My new ride- Moto Guzzi-

[Marco]

I've seen a lot of bike talk lately. So I thought I could share...



After twenty years without a bike ( that's a loooong story ), I could no longer resist...

Got myself a used '01 Moto Guzzi "California EV". 1. 1L 70hp.

Low mileage, not a scratch, looks and feels like it was new.



No longer do I touch the street with my knees in a turn but HEY what a joy it is to ride again.



Not much Guzzi's over there?

 

[SGibson]

I had a 73 eldorado back in the early 80's, traded a R90/6 for it,lost a pound of quality picked up a ton of character, it had to be the most overengineered bike iv'e ever ridden, it had a featherbed style frame w/a huge backbone, gussets everywhere,a belt driven car genarator, square slide dell'orto's, massive drums that would glaze sitting still, my shovel hardtail or norton combat I had at the time would leave it for dead in a dragrace, but neither could approach it's stability @ 75-100 mph in a turn or not, for as long as you could hang on and never leak a drop.

 

[DKayser]

Nice Scoot!

Another V-twin! DK.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Marco - do they still use square-slide carbs - or have they gone to fuel injection like many other brands? Used to ride with a guy back in the 60's who had one - he sure liked his...

 

[Hohn]

Moto-Guzzi is now owned by Aprilia.



I've been boning up on Italian motorcyclery since I arrived here in Italy last month.



The Guzzis are unique with their transverse V-Twin engines. Almost all Twins I have seen have the engine mounted longitudinally. It's weird to see, and you'd think the heads would burn your legs, but apparently it's not a problem.



Personally, I'd be shopping for a Duck if I were looking for an Italian bike. That new 999 is pretty hot.



Justin

 

[Marco]

Justin,

Have you deleted the MSG's in your in box?

I've send you several PM's, always recived a MSG that your Mailbox ( PM ) is full.



I guess it's a qustion of what you want from a bike. I wanted a comfy ride, big low end torque, to SEE the engine, not too heavy, and a very comfortable seat for the wifey too.

The only bike that matches my wishes is the California...

No Ducati for me... . waaaahhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaa



The Moto Guzzi is in certain ways very similar to the Harley's.

WAAAAYYYY overpriced, old technology. . but none beats their charm...



Gary - KJ6Q

Nope, since MY2001 all the bikes here have to use fuel injection and a cat for the emissions... No new street legal bikes with a carb here!



Marco

 

[Hohn]

PM box is empty now. I never knew that it was full, so thanks for telling me, Marco!



Could you re-send your PM please?



Justin

 

[Marco]

Justin,



done!



Marco

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Biggest problems with the Guzzi engine arrangement was torque in tight, laid over corners could get exciting - a common problem for the Guzzi and BMW bikes - dunno if later technology ever overcame that - counter-rotating mass and such...

 

[Marco]

dunno if later technology ever overcame that - counter-rotating mass and such...

Later technology??? Where in a Guzzi??? Nah!



The Guzzi is like HD, ooooold stuff but it has proven to work.



The bike I've bought now is pretty much the same as the one I wanted to buy 20 years ago. More cubes, tripple discs instead of drums, no more carbs but fuel injection, electric starter... Basically it's the same bike that it was... And that's what I like!



Marco