Pexi's Moto Guzzi Weblog

7500 km service done

My 750 Breva got its 7500 km service today at Aigle Motos in Nice. In addition to regular maintenance, both tires were also changed. 7000 km with a set of tires. I've seen and heard that other people can get some 15000 km out of one set. Odd. The new set is Bridgestone BT45 and strangely they look somehow smaller than the Pirellis I had previously. Can't comment on how they feel yet, as they are still new and slippery.

While I was waiting for the bike, I took some pictures of the Guzzis in the showroom:

Technical images of Breva 1100

I'm traveling this week, so it's been a bit quiet here... hope I can do some riding tomorrow or Sunday, after returning back to home - which is now equipped with on-line monitored security system. In the meanwhile: here are some CAD images of the big Breva. Posted from the Hotel Pilotti from Finland.

Am I French or what?

Thanks for asking Hugues, I'm more in the "what" category: a Finnish guy, born in 1960 in south-east Finland in a town called Imatra. Now relocated here in the warmer climate since last century, let's say 1998, as an entrepreneur.

I've been a Guzzi fan since my childhood, I guess. Some of the readers may remember that there used to be a TT race, a Finnish Grand Prix at Imatra, which was a major happening those days in the neighborhood, in a small town which came alive once a year. I saw plenty of those TT races. And yes, I saw a lot of Guzzis.

Anyway, I don't remember Guzzi as a racing bike (like e.g. MV Agusta), but instead I remember how the people I knew and saw used to admire the Guzzis among the thousands of bikes coming to see the race. That admiration was somehow catching and poisonous, it obviously carried with me over the years and finally surfaced last year, when I was looking for a real motorbike to replace the Aprilia scooter, which I had been using for commuting for three years here. One test ride with the Breva and I was a lost case. It was a Guzzi, it was size-wise like made for me and it's attitude was correct. I fell in love. Then ended up writing a blog about it. Scary.

Here we go again, one more photo album: Breva 1100 engine

New photo album containing 19 pictures of the new  1100 engine is now published: Breva 1100 Engine . Enjoy. Well yes, I like them, but then, I have a B.Sc. in engineering so what do you expect. Only oil is missing from the pics, otherwise they are perfect.

Another new photo album: Moto Guzzi Factory, April 2005

Another new set of photos from my visit to Mandello is now published and available, look for an album called "Moto Guzzi Factory, April 2005" (the links to the albums are on the right).

Update: added one photo of Mandello del Lario as seen from the other side of the Lago di Como.

New photo album: Breva 1100 designs

Just added a new photo album (see photo album links on the right): some sketches and mock-ups from the design and development phase of the big Breva. Gives an interesting insight how the final shape of the bike evolved during the years.

The pictures originate from the Breva 1100 press release CD, but I have not seen many of them published before, so here they are!

Moto Guzzi Breva 1100 test ride at Mandello

That's right! I had the privilege to test ride the big Breva at Mandello del Lario last Friday. Unfortunately the weather was totally terrible - it had been raining all day and by the time in the afternoon I got the bike the rain was absolutely pouring from the sky.

"Great test report" might not be the right wording to describe what comes out when we combine heavy rain, unknown environment, unfamiliar new bike and my lack of riding experience in rain. But anyway, I rode the bike in less than optimal conditions and what you'll read below are real subjective results of that riding experience.

Here she is (pic on the left), a bit battered press bike waiting for me, under the wings of the famous factory eagle. I had plenty of time to check the bike while waiting for the paperwork and noticed that some hooligan press people had already given her hard time - the signs on the rear tire were more than clear. Sniff, I sweared the weather even more.

Then I fired the v-twin and couldn't care less about the weather - what a soundtrack! Euro-regulated it is, but it sounds awesome still! Not too loud, but a clearly self confident, proud tone, exactly like the Guzzis from the past. I think my hands were trembling now - still waiting for Giorgio to bring those papers...

The chromed decorative "strip" at the side of the tank, the item I critized when I first saw the bike in real life (at the exhibition one week ago, see below) seems to be a good looking quality part in these production bikes. The bike on the exhibition was obviously some kind of pre-production model - so please ignore my text from the exhibition.

Compared to my 750 Breva, there is a lot of useful space under the the saddle. Two separate boxes, one for bike papers plus e.g. for emergency rain suit, and the bigger one, into which I could easily fit my camera equipment - with a lot of remaining space. It's not a scooter though, so you need to store your helmet and a six pack somewhere else.

Eventually I signed the papers, clicked the visor down and hit the road. I'm not one of the world's most talented riders and I value my life, so I took it Carefully (yes, with capital C). Even so, my first feelings, only after riding the small streets of the Mandello down to the shore to take some shots:

1) the gearbox, the clutch and the engine work together like a dream. A two phase change from first to second exists no more. The engine could probably survive with a box with three gears - it doesn't hesitate no matter whatever gear you use.

2) The handlebar feels wide, making town manouvering easy. But squeezing into the narrow gaps between cars feels more worrying than with the 750 as the whole bike feels much wider.

3) The suspension is very comfortable. I could even go as far as saying that it is incredibly comfortable. Yet remember that the front and rear are both adjustable and I have no idea how this bike was set up by the factory experts.

Now, why's that trimmed athlete in the wet suit posing in the above picture!?? And where are the girls from the beach?

On the highway to Lecco (the pics above are from there) the Breva felt relaxed and steady. There were absolutely no wibes at all at the steady 100 km/h and the engine was pulling really effortlessly. Unfortunately the rain was far too bad for me to test any higher speed cruising. I could only imagine what a great touring bike this would be with a windshield and side panniers. Maybe some day...

As a summary I'd say that my expectations were high and I was not disappointed. 1100 Breva feels and looks like a solid, well built bike which radiates positive Guzzi-feeling. And it is easy and comfortable to ride. Should be a good recipe, non?

Ok, enough blah blah for one day, I'll post more material and pictures from inside the factory and the production lines etc soon.

Ciao!

Assholes home jacked my Alfa

When shit is about to happen it obviously happens in shitloads. Today lesser people had broken the gate to my house, forcefully went inside using an axe, thrown stuff around inside, found the keys and papers of my Alfa GTA, stolen the bijoux (and a lot of memories) of my missus and then gassed away with my italian beauty, which they don't manufacture anymore. Oh, how I want to have a revenge!

I'm afraid that my blood pressure will hit the peak only tomorrow after seeing the insurance company.

MERDE!!!

46e Rallye Grasse Alpin

Few pictures from the last Friday evening, from the start of the of 46th Rallye Grasse Alpin. Some nice Historic Rally cars.

Moto Guzzi Breva V1100ie at Salon de la Moto

I visited today the Salon du Scooter et de la Moto in Cagnes sur Mer and there it was: a brand new big Breva! First impressions: it appears to be as well built as the V750, considerably bigger in size of course. The seat is a bit higher, not much, otherwise the riding position is very similar to the V750. I felt comfortable and familiar when sitting on it, yet I couldn't exactly flat foot it 100% (my jeans are 30' inseam. Yes, I'm short). Oddly the bike certainly didn't feel like weighting 50 kg more than the small brother. One "test sitter" even commented that it feels weighting like a bicycle. Maybe the tank was empty or something.

Only detail that hurt my eyes was the shiny chromed plastic parts both sides of the tank. The surface of the chrome was not smooth and looked like cheap plastic. Which it was of course. Those "stripes" are mat black rubber like material on V750ie, and look much better like that IMHO.

The dashboard is really magnificent - it's modern and traditional at the same time and it looks very very well made and robust. Must be one of the best designs at the moment. I liked the cast alloy handlebars, too. The rear light cluster, as well as the front light are beautifully designed, very Italian, very statue like items.

During the time I spent around the Breva, there was lot of positive interest around. I saw many eyes moving away from the bike and going into distance, beyond what was visible. The expression on the faces could only be described with one word: daydream. I was one of those lunatics, probably. LOL! Guzzi might have a good seller bike here - available early May in France, price 11900 euros.

Human mind is odd - after seeing the red big Breva, all other bikes seemed somehow lesser. I left the exhibition quite soon. So I guess I liked it a lot. Sorry about the bad picture quality.