Thread: Hypothetical Bike Question

Originally Posted by Redback

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.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

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.

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

I like quality so BMW is first in my list

Originally Posted by Redback

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.

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.
and
Guzzi Exchange :: View Forum - All Models

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

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

Originally Posted by 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!

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.

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.