Subject: RE: How you came by your first Guzzi and why..
Author: Joe Edmonson
Date: Dec 2, 2003, 6:53 PM
Post ID: 1715388275
While I've been reading this site for a couple of weeks this is my first
attempt at a post, so bear with me if it doesn't work out. I have ridden for
years, since 1968. I have ridden or owned most of the jap, british and
american brands through the years. About 1985 while I owned a 1960 Triumph
650 my mother remarried. My new stepfather owned a 72 Eldorado. From the
first time I saw it I loved the looks but wondered if these Moto Guzzi
things were any good. He explained to me that this was a bike that would do
just about anything you asked it to do. He told me how he towed a two wheel
trailer from Georgia to Minnesota each summer for vacation, he told me how
unlike my beautiful Triumph this "Moto Guzzi thing" as I called it would
always get me home. Well then it was on and we went for a ride together.
While my Triumph looked really good, his looked really good and sounded
unlike any bike I've ever heard. After the ride I asked him to let me ride
it, NO. Over the next year I asked to ride the Guzzi every time I saw him. I
guess I wore him down because one afternoon he said yes I could take it
around for a few minutes. Needless to say I was hooked. Love at first ride.
Well 15 years later, and sadly 7 strokes later he was unable to ever ride
again and I finally talked him into selling me the Guzzi. By that time it
had sat outside for 12 years and was truly a basket case. When I got it the
engine was locked up, the wiring harness burned up from a short on the
trailer connection, fuel tank rotted out, rust everywhere, etc. etc. etc.
While it was in poor condition it was all there. So two and a half years
later I'm riding it daily and loving it daily. I have it in good running
condition and have now started the cosmetics. Give me some more time and
I'll have it right. During the years I was trying to talk him into selling
the Guzzi I owned several other bikes, I just was not happy with them, they
were not a Guzzi. I have noticed most of the Guzzi owners have more than one
bike, I only have the one and don't know if I'll ever have more than this
one. Why buy another that will just sit, this is the one I want. Anyway that
is the story of my addiction.
-----Original Message-----
From: Todd Nordwig [mailto:d_da-@hotmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 7:33 PM
To: Loopfram-@topica.com
Subject: Re:How you came by your first Guzzi and why..
I came into my first Guzzi (73 Eldorado, running basket) via an internet ad
2 years ago. I bought it from a gentleman who lived in a small town in
central Minnesota. He lived in the woods, had a slab wood fence wired
together for a perimeter around his small house and garage to keep his 3
German shepards kenneled. It was 20 below 0, middle of Feb. when I came to
look at it. When I showed up he had a small propane heater pointed at the
engine and was squirting ether into the carbs to get it fired up. I was
concerned we'd all burn to death, because he was pretty carefree about using
ether so close to an open heat source. She started right up and the price
was right, so I towed it home. I am not very knowledgable when in comes to
wrenching, but that was the reason I got the bike. Something to tinker with
and learn.
I fell in love with Guzzi's the fall of 1970 while walking to class in
college. I was riding a Norton Commando at the time, and another student
pulled up on an Ambo. I was speechless!! What a unique and beautiful bike.
I rode other makes for 30 years and never forgot about that loopframe.
I finally decided at age 50 to get my first Guzzi and it had to be a
loopframe. I love tinkering with it,
hope to do a full restoration (like John Ulrich's masterpiece, great job
John) when I semi retire and slow down somewhat. I bought a second
loopframe since then, a beautiful Ambo put together by Dave Otis called
Norine. A parts bin bike, mostly NOS and it purrs....It gets lots of looks
when parked at the local bike hangout......
Todd Nordwig
Chippewa Falls, WI
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