Hypothetical Bike Question

[VladTepes]

Heart or Head ?

I've always wanted a Moto Guzzi and I could get a V11 Le Mans, 2001 vintage, for between $12-$15K. Obviously being an "older" Italian Bike the maintenance will be a bit more frequent and expensive than for a Jap bike. Also I can't afford those $ at the moment or a bank-rate personal loan.

On the other hand for similar money - around $15K - I could buy a UJM in this case a Yamaha XJR1300. Bloody fantastic naked bike by all reports. Should be simple and cheap to maintain, relatively cheap to insure, and at the moment Yamaha bike finance are offering a rate of 6% !

So the (purely theoretical) question would be:

Save up and buy the Guzzi I've always wanted,but that will be years away; OR
See what kind of deal I can get on the Yamaha and get out there on the road. I can always get a Guzzi later.......

[V8Ian]

Take a big bite and chew like crazy. ;)

[VladTepes]

Yes indeed but I'm not sure what answer that is.... :lol:

[p38arover]

On the other hand for similar money - around $15K - I could buy a UJM in this case a Yamaha XJR1300. Bloody fantastic naked bike by all reports. Should be simple and cheap to maintain, relatively cheap to insure, and at the moment Yamaha bike finance are offering a rate of 6% !

You'll love the XJR - I have one. They'll rip yer bloody arms off with acceleration. Insurance for me is around $320 per year.

Glenhendry also had one.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Ron has a XJR1300,, not sure what year,, but couldnt hurt to ask about it;)


buy the one with the saggy tits;):p:cool:

http://http://www.motorcycledaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2001/07/03july01top.jpg

[p38arover]

I've sent Vlad a PM. It's a Nov 2007 reg.

[33chinacars]

Buy the Yamaha & you will love it and forget about the Guzzi :)

OR buy the Yamaha & hate it. Wish you never set eye's on it & still want the Guzzi. :(

Or hold off till you can afford the Guzzi. What you realy want :angel:

Descisions Descisions Bloody hard one that and only you can make it in the long run. Its your money Ralph

:wasntme:

[Slunnie]

Save up for the Guzzi otherwise you will never stop wondering.

[strangy]

Just get out ther on the road, get the Guzzi if you really want later.

[Bigbjorn]

PM sent

[p38arover]

I've sent Vlad a PM. It's a Nov 2007 reg.


PM sent


Duelling PMs! :D

[rangieman]

Go the Guzzie , Ive got a Guzzie v50 project to restore which i got from my dads estate ,

Not that i was interested in a guzzie as i always wanted a Duke but ive now got a Triumph Sprint ST what a great bike it is,

The thing i like about the Guzzies is they are so car like in the drive line ect engine gearbox diff :D

[VladTepes]

The thing i like about the Guzzies is they are so car like in the drive line ect engine gearbox diff :D


Which is ironic, because Land Rovers aren't ! :lol2:

[boofdtl]

The xj1300 are a top bike i have a tlr1000 if you want a bike the pull your arms out its the one 300+

[TeamFA]

Nobody can answer this for you, except you.

I have a Buell XB12R. I've ridden UJMs, Ducatis, and have a VFR400 race bike.

The Buell is nowhere near the fastest bike around - lucky to keep up with the 600cc racers (in a straight line, at least).

But if I was offered any bike in the world to swap for the Buell, I would refuse. It's the perfect bike for me.

Far from perfect for most other riders, though...

[VladTepes]

I know that nobody else can answer it, but then neither can I really.

Thus the "hypothetical".
Generates an interestuing discussion though eh !

[adonuff]

Hi
I recently sold my Guzzi Californian, Be very careful If you are looking at one of the fuel injected models with hydraulic lifters, (I think after 2001)?

I purchased it brand new and loved it, great handling, fantastic brakes, good looking machine! BUT after 20,000 klm she developed a clack, clack clack noise when idleing. Took her back to the dealers and they pulled it apart. The end result being the lifters and cam shaft were not hardened properly.

The lobes on the cam were worn down almost flat and the lifters were missing up to 4 mm where the touched the cam.

I still have the worn cam and lifters in the shed.

The importers refused to replace my engine and stated " Its ok the oil filter would have picked up all the missing metal" NOT VERY HAPPY.

The loan bike they provided started to make the same noise at around the same klm's.

I picked up my bike after the repairs and it lasted approx 10,000 klms and developed the same noise due to the same faulty parts, back to the dealers and rebuild the top end again. In the mean time I found out about 2 other bikes of the same year with the same faults.

The importers still refused to replace the engine. I traded the bike in and lost a lot of $ and in all a very dissapointing experiance. The brand new bike was off the road for months at a time as parts were not available.

I feel sorry for the older riders who would not have done the klm's as quickly as I did, The Guzzi was my only transport for a couple of years and ridden every day. There would have been owners out there who would not have discovered the problems unti the bikes were out of warrenty

[VladTepes]

That's a real shame as I do love those Guzzis of that era - the California and the V111 Le Mans

[Redback]

Buy the Guzzi, those that have them love them, but ask them if they have bought another one;)

Me personally I hate them (Le Mans that is) they are uncomfortable on long trips (unless you get the T5/6 or Californian) the seat is like sitting on a plank of wood, agricultural is one word that come to mind in regards to the gearbox, it was the first bike I had to double shuffle the clutch from first to second:eek:

Having said that;

Go with your heart, they hold there value, so selling it, you won't be losing much money and you'll have enough to buy a Jap bike you like, of coarse you could alway buy a Ducati or BMW or a retro Triumph;)

Baz.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

I quite like the Triumph American,,
its just a pity about the cc's:(

[p38arover]

I quite like the Triumph American,,
its just a pity about the cc's:(

The America isn't to my taste. Capacity? 865cc not enough? Do you need the Rocket III with 2.3 litres? :D

I prefer the Bonneville.T100 although the seat looks like a plank! See also:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=aUbcaE44cSw

I like the Thruxton but the low bars don't suit my, er, frame.

[Bigbjorn]

Buy the Guzzi, those that have them love them, but ask them if they have bought another one;)


Baz.

A mate has three of them, a Lario, a Nevada, and a 2009 whose model I forget. He reckons they are well made, trouble free and don't leak oil.
He has around forty bikes dating back to 1927 so does know a thing or two about bikes in general.

[Redback]

A mate has three of them, a Lario, a Nevada, and a 2009 whose model I forget. He reckons they are well made, trouble free and don't leak oil.
He has around forty bikes dating back to 1927 so does know a thing or two about bikes in general.

All bikes are trouble free if you don't ride them very often, the Lario was an exception, very reliable bike and easy to ride, very popular with girls because of the low seat height.

Baz.

[Chucaro]

The Guzzi = Land Rover Defender
Yamaha = Toyota Hilux
It is your call :D

I like quality so BMW is first in my list :)

[Bigbjorn]

All bikes are trouble free if you don't ride them very often,

Baz.

You have never had a Bultaco, have you? Or virtually any older British bike. Ride them home running perfectly, put them away, and next day no go.

[dhc4ever]

The Guzzi would be the motorcycle equivealent to Landrover.
Usually maligned by those who have never owned one.
The Californias of that era did have hydraulic lifters and a few issues with them, not sure if the V11 lemans had those.
My experience with Guzzi is 24 yrs ownership of a 1984 Lemans 3, which has just short of 300,000km on some of its components, it got a complete rebuild in 1995 and around 100,000km ago. Since then its been trouble free.
The V11 are a much different animal, only the name and basic design of the engine are the same.
Have a look here for semi biased advise (kinda like here);
Moto Guzzi V11LeMans.com Forum (http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?act=home).
and
Guzzi Exchange :: View Forum - All Models (http://guzzi.com.au/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=1)

The Yamaha is a good bike which will do everything well, it will be smoother, faster, possibly handle better, heavier than a Guzzi and the Yamaha parts net work will be better.
But they dont have the appeal a Guzzi has IMO ( I'll open my other eye one day).
Goodluck with the dilemma

[p38arover]

I doubt many UJMs will get to 300,000km. My Honda CBR1000F was certainly feeling its age by 50,000km.

[p38arover]

I doubt many UJMs will get to 300,000km. My Honda CBR1000F was certainly feeling its age by 50,000km.

I may have to eat my words. There are a number of US V-Strom DL650 owners whose bikes are well over that mileage!

[Homestar]

My CBR1000F has 97,000KM on it now and still going strong.:)

A little rattle from the timing chain when cold, but that is considered normal and nothing to worry about on them. Typical Honda - go forever.:D

Oh, and back to the old original thread - I rode a mates XJR1300 6 months back - YE HAAA! Man, does that thing pull! Instant permagrin. :D

[p38arover]

Yeah, the XJR is a bit like Aunty Jack. It'll rip yer bloody arms off!

[purples3t]

If you want boring perfection by a japanese rice burner, if you want something with class and a personality buy a Guzzi but if you want something fun obnoxious and little crazy buy a tube frame buell, not bias in any way...lol