just tried a harley

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MartDude · #31 Post by **MartDude** » Fri Sep 13, 2013 2:47 pm

Falcorob wrote:The pic is actually a Thunderbird. 1600cc twin. The Rocket 3 is in different league of WHY?

And usually ridden by massively fat f***ers; makes up for not being able to see their penises for their bellies (for those who were there, remember Club Aprilia weekend, Shillington, 2010? Also, the genesis of the pink hat)

Edit. It was 2009. 2010 was the Year of the (toxic) Pig (roast)

randomsquid · #32 Post by **randomsquid** » Fri Sep 13, 2013 4:16 pm

lazarus wrote:
I would take some convincing that guzzi are even as reliable as hd.

I had a Guzzi for 14 years, mechanically they're very hard to break. Wiring could have been better but this was a bike built at the back end of the 80s.

lazarus · #33 Post by **lazarus** » Sat Sep 14, 2013 9:32 am

Always fancied a guzzi - lovely air cooled engine. But poor dealer support and reliability have stopped me so far

D-Rider · #34 Post by **D-Rider** » Sat Sep 14, 2013 9:47 am

lazarus wrote:Always fancied a guzzi - lovely air cooled engine. But poor dealer support and reliability have stopped me so far

Are they really unreliable?
They are part of the Piaggio group that also own Aprilia. I would imagine that Piaggio would be unlikely to allow one brand to have excellent reliability and a sister brand to be unreliable.

HisNibbs · #35 Post by **HisNibbs** » Sat Sep 14, 2013 10:17 am

The 4 valve heads I believe have problems with the valve gear. I think it's from to needing to be assembled from tolerance matched sets and this not being enforced on the assembly line.

My old Guzzi was not particularly reliable and I suspect it was a "Friday" bike being made under the threat of factory closure in 88/89. They are simple to fix though and problems can be sorted out by a knowledgeable home mechanic to make stonking bikes.

I think they out Harley a Harley for style and cruiser chic, handle and go surprisingly well.

MartDude · #36 Post by **MartDude** » Sat Sep 14, 2013 2:17 pm

HisNibbs wrote:
I think they out Harley a Harley for style and cruiser chic, .

I've long had a soft spot for the previous California, though I don't think the riding position would suit me now; seat too low. Quite liked the Bellagio, too.

lazarus · #37 Post by **lazarus** » Sat Sep 14, 2013 6:01 pm

Does Aprilia have excellent reliability D Rider? You certainly could assemble to two standards in the same factory, but arent they made in different factories?

D-Rider · #38 Post by **D-Rider** » Sat Sep 14, 2013 10:02 pm

lazarus wrote:Does Aprilia have excellent reliability D Rider?

Surprised you feel you have to ask.

lazarus wrote:You certainly could assemble to two standards in the same factory

You could but why would you?

lazarus wrote: but arent they made in different factories?

Yes .... but large engineering companies do tend to run basic standards across all of their sub brands.
I'm not saying that Toyota apply identical standards to both Daihatsu and Lexus or VW to Audi and Seat (or Ducati) but the underlying ethos will normally permeate.

It seems that Keith has heard of some issues at Guzzi - so maybe there are a few problems there.

lazarus · #39 Post by **lazarus** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 4:35 pm

D-Rider wrote:
lazarus wrote:Does Aprilia have excellent reliability D Rider?
Surprised you feel you have to ask.

Never owned one but I do remember chat about poor spares backup when they first imported big bikes

[quote="D-Rider"

D-Rider wrote:
lazarus wrote:You certainly could assemble to two standards in the same factory
You could but why would you?

Typo - using a tablet. I meant to say that you could not assemble to two standards in the same factory. That would be my experience after running factories myself. But then they are different factories so that doesnt apply.

MartDude · #40 Post by **MartDude** » Mon Sep 23, 2013 6:57 pm

Anyway, back to H-D

D-Rider · #41 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Sep 23, 2013 7:29 pm

Love it!

lazarus · #42 Post by **lazarus** » Wed Sep 25, 2013 7:55 am

Curious about guzzi - saw the hairy bikers riding the stelvio model on tv. I want an upright bike hence either adventure or cruiser styles. So what about the relative merits of the stelvio or the aprilia equivalent

blinkey501 · #43 Post by **blinkey501** » Wed Sep 25, 2013 9:30 am

J and S at Doncaster have a second hand stelvio in, I sat on it and the seating position was nice.
It had luggage too. Did I like it. Yes, it is a nice bike to look at. Never ridden one though.
Would I like one. Yes I liked it that much.

HisNibbs · #44 Post by **HisNibbs** » Wed Sep 25, 2013 11:33 am

lazarus wrote:Curious about guzzi - saw the hairy bikers riding the stelvio model on tv. I want an upright bike hence either adventure or cruiser styles. So what about the relative merits of the stelvio or the aprilia equivalent

I took a stelvio out for 20 mils or so a couple of years back. I liked it but can't offer a comparison against the Aprillia Capo or the BMWGS for that matter.

It was tall, torguey and for its size handled well. I was not a fan of the high bar riding position which goes with the terrain as it were...

MartDude · #45 Post by **MartDude** » Fri Sep 27, 2013 5:00 pm

lazarus wrote: I want an upright bike

Like this? (Pete & James in a few years)