Paul ,They can be driven EXTREMELY well.,but a thirty year old machine may make you pay for sins of those who owned and worked on it before you. A good knowledge of the machine is your best defense. I had an R-90 and found it to be BORING and the numerous repairs were costly indeed.I have owned over thirty Bikes since 1965 and the Guzzis are by far my favorites. The BMW was sold when it became the only bike ever to let me down to where I had to call for a truck to take it home.
BTW sorry you had to pay so much for your Eldorado. I paid $1000 USD for the Eldo I rode to the Ontario rally with Tom (Cedar) . It ran fine both ways . I do all my own maintenance, and all I have ever farmed out in over 25 restoration projects was chrome and cadmium plating and crankshaft grinding. I do all the other engine machine work,metal and plastic restoration,painting ,electrical work myself. It is nice to have control over as much as possible of what is going into your bike. I am a metal model maker by trade and restoration of motorcycles requires a lot of the same disciplines as the concept and prototype cars we build at GM. The more you know about Guzzis the less you will curse them .
Gary Cheek kg8-@home.com
1997 Centauro 1971 Ambassador 1972 Eldorado ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Beaulieu" <can-@ntl.sympatico.ca> To: <Loopfram-@topica.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2001 10:26 AM Subject: RE: Guzzi Myth...
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I bought my bike from Harpers for 10 000. US dollars plus the trade in on my BMW ,if I include exsesories and repairs this bike cost me so far 20 000. canadian dollars ....to much money . But I was lead to builive I was geting something equal to BMW ...not so. I dont trust it anymore . Oh I do love the Eldo , or maybe love/hate... but if they cant be driven well what is the point? Paul Beaulieu Keith Ruff wrote:
I know of a few people whom have dumped their loopframes for the same issue, bikes drove them crazy with electrical problems (wiring, switches, etc...). I can empathize with you, have owned my 71 Ambo for 1 year now and still have yet to get her on the road, one problem after the other, plus a bad mechanic, now a good mechanic fixing the bad mechanics mistakes. I'm at my wits end with it, but there's just something about this bike that keeps me hanging on. It's looks are simple beauty, nothing out there like it. The sound is awesome, unique to Guzzi, I feel better than Harley. And the attention you get with these bikes is far more than most bikes out there, especially because they are vintage and pretty rare to find. Most people have never even heard of Moto Guzzi.
I come from a BMW background also, having owned a 78 R100S, 78 R100/7, 85 K100RS, and an 87 K75C. They are fantastic machines, solid throughout, though I did have to rebuild 2 speedo's, but for the most part they are solid reliable machines that last an aweful long time. If
you are a big time tourer, I would recommend you get back on a Beemer, they are light and nimble sport tourers, have nice accessories, and those simple to remove/install saddle bags are awesome. I was also thinking about possibly unloading my Ambo and picking up a BMW again, but just couldn't get myself to do it, had that feeling I would forever regret selling it, plus, I am not in the touring stage as I was a few years ago (before kids!), but rather, I'm more of a recreational rider now, so the Guzzi suits me better.
Decisions, decisions, make the one best for you.
Keith Ruff 71 Police Amabassador - NJ
Paul Beaulieu wrote:
Every one talks about the wonderful Moto Guzzi and it's indestructable motor ..But what about the rest of the bike ?
I am used to my old R90/6 , just put gas and go. Just like a car .
Last
year I traded it in on a "total restored " eldorado from Harpers,and that was the begining of constant problems ..no not the motor but all the rest .....Just like an old british bike. Does anyone on this page actualy have a reliable loopframe that is sutable for touring? Me I have just about had enof... next year I will ride insted of fixing ..anyone want to swap a BMW for an eldo??