It's official - new Norge better than BMW K16

[atadaskew]

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/2011-moto-guzzi-norge-1200-gt-8v-review-91115.html

...shocked us when he said he preferred the Guzzi to the BMW K1600GT after riding the two successively. ...

[Orson]

BMW lost the plot.

the reason the boxer twin hung on for so long is that it works great at riding "the pace" thru the twisties

six cylinders might be great for crossing the prairies

[Hambonee]

I love my 07'...

I would hate to see how much I would love one of the new 8 valve Norges....

That BMW just seems too big while the Norge fits right in that nice sweet spot.

[crispiegee1]

BMW missed the boat by not making it a V engine... namely a 3.2 liter V12. Buncha wussies.

[blakebird]

by all accounts the new six is quite the engine....and put in a great motorcycle to boot.

I'd like to see it in "K1200R" guise, back to basics....but it's an impressive piece.

[staedtler]

   

[2DFlyer]

six cylinders might be great for crossing the prairies

but maybe not the rest of the bike?  According to Ms Elvidge in the Oct Motorcyclist "you couldn't have paid me triple to ride the BMW that far." east coast to CA.

I gotta agree with the commentator in the MC piece.  Sometime bikes get to be too much.  There's some interesting tech in the GW and K16's but my idea of a mile muncher is more along the lines of the Norge, FLHT, or that new Motus MST-R

[crispiegee1]

but maybe not the rest of the bike?  According to Ms Elvidge in the Oct Motorcyclist "you couldn't have paid me triple to ride the BMW that far." east coast to CA.

I gotta agree with the commentator in the MC piece.  Sometime bikes get to be too much.  There's some interesting tech in the GW and K16's but my idea of a mile muncher is more along the lines of the Norge, FLHT, or that new Motus MST-R

Not only that, how much engine do you need to cross a prairie? Were people prior to 2011 unable to cross a prairie for lack of cylinders or horsepower? Even on a 75 mph road, loaded with luggage, I have never lacked for power on my little 600, so I can't imagine that a 1-liter-plus twin would have difficulty maintain highway speed in any circumstance, including up steep mountain roads.

I am impressed that the BMW gets a report 40 mpg on the highway, since the idea of 35 mpg on a bike really turns me off, but if they offered a 800 cc triple that got 53 mpg, I'd take that one instead.

[Hambonee]

   

Ahhh..beautiful!!!

I have to agree with most people regarding the K16 in the sense of why do you need all that crud?

I went on a long ride for the first time this weekend to Leavenworth,WA on my new Norge. Nice mountian ride and was SOOO impressed by just the brute grunt my 07' has in the mountians. In 5th I could just twist the throttle and went from 55 to 80 in the blink of an eye with no effort on the bikes part going up the pass. So why would I need a 1600 on the plains? WHat does 400 more CCs and a ton more weight offer? As it is the Norge has a few too many do dads for me. If I wanted all those gizmos and engine I would buy a convertable auto. Riding to me is a good road, good engine, and two wheels...all the extra flair just sometimes gets in the way..

OH...BTW...that Guzzi engine around 5K-6K rpm when passing...just...just..wow!

[atadaskew]

I saw a BMW K16Gt this weekend, in LA at Washington/Lincoln.

The rider was wearing shorts, Hawaian shirt, no gloves, boating shoes.  He may have had a ff helmet butt I wasn't sure, I was so mesmerized by the rest of his get up.

You'll never see a Guzzi rider dressed like that.  On the bike...

[OrangeOkie]

BMW lost the plot.

the reason the boxer twin hung on for so long is that it works great at riding "the pace" thru the twisties

six cylinders might be great for crossing the prairies

You nailed it.  BMW has K1200LT for crossing the prairies in comfort.

[County Tar]

Nice review of the new Norge 8v on MD:

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/09/2011-moto-guzzi-norge-gt-8v-md-ride-review-with-md-video-review/

The site owner and reviewer seems to have a fondness for Guzzis.

[crispiegee1]

Nice article, as it seems to honestly assess flaws of previous models, while not making oddities like the positioning of the windshield switch sound like a deal breaker.

When I see a price of over $15k, I start to wonder, "If I were a rich guy, would I want to spend an extra few thousand and just get a Multistrada?" But the Norge has shaft drive and the lower maintenance of a Guzzi engine. To me, the Guzzi is better looking too... WAY better looking, actually. Either would make a great touring mount.

[Spectreman]

The Norge is one of my fantasy bikes. I love its looks, performance, sound and overall goodness. It sings to me. Certainly one of the best engine & exhaust noises in all of motorcycle-dom.

But....the asking price is outrageous IMO. If they were to offer that bike in the $10g range, it might be doable but @ $15 large? No fargin' way, especially knowing Guzzi's spotty quality control record.

Then there's the lack of a dealer support network & parts availability. I live in a region of 6 million people, loads of bikes shops & not one sells/supports/works on Guzzis.

And then of course, there's the Guzzi "quirkiness" and build quality issues again.

If I was flush, I could probably see my way past these issues but I ain't & I can't so the Norge 8v will just have to remain a fantasy bike.
Lee

[blackbuell]

Good luck finding a comparable new touring rig for $10K--it would buy you 1/2 of an R1200RT.

Jon

[Hambonee]

The Norge is one of my fantasy bikes. I love its looks, performance, sound and overall goodness. It sings to me. Certainly one of the best engine & exhaust noises in all of motorcycle-dom.

But....the asking price is outrageous IMO. If they were to offer that bike in the $10g range, it might be doable but @ $15 large? No fargin' way, especially knowing Guzzi's spotty quality control record.

Then there's the lack of a dealer support network & parts availability. I live in a region of 6 million people, loads of bikes shops & not one sells/supports/works on Guzzis.

And then of course, there's the Guzzi "quirkiness" and build quality issues again.

If I was flush, I could probably see my way past these issues but I ain't & I can't so the Norge 8v will just have to remain a fantasy bike.
Lee

What tourer would you get for 10K other than a bare bones bike you would have to spend another several K outfitting to be a tourer? Now..that being said Moto International had(still has?) a bunch of new 07'-09 Norges for 10K and under and yeah..I snapped one of those up lickity split! That is the odd exception though.

As for build quality issues...huh??? I know they have some issues(as does EVERY bike) but build quality is not one. My Norge , even as a 07', is amazingly well built. Besides, over several years they have worked out most of what kinks it would have had. Every review of the 11' Norge has said it is super well put together and Guzzi engines have a great reputation of long life.

Yes its and expensive bike and they put a bit too much plastic on the 11' for my tastes but for 15K it's still right in the running with the rest of the equivalent competition and from the sounds of it it is trouncing them!

[Biking Sailor]

My opinion is the Piaggio owned years are looking like the brand is taking an upswing in quality and design (not in the crowd wearing red suspenders and a corn cob pipe     ).  They are coming out with some new designs and improvements and the "problems" are getting worked out.  I'm sure some of the dealers and technicians could speak to this with a more experienced opinion, but having two late model Guzzi's and quite a few metric bikes in the garage, I personally think the Guzzi product offering is moving in the right direction.  Now if only sales and dealer coverage can keep up.

If cash flow would allow me, I would be trading my 1200 Sport (reluctantly because I'm really enjoying it) on a 2012 Stelvio NTX when they are available because of the design and improvements Guzzi has put into it.  Looks like they have done a good job hitting the target with that bike.  I don't think you could go wrong with a new Griso, Stelvio, or Norge.

[atadaskew]

.

But....the asking price is outrageous IMO. If they were to offer that bike in the $10g range, it might be doable but @ $15 large?

Name one competing bike with the same specs (shaft drive, matched hard luggage, full fairing, comfy for 2 etc) that is $10K.

[County Tar]

I see 2V Norges at pretty good discounts these days.  The 8V (4v/head) will follow suit if they don't sell.  

[atadaskew]

The reason they don't sell in the US is:

1/  Piaggio USA spends zero promoting/advertising them so the majority of people do not know they even exist.

2/ As no-one  seems to be buying, Piaggio USA thinks it's not worth promoting.

3/ And vice-versa.

I wonder if they even have a marketing dept...