 MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Thought it would be interesting to get views on various makes and models of machines that, for whatever reason, "they forgot to stop making."
My vote is for, Moto Guzzi. They've been going out of business since 1921. They handle like a lawn mower. It hurts my eyes to look at them. Yugo's had better engineering and parts are easier to obtain for a Japanese "Zero"
The soap-box is now vacant!
I used to have a handle on life, but it broke .
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Anonymous
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That's a bit harsh there Maurice 
I like them Guzzi's!
That new Griso 1100 isn't half bad looking (in a streetfighter sorta way) and gets good revues.
Also the Breva 750 and, in particular 1100 get good write-ups too.
The 1100 is mentioned in the same breath as the BMW R115R .. can't be THAT bad, eh?
As for bikes that should cease production? obvious H-D ... 
Last edited by Adey; 09/22/2005 6:11 PM.
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Whoa maurice!
Now I agree with ya that Guzzis aren't exactly "cutting edge technology", BUT if that is the case, then except for your correct assertion that parts are nea' impossible to find, due to the shortage of dealers for 'em...you could make the same argument about a certain American marque haedquartered in the "Dairy State".
I don't know why, but I've always had a soft-spot in my heart for them..."Chianti flavored H/Ds"!(maybe it's the soft-spot in my HEAD...who knows!!!)
And besides, every time a motorcycle manufacturer, ANY M/C manufacturer "bites the dust", I kind of mourn just a little.
Cheers,
Dwight
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Hey Dwight
The Breva engines were as modern as they come (a couple of years ago - sorta!) and the Griso (based on the 1100 Breva) has 50% of those parts updated further!
I like Guzzi's and looked at them when I considered my America a couple of years ago!
They're more 'exclusive' than America's!
It seems to be all crotch rockets and H-D over here!
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Adey,
That's pretty much the sceanario over here too! You can park at the Rock Store on Sundays, and before noon it's pretty much sportbikes, and after the H/D crowd has gotten through their collective Sunday morning hangovers, it's Milwaukee's finest dominating the parking lot in the afternoon there.
That's why, whenever I ride up to that roadhouse in the Santa Monica Mountains, I like to arrive between 10:30am and 12:30pm. It seems that that's the time all the cool, weird, different stuff shows up for a while. Cool Stuff like Guzzis, old britbikes, and the occasional rare XS650 or some other nicely old restored bike from Japan Inc.
And the Griso?!!! Molto, molto bene!!! In fact Bedouin has told me that he's in lust with that bike, and is seriously thinking of purchasing one next Spring, when they hit the market.
Cheers,
Dwight
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Quote:
And the Griso?!!! Molto, molto bene!!! In fact Bedouin has told me that he's in lust with that bike, and is seriously thinking of purchasing one next Spring, when they hit the market
He could do a lot worse .. !
Let's hope he has room and £$£$£$£ to keep the Triumph too!!
I like this Guzzi as much as the Yam MT-01
http://www.yamaha-motor.co.uk/products/motorcycles/sports_torque/MT_01.jsp
Last edited by Adey; 09/22/2005 7:16 PM.
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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grrrrrrrrrr, multiple Guzzi owner here and definately see another in the future. That's all I'm gonna say.
Steve
(hewhoshallremainavatarless)
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Stopped into Erie, Penna. Triumph/Moto Guzzi dealership and I was amazed how beautiful the new guzzi's were last year. Especially the California model. Keep up the good work & keep them coming.
Jerry
2005 America, Green, Thunderbike exhaust
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Maurice, Guzzi makes a good solid bike and yes, they've been going bankrupt for years, but they haven't have they? At least they aren't Harley wannabes.
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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The post was made in a light hearted, good natured vane. Supposed to get a few yuks and nothing more. It's intent was not to raise anyone's ire!
I used to have a handle on life, but it broke .
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Loquacious
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ENJOY!!!!! NEWT!!!!!
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Check Pants
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Check Pants
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You are telling me you don't find these bikes hot? Guzzi V11 LeMans Guzzi V11 Coppa Italia Guzzi Corsa Guzzi Griso I'd park any of those sport bikes in my garage any day. The California Cruiser/Touring line aren't appealing to me, they sort of fall into the same type of bike as BMW's cruiser. When I see one, I ask "why?". (BMW riders probably think the same thing when I ride by on my America) Before purchasing my used America, I almost bought a V11 from dealer in Erie PA.
Al
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Quote:
Quote:
And the Griso?!!! Molto, molto bene!!! In fact Bedouin has told me that he's in lust with that bike, and is seriously thinking of purchasing one next Spring, when they hit the market
He could do a lot worse .. !
Let's hope he has room and £$£$£$£ to keep the Triumph too!!
I like this Guzzi as much as the Yam MT-01
Adey,
Dat dere Triumph ain't goin' anywhere!
I have copied an excerpt of a post I made sometime in April where I explain my line of thinking:
Quote.
_____________
During the remainder of my lifetime, it is my wish to collect 1 (one) bike from each of the classic manufacturers.
By this I mean a new bike from each of the older brands (such as BMW, Triumph, Moto Guzzi, Indian when re-resurrected, Norton etc.)
I already have a Triumph and a BMW (plus an "out of category" Aprilia Mille crotch rocket for the rare spin, you know... medicinal/blood circulation purposes).
_____________
Unquote.
I have owned a Guzzi before (850 Le Mans) with some pretty good memories (albeit not a crotch rocket - a bike that produces the right kind of ride/emotions).
Dwight's right, I am in fact "in lust" for the Griso (although my exact words were "in love" but, being the wise man that he is, he knew better and I couldn't fool him!  ).
The Griso (from what I can make out) presents itself as a model that would be both desireable and exactly along the lines of my outlined (above) collection (other than, of course, the lust factor ).
As can be clearly seen, I am addicted to "twins".
For the record, in recent years Moto-Guzzi were part of the Aprilia group which is now part of the Piaggio group (plenty of $$$).
I therefore don't see them going away very soon (and would be very disappointed if such a great and historic brand did).
Maurice,
I have been racking my brains but cannot seem to think of a brand as such, perhaps a few models here and there.
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Loquacious
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Quote:
can anyone say Benneli????  
Newt,
That Benelli TNT is one cool piece of work! I have seen and heard it close up ... sexy! 
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
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Do they still make NSU's???
More flags
More fun!
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Anonymous
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Quote:
Dat dere Triumph ain't goin' anywhere!
Good man Bedouin
Of course, I mean to say €€€€€€€€€€ but only found the button this morning!!
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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I had a Guzzi 650SP that I wish I still had. Great little bike.
I wondered why the frisbee was getting bigger......and then it hit me.
'05 BA - Mulberry/Graphite,128 mains,42 pilots,TBS needles,drilled slides,debaffled stock pipes,Uni,no snorkel
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Maurice,
A friend of mine had the California and was a great machine. Maybe not the prettiest looking but was well made. I think now that they were bought out by a well financed company maybe they will make a strong comeback.
By the way there is a review of both a Speedmaster and a Nevada Guzzi in the Nov Issue of Cruising Rider.
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
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How about all the 2 Strokes, the EPA killed off??? The Yamaha RD 350/250, Kawasaki 500 Titan, Suzuki Tripples. And what about that Kaw 750 triple screaming mimi. I heard that thing was a monster... 
"Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt at seventy miles per hour can double your vocabulary" Author unknown
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
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Oops.... I guess my post should be under MCs they DID stop making 
"Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt at seventy miles per hour can double your vocabulary" Author unknown
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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My first bike was a 64, NSU," Supermax" 250cc with a massive 18hp. Can't remember the weight, but it seemed alot for a single. Went pretty fast,down hill ! They were taken over by a Spanish manufacturer then went belly up. Excellant fit and finish, but a real dog on the road.
I used to have a handle on life, but it broke .
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Pes, My best friend Phil, a gearhead M.D.(that's how he can afford to have a garage full of classic bikes), has a pristine example of the old Yamaha H2 750 Triple(I think his is a '74). I took it for a ride a few months back, and I had forgotten that that sucker's powerband(typical of 2-strokes), as you roll on the throtle is...well...nothing....nothing....HOLY CRAP! HOLD ON! Dwight
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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And when you hit that powerband it was just unbelievable.
2005 America, Green, Thunderbike exhaust
LEAD, FOLLOW, OR GET THE HE** OUT OF THE WAY!
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Quote:
Oops.... I guess my post should be under MCs they DID stop making
Well then, in the interest of your post, hehe. First and foremost "Theme bikes". If I see one more gas tank that looks like a tiny cockpit on some aircraft or rescue vehicle I'm gonna lose it.
Secondly, that thing with the small block Chevy in it, Boss Hog? I mean, why?
Other than that, hmmmm, I pretty much love bikes of all kinds so would hate to see any of them go away. Well wait, in general fine fine machines them Beemers but man, a couple I wouldn't mind NOT seeing. Ah, beauty is in the eye of the beholder eh?
Steve
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Old Hand
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At least, they had the good sense to stop making that silly looking honda guzzi.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Hey Maurice,
The Guzzi? It's a V-Twin ain't it?..... I gotta agree with you here - conversation over. Well, I wonder if they still leak oil? They used to leak everyones oil, I think they leaked some antifreeze too.... were they liquid cooled?
Shouldn't this be under "Other Bikes"?
The Skillet
Ride Safe,
Dennis
Triumph, it's how I live and what I ride.
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Quote:
I think now that they were bought out by a well financed company maybe they will make a strong comeback.
ImOk,
I was reading the history section on their site Moto Guzzi History
With 14 world championships, 11 Tourist Trophies, the first to use a centre stand, the first manufacturer with their own wind-tunnel and top speeds of almost 180 mph in the '50's, I am glad to see that they, as one of the pioneering companies, are still around.
Quote:
They used to leak everyones oil, I think they leaked some antifreeze too.... were they liquid cooled?
Skillet,
I was curious and spoke to a couple of guys from the Guzzi Club that I knew from when I had the 850 Le Mans and they told me that the only model that leaked oil (of any significance) was the V50.
The Meriden Triumphs were notorious for that "characteristic" (including my '74 Bonnie which I got in '77), as were the old East German MZ's (two strokes).
BTW the Guzzi's are air-cooled.
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Old Hand
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Quote:
Hey Maurice,
The Guzzi? It's a V-Twin ain't it?..... I gotta agree with you here - conversation over. Well, I wonder if they still leak oil? They used to leak everyones oil, I think they leaked some antifreeze too.... were they liquid cooled?
Shouldn't this be under "Other Bikes"?
The Skillet
That was the honda guzzi that bled black and green all over.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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I'm surprized that Enfield and that Russian knock-off of the BMW hasn't been mentioned.
I used to have a handle on life, but it broke .
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You should check out a new magazine called Motorcycle Classics. They have a 3 page or so article on a 1956 NSU Supermax.
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Quote:
That was the honda guzzi that bled black and green all over.
Let's give that beast a name. I take it you mean the MG 254 attempt at a FOUR cylinder contraption. They weren't popular in Europe (probably marketed more in the US because of the Ford ownership of De Tomaso ... who owned MG, at the time). If they were that bad, then serves them right for deviating from their traditional twins.
But why "green" (if you are referring to anti-freeze)? Even this model was air-cooled.
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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3/4 Throttle
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Thanassis, I think he means the original Honda Silver Wing, which was a Guzzi-like vee twin of 500 cc's - and water cooled.
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3/4 Throttle
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And the Russian knock-off of BMW is a Ural, available w/optional side car.
They won't go fast enough to ride on an Interstate - without a sidecar!
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Re: MOTORCYCLES THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING !
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Hi Bedouin,
I guess the only Guzzi's I've ever been around were V50s. Cuz everyone I ever saw had a puddle under it.
I did like the way my friend's Guzzi handled, and faily smooth.
Ride Safe,
Dennis
Ride Safe,
Dennis
Triumph, it's how I live and what I ride.
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Hiya Dean
Don't be starting on the Ural now ...
I love 'em ...
http://www.ural.com
and ..
http://www.imz-ural.com for the US site
Just look in the 'accessories' at the headlight visor!!
Couldn't find the vid but these things look a hoot off road with the sidecar with it's driven wheel.
The military one has the machine gun mount on the sidecar - wouldn't you just love one of them during rush-hour??
No doubt someone will add the link ...
Last edited by Adey; 09/24/2005 5:22 PM.
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