tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5950664143576637249.post7845467314451757321..comments2024-03-22T18:01:20.065-05:00Comments on Geezer with a Grudge: Where We’re GoingT.W. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078254371483458356noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5950664143576637249.post-12030842765524528322015-11-19T20:28:12.408-06:002015-11-19T20:28:12.408-06:00My friend is a pretty serious motorcyclist, too. H...My friend is a pretty serious motorcyclist, too. However, I do think the Guzzi (and cruisers and Triumph/Ducati's scramblers) are appealing to an impractical aspect of American riders that is pretty well described by the "reenactment" title. Since you really go places in the Guzzi, as in far from the beaten path and anything resembling dealer support, I'm impressed. Having done an Alaska trip with a Triumph owner and witnessed the hassle that comes with riding something that isn't even recognized outside of 2 million-or-greater urban areas, it's a little too arty for my tastes. The reason the V7 inspired this rant was because I'd bet 90% of US motorcyclists wouldn't recognize one if they saw it in person. I've never seen (or noticed) one and I go to the International Motorcycle Show most years. <br /><br />I do think the V7's styling is seriously retro, which just sorta leaves me flat. I'm plenty retro without having to buy stuff to reinforce my age. <br /><br />The point of this essay was, however, the fact that American motorcycling has gone from a mode of transportation to being a "dress-up" activity. I kinda like the look of the scramblers, but I'm 67. Scramblers were the first half-decent motorcycles I ever rode 50+ years ago. Cruiser styles were around 40 years before I was born. T.W. Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04078254371483458356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5950664143576637249.post-24064555005625687042015-11-19T19:39:16.551-06:002015-11-19T19:39:16.551-06:00Tom:
Really enjoy your site and have liked most a...Tom:<br /><br />Really enjoy your site and have liked most all of your articles. But this one is one of your rare stinkers! You guessed it--I own a 2013 Guzzi V7 Stone, which looks exactly like the one you have in the picture. And it's my all time favorite bike in my 35 year riding career, and I've owned many, many bikes.<br /><br />Frankly, I'm surprised you blew this one. What you don't grasp is that this little small block Guzzi is basically a brand new BMW airhead. Light-weight, easy to maintain, air-cooled, shaft drive. Everything you need, and nothing you don't. Now tell me, were BMW airheads only for hipster, wannabe poser types?<br /><br />What also surprises me is that you so often rail against overweight, hippo bikes. Well, this little Guzzi is a 750cc bike that weighs a bit over 400 pounds. The opposite of a hippo bike--another reason I like it.<br /><br />You often rail about the mindless obsession of so many motorcyclists with insane amounts of horsepower. Well, this V7 has about 50 crank HP, which is plenty enough for me in the real world. Pretty strange to hear you complain about "underpowered" bikes!<br /><br />A recurring theme you have is poor engineering of modern machines, excess complexity, and inability of owner to maintain the machine. Look at this Guzzi--it's dead simple, well thought out, easy to maintain. I adjust valves in 30 minutes--other than that, it's just changing tires and fluids. <br /><br />You think it compares to a Harley? Perish the thought. Unlike a Harley, this Guzzi is light, handles very well, and has an enormous amount of cornering clearance. And it has a 5.2 gallon gas tank, so at 50 mpg you have real world utility. The opposite of peanut tank, Harley cruiser bike that scrapes hard parts at 20 degree lean angle.<br /><br />And just so you know. I'm not a hipster poser. I practically live in my Aerostich. Commute 100 miles per day; average more than 22,000 miles per year on bikes. Do cross country tours. And I do this on that little Guzzi.<br /><br />So give that little small block Guzzi a closer, less biased look--it's hardly "silly Euro-trash."<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com