My road-eater..

[Cornbread Red]

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p241/CornbreadRed_photos/USBreader028.jpg

[Cornbread Red]

Sorry to use two posts for this, but I am truly a sailcat on the Information Superhighway..

This is one of two Moto Guzzi Quotas I have. -Why are they called Quotas? I've researched this for years, and nobody knows why. ..Guess it is just a "thaang" with MG.. At least it's not called a Griso (Grease-Oh!);).

The Quota was only produced for a couple years. Both of mine are 2000 models, and I had to hunt some to find them. One I went to Albuquerque to get, and one took traveling to Atlanta for. Both were worth the trip.

Guzzis are kinda the Anti-Beemer. While mine does have fuel injection, it is a much more "basic" bike than the usual crop of RS and RT's. THe tranny on a Guzzi definately doesn't "snick" into gear ..no, you have to give the lever a good stout kick between gear changes. A nice "Carruunk" is your reward, and then it pulls with that distinctive Italian whine known only to Duck riders, Guzzistis, and those rich cagers who own Ferraris and Mazi's.

I've done many a long day in the saddle of my Italian girls, and even though it's 1100cc, it feels light as a 650 dualsport.

Oh, and that pimped-out orange windshield? The guy I got it from was a Mad Scientist who worked out at Sandia Labs making (classified)... He figured it would improve his vision in snow (In Albuquerque??) Hey, I've gotten used to it, and now perversely kinda dig it.. Dare to be different.
:D
Chip

[ÜberDoober]

That's a nice bike and I kind of like the windshield. That's some mega luggage you got on there. Big enough to carry midgets!

I rode a Moto Guzzi once, a Le Mans, I think? What surprised me most about it was the torque over effect when you revved the motor. Not sure what it's called? It was a take your time, long throw clunk to change gears too. I knew a guy I used to race with that ended up working for the Guzzi distributor for a while and brought a bike over one day for a test ride.

The spoked wheels are nice too! :)

[Cornbread Red]

The luggage is actually one big bag from a company called Rev-Pack. Jim Revley has a ranch in New Cuyama California and makes the best soft luggage and tankbags I've ever seen. They used to have a annual rally out at his place called the Songdog Ranch. Sadly, some political mucky-mucks in the County Zoning Dept shut the rally down. But Jim still makes the goods, Made In America.:seeya:

Guzzis have a big flywheel, that, and the driveshaft layout make for what aviators call the P-factor. Torque applied in that direction of rotation make the bike want to "pull up" when it's revved. You get used to it.

My third Guzzi in the garage is a very rare V65TT. A 650 twin made in 1986. 28 were imported to the US, and about eight remain in the whole world. I love the little thing. I'll have to take some pictures of the bike and post here.

Chip

[Cornbread Red]

http://s130.photobucket.com/albums/p241/CornbreadRed_photos/th_2d_2.jpghttp://s130.photobucket.com/albums/p241/CornbreadRed_photos/th_Cellphone1007.jpg

Dinky pics, but the ad is for the V65TT and the other pic is my Black Quota at Bonneville last Summer.

[ÜberDoober]

I like your red one better and I'm sure it's faster too! That V65TT is one strange critter.

Okay, spotted your new avatar yesterday and thought it looked like Jack Ruby shooting Lee Harvey Oswald but the mic & keyboards threw me. I zoomed in on it and still wasn't sure but did a little Googling this morning and found it. Very clever! :)

I remember that Songdog Ranch thing. I think Doober Mr. Toad (that hasn't posted yet) has been there?

[Cornbread Red]

If you look in the background of that "slightly doctored" photo, you'll see the logo for the Dead Kennedys band on the wall..