So, tell me about Moto Guzzi?

[map]

Saw a nice little V-twin motorcycle with shaft drive in the local shopping centre car park the other day. Looked like it'd be ok as a runaround and it was a little different. No, it wasn't a Deauville either!

Was marked up as a Moto Guzzzi 750 and what I think was an oldish Breva.

So as I like shaft drive bikes I thought I'd ask for any info as I fancy a change and not for my usual touring style getup. Would be trying to find one 2nd hand. So flaws to look out for and any other owners advice welcome.

Any info appreciated as it's not a make I'm at all familiar with. Please can we try and keep the comments above the expected "It's Italian so it's rubbish/it'll have bad electrics/it'll be a rust heap" replies.

Thanks in anticipation
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[C1REX]

I've heard that their dedicated forum is rubbish.
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[P.]

[Efes123]

Always fancied a Guzzi myself, but they seem to keep their price remarkably well, unless you buy a spares or repairs.

Parts are both expensive and hard to find, and unfortunately, all the Italian characteristics are true, but I'd still buy one if I could find one at the right price.
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Honda VT500 ED - SOLD
Projects Suzuki GS125 Done, then stolen - Kawasaki GPX750R SOLD - Honda VF750S SOLD

[sickpup]

[noobRider]

I love mine. It's pretty basic and an "involved ride" as my servicing guy put it . It's not smooth. I've only had it six months and the MOT is due now but no real problems since I got it set up properly. Had a lot of bulbs blow for that length of time (2 brake, 1 indicator, 2 dash).

It's torqy so gets me up to motorway speeds quickly but most people on here would laugh at the BHP.

The UK club forum is ok and quite welcoming but they do want money for good info. I haven't been on there much.

Edit: Gutsibits for spares.
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Licence: Nov 2012, Bikes: Suzuki GN125, Moto Guzzi Strada 750, Triumph Sprint ST 955i x 2
AnPhonEh: I need plans, I need contingency plans also, I need back up contingency plans

[esullivan]

My wife and I went to the Ace Cafe for breakfast a few weeks ago and it turned out to be "Italian Day" (I had to park my Honda out by the rubbish bins). There were many v-twin Moto Guzzis there. We had breakfast with one of the owners -- I don't know the models at all, but his was from the 1980s, I think. He went to Greece and back in it in the last couple of weeks. The only model name I remember was the California? A bit too heavy/cruiser-like for me.
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Current: '14 VFR800X Test passed 31/10/12.
Previous: '12 NC700S, '11 CBF 125, '04 SH 125.

[MarJay]

I like the V7 Classic:

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/upload/204161/images/motoguzziv7classic.jpg
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[noobRider]

[Mark65]

Lovely Bike.
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07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650

[lilredmachine]

I was very close to buying a V7 racer when I traded in the Street Triple.

https://img35.imageshack.us/img35/8508/lhsn.jpg

Gorgeously detailed bike.
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Bikes: too many, too much for one man to maintain anyway.

[cdlxxvi]

My big brother has a Nevada 750. A nice ride when not immobilised by electrical gremlins, i.e. not very often.

A cousin has an NTX of which I know little apart from recently ordering a motoplat for him here in the UK, as he could not get one in Poland.

[Guzzirat]

I first bought one in 1987, it was a great bike for touring Europe on. This was it in France around 1995. The bike started off as a standard SP1000 tourer which soon gained bigger carbs and valves, a lumpier cam and LeMans bodywork. In this form It had much better grunt, I found it really comfortable and I could cover long distances easily. The bike is now in the garage awaiting a rebuild using an 1100 engine though progress is glacial due to other jobs.
https://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq41/Guzzigrahame/IMG_0004a-2.jpg

Currently I have an 1100Sport and a tatty 850 T3 outfit. I've had the outfit for 8 years now and it is a dependable old thing which sails through the MOT every year without any hassle.

https://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq41/Guzzigrahame/sporti1.jpg

https://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq41/Guzzigrahame/DSC_1596a.jpg

[MarJay]

[BTTD]

I've always liked those 1100 sports, maybe I've always been old!
Just think they look fantastic.

[Zen Dog]

My dad had a 1200 Breva.
https://www.motomag.com/IMG/jpg/0070831-breva-afb-480406_en.jpg

It was a nice bike, suspension was very plush. I found the V-Twin a bit fluffy though, didn't really seem to have sweet spot, but it could have just been softly tuned.

I really really like the look of some of the new ones -
https://www.motomag.com/IMG/jpg/moto-guzzi-griso-8-v-se-4.jpg

Zen Dog
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Current - '94 VFR750FR (Dead), '00 VFR800FI, 2011 CBF125 Previous - '10 Street Triple R, '92 MZ ETZ301, '05 TTR250, NSR125R, KMX125, "Honda" Win (chinese copy of an old Honda design with a C90 engine)
My bike trip around S.E. Asia 2010/2011

[Lone-Wolf]

Wotcha.

My Guzzi has only one cylinder and it's chain drive.

LITTLE GREEN GUZZI

Funnily enough, I've been out on it most of this afternoon.
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Cheers.
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[Vincent]

Get one, they're great bikes to ride and they're supposed to have the "best" V-Twin configuration - they can rock a baby to sleep at the traffic lights. Last one I had was a 500 Monza and it was very reliable, at least while I had it, and I didn't spare the horses either. I bought it off a friend and it had sat unused for six years - fresh fuel and it started right up. The 500 is a bit short on power for longer runs...for me anyway so go bigger if you're touring. I've only had pre 1980 ones so can't vouch for newer models, there's a couple of them near me and they sound like a bag of nails and there's a bloke that works in a nearby shop aho bought a new 1100 and hated it as it kept breaking down and bits falling off

If I was getting a later model, and could afford it, I'd go for an MGS-01:-

https://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j71/Drewskovitch/Corsa_RHF_1024_zps95ef46b5.jpg

A Griso would suffice tho:-
https://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j71/Drewskovitch/moto_guzzi_griso_03l_zps1ae34761.jpg
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[Mark312]

The Moto Guzzi club GB forum is pretty much like other forums including this one - easy to get along with people if you say the right things and ask the right questions. They're generally a helpful lot, and it's quite busy considering there aren't that many Guzzis on the road in comparison to other makes.

Parts availability is ok except for some of the older models, although there are companies throughout the world that offer support and replacement parts original or otherwise.
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Currently Moto Guzzi 750 Strada, Moto Guzzi V35 Florida, previously Honda CB125T, RD250LC, RD80MX