the Ferret
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2021
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- sw Ohio 21 DCT
Last Sunday, a riding buddy in Pennsylvania asked me if I could go to a dealer on the north side of Cinti and look at a used bike for him. It was a 2015 Moto Guzzi Norge sport tourer.
The dealership was closed on Sun and Mon, but I said I'd be glad to go look at it first thing Tuesday.
So, I ride over this morning and look at this really pristine Guzzi, not a mark on it, 1200 cc shaft drive, 6 speed, electric windshield, factory bags, 8 valves, 104 hp, 74 lbs of torque, 23,000 miles, just had 26,000 mile service and new Michelin Road 6 tires. Bike is really spotless. After a thorough walk around, I take it out for a test ride ... some surface streets and a short jaunt up the freeway. For those that haven't ridden Guzzi's they are a little different. Sitting there idling they shake kind of like a Harley with handlebars and mirrors shaking, rev it up in neutral and they twist a bit on their axis. Transmissions are more agricultural, clunk, clunk, instead of the snick, snick of a Japanese bike's trans and with the exposed valve covers sticking out at 45 degree angles you tend to hear a bit of the upper end clatter. Nature of the beast. With the 6 gallon tank full with nearly 50 pounds of gas, I found it a bit top heavy to lift off the side stand, but once up it was well balanced. The dealership had sold it new to an older gent, did all the service, and the fellow had traded it back in on a new V100 Mandello, Guzzi's brand new sport touring bike. This bike was as good as they get for a used bike of this nature. Clean, low miles, meticulously maintained one owner. My buddy had nothing to worry about if he chooses to buy it and I told him so.
Now the perspective part. It's no secret I have never been a fan of the 270 P twin throb. It has always bothered me. However, after test riding the Guzzi, as I was headed home n my NC, I thought OMG my bike is so smooooth....and Quiet! It shifted so nicely. With the gas under the seat, lifting it off the side stand was a piece of cake, it felt easily 100 pounds lighter than the Guzzi (even though it's only 66 pounds diff) and it seemed like my bike ran crisper and felt like it had more power. What an incredible revelation. Putting things in perspective, I've never been happier with my NC 750 lol.
The dealership was closed on Sun and Mon, but I said I'd be glad to go look at it first thing Tuesday.
So, I ride over this morning and look at this really pristine Guzzi, not a mark on it, 1200 cc shaft drive, 6 speed, electric windshield, factory bags, 8 valves, 104 hp, 74 lbs of torque, 23,000 miles, just had 26,000 mile service and new Michelin Road 6 tires. Bike is really spotless. After a thorough walk around, I take it out for a test ride ... some surface streets and a short jaunt up the freeway. For those that haven't ridden Guzzi's they are a little different. Sitting there idling they shake kind of like a Harley with handlebars and mirrors shaking, rev it up in neutral and they twist a bit on their axis. Transmissions are more agricultural, clunk, clunk, instead of the snick, snick of a Japanese bike's trans and with the exposed valve covers sticking out at 45 degree angles you tend to hear a bit of the upper end clatter. Nature of the beast. With the 6 gallon tank full with nearly 50 pounds of gas, I found it a bit top heavy to lift off the side stand, but once up it was well balanced. The dealership had sold it new to an older gent, did all the service, and the fellow had traded it back in on a new V100 Mandello, Guzzi's brand new sport touring bike. This bike was as good as they get for a used bike of this nature. Clean, low miles, meticulously maintained one owner. My buddy had nothing to worry about if he chooses to buy it and I told him so.
Now the perspective part. It's no secret I have never been a fan of the 270 P twin throb. It has always bothered me. However, after test riding the Guzzi, as I was headed home n my NC, I thought OMG my bike is so smooooth....and Quiet! It shifted so nicely. With the gas under the seat, lifting it off the side stand was a piece of cake, it felt easily 100 pounds lighter than the Guzzi (even though it's only 66 pounds diff) and it seemed like my bike ran crisper and felt like it had more power. What an incredible revelation. Putting things in perspective, I've never been happier with my NC 750 lol.