Would it be madness to buy a modern Guzzi?

Only I seem to be quite taken by the Griso.

 

No, why, nor an old one.

If you like it, buy it. It works for me.

Paul.

 

Ouch. Sounds painful.

In my limited experience, Guzzis are nice bikes; I'd definitely have
another, but are more 'owner's bikes' than performance machines. More
recent bikes are supposedly much better quality-wise than older ones;
it's mostly shite electrics IME that are the main problem on the older
bikes.

 

No.

I've thought about a Guzzi as a second bike. My only concern is that
dealers are pretty scarce and I am not aware of a local independent
specialist.

 

I like the Stelvio, but **** me, they dont have much equipment.

Not enough after market for the kind of work you would do on one.

The screen is shit, no heated grips etc etc. Oh, our local dealer is a ****
too.

 

I take it that it wasn't you at the petrol station in Manilva today then?
Christ he looked like you, same bike everything. I nearly said helloo, until
he said Hola to some fit young Spanish girl

 

I don't usually buy add-on tat.

 

Yep, we've seen your bike

Paul.

 

According to Kevin Ash's review the bike comes with most equipment you
would expect on such a bike
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring...7/Moto-Guzzi-Stelvio-A-tale-of-two-bikes.html

* adjustable screen
* panniers
* heated grips
* sat nav
* additional lamps

Looking at the website, both versions now come with ABS and the accessory
list has:
* engine bars
* sump guard
* top case
* alarm

Now, buy one so I can have a go on it.

 

What would put me off one are the reports of (a) a peaky engine (very
un-Guzzi) and (b) poor fuel consumption.

After stewarding a succession of Guzzis in the mid-1980s, I still have a
hankering for another one, although it's unlikely to be any of the
current crop. Not there yet. IMHO, of course.

 

The review I quoted above was of the 2008 model. It seems they have taken
some of the criticism on board as Ash did another review in June
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorbikes/5559124/Moto-Guzzi-Stelvio-review.html

"there are gains at low revs, and the bike is happier to be left in
higher gears than the old model, even at altitude"

"The on-board computer suggested the bike was returning 50mpg which,
if true, is impressive"

Not sure if Italian electronics are to be believed about fuel consumption
though.

 

There is bound to be a bit of error in the extrapolation of fuel
consumption from 53 feet to 50 miles.

 

Indeed, I spend enough just buying replacements for the bits that
vibrate off.

 

it's a contextual thing.

 

The sort of things you find on lardy old sports tourers like ours.