Could you ride a moto guzzi all year round.

WULFSTAN · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Sep 2010 Karma :

Hello I've been looking around for a new bike and a moto guzzi 1200 sport has caught my eye. Would the guzzi stand up to the British winter or am i asking for trouble. How unreliable are they thanks.
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Copycat73 · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Jan 2013 Karma :

only had one guzzi and that was some time ago .. 1990 -`92
and that did not like the uk winter at all .. flakin paint on the swing arm .. I stopped usin it at this point..
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WULFSTAN · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Sep 2010 Karma :

Snod Blatter · Crazy Courier Joined: 21 Nov 2014 Karma :

I've been watching a guy use what I think is a V35 or V50 through three winters, it patently still works but he must be a certified mentalist given the way the prices for such machines are on the constant up.

Modern ones though, no idea.
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Copycat73 · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Jan 2013 Karma :

kgm · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jun 2015 Karma :

I think they're using some sort of super salt this year, definitely seems to be having more effect than last years, despite a liberal coating of ACF50.

I'm actually getting kind of pissed off this year. I rebuilt a CG125 at the start of the year to use for my short commute, with the intention of using it as my primary throughout the winter. It started as a basket case however after a full rebuild (during which it was ACF'd thoroughly) it was looking quite good and now I feel bad for ruining it again. Already the brand new (original Honda) exhaust is starting to get little rust spots despite regular cleaning. Driving me mad. I fucking hate winter.

No way I'd want to use a nice bike through the winter, I'd rather get a cheap hack as well.

Mawsley · Traffic Copper Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Karma :

My EV died a million deaths over the course of a summer. I'd not be tempted to run an old Guz through winters unless you're fastidious about cleaning.

My Vintage got coated in ACF and ran through two winters. Guzzi had got their act together and stopped making bikes to a Chinese spec by then.

Personally, I'd run an old lump through the winter months so you're not worried about the mess salt will make...but Guzzi are now no worse than any of the Japanese manufacturers.

Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

Cast Grimecca brake discs go rusty; actually using one all year round keeps them from going so orange, and needing the surface oxide rubbed off before they grip, in the spring!

Can't comment on the new ones; but before they started using fuel injection, they were, and remain all year usable.. how good they stay looking will of course depend on your own personal level solvolitis.
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Diggs · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Karma :

I used to instruct on my Guzzi all year round many years ago, and most of the paint flaked off the engine and swinging arm. Once it had gone however there was no issue as I could keep the rust away with a daily rinse in cold water and a spray of WD40.

One thing though - the battery would flatten itself regularly because at low speeds with the lights on it didn't get enough charge.
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Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

Can't comment on modern bikes, but I MOT a 1980 Cali that gets used on an all year round commute - it always passes and never looks any worse for wear, from one year to the next.
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Lone-Wolf · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Jul 2004 Karma :

Wotcha.

I ride my Guzzi all year round with no problems . . . . there again, it is a 1974 Nuovo Falcone. Very Happy

https://www.lonewolf.me.uk/LWMEimages/2015-guzzi.jpg
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ThatDippyTwat · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 Aug 2016 Karma :

Yes, but...

Old ones need a partial/full re-wire beforehand. QC on the electrics was ... interesting...

New ones? No reason I've heard of says you shouldn't, apart from financials, but if I buy a bike, I ride the bike.

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

Can't speak to the 1200s, but I had a look at a 3 year old V7 which had flaking paint and corrosion in various places (fork brace, cylinder heads, shaft drive) after just a few thousand miles, which I'd presume were dry.
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