The New Moto Guzzi Factory

[Joe]

Docc -opens Sept 2026 at Guzzi Days-maybe we should plan a Spine Raid that rides to Mandello del Lario to see the new factory/museum….🤔😜

[docc]

Counting on our Man-on-the-Scene @v11_meticcio for live reports!    

[pete roper]

Well, I suppose this will appease the purists and it certainly looks like it’s light years ahead of the old, crumbling, tween-wars fascist edifice but I still think it would of been more sensible to go to a true ‘Green Field’ site somewhere other than Mandello.

[gstallons]

maybe. 

[Speedfrog]

Meanwhile, the only MG dealer we had in San Francisco dropped the brand, citing difficulties dealing with Piaggio . . .

[Pressureangle]

On 8/5/2025 at 9:12 PM, pete roper said:

Well, I suppose this will appease the purists and it certainly looks like it’s light years ahead of the old, crumbling, tween-wars fascist edifice but I still think it would of been more sensible to go to a true ‘Green Field’ site somewhere other than Mandello.

Nah... history and sentimentality sell... and well, China. 

I think it's a brilliant start, they've made it a tourist destination second only to it's purpose as a factory. So someone with access to the checkbook understands their brand-loyal customers. The blindingly obvious black hole of vision is support for older models; look to John Deere and to a lesser extent H-D and Union Pacific for frothing fans. I can go to John Deere and expect to find deep support for my '53 AO. H-D still carries parts for Iron engines. U-P has spent a frightening amount of money returning Steam to the rails, for nothing more than PR and it pays off exponentially. If Mother Goose can fill that hole, they'll become a major brand again. 

I think. I hope.

[LowRyter]

I read that Guzzi will be selling a 450 parallel twin version of the Aprilia.   

Now a cafe version of the big Tuono would be icing on the cake. 

[audiomick]

On 8/8/2025 at 4:41 PM, LowRyter said:

I read that Guzzi will be selling a 450 parallel twin version of the Aprilia.   

I've seen that rumour a few times, but am not convinced they will go ahead with it. There is too much marketing potential in maintaining the V2 across the frame, I reckon. We'll see. 

[LowRyter]

6 hours ago, audiomick said:

I've seen that rumour a few times, but am not convinced they will go ahead with it. There is too much marketing potential in maintaining the V2 across the frame, I reckon. We'll see. 

Perhaps marketing potential but not a lot of product.  

[po18guy]

A 450? I have two Kwacker EX500s that will probably outrun it. AND I can work on them.  However, I have to admit that the Aprilia 660 is mighty tempting, not to mention 150-some pounds lighter than the Goose.   

[Scud]

I like what they are doing from a technology and legacy perspective. When you've got a 100-year old manufacturer the roots would run deep into the community. Business loyalty (or at least perceived loyalty) to a community is getting pretty rare these days. And can you imagine the hostility they would generate by moving to another city, or worse yet to another country?

I don't know how the government works in Italy, but I would imagine that like most countries, there is a desire to keep domestic manufacturers going. So maybe there were also various incentives to remain in the location - or maybe the location has a lot of "grandfathered" types of permissions that would be hard to get elsewhere.

As for the location... I think they are smart to capitalize on the vacation destination. When tourists show up, they maybe start thinking about buying a motorcycle and associate it with their vacation experience. And for the "faithful" it seems to have become sort of bucket-list item. Personally, I intend to go there at least once. Probably after all the the new stuff is open.

[GuzziMoto]

10 hours ago, po18guy said:

A 450? I have two Kwacker EX500s that will probably outrun it. AND I can work on them.  However, I have to admit that the Aprilia 660 is mighty tempting, not to mention 150-some pounds lighter than the Goose.   

I don't know about that. Not likely unless your Kwacker's are built. The Aprilia 457 motor is pretty stout. That said, I am not a huge fan of selling Aprilia's as Moto Guzzi's. Sharing some tech I can understand. But if they just rebadge the Aprilia as a Guzzi that I hope not to see. 

On the other side of the coin, I don't see Guzzi as married to the transverse V twin. They have a long history of singles and parallel twins. I am fine with other engine configurations. I just don't want an Aprilia Tuono 457 sold as a Moto Guzzi. If I want that I will buy the Ape (I have already seriously considered it)

[motortouring]

Well, all together I would really enjoy being in mandello when this new factory opens up. Specifically, when all of you will be there as well.

[LaGrasta]

I saw this video on YouTube a few days ago, so excited to visit! It's now on my Retirement Travel list.

Our family has a vaction home on the island of Brac, Croatia. From there, I'll try to plan a moto adventure up and over the Adriatic Sea , into Italy. That will be epic. We have a few more years, though, until the mrs retires.

[po18guy]

6 hours ago, GuzziMoto said:

I don't know about that. Not likely unless your Kwacker's are built. The Aprilia 457 motor is pretty stout. That said, I am not a huge fan of selling Aprilia's as Moto Guzzi's. Sharing some tech I can understand. But if they just rebadge the Aprilia as a Guzzi that I hope not to see. 

On the other side of the coin, I don't see Guzzi as married to the transverse V twin. They have a long history of singles and parallel twins. I am fine with other engine configurations. I just don't want an Aprilia Tuono 457 sold as a Moto Guzzi. If I want that I will buy the Ape (I have already seriously considered it)

The 457 is more modern in every way, but actually makes 4-5 HP less - probably due to EU regs. Its chassis is light years ahead, but Kawi did a heck of a job way back when, with EX500s running 50-52 HP. One of mine has WebCo 245 cams, Cobra slipons, Dynojet kit, a K&N and an airbox mod. The chassis though, well, late 80s. The 660 on the other hand is up near 90HP and no doubt a serious weapon.