Well he always was a Guzzi ‘nut’ and has 10 of the buggers…I was one once and had 5 (not at the same time )
However that was a long time ago when Guzzi made bikes that people actually wanted to buy. They have spent the last 20 years building bikes that either wanted to look like 2 wheeled cars or squashed Harleys…ugh
Now they seem to be building decent looking, well performing bikes again - the new Californian looks and goes great (apparently) but as an alternative to Harley with much more kudos and style I don’t think people would stomach the depreciation factor. (Harleys, whatever you think of them as bikes, do seem to hold their money)
However if you’re under 40 I doubt M-G would be on your radar - the people who remember the M-G LeMans Mk1 are old grey gits like me.
Who’d buy em?
ps I pulled up opposite Ewan at the lights in Balham some time ago - he was on a new V7 Classic…
Oi I’m under 40… under 30 even and I am well aware of Moto Guzzi… but then I am European
Have to say I can’t really remember seeing loads of models in the last 10 years. But since I started biking I’ve seen a couple of models that looked really really tasty. Have no idea what they’re called though as for me: Moto Guzzi=Italian=will fall apart in 10 miles
I think they will carve a small niche and that’s about it… I don’t see there’s any point competing on price or reliability against the japs so they might as well target the more upmarket section.
Though that has now a lot of players with Triumph, Augusta etc all looking for that ‘something different’.
In the UK I don’t see them doing fantastically but then it all depends how much money they invest to maintain the brand over here. If it’s close to zero, then any gain is a positive one. Though I doubt Ewan McGregor charges zero
Whilst I was having the bandit MOT’d at MAC Motorcycles in Tooting yesterday the next chap rolled up on a 1978 T3 with 81K on the clocks, he said he had owned it since 1981 & having run it into the ground over the years he had it restored last year.
The paintwork was a nice fresh metallic green, but what I really liked was that despite all the mechanics having been sorted out, it hadn’t been made to look like new, apart from the new paintwork it still retained most of the patina (& yes, rust!) that it had acquired over years. No doubt this would horrify the anal retentives &/or the concours set, but I reckon it’s an outward embodiment of the soul of the machine & looks all the better for it.
The one thing I didn’t like though was the dreadful & humungous Windjammeresque type fairing replete with leg shields that was fitted to it!
He also mentioned he had a couple more at home, an original 70s V7 & a V50 mkIII that he uses for running around town.
Who knows what will happen with Guzzi in the near to medium term? Being owned by Piaggio they should now have the stability & financial ability to do some more extensive R&D rather than tick along on a shoe-string as they have been doing since the 80s, maybe launch a Falcone for the new era?
Hey Pat! - That’s how I like my classics too - Saw a bloke with a late 70’s Ducati 900 or summat that was in the same state - guy had restored it and used it for commuting - good on him , maecanics were tip top but the chain guard had a bit of rust on it - big deal!
Makes a change from those concours types who trailer (or van them ,ore likley, wind could damage the paintwork!) their classics around and use 10 times more chrome polish than petrol!
Yer right a niche for MG is al they can hope for - I guess Ewan used up the advertising budget for the next 10 years … stil he has loved them for ages, maybe he did it for £100???
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