My wires bike is a V50, so I have a little experience with them. Its a small block compared to its larger brethren. IMO, they are great distance machines. Not the fastest, but solid. the linked brakes are a bit odd, but not too much.

I was after a T3 when I found my BMW R90/6. The BMW is a great machine as well, and is another possibility for you. I love mine, and wouldn't hesitate to take it across country. They are different, and aren't as responsive in the twisties. One reason I have an interstate tank sitting in prep for the Commando. When I ge through with the Norton, I hope to have it set up as a nice tourer. I plan on a cross country ride, and while the Beemer (or a Guzzi) can do it without a blink, I think I would have more fin doing it on the Commando.

I have ridden three modern Guzzis, all made after 2005. They are quirky machines and you either connect with them or not, depending on how you like your bikes. I have a Norge in my garage at the moment which I am storing for a friend and which I have permission to ride. The Norge is nice but I don't know if this model was exported to America. It will cover any distance with ease and is very comfortable two up with luggage. My friend had only one problem while in France on a trip: during a heavy downpour on the autoroute, all the electrics failed. I can't remember how long he said it took for them to recover. Maybe this is a one-off experience.

I think you should try to get a test ride on one at a dealer, if there is one not too far away. I would say they are definitely 'niche market' bikes. They certainly have character.

The modern Triumph triples are nice...

daveh wrote:I The Norge is nice but I don't know if this model was exported to America. .

yes they are (in the states) and they are Cheap compared to other liter + touring bikes

i have not ridden one for comments etc

I have a 1975 LeMans MKI series 1 that I just love. It's my first Guzzi and I'm very impressed with it. It's comfortable and enjoyable to ride, has tons of torque, handles great, has very good brakes and is actually quite quick for it's age. Not to mention it looks and sounds cool! I have an array of older bikes I enjoy riding a lot including round case Ducati Bevels and Commandos and this LeMans is right up there. It's probably the go to bike for a longish cruise.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1172074221 ... 3300230626

John B wrote:I have a 1975 LeMans MKI series 1 that I just love. It's my first Guzzi and I'm very impressed with it. It's comfortable and enjoyable to ride, has tons of torque, handles great, has very good brakes and is actually quite quick for it's age. Not to mention it looks and sounds cool! I have an array of older bikes I enjoy riding a lot including round case Ducati Bevels and Commandos and this LeMans is right up there. It's probably the go to bike for a longish cruise.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1172074221 ... 3300230626

very nice!

Not every day you get a Guzzi in your driveway, some days you get 2!



The Griso is pretty awesome, but the little Cafe Racer does it for me:



I'd have one of these any day. Crying out for a half fairing though.

davamb wrote:The Griso is pretty awesome, but the little Cafe Racer does it for me:

I'd have one of these any day. Crying out for a half fairing though.

+1 on that, Dave. If I was going to have a modern Guzzi, the cafe racer would be the one. I rode a Griso once and the riding position is odd and not very comfortable.

davamb wrote:Not every day you get a Guzzi in your driveway, some days you get 2!



The Griso is pretty awesome, but the little Cafe Racer does it for me:



I'd have one of these any day. Crying out for a half fairing though.

yes they're nice - but the new 750 is a bit under powered (under 50hp!) - not bad - but even 10 more and it would be a bit more of an all around-er

mikegray660 wrote:yes they're nice - but the new 750 is a bit under powered (under 50hp!) - not bad - but even 10 more and it would be a bit more of an all around-er

Agree with you there Mike, I was on the TRX (taking the Norton head up to Bendigo to get an exhaust thread fixed) and the little Guzz had trouble staying with us at times on the straight bits when the... umm... how would you put it... throttle accidentally jammed open. Was right there on the twisties though. Surely there's tuning scope for another 10hp out of it. If I had the bucks, I'd go for one.

When I started rebuilding the Norton, it was with the aim of selling it and buying one of these:



To my eye one of the most beautiful proddy bikes ever made.

Little did I know then how attached to the Commando I would become.

I've owned a least one guzzi model or another since 1977. Most models you won't live long enough to wear one out. I presently own seven of them. Three single's and four big twins. Been a life long MGNOC member L #377. Check out the www.wildguzzi.com forum if you want the straight scoop. Guzzi tech is very informative as well. They have come a long way since 1921 and have been going out of business ever since.
Some say it's an aquired taste.......some say, MOTO WHAT? Do they still make those My 93' Cal III with 114,xxx miles and counting hasn't had but one U-joint since new, nothing else. Oil changes & valve adjustments, tires and an occassional battery and ride ! I love my six norton's but I can't say the same for them.


present guzzi's... 1935 GTS 500, 1947 Super Alce, 1952 Airone, 1959 Falcone, 1973 V7Sport, 1993 Cal III and 95' Cali 1100 soon to be traded for another 2000 Quota(red).

Gone but not forgotten: 850T3, LeMans III(white) LeMans III(red), 1100Sport (blue), V50III, Mille GT, Quota(red), Centauro(green),G5, Eldorado 850, V700.

Tim_S

Tim_S wrote:I've owned a least one guzzi model or another since 1977. Most models you won't live long enough to wear one out. I presently own seven of them. Three single's and four big twins. Been a life long MGNOC member L #377. Check out the http://www.wildguzzi.com forum if you want the straight scoop. Guzzi tech is very informative as well. They have come a long way since 1921 and have been going out of business ever since.
Some say it's an aquired taste.......some say, MOTO WHAT? Do they still make those My 93' Cal III with 114,xxx miles and counting hasn't had but one U-joint since new, nothing else. Oil changes & valve adjustments, tires and an occassional battery and ride ! I love my six norton's but I can't say the same for them.


present guzzi's... 1935 GTS 500, 1947 Super Alce, 1952 Airone, 1959 Falcone, 1973 V7Sport, 1993 Cal III and 95' Cali 1100 soon to be traded for another 2000 Quota(red).

Gone but not forgotten: 850T3, LeMans III(white) LeMans III(red), 1100Sport (blue), V50III, Mille GT, Quota(red), Centauro(green),G5, Eldorado 850, V700.

Tim_S

Tim, what is your V7 Sport like to ride in comparison with an 850 Le Mans or a Commando? Performance, handling, braking, ergonomics? Photos, please.

davamb wrote:
When I started rebuilding the Norton, it was with the aim of selling it and buying one of these:



To my eye one of the most beautiful proddy bikes ever made.

Little did I know then how attached to the Commando I would become.

My first ride on a Guzzi, was a Sport 1100 carb model. Not quite the Daytone, but a wonderful machine. One of the locals has one in Black, but my favorite was a blue one for sale up here a few years ago. Man I tried to get the cash together for that one.

John B wrote:I have a 1975 LeMans MKI series 1 that I just love. It's my first Guzzi and I'm very impressed with it. It's comfortable and enjoyable to ride, has tons of torque, handles great, has very good brakes and is actually quite quick for it's age. Not to mention it looks and sounds cool! I have an array of older bikes I enjoy riding a lot including round case Ducati Bevels and Commandos and this LeMans is right up there. It's probably the go to bike for a longish cruise.

A Mk1 Lemon is "comfortable" ??
You must be young ? !

Had one of those, took 6 months of riding to build up the wrist muscles just to operate the clutch and throttle for a ride more than a few miles. Friends tried it, and came back from a spin around the block nursing their wrists, saying "how do you ride that thing...".

Fun to ride though.

The linked brakes took a bit of getting used to - just stamp on the rear brake pedal, and lightly use the 2nd front disk. Brakes (1976) were then in a league way beyond a Commando...

A Mk1 Lemon is "comfortable" ??
You must be young ? !

Had one of those, took 6 months of riding to build up the wrist muscles just to operate the clutch and throttle for a ride more than a few miles. Friends tried it, and came back from a spin around the block nursing their wrists, saying "how do you ride that thing...".

Fun to ride though.

The linked brakes took a bit of getting used to - just stamp on the rear brake pedal, and lightly use the 2nd front disk. Brakes (1976) were then in a league way beyond a Commando...

Young? I'm 53 but easily envision riding this one till I'm gone. It's more comfortable than most of my other bikes, which granted are of a more sporting nature. Personally, I dont think the controls are particularly stiff. I could ride the LeMans all day, no problem. The linked brakes are interesting. At first I was going to disable them because I didn't like the
concept, but after using them i've decided to keep them. They actually work pretty well, and are part of the bikes nature.

Agreed on the linked brakes. When I first bought my V50 Monza I thought they must have been drinking to mucho vino when that idea was put to use but as soon as I got used to it I really liked it. The bike is so well balanced I had a habbitat of leaning up and coasting towards red lights with no hands, I could lightly touch the rear brake peddle and it would slow very controled using the back disc & one front. I did a lot of long rides on it & it never got tired. I'll never own a 74-77 Ducati SS but I can afford a nice Lemons if they don't keep going up too fast. A friend just sold a nice one for $2,500! He didn't tell me & I could scream. It just needed cosmo stuff & was worth three times that much.