Steve G.

There is regular opinion by journalists that regulary regard the early 80's Suzuki Madura to be uglier than a mud fence, as well as the Brasilian built Amazonas. I would agree with either of these. Steve

The Ducati Paso was the hot ticket back in the late 80's. Tamburini's design was used by most all other bikes as a base for the next 5 yrs. I know this is a personal taste opinion thread, but evidence and fact would not include this bike on an ugly list normally. Steve

This is the way I'd go!! Steve

Very interesting Jaap! Where can you get info on other model production #'s?? Steve

I'm in the business. Go to a wholesale plexi outlet, or a glass shop. Look for marguard lexan, not plexi. Lexan is highly resistant to cracking, a problem you will have when you drill the holes for the bolts, or if you tighten the bolts too tight. Do NOT get anything thicker than 2mm thick, 1.5 mm is best. The thicker the lexan, the harder it will be to bend into the shape you want. Marguard is a special surface available on some lexans [ helmet visors] to vastly reduce the collective minute scratches that will eventually make the screen ugly. Try to avoid using heat to shape the lexan/plexi. They use special press molds on pre shaped ones. A hair drier or heat gun will almost always bugger the surface up. That's why 2mm or less is best, the mini fairing will hold it in shape. Steve

Completely agree. High octane fuel is basically laden with flame inhibitor to stop "pre-igniting". This high octane fuel will substantially reduce your fuel economy as well as cost more per litre/gallon. In Western Canada we have RON 94 octane, Euro 102, in the major cities and suburbs "Chevron" and this is the diet I feed my V11. Even here, my bike pings when I roll it on below 3500rpm. This pisses me off. But I've heard good, and bad stories with the PC units, and this to me is also an expensive bandaid. What I'd like to "try", is to find out if, and how, to reduce the spark advance just a bit so the bike will be able to run on 89, which can be found anywhere here in the smaller towns. Pinging is bad for the engine, and I can deal with a bit less fuel economy with the reduced advance, which may well be compensated for with the lower octane fuels, which offer higher fuel range anyways, since they have less flame inhibitor and, as a result a higher BTU [explosion]. Steve

I've spent some good seat time on this bike, an '08, not the newest engine, but hey, who's kidding, it's the same bike. I like the looks of this bike, although cosmetic additions have to be done properly, and I'm sorry, but to me, those side pods could have/should have been eliminated with this model. They simply do not work styling wise. Anyways, The new EFI is a nice system, the bike makes all the correct sounds, feels great really. This bike has but one fault for me, and for me it is a fatal one. The sitting position is inexcusable. They put nice lower bars on it, but did nothing with the footrests or seat to compensate for the reach forward. So you end up with feet that are too forward, and even short term riding time comfort is very unacceptable. I'm sorry, but they missed the mark on this bike with these two points. That these are relatively easy points that could have been addressed when this bike was put together 3 yrs ago is a real head shaker. Steve

So it's true then. Well, for sure I'm keeping my Mandello Guzzi. Pontadero Guzzi just does not sound right! Steve

Great picture!! Is that picture from the west side of the lake looking across at Mandello? Steve

Not defending Piaggio, but, take my word for it, living with a Ducati is much harder than looking at them!! And the 4 valvers, well, tune up costs are plain high! Steve

I saw that same poster 2 weeks ago, but I don't read Italian.

If the factory closes, it would be interesting to see what happens to house prices. It is a most lovely area, heck George Cloony lives down the street!! Steve

Ok, now we are clear in what we are looking at. MV Agusta 850 America stirs the soul, indeed. Steve

The 8V engine you talk about, is that a Guzzi, or Aprilia? I agree with your re-badging crap. It just feels bad to me. Conversations I had in Italy regarding MV Agusta made me realize that Harley Davidson's purchase of MV, and BMW's purchase of Husqvarna from Cagiva had to happen. The investement to make the current series of MV Agustas cost over $200millionUS. With production of a mere 5000 hand assembled bikes a year, you can never expect a profit, ever. Moto Guzzi's production levels, around the same I think, can never lend themselves to pay for re-tooling, so the factory can only continue it's small production of hand assembled bikes. But, if money and cost are the main reasons for moving Guzzi production south west, one has to wonder what they will do with the factory. There appears to be no other manufacturing base in Mandello, so no prospects for renting the buildings out. I would guess that means pushing the buildings down for housing [Meriden Close, the housing development where the old Triumph factory once was] , or selling the place outright. What to do with the old factory, that's the real asset, other than the brand name which they have. I can see the old guard of Guzzi owners around the world having trouble accepting a non-Mandello bike. This is something I hope Piaggio has taken into account. Steve

I agree 100%.

It is kind of difficult to hear this kind of news. I was at the factory 2 wks ago, and was alarmed, the place is crumbling, everywhere you look, it's just buggered. It rained the day before, and the place was leaking everywhere, flooded, cracked, just a money pit! I can understand the employees not wanting to move, it's much nicer along Como, than down south. Conversations we had with people who know these things say that Piaggio is in trouble, so it makes perfect sense really. The more I think about it, those of use who currently own Mandello bikes will see a value boost, as the new production facility will be automatically married to the name Moto Guzzi, just as those in the know now call Triumphs Hinckley Triumphs, in reference to the Merican Triumphs earlier. Steve

This is actually kind of a loaded multi answer question. The coolest, or strongest, worshipped, or best regarded bike in history are all different bikes. I think it would be much clearer if one asked for example, the most noteworthybike ever, or the most sought after race bike, or the most sought after street bike. Huge differences in fact will result otherwise, never mind the personal preferences of everyone, which cloud facts. I mean, there are actually people out there who feel the Yamaha Virago is the best bike ever!! To them this is fact, but the vast majority know it's just their personal preference in their little life. Steve

How many of these V8's are around? I was recently at the Guzzi museum, and the one V8 there does not have painted on numbers, I think anyways. Steve

At elevated speeds, the Guzzi does show it's shortcomings, mainly due to it's rear weight bias, and the frame, which is simply no match against the Verlichi frame that Ducati uses. Improvements to suspension components will improve things, but you will never get ride of that "willowy" feeling over 100mph. The Guzzi engine shows it's shortcomings in all out performance, it's simply got too many things against it. But it's an easy brute to live with. A hammer and a screw driver is all that's needed to maintain the thing. The biggest positive, and negative with any Ducati, is it's engine. It's maintenance costs are stupid, it's slow speed running is a pain in the ass, but it's long legged lope at speed makes 'speed' seem natural, easy. And Ducati handling, well, is there any better?? Steve

I have 5 different makes of bike, including BMW and Moto Guzzi, so my views can be considered about as unbiased as to be found. Honestly, I trust my Guzzi to go anywhere where there is pavement. The only issues I've ever had have been silly little matters which should have been R&D'd out of the bike at the factory. The only issues I deal with now is the annual "burping" of the fuel delivery system during hot day ride stops. The base components of the engine, gearbox and shaft system do not take a back seat to anyone, but it is done based on overbuilding the base components rather than brilliant exacting engineering and machining. The Moto Guzzi engine, excepting the Honda Cub, is probably the only bike engine being used today that was not designed on a computer. If you know anything about the track record and bulletproof reliability of the Honda cub engine series, you realize that there is nothing wrong about it's design origin. The best days of BMW reliabilty are clearly in the past. Modern BMW's are quite simply burdened with too much electrical components. I just came back from riding the Alps on an '08 GS1200. Fantastic bike, really, brilliant in comfort, and untouchable in the tight twisties, but upon picking it up, the optional ESA [Electronic suspension adjust] was not functioning, so they had to give me a new GSA ofrf the showroom floor for the first days ride. They ended up changing both shock units and the operating computer. Overcomplication, plain & simple. I would definitely consider buying one of these, if the price was not insane, but it would not be equipped with any of the electrical based options, ESA, ABS, etc. Steve

Just got back from a 3 1/2 wk visit riding bikes in the Alps/Dolomites, followed by a visit to Moto Guzzi, MV Agusta, Ducati, and an afternoon with Mr. Pierro Laverda. Comments and pics later, but have to mention how,,, not disturbed, but how surprised the overall view/condition of the factory is in. We went on a Monday morning after a Sunday night rain, and the poor old factory was springing leaks everywhere, water even running through the main reception area. We were given a personal tour by a very nice fellow in charge of public relations, a recent MV recruit. Of course the museum, and also a look at a new police spec Norge just off the line, and the PR bikes shop. She could certainly use a coat of paint, but sort of got the word, not from anyone at Guzzi, but by another source in Italy, that Piaggio is really holding back spending, as things are apparently tight at Piaggio. Golly, not again!!! Steve

Can anyone in North America confirm who is televising the race, CBS, or Speed?? Steve

I've always thought that universal joint life had alot to do with clutch and throttle application smoothness. Agressiveness means short life. Of course, that can be said for anything mechanical. Steve

If you frequent classic bike auctions around the world, there's always to bike makes that garner the most attention, and within those two makes are models which almost always garner the biggest numbers. 1] Brough Superior SS100 Alpine Sports [JAP power] 2] MV Agusta 850 America All other bikes are simply followers, some highly regarded, but, the numbers prove these are the ones! Steve

Ok, I'll keep an eye out for a Tenni. We'll be 4 blokes looking like silly tourists, overweight from all the lovely pasta & schnitzel. Steve