Steve G.

I urge caution Chris. Yes, the engine is a sweetheart, and yes, the bike handles on the street much like any 120 hp 375 ib bike would. Richard D. from Victoria threw me the keys to his bike last year at Salt Spring Island. A real sweatheart. 2 weeks ago I was with a group of buddies on big dual purpose bikes trying to get to Boston Bar from Harrison Hot Springs on the main forest service road. 5 ft of snow stopped us. Anyways, a guy on a KTM 950 was talking about the huge ordeal to simply change the oil. He also noted the incredibly poor fuel economy. Lastly he mentioned the devastating cost of parts, especially cosmetics. He said the price would even make BMW owners flinch. Enthusiastically go for another test ride, but remember no 1 bike is perfect! Ciao, Steve G.

I can tell you that if I were, and had been a dealer in Canada, I would be very pissed off hearing the comment that they had not yet made up their mind about who the dealers would be. The current dealers should be at the very top of the list, and they should at this time be wined and dined by the importers, requesting they stay on as dealers, instead of wondering if they will be dealers at all!! Gosh I hope this mess if fixed up soon. You just can't run a company this way. There is way too much competition out there, and the money is very quick to move away to another greener pasture. I think it was a mistake to drop the V11 line. Look how long the Monster line has been around for Ducati. The Breva will be poetically waxed about by some here on this forum, but the fact is, the majority of the bike purchasing public out there find it a strange looking machine, and it will not sell as well as a V11. The Norge is a vast improvement on the base line Breva physically. This machine would do well in Canada. The Griso?? This is a tricky one. People I've talked to have a love it or hate it attitude. Thankfully our currency is finally out of the cellar, and stuff is on sale now when purchasing from other countries compared to 2 yrs ago. This will indeed show in parts/accessories sales at Guzzi dealers in the USA. Ciao, Steve G.

Just checking out Hubert Kreigel's Timeless Ride web site, with his issues currently in Costa Rica. He's noted that a test ride on a Breva is happening as I write this May 13, am. At which point I mumble to myself the current availability, or lack of, new Moto Guzzi's for sale here. I can certainly understand Canadian dealer frustration, when for over 1 1/2 yrs there have been no new models delivered, and no 2006 models of any kind. That a third world country like Costa Rica [although a better off third world country in the scheme of things] has these things ready for purchase, yet arguably the country with the best standard of living on earth has nothing, I find bizzare. There is alot of money to be spent here in the great white north on toys, why Moto Guzzi is not here with the Griso is at best a very bad business decision. I remember the time, in the 1970's and 1980's, when this country enjoyed availability of all things exotic, where American freinds would wax poetic to me about how lucky we were to be able to buy such neat stuff. The table most defintely has changed. I look on enviously at Pete Roper's delivery of his cool Griso in Australia. I fear we may not even get a look at this model till summer 2007. Ciao, Steve G.

Like I said before, every forum needs a scapegoat to feed off of, to be active, much like an ale yeast to sugered water. BMW is the scapegoat of this forum, and that's cool, I understand. Understand that, and we will happily rip into the brand and laugh, and I will laugh as well. Also understand that I own one, and can understand some of the slag, as they are overrated by the snooty nose crowd. The old pushrod airheads however will outlast a Moto Guzzi engine by a small margin given the same level of abuse. The BMW engine however does offer little in the way of character and emotional feedback that a Guzzi v-twin offers. As for the new Morini, let it be said that whether it is a competant, reliable, and well backed up machine, or a pile of crap, it will never be a real Morini. Just as I call a new Triumph a Hinckley Triumph, and a new [but I understand now defunct] Norton a Dreer Norton, and the second generation Laverda a Zane Laverda, this bike will never be a Moto Morini, but will be potentially competant rebadged Morini, or Morini 2. Someone nailed it before. "Badge engineering"!! Ciao, Steve G.

It's at Lonsadale Quay Park, right on the water in North Van, about 250 yards west of the Seabus transit terminal. Your Corvair will be welcome, but probably won't be allowed up onto the grassy area were the show of Italia will be. If you do go up there, you may get some unfriendly glares! Ciao, Steve G.

Golly, when are you planning to go on this ride to Princeton? And when was the last time you crossed the border? Are you planning on overnighting there, or getting back to Vancouver, really, really late? The gaggle of bikes don't show up in full till after 11:00-11:30am. Ciao, Steve G.

Just say the Guzzi coverage on Corbin's show. A very complimentary showing. Their sales and public relations staff are well spoken very into their bikes, and it's cool to see the semi-modern production line along side old guys still making stuff by hand and on the lathe. These things are still hand made!! Ciao, Steve G.

Well, you went to the right guy that's for sure. Mike knows his stuff. Ciao, Steve G.

Word I've heard is that Neil Hodgson is not getting the same bikes as WSB spec Ducks. Also remember that riders used to the ultra smooth , European tracks have a tough time on the quality of the tracks in North America, which often use 1/4 mile drag strip launch areas and shut down areas as part of the circuit track. But we must remember the great equalizer, Pirelli tires. At winter testing at Philip Island, Mr. Personality Mladin, using Dunlop rubber, was consistantly faster than all the WSB boys on their Pirelli's. The WSB series would most definitely have a different scene if other rubber was allowed. As it stands now, The Ducati's are able to make the rubber last longer, the 4's are just wrecking the tires. Ciao, Steve G.

It has been more or less proven and agreed upon that the architecture of a 4 cylinder engine has an advantage over twins to making more power. I think I heard Bayliss say that the acceleration of Corser's Suzuki is unmatched by Ducati, but the smaller aerodynamic profile of the Ducati allows it to eventually reach a simliar top speed. Both the current twin and Suzuki are in the meaty part of their development, approaching maximum potential. I see the others [Honda, Kawasaki] catching up power wise. The Ducati will still have an advantage handling wise, as well as the long known ability to be less destructive to it's tires than the 4's, giving the tire microscopic rests in between it's power pulses,a very important point considering the current state of Pirelli racing tires . A desmosedici would be an interesting addition. I don't think Bayliss would welcome it, as they just don't go around corners like the twin. Ciao, Steve G.

I'm thinking of getting Happy trails boxes for my GS. How you like them? Would you recommend their rack system to mount them? Ciao, Steve G.

The big twin doesn't seem to have a top speed deficit. And Baylis is very much at home in WSB. Good to see one of the good guys do well. Ciao, Steve G.

I know it doesn't help you in England, but local motorcycle only paint shop D&B Custom has, after 4 tries, made a perfect match on a Givi fairing I had them do, and welcome any and all green V11 owners to come their way if needed. This shop's quailty is about the best that can be found anywhere. They are in Burnaby, B.C. Ciao, Steve G.

I'm afraid Mr. Edwards is seeing his last rides in Moto GP. The next American rider is Mr. Hayden. I also would like to see Casey Stoner do well. The kid looks like he can't even shave yet. And yes, Melandri is Hayden's biggest threat to the post Rossi era. Ciao, Steve G.

I agree. More than any other manufacture, Suomi requires a perfect fit, or the pressure points will drive you nuts because of their firm padding. Ciao, Steve G.

As long as Rossi does not fall off any more [ extremely rare for him to fall, in the last case, he was punted off by one of the younger lads] he is without argument very consistant to collect points at every occasion. It's clear the '06 Yamaha is not sorted like the '05, and it seems Honda has a power edge again this year. That said, I will make the opinion that if Hayden wins the championship this year [and I think he's the next one], it will be because of Rossi's Yamaha and not Rossi. I still think he is far and away the best roadracing motorcyclist [well not real road racing like the IOM TT, but you know what I mean] on Earth today, and has been for at least 5 yrs. Ciao, Steve G.

Highway 12, out of Torrey, Brilliant road!!! Ciao, Steve G.

Geez Martin, don't want to sound like an anal old woman, but arn't you worried about buggering up the paint on the rocker box covers laying them down on the ground like that? Ciao, Steve G.

I have alot of experience at Laguna Seca, having been at the last 4 WSB events before Moto GP came in, and taking in Moto GP '05 at Laguna. First off, I understand the '06 event will have a better traffic control than '05, which was a total frickin' zoo compared to any previous WSB event. The inbound and outbound traffic was indescribable. Even for a bike, [a duel purpose I might add] capable of riding in the ditches, which we did for a couple miles, along side full on street bikes and cars sitting for hours overheating, the organizers [ and the Monteray County police Force] should be mighty embarrased with their ham fisted manner of crowd control. Land of the free my ass, I felt like I was in frickin communist Romania! This isn't Hells Angels we're talking about, it's affluent high spending motorcycle enthuiasts! Now that I've vented, let me say that an event like this is one to behold, watching the best [or among the best] 25 motorcycle riders on earth. The whole scene at Laguna is great. You will regret not taking in a major race event for years previous. Consider yourself lucky you are going. We tradationally get tickets on-line, and have them mailed to us, about late May from what I remember. Grandstand location? Well of course it's all personal, but turn 11 has always done us well, right at the start/finish line. They have a jumbotron tv which allows you to see the entire race, for the small section of track you can't see. It's close to the pisser, beer, food, and [important] is on the outside perimeter of the track circuit, so no 4 hr lineup after the race is over. Early May is a late time to be arranging accomodation for a July event in and around Laguna Seca. Because you are on 4 wheels, you will most likely be shuffled into an eastern valley for parking. From my experience, it is a huge walk. May I suggest looking into the bus transit system the organisers have set up to allow people to bus in [a/c] and bus out to avoid the gridlock that may well be happening. I've read that there will be extensive transit from coastal Monteray and inland Salinas. Accomodation is another matter. I'm a Salinas guy. I don't like the cold wet fog that rolls into Carmel every evening, or the stupid prices. Salinas is basically the same distance to Laguna Seca as Monteray/Carmel, it's just inland, where it's drier, and much cheaper. It still is an easy ride to Monteray for Friday and Saturday nights Fishermans Row bike extravaganza, a must for Saturday night. We always stay at the Motel 6 South in Salinas, as it's cheaper, has a pool, and is easy walking distance to breakfast and gas. It's probably too late for a hotel in Salinas and Monteray, indeed probably as far north as Watsonville, as far east as Holister, and as far south as Soledad. Camping may be a good option at this point. As for camping at the Laguna Seca grounds, golly, it's party zone central, not really for kids, the showers are a, well, a interesting experience. TAKE SANDLES!! Not sure if you've travelled down there alot Van. It is quite different than here. Things are in a time warp in the cities, buildings are older and sometimes run down, stuff is dirty every where. I know I'll get feedback from the lads who live there, but it's something that you can't ignore, but realize it's all ok. I find it rather cool, like time stopped! It reminds me of the 60's. Anyways, it's a great time, and I'll mention more info if you need it. Ciao, Steve G.

I agree on all points Chris. If you get a chance, try out a 750 Norton Atlas for vibration scale. The 750 Laverda twin pales by comparison. Ciao, Steve G.

Actually quite similar lines. If only the Guzzi was street legal, then it could be a full discussion in the making. Ciao, Steve G.

You're right, save your efforts. It could turn into another global warming thread Ciao, Steve G.

I'm on 3 different brand, or model specific forums, and am used to what you talk about. Remember, each forum will have a high percentage of absolutely hard core followers of that forum's claim to fame. The extremely knowledgable and highly entertaining Pete Roper may pipe in at any time describing anything not Moto Guzzi as being nothing but regurgitated camel shite! Most situations naturally develop a scapegoat, and BMW flat twins appear to be the scapegoat of this forum. And I'm ok with this. It makes a forum healthy. You should hear what the CBX boys have to say about Moto Guzzi!! And you would not want to hear what the Norton boys have to say about anything Japanese!! It makes my face blush! Ciao, Steve G.

Yes, they are asking silly prices for them here where I live. I would not by a new one because of the prices these days.