Still dry and nothing else to do... :) Ever since the last Melb Bike Expo that bike "bounced" around in my head, just curious... sooo, I took the "little" Guzzi for a spin. 750cc, 48hp, 130 tyres on the back, 110 up front, no fairing, piece of crap, some might say... Then again, how many Monsters did Ducati sell? This looked like something along the same lines... First looks: Found various Aprilia parts on it, nice finish, still the old steel-cradle frame, clean lines, didn't like the "fresh dogshit" colour of the wheels (but somehow that was only apparent when looking at the wheels on their own). Braided lines, Bridgestone Battleax BT45s, neat lines to the bike as a whole. Small,clear micro-fairing around the instrument-cluster. Neat looking seat. Getting on: short, easy sidestand, low seat height (good for anyone 5'2" upwards, since there's a lower, scooped-out seat available ex-factory), everything falls to hand right-away, generic swith gear (no fancy BMW-style weird stuff). Getting going: Electronic instruments with needles (analogue style) hitting the top-end before settling down. Easy starter, round idle but lumpy vibes through the whole bike just standing there (just as any other Guzzi). There's still a bit of a shake side-to side. It's a SLICK snicker into first and off we go. On the road: Only had 1.5hrs on the bike, but here it goes... I can hear it....totally underpowered, no guts, too heavy, wheelbarrow-tyres, yaddayadda... Here's what I thought: Here's one worthwhile bike for anyone having problems with seat height. The seat is COMFY. My 6ft frame just clicked into the bike, perfectly comfortable between tank-cutouts and the slight step of the rear-seat. Stable when you let go of the bars, no shakes. The front brake is a gem (sure, no R1 stuff here, but....), very nice, strong and controllable. Upper body hovers over the tank without putting weight onto the wrists. That loads up the front-end nicely, even if it's a conventional one. Rear brake fully usable and great feel, no vicious snapping, not too much pressure needed, just right. Engine is a bit lumpy from 1000rpm idle to about 1700rpm, then smoothes out and pulls strongly from 2500rpm, without any vibes or lumpiness at all. The gearbox is light and positive, no false neutrals. Redline at 8k, I quit at 6500 due to the bike's 500km on the clock. Until then, the whole rev-range from 2000rpm up was usable in all gears, no lumps, no holes....and that fuel-injection just feels like carbs....smooth, not sharp or jerky, this is one sweet setup. Due to the exposed position and the lack of fairing, 80kmh feel sorta quickish, this is also a license-saving bike. Then it was into the twisties of my "home-track" ....and what a revelation that was. This bike is a beauty, the front end is light and willingly bites into the bends, rock-stable and easy to swap lines mid-corner, both brakes showing no signs of weakness anywhere, the rear pulling up the bike gently when trailing into bends under steam. It's just about close enough to call it 250's feel. The "clicked-into-place" seating position gives great control and it's oh-so-easy to feel at one with the bike. Shaftdrive reactions are very minimal. Chassis/ suspension is taut/ firm but comfortable (particularly considering the short length of the bike). Front end non-adjustable from what I saw. Gripes? The handlebar vibrates just a touch and can create numb hands; heavier, bigger bar-ends might be a good idea. The gearlever-to-footpeg distance is too short for my size 11s und the throw is a touch too long to go with it, I found that I had to bent my foot more than normal to click the gears into place (and had to lift the boot off the peg for the downshifts). Either/ and a shorter-throw/ longer lever would be great, but it's one of those things one can adjust to given a bit more time with the bike (I landed in a couple of false neutrals at the start, then got used to it). That's about it, for those who want it, there's a shield available as well as other goodies like panniers etc etc Target market? Due to the low seat height (but good ergonomics for taller riders): It's a worthwhile competitor in the Monster600-750/Hornet600/Bandit600/ZX7 class. Female riders, people coming off their P's looking for something not as drastic as an R1/KiloGixxer...people who just want to have fun and go for a tootle here and there without lubing chains, those who've had their fun on the "rapid-plastic" and want to go for something different. Many more, I guess... All up: NOT being a Guzzisti, this one has suckered me in. It's a great bike, I love it. The "lousy" 48hp are no issue at all, the thing's got grunt everywhere and lopes along very nicely. It's FUN (and Aprilia/now Guzzi seems to have a knack for things in that department) to ride, nice brakes/nice looks/nice finish, it's a hoot through the twisties and an-easy-to-live-with-everyday-companian by first impressions, what more can be said about a middle-weight? Ahhhh...it's FUN. Good one Guzzi, hope you'll sell plenty of them. ( for the time being the garage is full and the pocket empty, otherwise I'd have an instant marital crises on my hands :))) cheers pete
