OK - I'm hooked!

[nick949]

I'm just loving my bigTrailie! 409kms today. It never got above 10c (50f) and the sun never showed it's face, but I had a blast on some nice long forest back roads. Life is good.

Nick

North of Calabogie

Grady Road

Road kill Porcupine. Dead or alive - hit one at your peril

Perth Ontario (look familiar Austin?)

Perth

A couple of lads out moose hunting in the Madawaska Highlands

My kind of road - long, empty, unpaved.

As above

 

[austin]

I'm just loving my bigTrailie! 409kms today. It never got above 10c (50f) and the sun never showed it's face, but I had a blast on some nice long forest back roads. Life is good.

Nick


Perth Ontario (look familiar Austin?)

Perth

Nice one Nick. Remember? Yup, lunch on the decking by the river in the first photo. a great day's ride along some great tarmac and gravel roads

 

[-XP-]

You're a lucky man to have that on your doorstep.

 

[Lutin]

You seem to be getting on well with the Quota, Nick.

What's your impression of the bike, if I might ask?

 

[nick949]

You seem to be getting on well with the Quota, Nick.

What's your impression of the bike, if I might ask?

You certainly may Lutin.

It's big and lean: long wheelbase but surprisingly narrow, very stable and well balanced either on unpaved or paved roads. The wide bars give great control. Comfortable, relaxed seat and wonderful, open riding position with plenty of leg room for my 34 inch inseam. It's a bit like a grown-up KLR with twice the power.

I finished my 400km ride yesterday and didn't once have to shuffle my butt or think about my knees. I probably haven't got the forks and mono-shock dialed in properly, but it gives a smooth ride, even over rough stuff. Potholes and washboard don't unsettle it much.

The engine is classic Guzzi. There's a bit of a grumbly spot between 3700 and 4000, but other than that it's fairly smooth, although unlike so many modern bikes, you still know you're riding a motorbike. Gear box is a little clunky in the lower gears but I've yet to find a false neutral. Ignore all road tests that mention shaft-jacking - the writers are full of shit. The shaft drive works as it should. Trolling along in second gear on unpaved forest roads is smooth - the fueling (on this particular bike) is well sorted.

It has more than enough power for me. I did a longish spell on the motorway the other day and cruising at 130/80 is effortless with plenty in reserve. Overtaking at any speed isn't an issue.

It's a bit of a fuel hog. I seem to be getting around 6.2 litres/100kms (47 mpg) whereas the more powerful Breva 1100 regularly got 5.2 - but I knew they had that reputation before I bought it. I get about 260 kilometres per tank before the fuel light stays on, with at least 3 litres left.

Being a bit of a luddite, I have no idea how the electronic ignition, ECU or fuel injection function, hope I never have to find out, and am a bit wary of going anywhere too remote (yet) until I get used to it. But everything seems to work as it should. So far it hasn't missed a beat.

Best of all, it feels like a new bike and was a total bargain. As they say at McD's "I'm lovin' it!"

Nick

edit: but I should add, Guzzis are an acquired taste and not for everyone. You can't switch from your Yamkawsuki and expect one to feel and work the same - they just don't. They have quirks which you either live with or hate.

 

[Rubberchicken]

I suspect I might get on with them well enough, being used to BMW Airheads. Basically the same tech, big agricultural pushrod twin with clunky gearbox, except totally different ofcourse. I know the Quota is faster in the corners, at least the guy I know who had one kept happily running away when I had the valve cover already on the floor. That said, I'm rather fond of the parts supply for the old Beemers whereas the stories one hears about keeping old Guzzis running...

 

[nick949]

I suspect I might get on with them well enough, being used to BMW Airheads. Basically the same tech, big agricultural pushrod twin with clunky gearbox, except totally different ofcourse. I know the Quota is faster in the corners, at least the guy I know who had one kept happily running away when I had the valve cover already on the floor. That said, I'm rather fond of the parts supply for the old Beemers whereas the stories one hears about keeping old Guzzis running...

I have no trouble getting everything I need almost down to the last nut and bolt within a few days from either MgCycle, Harpers or Moto International, even for my bikes from the 70's. I'm sure Guzzibits in the UK may be almost useful too. Also,many parts are interchangeable between models, or can be adapted, which helps. My various mishaps are almost always my own fault

If you expect everything to be done by or supplied by a Guzzi shop, that's a different matter and I could see problems there, but few Guzzi riders bother with dealers much. And any way, they never break down....

Nick

Moto Guzzi: 'making mechanics out of riders since 1921' and 'going out of business since 1921'

 

[Rubberchicken]

Same as airheads then, except the out of business part.

 

[Lowflyer]

Nice one Nick

Looks a bit like the highlands ---- except drier and no midges
That porcupine looks a little the worse for wear. Anyone for Porcupine Pie ??

My friend ran over a beaver up here a while back, it had escaped from a local wildlife park

 

[Mark]

www.gutsibits.co.uk are a good source of parts. All have owned/currently own Guzzi's and have a passion for them. I have the fortune of a lovely wife but the misfortune of her only wanting/owning Guzzi's

 

[nick949]

http://www.gutsibits.co.uk are a good source of parts. All have owned/currently own Guzzi's and have a passion for them. I have the fortune of a lovely wife but the misfortune of her only wanting/owning Guzzi's

She has good taste (in bikes, and possibly husbands ). Get her a Guzzi. Ride whatever you like

Nick

 

[nick949]

Mostly gravel and hard-pack today. I love the way this bike handles ...and it's still not winter, although snow will be here soon enough

 

[austin]

It certainly looks different in autumn and that road looks very slick. Is the old house the one we went past on the way to Perth?

 

[nick949]

It certainly looks different in autumn and that road looks very slick. Is the old house the one we went past on the way to Perth?

It was a little dicey in spots, but the 63 inch wheelbase certainly helps. This one was a bit north=west of Perth, but there are quite a few around. I could stand living in this one!

Nick