binding, headlight, motolight, turn signals, left side engine guard and valve cover, and front beak (bo-who - hated that thing anyway). Gear: HJC full face helmet, alpine stars SB jacket and gloves, jeans and sneakers. Rider: 1964 idiot Damage: sprained right ankle, bruised left side rib cage. that's it. These bikes are incredible. It's hard to believe there isn't more damage. I have to believe the V11 is just as robust. Bottom line I was traveling way too fast for the present conditions. Be careful out there! perky tit's would have probably faired a little better!

That would be one damn good ABS system to be able to eject a small furry creature from beneath the front wheel!

Hey. I'm a product of the US public educational system. And I have a master's degree, own my own business, and am financially independent. It's not what is taught, but who you are. In the imortal words of Captain Jack Sparrow: "All that matter is what a man CAN do and what a man CAN'T do."

Insurance, on bikes??? I pay cash - no need for insurance (Florida USA state law). Why would one need to insure a motorcycle???

well, work on the farm kept from starting till around 1:00 pm - so I didn't make it to cracker barrel - but I did have a nice ride down to lakeland, ft. meade, frost proof, then to plant city. The rain wasn't too bad and my heated vest kept things nice and warm. Thank goodness there were no tornados today . . ..

I may ride by on my BMW(!) just to check out the gaggle of geese!! I live just up the road on Mondon Hill Rd. Anyone going to Plant City? I may take the day and go north to Lecanto via Snow Memorial, then cut over to 27, end up in Lakeland to pick up a friend and on to Plant City. Hey, I know it's a cruiser crowd there but it's an excuse to get out and ride - if not the long way around!

That is amazing. I was wondering when someone would come up with some decent wheels for the new SSSA. The stock ones are, well, a little weak.

Price? (in USD if possible?)

This is NOT Italian Design: THIS is Italian Design: Build it MG (strada).

My R1150R "in the wild". South Howard "SoHo" in Tampa. I really can't see trading her for any of the comparable raodsters: the beatuful Moto Guzzi 1200S, the new BMW R1200R, BMW 1200S, HD 1200R, Yamaha FZ1, Beull Uly. I'm a designer - so I'm itching to customize her . . . what will become of her . . . I was already to buy a Guzzi V11 whan I went to my local Guzzi - BMW - Triumph dealer. The Guzzi truck was there with all the models. I got to ride a beautiful Rosa Corsa: the guy leading the demo ride, in front to my left, decided to take a right - right in front of me while his left turn signal was on! It was all I could do not to hit him. I had to lay that beautiful bike down!!!! Well, needless to say, that expereience and all the bad press on this site! led me to BMW. Really - what a wonderful bike. I'm still longing for a MG! I like the direction MG is going with the new bikes. Will we see a 4 valve motor with 120+ HP in the near future? I thnik MG has an opurtunity to beat BMW. Have you guys heard about the Final Drive failures with the new 1200s? Apparently a design flaw with the speedo pick-up. The MG FD seems to be better designed. So for now I'm going to keep my 1150 and customize her. And whatch MG to see whats going to emerge??!! Choa, love MG - jb Don't hate me because I ride BMW. I still long for MG . . . jb

Now hold on - let’s think about this for a second: It's got the Griso Heads, Silver Drive Train, Brembos with wave rotors, blacked out frames components = this is the bike to CHOP! Can you imagine some really custom bodywork on this bike? How about accessing the Ducati aftermarket for things like triple trees and clip-ons, rear sets - exhaust? Ohlins front and rear? Is OZ or Marascini making wheels for this platform yet?? Come on - I've been waiting for a Moto Guzzi to customize!!!! This could be it! jb

Adjusting Valves: Here's my take - I was picking my wife up from the Honda (Car) Dealer the other day, she had been getting her mothers Civic serviced for a long trip they were taking. She was showing me a list of everything the dealership wanted to do which included "Adjusting Valve Clearence". I was shocked. First because I never really considered cars would use anything other than hydralic valves. Second because I have a '93 Civic that, since about 40K miles (when I got it), has NEVER had the valves checked / adjusted. When the speedo stopped working that car had 247,000 miles on it. Never given me a bit of trouble, starts and runs smooth, and still get 40+ MPG. 3000 miles sounds a bit extreme. I check my valves every 12,000 and they're never out of spec (Both a Ducati and BMW R). The BMW, like the Guzzi, are easy to do but the Duc is more complicated. I think vlave adjustment intervals are set up by the manufactures to give dealerships an increased cash flow . . .. jb

There's only one ride I have with a soul:

Again, I don't want to seem like I'm a troll - far from it. I still long for a guzzi - no matter how much you all complain! This summer I'm going to build a cafe. My choices are: a 2004 HD sportster base (if you've ever ridden a pre-04 sportster you know what I mean), a california (which will be stripped to the frame and drivetrain with bitubo front and rear running on forged wheels) or a TL 1000 base. The sportster would be the easiest; plenty of after-market - but the Guzzi would just be so damned cool. Here's the problem: If the bike handles the way I plan, stops the way I'll set it up, then it better be damned dependable because I'll put a couple thousand miles on it a month. Who here will garantee me that? I can take care of the rest, and I figure the tonti is the best frame. But will I be out in the backroads, sitting on the side with a relay problem, a clutch problem, a shifter problem??? My BMW has never let me down. So say all: Guzzi? jb

I tried that once here - nobody seemed to want to talk about it much:

Huh? I've had my oilhead for about 16 mos. and put 19,640 trouble free miles on it: It had the valves and the TB's done at 600 miles, and now it's probably time for another: oh and I'm going to do it myself. When I bought my R1150R a new R1100S was only $900 more than a comparable V11. When the idiot in front of me took a right turn into my path about 5 yards from me the Rossa Corsa I was test riding couldn't even stay on her own two tires. My beamer doesn't have ABS and stops, handles better than my Ducati. Now, I know this a Moto Guzzi Board, and it's rude to come into your house and say the things above. Because with any community it's healthy to have adversaries: it promotes comradery, and loyalty, and gives it's members something to talk about on long winter afternoons. However, what I can't understand is the attacks on your Clansmen BMW! Why not attack Honda, or Harley, or those stuck up guys over at the Aprila camp??? BMW and MG have so much in common and one day the two will share my garage - peacefully. Can't we all just get along? jb

. . . my first Moto Guzzi. Pretty slick.

Well, heres my story: I really wanted a 2004 V11 sport. Did alot of research here and at WildGuzzi. Took a test ride on a beautiful, brand new 2004 Rosso Corsa. Didn't get a chance to really appreciate the bike because about 1/2 mile out the dealer, who was taking me on the ride, with absolutely no warning, decided to turn right in front of me! I had to grab a handfull of front brake, and a footfull of rear brake, and still managed to low side the bike. Well, that little experience coupled with ALL the problems you (guzzisti) complained about led me to the more sensible solution of the BMW. 16 months and 19,000 miles later it's been a great bike. The only bad thing about the R is it lacks the design of the italians. I'm a modern architect so design is very, very important. Zebulon - I see you have a GB. Those guys know how to design a motorcycle! jb the Studio

That is one beautiful bike.