| Author | Message | ||
     Prof_stack |
For the first time in 22 years, there is NOT a Buell or Harley in my garage. I sold the ’03 XB9S in late June and shopped around. The XB9 was no longer something I looked forward to riding. It was time for a change. I never dreamed I would have an Italian motorcycle. What I wanted was something smaller than 984cc. I waited for the 2009 offerings by Buell/HD and, not seeing a revised Blast, lighter Sportster (550# is a bit much) or a smaller XB, I pulled the trigger on a new ’07 Moto Guzzi 750 Nevada. Killer price and a great Guzzi dealer only 5 miles from home here in Seattle. Anyway, I’ve only got 234 miles after three days so I’d better get out while the weather is good. It’s a very nice motorcycle that fits me very well. No regrets. But I’ll continue to hang out at Badweb hoping for something exciting coming down the road next year. The Moto Guzzi "Wild Goose Chase" forum seems to have a lot of respect for Erik Buell. The Italians seem to click with Erik's visions. The Buells are apparently selling well there. What I prefer about the Guzzi over the XB9S: - standard seating, like a Blast or touring Harley - no rear cylinder fan. The jugs both get air cooling. - smoother shifting transmission - shaft drive, no flexible belt to worry about - my legs don’t get cold thanks to the jugs (good for temps less than 70F) sticking out - better lighting, no question about that - smaller turn radius for moving it around the driveway and into the garage - better gas mileage (you’d expect this from a smaller motor, right?) 53mpg after 2 tanks - cheaper maintenance (no 10k mile sticker “shock”) - very close dealership with a reputation as being among the best. - 2 year unlimited mileage warranty with roadside assistance and a free loaner if parts take longer than 2 weeks to arrive for warranty repairs - easier turn-in going into corners - cool factor of riding a Euro bike. There’s more Italy in a Guzzi than America in a Buell. What I preferred about the XB9S over the Guzzi: - fully adjustable suspension. The Guzzi only has rear pre-load adjustability. - brakes, although the Brembos are good - better EFI for a cold engine, no problems starting up in the mornings - handling, but I wasn’t much of a leaner anyway - I shook hands with the Maker and have a photo with him and me. - no valves needing adjustment - cool factor of riding an American bike. The ’03 XB9S frame was made in Italy. No more, I think they're now being made in China.      | ||
| Reuel |
They put the engine in sideways! Was that on purpose?  Is the Blast frame still made in Italy? It's a sharp looking beast! If you're straying from American, I'd say you made a good call. | ||
| Xl1200r |
I think the wheels on an XB are made in China - I don't think the frames are, but I could be wrong. Guzzi's are nice bikes. I've never gotten a chance to ride one, but I'd really like to. The Norge really grabbed my attention when it came out. Hopefully Buell will come out with something worth your attention soon so we don't have to castrate you  Just kidding - good luck with the new ride. | ||
| Metalstorm |
That's cool looking bike Prof. Congrats! I hope she brings you much joy. Oh, one last thing.. Buell or no Buell, I fully expect to continue seeing you posting here on the B Web | ||
| Jramsey |
Does it leak so much you have to park it on cardboard?  A good friend of mine has a California Jackel.......an awesome ride it is. | ||
| Ironhead1977 |
Congrats on the new purchase. I too looked at the Guzzi before I got the XT. My concern was first hitting my shins on the heads and second the heat coming off the heads roasting my shins, Let us know if these are valid concerns. By the way, great looking ride. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Nice looking bike, enjoy! | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
I should be over tomorrow to check out the new toy. Even after speaking to you about it, I still can't believe you when for the Italian tractor. Congrats. | ||
| Prof_stack |
Does it leak so much you have to park it on cardboard? Ha ha! Too cheap to pave the garage floor I am. I think we would build a new garage in that case. This one is much older than I am... Oh yeah, the dry weight of the Guzzi is 405 lbs but it feels lighter than the XB with the seat being a little lower compared to the custom seat on the Buell. | ||
| Smoke |
congrats on the new bike Prof!! i still want a Goose in the fleet, but the right deal on the right bike hasn't materialized at the right time. have fun, tim | ||
| Ustorque |
good luck with the GUINI PIG.....cool bike | ||
| Tramp |
Congratulations- You've purchased a 21st century European clone of a 1980s Japanese machine that sought to imitate some 1940s American motorycles (Indian, HD) with the transverse V mills and American cruiser stylings. I've always liked Guzzis, but comparing/contrasting any cruiser to a Buell is far too "apples and oranges". Different strokes for diff'rnt folks. Either way, I think your new ride kicks ass. kind of a full-circle clone of Honda's CX500 from 25 years back  | ||
| Prof_stack |
Congratulations- You've purchased a 21st century European clone of a 1980s Japanese machine that sought to imitate some 1940s American motorcycles (Indian, HD) with the transverse V mills and American cruiser stylings. I remember something about Honda getting into some legal problems with Moto Guzzi for basically copying Guzzi's design, with the usual Japanese efficiency of making improvements. The CX Hondas got good reviews but had some aging problems. That was a time (still is?) when the Japanese motorcycle industry changed models/specs so frequently that getting parts for a bike only 2 years old was often difficult. THAT'S a big part of what turned me away from Asian bikes. Here is what Moto Guzzi is bringing to the USA in late '08, the V7 Classic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_aDSTNovc8  Same motor, but classic late 60's or early 70's style, I guess. The old Guzzi guys are frothing over it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moto_Guzzi "The original V-twin was designed in the early 1960s by engineer Giulio Cesare Carcano, designer of the DOHC V8 Grand Prix racer. The air-cooled, longitudinal crankshaft, transverse cylinder, pushrod V-twin began life with 700 cc displacement and 45 hp (34 kW) – designed to win a competition sponsored by the Italian government for a new police bike. The sturdy shaft-drive, air-cooled V-twin won, giving Moto Guzzi renewed competitiveness. This 1967 Moto Guzzi V7 with the original Carcano engine has been continuously developed into the 1200 cc, 80 hp (60 kW) versions offered today (2006). Lino Tonti redesigned the motor for the 1971 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_CX500 "The Honda CX series motorcycles (including the GL500 and GL650 variants) were developed and released in the late 1970s, with production ending in most markets by the mid 1980s." | ||
| Tramp |
Your Wiki entry is (gasp!) incorrect, unless it's in pertinence only to Guzzi. HD and Indian designed and manufactured transverse Vs in the Early 1940s, which were later copied by Guzzi | ||
| Tramp |
Bear in mind, HD and Indians Transverse vs were, by necessity, Shafters as well, based on the reliability of shafts in milspec desert-dwelling BMWs and Zundapps. ...may wanna check your Wiki facts, professor. | ||
| Prof_stack |
Thanks Tramp. The Wiki entry was indeed in pertinence only to Guzzi. The point I was making was that the Honda CX motor was an imitation of the Guzzi at that time. A fine imitation. You're mostly right about comparing the Buell and the Moto Guzzi. But they're not totally mutually exclusive. Air-cooled v-twin motors, twin discs, EFI, etc. The MG Breva 750 is the sportier variant to the Nevada and rides more like the Buell. | ||
| Tramp |
"mostly right"? That's like saying it's relevant to compare a Hayabusa to a Lincoln Navigator, because they both have wheels and an internal combustion gasoline engine. You seemed to have missed this point in my first post: " You've purchased a 21st century European clone of a 1980s Japanese machine that sought to imitate some 1940s American motorycles (Indian, HD) " Hey- they're all GREAT machines, and I'd take your fine Guzzi over any Japanese cruiser, 'on any Sunday'  (Message edited by tramp on August 03, 2008) | ||
| Crusty |
Tramp; you're "mostly right" in your assertion that both Indian and H-D built transverse V-twins. Indian built the 841, which was a transverse V-twin flathead shaft drive, while H-D built the XA which was an transverse flat twin. Prof; Good luck with the Nevada. I like Guzzis; If I wasn't on a Buell, I'd be riding a Norge. I have a little experience with Guzzis. I bought a V7 Sport new in 1973. It was a great bike. It was as reliable as an anvil, handled very well, and made good power for its day. It never shifted worth a damn, and the four shoe front brakes wore out after one race weekend. But it was the right bike for me at the time. I rode that bike all over the country. It saw the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Gulf coast. It was my main transportation and usually my only transportation the whole time I had it. I would use it to commute to work; then, on Friday, I'd change the oil, pull the center stand and lights and put on my number plates and take it to Woody Creek Raceway outside Aspen, CO for a weekend of roadracing. Sunday night, I'd bring it home, change the oil, remove the plates and put the lights back on and ride it to work on Monday.It was stolen from a motel parking lot in Auburn, CA in January of '78. I then bought an 850T-3 and rode it for a couple of years. When my wife wanted to move up from a Blast, we bought a 2005 Breva 750. She put 35,000 miles on it, before getting her Lightning Long. One thing you'll like about your Guzzi is that it won't use any oil. The Breva wouldn't use a drop in 2,000 miles. You won't like the price of oil filters ($18.00 each) For that matter, any Guzzi parts will set you back a bundle; especially compared to Buell prices. God help you if you ever decide to change the air filter. It's a Major PITA. My wife's Breva got about the same fuel mileage as my Uly (50MPG), it just didn't make as much horsepower and torque. The absolute best dealer of any marque that I've ever done business with (A-J Cycles in Gill, MA) sells Guzzis and BMWs. Guzzi dealers tend to be either great or lousy. They aren't going to get rich selling Guzzis, so they're usually enthusiastic about the brand. If you get the chance, go to a Guzzi rally. You'll absolutely have a great time. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I believe the XB and 1125 frames are sourced in the US. | ||
| Miamiuly |
"I believe the XB and 1125 frames are sourced in the US."-FB That is what I thought too, something about too difficult to quality control an outside maker and being that it is the fuel tank too, they brought production closer to home. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
My understanding was that there wasn't a shop here in the US that could produce the units or at least produce them in the quantities needed. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
It is my understanding only the 1125 frames are made in the U.S. The XB frames are still manufactured in Italy. They probably have a contract for "x" amount of frames or years. Court? | ||
| Tramp |
This is exactly as I'd understood it, as well. Hopefully Court can shed some light on this one. | ||
| Bads1 |
I believe the XB and 1125 frames are sourced in the US. The XB frame is still sourced from Italy. To my understanding the company does a top notch job with them. The 1125R frame is cast in the US....Illinois to be exact. | ||
| Court |
>>>>The XB frame is still sourced from Italy. To my understanding the company does a top notch job with them. The 1125R frame is cast in the US....Illinois to be exact. That is MOSTLY correct. | ||
| Bads1 |
That frame is casted in a very tricky way. Infact the company that does the 1125 frame is one of the few in the US that can do it. Buell worked hard along with the company to have a very good final product. Court.... I bet I'm pretty accurate on that assumption??? (Message edited by bads1 on August 03, 2008) | ||
| Dobr24 |
Guzzi!!!! Man what I wouldn't give for a VE11 Rosso Mandello Edition  | ||
| Danger_dave |
Nice bike - what does your Husband ride? | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Nice bike. I like Guzzi's. This ones on my Lottery-Win shortlist:  | ||
| Tramp |
I have the same issue w/Guzzis as I have with Beemer flat-twins: Torque-Roll on accel (of course, old airheads have the added antibonus of creating back problems and mediallaterally-disparate rider feedback due to the peg offsets) |
