Finally got to ride the Guzzi some more...

[chornbe]

It's filthy. Truly and rightly filthy. If I post pictures in its current condition, the militant Guzzi faction of ST.N will come to my house and swirlie me in the cat box. No, sir. Not yet.

I have to do the heated grips, spare electrical for the Gerbings kit and GPS, mount the GPS mount and get the backrest sorted. I'll wash it before I do that work and take copious pictures at that time. This past weekend wasn't the right time... Next weekend I hope to have a day all to myself to make this happen. I've got some minor dental surgery coming up in about a week and a half; Nothing that will keep me off my feet, but *may* keep me home from work a day or two, so maybe I'll have some down time then.  

[atadaskew]

 I've got some minor dental surgery coming up in about a week and a half

Good to see you're honouring your pledge to give your hind teeth to ride a Guzzi.

[chornbe]

Shit. You heard about that?

[atadaskew]

I'm just glad you don't have an appointment with your urologist because you thankfully did NOT say you'd give your left nut to ride a Guzzi.

[chornbe]

Some things are more sacred than others.

[atadaskew]

Some things are more sacred than others.

I'd give your left nut to ride a Guzzi..

[chornbe]

I'd give your left nut to ride a Guzzi..

You keep talking dirty to me and you're gonna have to buy me dinner. Perv!

[kebrider]

As much as I whine about wanting a Buell Firebolt or XR1200R my fav alltime do-antything-road-bike is the Guzzi Breva 1100. Buddy of mine and I probably burned 50 gallons apiece demo testing Brevas at Daytona every bike week and biketoberfest. They used to have their demo tent right next to Buell and we would alternate back and forth between the two brands.

What a fantastic bike. The engine pulses to one side until you put it in gear and then all it does is get the job done with one of the most unique internal combustion experiences ever. Sounds like an old school tractor chugging down the road, a mild mannered twin at elevated cruising speed and an old school V8 when you get on it. With the relatively wide upright(ish) bars the handling is super light and extremely flickable. One of my favorite "features" of the bike is it is a full sized cycle.

From the moment you slide into the saddle and those two cylinder jugs wrap themselves around you like the the knees of a beautiful woman you realize you are riding more than just a machine. Throw the SO on the back and go trolling for squids on Sunday morning, then pulse off to brunch somewhere about 200 miles from home. Finish the day with a liesurely cruise along some sun drenched twisties spending a few moments gazing at the sunset along the ocean before racing the shadows home, slowing only to lug the beast slightly to properly stimulate your passenger

 
Sorry. Those damned Italians. They always make the ride emotional, almost sensual.


Enjoy your bike Chris and don't feel like you have to explain Guzzi ownership to anyone. Life is short and quality time is precious. Riding a Guzzi qualifies as quality time.  


P.S. I found three brand new Brevas still in the crate during bikeweek, The same dealership just opened up a new shop five miles from my house. $8995 plus tax/tag OTD. No brainer. Should pick one up in the next 7 days. Small price to pay for some quality time.

KEB

[atadaskew]

P.S. I found three brand new Brevas still in the crate during bikeweek, The same dealership just opened up a new shop five miles from my house. $8995 plus tax/tag OTD. No brainer. Should pick one up in the next 7 days. Small price to pay for some quality time.

KEB

Outstanding!  For a second there I was thinking to myself 'why doesn't this man own one'?
 

[sagerat]

I had an '06 Breva 1100 for about 8,000 miles.  Great machine once you get it sorted out.  

I'd own another Guzzi.   They are just visceral machines that can go as fast or as slow as you wish.  One of my fondest memories is playing catch me if you can on the North Umpqua Hwy, a lovely two-lane twisty between Roseburg, OR, and the crest of the Cascades.  A Guzzi at 7K makes short work of many other bikes and surfing the torque means you don't have to do much braking.  

[Orson]

I fondly remember burning thru a whole tank of gas, rarely shifting out of third gear, but for clicking down to second for the occasional hairpin, or clicking up to fourth for a short straight.

Ahhh...torque  

[chornbe]

BLAPHEMY! THE I4 IS THE ONLY VIABLE POWER PLANT!

Well, I mean, BOTH my bikes have 4 cylinders combined. That counts, right?

[Croak]

Chris, if you have a dirty Guzzi, it means you're riding it.  

It's filthy. Truly and rightly filthy. If I post pictures in its current condition, the militant Guzzi faction of ST.N will come to my house and swirlie me in the cat box. No, sir. Not yet.

I think you'll find the militant Guzzistas around here will nod approvingly at the winter grime on the bike, correctly surmising that you are doing the right and proper thing by riding the machine, also knowing down to their bones that a good signora is not afraid of getting dirty, and often shines brightest when she's downright filthy.

[chornbe]

Chris, if you have a dirty Guzzi, it means you're riding it.  

I recently did the math... ~500 miles since purchase. I guess I'm happy with that. This weekend is a freaking deluge around here, so I've been puttering around inside the house and garage. No miles this weekend. (sigh)

[chornbe]

It's filthy. Truly and rightly filthy. If I post pictures in its current condition, the militant Guzzi faction of ST.N will come to my house and swirlie me in the cat box. No, sir. Not yet.

Ok, get off my back. I finally cleaned it up and snapped some proper clean pics.

[st ryder]

You missed a spot. Norge side cases would fit that bike, is that right? If so:

[BobW]

I like it!  

[chornbe]

You missed a spot. Norge side cases would fit that bike, is that right? If so:

They will, and I've got a line on a set. Failing that, I'll either do the Hepco & Becker setup, or just build my own racks for my Givi.

I've been kind of out of commission for a couple of weeks and honestly expected to have that done by now.

[sagerat]

I like my Hepco Becker, which were rebadged as Guzzi bags.  Big and watertight just like my ex.  Oh, sorry, little bitterness leaked in there.  

[Rincewind]

Looking good, 007!