Anyone own a Norge 1200 4V GT?

[MartinDT]

Hi Guys. Does anyone own a Norge 1200 8V GT? I'm looking at buying one for my long distance riding in Europe like Norway/Greece and would like to have some comments from existing owners. Many thanks for your help.
Martin

 

[MartinDT]

Slight error in my title. I believe the new model is called 8V GT

 

[Myke Rocks]

Friend had one till last year.

The money tap was turned off and he had to sell.
Nice bike.
Worst fault:
At Autobahn speeds, the mirrors are mounted on the handlebars and cause the steering to wobble. Not dangerous, but you can feel it.
If you need a rack to fit a box on the back, he still has a stainless one which bolts
onto the proper Guzzi mount points behind the rear seat.
If you buy, just pm me & I will forward his telephone number.
Myke

 

[MartinDT]

Thanks for that Myke. I'm fascinated by the apparent mirror problem as there are many bikes with similar mirror mounting position. However, I will take special note of this when I test ride one, hopefully in the near future. Thanks again.
Martin

 

[adventuredon]

Please feed back as I am following this with interest. Liking the Norge and thinking of a change.

 

[mrjim130]

I have the older 2 valve per cyl. model. Liking it a lot, no issues with mirrors. The new version is reconed to be even better.

 

[brut33]

The money tap was turned off and he had to sell.
Nice bike.
Worst fault:
At Autobahn speeds, the mirrors are mounted on the handlebars and cause the steering to wobble. Not dangerous, but you can feel it.
If you need a rack to fit a box on the back, he still has a stainless one which bolts
onto the proper Guzzi mount points behind the rear seat.
If you buy, just pm me & I will forward his telephone number.
Myke

I had a 2v and it was fine at high speed stability. The fairing was one of the best I've ever sat behind, and there was plenty of poke.
My biggest gripe was the panniers pissing in water, even during moderate rain.
Maybe the new ones are not as stable re different design etc....? and by now hope MG have sorted the panniers.
If I ever went down the sport tourer route again it would be on my short list.

 

[wavey_davey]

Can't comment on the Norge

Hi Guys. Does anyone own a Norge 1200 8V GT? I'm looking at buying one for my long distance riding in Europe like Norway/Greece and would like to have some comments from existing owners. Many thanks for your help.
Martin

But I do have a Stelvio NTX with the same motor and had a 1200 Sport with same engine and the same frame as Norge. Never ridded a Norge or the equivalent last gen RT - general feedback on Norges seems to be not as sophisticated as the RT, if you think that can be an upside then that dispenses with the only downside, that and the generally patchy dealer/spares coverage. It's not awful, just not as good as BMW.

Personally mine has been better than all the GSs I've owned in terms of:-

Comfort - superb
Build quality overall - almost all the corrosion after 2 years is on the (german) pannier frames and (german) rear shocker, rest is somewhere between ok, and very good. My 1200 sport about the same.
Brakes - very very good
Weather protection - very very good
Headlights - much better

most of which seem to be high on your own agenda?

Worse than my 1200GSs ( I've owned an 1100, 2 x 1150, 1200 airhead) on:-

Handling - that'll be the weight
Weight - that'll be the weight
fuelling - only slightly iffy really low down
fuel consumption

all only marginally worse rather than anything dramatic, and waaay better than the other Beemers on, er, everything (except consumption)!

Overall reliability? About the same - one set of fork seals, one plug cap and one (german) spotlight in 2 years. The only thing that went wrong with my 1200 sport was the (german) alternator. Also the panniers I had on my previous 1200 sport are the same as the Norge, and yeah, they were ok but as noted they tend to leak and the lids distorted slightly, but no worse than the leaky, overpriced, overrated, badly finished (frames only) panniers on my NTX, which are, er, german.

Overall performance - about the same as prev gen GS - extra weight slightly dulls this, not really an issue

So overall, I'd go for it, though personally I'd go with a Stelvio rather than a Norge (well I did obviously), the handling is a bit better, the rest is pretty much the same, but can totally get why a Norge appeals, handsome, seperate bikes.

Sadly they are both increasingly seen as anachronisms (even more so than when they were launched) because they don't have active suspension, more than 100bhp or (in the case of the Norge compared to every other tourer on the market) butt ugly looks?

I'm selling my Stelvio as I no longer need the 2 up ability (we have a 1 year old daughter that's put the mockers on any touring together) and would like something lighter and a bit sportier as a result, but have to admit I'm struggling to come up with something as usable, soulful, plain nice and as well built (ruled out a WC1200GS on the last point, sadly).

Hope that helps?

Dave

 

[wavey_davey]

Can't comment on the Norge

Hi Guys. Does anyone own a Norge 1200 8V GT? I'm looking at buying one for my long distance riding in Europe like Norway/Greece and would like to have some comments from existing owners. Many thanks for your help.
Martin

But I do have a Stelvio NTX with the same motor and had a 1200 Sport with same engine and the same frame as Norge. Never ridded a Norge or the equivalent last gen RT - general feedback on Norges seems to be not as sophisticated as the RT, if you think that can be an upside then that dispenses with the only downside, that and the generally patchy dealer/spares coverage. It's not awful, just not as good as BMW.

Personally mine has been better than all the GSs I've owned in terms of:-

Comfort - superb
Build quality overall - almost all the corrosion after 2 years is on the (german) pannier frames and (german) rear shocker, rest is somewhere between ok, and very good. My 1200 sport about the same.
Brakes - very very good
Weather protection - very very good
Headlights - much better

most of which seem to be high on your own agenda?

Worse than my 1200GSs ( I've owned an 1100, 2 x 1150, 1200 airhead) on:-

Handling - that'll be the weight
Weight - that'll be the weight
fuelling - only slightly iffy really low down
fuel consumption

all only marginally worse rather than anything dramatic, and waaay better than the other Beemers on, er, everything (except consumption)!

Overall reliability? About the same - one set of fork seals, one plug cap and one (german) spotlight in 2 years. The only thing that went wrong with my 1200 sport was the (german) alternator. Also the panniers I had on my previous 1200 sport are the same as the Norge, and yeah, they were ok but as noted they tend to leak and the lids distorted slightly, but no worse than the leaky, overpriced, overrated, badly finished (frames only) panniers on my NTX, which are, er, german.

Overall performance - about the same as prev gen GS - extra weight slightly dulls this, not really an issue

So overall, I'd go for it, though personally I'd go with a Stelvio rather than a Norge (well I did obviously), the handling is a bit better, the rest is pretty much the same, but can totally get why a Norge appeals, handsome, seperate bikes.

Sadly they are both increasingly seen as anachronisms (even more so than when they were launched) because they don't have active suspension, more than 100bhp or (in the case of the Norge compared to every other tourer on the market) butt ugly looks?

I'm selling my Stelvio as I no longer need the 2 up ability (we have a 1 year old daughter that's put the mockers on any touring together) and would like something lighter and a bit sportier as a result, but have to admit I'm struggling to come up with something as usable, soulful, plain nice and as well built (ruled out a WC1200GS on the last point, sadly).

Hope that helps?

Dave

 

[longdog]

Looking forward to your feedback on a test ride

 

[FatAl]

But I do have a Stelvio NTX with the same motor and had a 1200 Sport with same engine and the same frame as Norge. Never ridded a Norge or the equivalent last gen RT - general feedback on Norges seems to be not as sophisticated as the RT, if you think that can be an upside then that dispenses with the only downside, that and the generally patchy dealer/spares coverage. It's not awful, just not as good as BMW.

Personally mine has been better than all the GSs I've owned in terms of:-

Comfort - superb
Build quality overall - almost all the corrosion after 2 years is on the (german) pannier frames and (german) rear shocker, rest is somewhere between ok, and very good. My 1200 sport about the same.
Brakes - very very good
Weather protection - very very good
Headlights - much better

most of which seem to be high on your own agenda?

Worse than my 1200GSs ( I've owned an 1100, 2 x 1150, 1200 airhead) on:-

Handling - that'll be the weight
Weight - that'll be the weight
fuelling - only slightly iffy really low down
fuel consumption

all only marginally worse rather than anything dramatic, and waaay better than the other Beemers on, er, everything (except consumption)!

Overall reliability? About the same - one set of fork seals, one plug cap and one (german) spotlight in 2 years. The only thing that went wrong with my 1200 sport was the (german) alternator. Also the panniers I had on my previous 1200 sport are the same as the Norge, and yeah, they were ok but as noted they tend to leak and the lids distorted slightly, but no worse than the leaky, overpriced, overrated, badly finished (frames only) panniers on my NTX, which are, er, german.

Overall performance - about the same as prev gen GS - extra weight slightly dulls this, not really an issue

So overall, I'd go for it, though personally I'd go with a Stelvio rather than a Norge (well I did obviously), the handling is a bit better, the rest is pretty much the same, but can totally get why a Norge appeals, handsome, seperate bikes.

Sadly they are both increasingly seen as anachronisms (even more so than when they were launched) because they don't have active suspension, more than 100bhp or (in the case of the Norge compared to every other tourer on the market) butt ugly looks?

I'm selling my Stelvio as I no longer need the 2 up ability (we have a 1 year old daughter that's put the mockers on any touring together) and would like something lighter and a bit sportier as a result, but have to admit I'm struggling to come up with something as usable, soulful, plain nice and as well built (ruled out a WC1200GS on the last point, sadly).

Hope that helps?

Dave

If you like the Guzzi so much and aren't bothered about two up riding, why not consider a Griso. Lovely looking bikes and go well.

 

[wavey_davey]

If you like the Guzzi so much and aren't bothered about two up riding, why not consider a Griso. Lovely looking bikes and go well.

Good point Panic, and the Griso is lovely I agree, trying to persuade my mate to get one, but the Stelvio is my only truly practical bike. That to me mean not just 2-up, but hard luggage, weather protection, long distance comfort, abs etc are all part of that equation. Truth be told with a Cali T3, and various old Triumphs and Laverda, I have too many "sunny afternoon" bikes (though the T3 does get a fair bit of longer distance use), and for all the other stuff I need something other than a Griso! If the Laverda thing ever waned I could see a Griso in my future though..

Dave

 

[wavey_davey]

Good point Panic, and the Griso is lovely I agree, trying to persuade my mate to get one, but the Stelvio is my only truly practical bike. That to me mean not just 2-up, but hard luggage, weather protection, long distance comfort, abs etc are all part of that equation. Truth be told with a Cali T3, and various old Triumphs and Laverda, I have too many "sunny afternoon" bikes (though the T3 does get a fair bit of longer distance use), and for all the other stuff I need something other than a Griso! If the Laverda thing ever waned I could see a Griso in my future though..

Dave

p.s. In a test last month Cycle World actually preferred the Griso (which has been around nearly 10 years!) to the RnineT (which while v nice, has been treated as the dawning of a new (retro) age by everyone?)

 

[longdog]

I see that the Police in Milan and Berlin are using Moto Guzzi Norge. In addition, (and this may be old news), the Met are evaluating a Norge and using it on their Bikesafe courses and the Los Angeles Police are using them too. Can't be bad

 

[beemerboy9]

I see that the Police in Milan and Berlin are using Moto Guzzi Norge.

In a rather unpopular move with the locals, the police in Berlin did indeed evaluate the Norge. However they have recently bought another 20 BMW RT's.

If there were any issues with the Norge (precise details were not revealed) , it would probably have been their ability to be parked for an hour with the engine running powering radio and lights rather than anything to do with their behaviour on the road.