Subject: Re: Guzzi riders - the next generation
Author: Giller,Bruce C.
Date: Dec 11, 2003, 12:02 PM
Post ID: 1715474802
Clifton,
I agree entirely with your assessment. I'd also buy a MGS-01 (or
similar) so that I could have an old and new bike; the Eldo for touring
and the MGS-01 for something sporty and up to date. At the
International MC show, I climbed on all the Guzzi's in the show and I
liked the V-11 Sport and the Breva. None of the touring bikes felt
comfortable to me. I wonder if they'll have any newer models at the
Washington DC show in Jan.
Bruce
"Clifton L. Smith" wrote:
Bruce commented on the existence of few Guzzi riders under 40 results from the acquired taste after riding other machines. I think that is true, but it does not cover the whole story. I also think that is about to change. Except the MGS-01 and the Daytona (which the designer of the Dodge Tomahawk V-12 rides daily), Guzzi has not produced a serious sport-bike competitor. Don't get me wrong, I think the LeMans and modern counterparts are great machines, but they are not competitors with a Suzuki GSXR or Honda RR bike. Twenty-somethings like the idea of having the fastest and hardest, and they like the claim to fame. Guzzi's only claim to fame since the development of the V7 engine is incredible longevity. Championships sell bikes, attitude sells bikes (Harley), 100,000 mile life-spans simply fall flat in an ad. Guzzi is starting to be noticed again because of its heritage. In part, the rise of Ducati through the 900ss and Monster bikes is helping, but those engines remain as complicated as ever. Aprilla's success in the 250cc class is being noticed by the race crowds. Italian is becoming fashionable again. The jap bikes are so close as to be clones, albeit high-performing clones. So here's my prediction, Guzzi cruisers, which are very capable machines, will continue to be sold to a few with the acquired taste. The real growth for Guzzi will be the MGS-01, which will start to show up in fashionable Hip-Hop videos on MTV and be ridden by a movie superstar in some action flick. Guzzi will become a fashion statement for the young and be parked next to Hyabusa's and Ducati's and Gixxers and Double R's. Some will stay with it, recognizing the superior design and style (and hopefully continued improvement of the design). But I expect that in 30 years, there will be a similar band of loyal connoisseurs, preserving the great 4-valve OHC Guzzi's of the 2000's and lamenting the Guzzi product of the 10's and 20's. And yes, I plan to buy one of those used MGS-01, or better if Guzzi pulls it off, for cheap in the year 2010. Of course, the loop-frame Guzzi's will still be cruising around, 60 years old and running great. -----Original Message----- From: Bruce Giller [mailto:bgil-@mitre.org] Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2003 10:12 AM To: Loopfram-@topica.com Subject: Re: General Looper age Every notice the general age of the people in the MGNOC newsletter photos??? Hardly anyone under the age of 40. I suspect that Moto Guzzi is an acquired taste after sampling other bikes....which takes time. Bruce |