Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Other Bikes Triumph/Moto Guzzi

Decisions, decisions...what's a guy supposed to do? The little TBA is an eye catcher and much more polite for around town use. She lopes along in fourth gear without lugging the engine and has plenty of low end torque. Get her on the highway though and she tends to wind up pretty tight over 70mph. In steps the Guzzi. Around town I'm lucky to get out of second gear. The engine likes to be kept over 3000rpm, or she starts to lug down. That and it weighs easily 100 lbs more the the Trumpet. Even though it handles better than my TBA it isn't really at home in town. She likes the open road and the twisties. Over 70mph in 5th gear and it's just turning 3000rpm on the highway. So I've got this figured out. I really need both bikes. The Triumph for urban cruising and short hauls and my Guzzi for the wide open spaces here in the west. That's the explanation I give to the wife as to why I'm not selling my TBA. So far it's worked well. Now what excuse will I use to convince her that I really need the new Speed 675 when Triumph introduces it (which they undoubtedly will)?

Sounds like you need one more tooth on your America's counter shaft sprocket......and maybe a Wiseco big bore kit.....

But, yes, a guy needs more than one bike for all the different riding situations he encounters.

As for the sprocket...I'm runnning a QPD Belt Drive. I like it a lot and won't go back to a chain. The 790 has been so reliable this past four years I really didn't want to put a big bore kit on it. I think I'll just use the bigger Guzzi on the trips (super slab and such) and keep on keepin on with my TBA the way she is. It really is a great bike. I have toyed with the idea of camming her up though. We shall see. I would buy her all over again knowing what I know now. I'm glad I bought the Moto Guzzi. It fills the need nicely and like the TBA you don't see yourself riding around every corner. The Italians do know how to build a bike.

Thanks for "refreshing my recollection" about your Bonny!

Shakey,you've convinced me,you just gotta have both bikes, hopefully your wife is as easily convinced

I think given enough time she'll just look past both the bikes, besides, she doesn't go into the garage much. I would really have to be hard pressed to get rid of either bike. Like guns, fishing gear, or tools, you need more than one to get the job done. Besides, you only go around once in this old world.

First of all is this guzzi the california? and second MAN I wish that argument would work on my wife!

The Guzzi is a California EV Touring model. It truly is a nice ride, handles like a sport bike and has tons of torque. I think my wife if numb to the fact we're a two bike one rider family. Now for the Daytona 675... Life is good!

Dude if you can pull that off with the old lady,your a god among insects!