What brought you to Moto Guzzi?

Usually change my BMW every 3 to 4 years, last year looked at the 1300 gs and gsa and didn't like either the styling, the test ride or the fact that to part ex my 4 year old r1250gsa triple black with 10,000 miles on the clock for a new 1300gsa with luggage would have cost me my bike and nearly £17,500.
Loved the look of the Stelvio and a test ride confirmed how nice they are, put in my KTM and could have bought new but instead bought a one year old bike.
This year other than taking the r1150gs for mot and the r1250gsa for service the Guzzi is the only bike I have been riding
 
I think my interest in Moto Guzzi started from a Le Mans Mk 1 poster I had in my bedroom when I was a teenager.

Never actually owned a Le Mans. Think my first Guzzi was the 1000cc Centaro. It wasn’t a popular model. But I liked it as it was quirky and had the 4 valve head Daytona engine. Also owned a sport version with the red paint job. That bike had a thumb operated rear brake lever as the previous owner had some sort of disability.

Next up was a V11 in the green. That particular bike was on the cover of Gambalunga magazine sometime around the year 2000. I did own a few V11’s. The last one was purchased from Wheels in Hockliffe on the A5 near Dunstable. But that one never actually left the showroom as someone wanted it more than me. So I let the salesman resell it to them.

I did also own a white cali. But that must have been the most boring and slow bike I had ever owned to date. So that lasted about 3 weeks.

Also owned a sport version. Can’t remember much about that.

My last ever Guzzi was a Griso. Didn’t have that long. Only a few month.
Not sure if I will ever own another Guzzi. There is a draw. But I have managed to resist.

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Oddly enough the first Guzzi I rode was a friends mk1 Le Mans (tuned big bore motor, uprated suspension, Astralite wheels , everything). I absolutely hated it.
Next one was I test rode a new 2011 Stelvio 1200 the big tank one, loved the looks and finish , test started well until I started riding it on the twisties and the ftont end was really soft then as the bike got hot it started to rattle really noisily on the top end, the gearbox got worse and the clutch was playing up.
Bought a new R1200GSA tc instead.
 
Slight tangent about batteries if I may:

I recently wheeled out my V85tt for a trip to the Cotswolds to visit the Watsonian people but it decided not to start and show a red battery warning, despite it being recently ridden. Stuck a charger on it and it showed just under 13v. A couple of minutes plugged in and the charger’s work was done, bike started and has run fine since. I did throw the charger in the back of the sidecar just in case.

Mentioned it to Ben at Watsonian, who is a knowledgeable chap, and he wondered whether the bike might have an automatic cut out that stops it turning the starter over if the voltage drops below a certain level? Anyone know whether that is the case and if so cn it be disabled or amended?
 
Slight tangent about batteries if I may:

I recently wheeled out my V85tt for a trip to the Cotswolds to visit the Watsonian people but it decided not to start and show a red battery warning, despite it being recently ridden. Stuck a charger on it and it showed just under 13v. A couple of minutes plugged in and the charger’s work was done, bike started and has run fine since. I did throw the charger in the back of the sidecar just in case.

Mentioned it to Ben at Watsonian, who is a knowledgeable chap, and he wondered whether the bike might have an automatic cut out that stops it turning the starter over if the voltage drops below a certain level? Anyone know whether that is the case and if so cn it be disabled or amended?
I know nothing of that but I’d love to see a photo of your V85TT outfit…please.

A previous F800GS & Ural chair owner here😁
 
I got rid of my 1200GS a couple of years ago...
Fancied something similar but smaller capacity..
Last month I bought a V85tt in what I think is best colour.
Did 650 miles on it... had 1st service .. then last week left Yorkshire for Ullapool.... my fave place.
Bike beaten all expectations.... dead impressed....
Got old fashioned key
60mpg so 300 mile range
Cruise
Shaft Drive
Great brakes & Good handling
Nicely put together....
My only previous Guzzi experience was a 650NTX....
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