These new Guzzi's are due out in the UK in March. I like the look a lot.
Much has been said about low power and what the price might be. It is an old engine, lets not kid ourselves and they are putting it out as a 2 valve per head and although fuel injected its still only 48bhp. Not much for the modern motorcyclist, the press would have us believe.
How could Moto Guzzi contrive to only make 48hp from a 750? Ans: Because that is all that this motor ever made in that configuration - and the bike is built to a price - it is after all an aircooled 750 built on the same bottom end as the 350/500cc original (correct me if I am wrong here).
If it handle as well as the old V50 Monza's did then that will be in its favour.
But for those of us who value their driving licenses and prefer low down torque than higher power at higher revs, it makes perfect sense. A light bike with reasonable power and pleasing looks. It will still be able to hold its own in the traffic. And you will have the time to admire the view, as you pass through the countryside. Instead of blurred tunnel vision.
The killer is going to be the price....rumoured to be aprox £5300 in the UK. That puts it about the same as some of the basic Triumph Bonneville models which are much more powerful. It might struggle in the UK for that reason alone. And there are a lot of last year's models being heavily discounted.
Also there is depreciation - people running round on old airheads with 100,000 miles on them, like myself, might not be able to stomach the cost of any new bike (and dealer servicing etc). Tinkering is part of the fun! We are part of the 'market'
There are also many out there that are reluctant to return to the 'middle weight' as it is seen as the soft option. But after running a K100RS for 2 years and 40,000 miles. I appreciated a bike that does not throw a pair of tyres every 3 months or less and that was pushing it.
Still, Enfield and Triumph are doing well in the UK currently. But the Kawasaki w650 did not, although it is supposed to be the better bike. Perhaps you need a name with some pedigree to get away with it....Some thing Guzzi certainly has.
The only colour scheme currently, it would seem, is the white, a la V7. Or at least that is all the press release seems to show. Personally I think they should market another couple of versions to pay homage to some of thier other 750 bikes of the era (early 70s), perhaps a green tank and red frame (V7 sport) and a black tank with red or green stripes like the V750 S3, both with either low 'euro bars' or even clip-ons or the option to have them. Perhaps after they have dipped their toes in the water with this one, we will see other variations.
You never know they could bring another classic model out with the bigger engines, to properly pay homage to the Le Mans Mk1 or the 850 T3. Not that I dislike the V11 - especially the early ones...I very nearly bought one at one point!
You only have to look at how many versions of the Triumph there are to know how successful this kind of model could be.
I will be booking my test ride in the spring and I will turn up on my Cafe Racer so the dealer knows exactly where I am coming from. The Triumph, for some reason, does not 'float my boat'......even the Thruxton.
Steve Hawkins
