Moto Guzzi Cruiser

Moto Guzzi is without a doubt the most reliable long life motocycle ever made. Sure there are a few other vehicles that can compare to the Guzzi reliability such as the BMW pushrod engine bikes, the Honda Gold Wings, and the Mercedes 300D. In the mid 1960s when the Italian government needed a bike that would run for 60,000 miles, Moto Guzzi answered the call. Think about the poor quality of motor oil in the 1960s and 1970s. During this time automobiles had a life span of about 100,000 miles. Moto Guzzis were running 100,000 miles or more when other bikes struggled to reach 25K. A simple overbuilt engine design that holds as much oil as many cars will lead to longer life. The industrial strength drive train helps too. See high mileage Guzzis here.

How would you measure performance? At the drag strip? A Moto Guzzi cruiser will run neck and neck with the hot rod Kawasaki 1600 Vulcan Mean Streak and will out run a 1340cc Harley Davidson Heritage Softtail. In the twisties? The Moto Guzzi handles better than any cruiser made. You can not have a fair comparison. The Moto guzzi is much lighter (140 lbs less than Heritage Softtail) than other cruisers in it's class. An experienced Guzzi rider will run away from many sportbikes on mountain roads. Nothing will make you feel worse than an old man on a Guzzi pulling away from your fast nimble Honda CBR. Moto Guzzi riders normally spend much more time in the saddle, so the riding skill is greater. Long distance touring? How do you think Moto Guzzis get so many miles on them? Add a good windshield, highway pegs, and saddle bags (and bigger seat?). A moto guzzi will travel just as good as any Beamer or Road King. If you want more freeway comfort, get a Cadillac Deville. In the dirt? What? Are you crazy? You would be surprised just how well a Moto Guzzi handles on dirt roads and some trails. It is not a dual purpose bike, but it will work off road as well as some adventure bikes. Point where you want to go and gas it. The torque will take you anywhere you can get traction! Avoid deep sand and big rocks! At the gas pump? At 44 to 50 MPG Moto Guzzi cruisers get the same fuel mileage as 750cc and 800cc Japanese bikes. Awesome!

Are used Moto Guzzis a bargain? Darn right the are! Unlike Harley Davidson there is not a supply and demand problem. Used Moto Guzzi cruisers are priced competive with the used Japanese cruisers. Buying a Moto Guzzi with 15,000 miles on it is like buying a new motorcycle! As for myself, I would buy one with 7k to 12k miles on it insted of buying brand new. This way I don't have to go through the long break-in period plus I save a few grand. If you are looking for a good status symbol in the motorcycling world, a Moto Guzzi is it. Most people don't know Guzzis. If your bike is clean, they won't know if it is 10 years old or new. Just because it is from Italy, some riders think it is exotic and expensive. I have been asked "why didn't you buy a harley?" I didn't tell them I only spent $5900 for my 7,500 mile 1999 Moto Guzzi Bassa.

Moto Guzzi Pics and Specifications

First ignore the reviews in the magazines. They don't know that it takes 8000 miles to break-in a Moto Guzzi. Every road test you read will say the same thing. "The suspension is too stiff, the transmissions is hard to shift, and the engine shakes too much". IF they tested a used bike, the reviews would be good.
The 2001 and newer Moto Guzzi models models have improved shifting. I really can't tell much difference between a well broke-in 1996 Cali III transmission and a newer 2005 Stone tranny except for the shorter throw. In fact if you don't pussyfoot the shift lever, the older Moto Guzzi models way back to 1973 shifted just fine.
2003 California based models got an upgrade to hydraulic lifters. There was some camshaft problems in 2003 models, and Moto Guzzi is fixing them for free. Before you buy, ask the owner if the camshaft warranty work has been done. Some 2003 models had hairline cracks in the lower fork crown. No breakage has been reported, but it is a concern. If you are buying a high mileage bike, here are a few things you need to know. Front wheel bearings head south at about 25,000 miles. Valves need replaced at 45,000 miles. If a valve breaks, it causes hell in the engine. Check the rear differential for excessive wear and leaks. This is normally the most neglected part of the bike. Check for play or ticking in the U-joint. Check for leaks around the bell housing. Check for play in the steering head bearings.

First, invest in some crash bars. It will be the best $100 you have ever spent. I use Napa 1348 or AC Delco PF53 oil filters. After break-in, I run Shell Rotella T Synthetic 5w40 and change it every 5,000 - 6,000 miles. I change the oil filter every second oil change. The Shell Rotella T Sythetic is made for abused diesel truck engines plus it is cheap. You can get it at Wal-Mart or any truck stop.
After break-in, I run synthetic gear oil in the transmission and rear differential. I always buy Lucas 75w90 synthetic from my local Napa store. I change the transmission and differential oil every 10,000 - 12,000 miles. Make sure to pack the rearend splines with high speed wheel bearing grease once a year. Change the fork oil when you first get your bike. The factory oil is crap, and it has likely never been changed. Spectro 10w is good.
There are so many opinions on tires. The brand and types of tires are not real critical. If you remember the older Moto Guzzis they only had 4.00-18 tires and handled very good. The Metzler 880 Marathon tires are king....if you can afford them. One friday I was in a rush to buy a new front tire. I wanted a Dunlop F11 as knew it worked good. The local Suzuki dealer only had a Cheng Shin Hi-Max 110/90-18 in stock that would fit. I had doubts about putting a cheap taiwan tire on my prize Goose. Hey! This is the best rain tire I have ever used. It works well in all conditions, but awesome in the rain. The oil strip in the road doesn't bother it much either.

Cheng Shin C906 Hi-Max (Metzler Knock off?)
Guzzi cruisers are not tire picky. I run the Hi-Max C906 front tire and any brand on the rear. All the rear tires I have used perform about the same. In the past I was in a jam and couldn't find a 140/80-17 rear tire for my Cali III. I purchased a 150/70-17 IRC and it worked great. The 150 tire put on the 3.5" rim is 26" diameter...same as the 140/80-17! I wonder if they are the same size tire, but marked different for 4.0 rims? Both have the same load rating. V rated or H rated? I don't drive fast enough to care. The H rated tires should last longer.

How to add 12 reliable HP for under $250. I won't go into great detail. You can find more info on other Moto Guzzi sites. Drill a dozen 3/8" holes in the top of the air box, or remove the lid (loud!). Replace the third muffler or catalyst with an "H" crossover pipe. Replace the mufflers with the cheap Dunstall Megaphone clones (EMGO) from J.C. Whitney. Remove the smog crap. On older bikes you will need to experiment with the jetting for the carbs. After these mods, your engine will run much smoother at high RPMs, and cut almost a full second from your 1/4 mile. Mid range now has a much harder kick. You may experience better MPG too.

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My first Moto Guzzi: 1973 Police bike. I got it from my father with 76,000 miles on it when I was 19. I removed the faring and bags and mounted a Honda CT70 seat on the rear fender. I took every young lady in town for a ride on it. It had mini glass pack mufflers that made that loud V-twin (like harley) rumble. It made me popular. It was painted at least 5 times, once with a brush. I sold it for $500 in 1994 with 127,000 miles on it. I see it around town sometimes. I can tell because of the painted flames on the gas tank and the CT70 passenger seat.

My favorite Moto Guzzi: White 1999 Bassa. So pretty and ran so good. The first week I had her, I slept in the garage just to be close. A year later a soccer mom ran over her with a minivan. Things have not been the same. With the insurance money I bought an used Jackal. The Jackal did not completely heal my broken heart.

My Current Moto Guzzi: 2000 black Jackal. It has 81,000 miles on it. It is turning into a rat bike. I try to keep up with my buddy's Honda XR650 on logging roads. Sometimes I forget the bike weighs 540 lbs when flattracking through corners at 60 MPH. I have had it airborne several times. I am planning to put a dual purpose 130/90-17 tire on the rear just to see how it works. Do I need a Quota?
Out on the freeway at 75 MPH, I hit a large piece of truck tire rubber, and the bike cartwheeled about five times. Only damaged the seat, tail light, and mirrors (me: 2 broken ribs). I have crashed it at least 6 times and it still runs great. This Guzzi is built like a tank. Looks like hell though. Thank Goodness for duct tape and JB Weld.

My dream Moto Guzzi. A black and gold California Special Sport. It looks like a trouble maker. The newer California Titanium looks good too. This year?

Why did I build this site? Moto Guzzi motorcycles have given me so much pleasure for over 27 years. This is my way of giving something back. I have owned many other brands, but I keep coming back to Moto Guzzi. Moto Guzzi V11 Cruisers are so reliable and handle great. It is not just a cruiser, but a tourer, a standard, and adventure bike. Plus Moto Guzzi has something few other motorcycles have. Soul.

Pappa Goose