How do you say about a "good bike" ?
Here's my keyword to think about a quality of Italian motorbike.
That is : "designing" and "manufacturing".

First, "designing" means drawing, in short way. Engine type, mount position, framework, suspension alignment, wheelbase, ... "design" is all that written in the drawing, which affects to the bike good or not.
Second, "manufacturing" means the ability of factory production line. Japanese makers are the king with no doubt. They make huge amount of bikes with superior uniformity. That managing ability is tremendous.
We need both of these. And these are not independent, they complements each other.
A drawing has no meaning if no one can fabricate it, or too nervous to keep its performance. Robust and cheep bike is not best if it's boring.
Deep consideration for manufacturebility and maintenance is very important for designing. And a progress of manufacturing technique may help better design to be a real.
The point to understand a quality of production is to see how these two are conflicting. That will help you to get the bike of best quality, I think.

Not only MOTO GUZZI but many Italian makers still have advantage to design unique products, their company scale is very small though. They determine own idea, design,  work, on their own skill. It could be said it's a contrary way of "standard" Japanese type which starts its consideration from "marketing".
Creativity is good, but dogmatic not. Market judges that unique design. So, deep consideration and enough experiences are needed to succeed project.
Most of that sort of jobs seem to owe for one person's style. That's because the italian bikes used to be told with related person's name, like Tambrini, Marconi, etc.
So I'd say, the joy of a small maker's bike is, to touch designer's idea that may point out unexpected truth, and to estimate it on riders own style. It may direct you to a new world.

MOTO GUZZI has started its carrier as a bike maker from far before the Japanese makers establish recent modes. It has a long tradition. So GUZZI has its own skill to build up unique bikes as a product.
Here's some examples of independent design of MOTO GUZZI.

crank case does not divide

Normally, crankcase divides into two or more pieces. They are connected width a  few bolts.
The crank case of MOTO GUZZI big V-twin does not divide. It's one piece with careful ribs on it to reinforce. Crank shaft is held on a two bearing housing that figured by arrow in the drawing below.


from Mario Columbo "MOTO GUZZI" NADA ISBN :887911039X
allows are added by the author of this page.

It's strong and accurate. Good to allow that heavy crank shaft to rotate at high revolution.
I'd say as a owner, it's super. That robust crank shaft is willing to rotate such a high revolution, with less vibration. That makes the engine powerful and very long life time.
That architecture differs much from a "normal" structure of Japanese bikes. It may cost more, but MOTO GUZZI does not change it. It's because they think it's worth of it. I agree.

framework like a glove

one of the example of a TONTI frame is shown.

The essence of designing bike frame is how to joint steering head and swing arm pivot, making a way beyond a big obstacle : engine.
TONTI frame shown in the picture above is, as you see, usual type of double cradle. It's constructed with straight pipe, and make the margin off the objects, like engine or fuel tank. That's said "a frame like a glove" as a meaning of it fits so tight.
It's strong against both of bend and twist, and small and light. It's a excellent solution versus a unique engine type : transverse V-twin.
Well, if you are the designer, how do you make it ?
For example, with aluminum twin tube, it would be must to avoid the cylinder. It will be too "fat", or "stupid" with too high steering head or too low engine mount. Right, unique engine demands originality.
I think hub steer would be a fine architecture for this kind of engine. Because the crank case is narrow, it would be good to make the front swing arm pivot slim. Maybe the combination of the "advanced" hub steer and "heritage" OHV twin would look funny, but I'd say I don't want to see a big headed "afro" V-twin with a advanced DOHC mechanism...

turn light switch

Here's a more simple example.
MOTO GUZZI has a few type of turn light switches, and the one shown below is for the models of mid-80s.



Green lever shown by right arrow is the switch. Up is for right, down is left. That's the same way of cars.
How off that switch ? With that green lever ? No, it's too nervous.
You can see the base of that switch, pointed by the left arrow and circle, which moves with the green lever. When you off turn switch, push that base until flat. It's very easy.
It's simple and good touch rather a usual push cancel type, and more comfortable than the push-up type of recent BMW.

I hope I could show some examples of my opinion that MOTO GUZZI is unique but adequate.
More examples will be added when I think of.

Well, let's go to the other one "manufacturing".
I'd say it's perfect win of Japanese big makers.
It's because, manufacturing technique is based on "how many products did you make". One miss manufacturing for 10.000 products won't be apparent if you don't make it 10,000 pieces, and it will be more 100,000 product to see whether you could settle the problem or not.
You can study easily management system, but manufacturing not. Because, basically,  it's a matter of experience, not the theory.
So the product level of MOTO GUZZI is worse than the Japanese, and It will not catch up in the future.
So GUZZI is worthless to ride at all ?
No.
Its production level is less than Japs, but It isn't so bat. It can satisfy you for its quality.
Well, my GUZZI bikes have never stopped on the road, even though all I gave them is routine normal maintenance.
It may still has a instability, but it can be perfect on your own skill and effort. It's not so difficult to complete production issues.

Last aspect on this page is about the parts support.
I'd say again, it's not good as Japanese big makers, but not worst.
Consumptive parts are supplied constantly, and you can also get more big parts like bodywork, maybe you have to wait a bit though. I think its fine as such a small maker.
Even though your GUZZI is old, it will run in not so far future.

MOTO GUZZI's weak point against Japanese bikes could be said only a small instability that arises from manufacturing deviation. You can fix them easily, and then, you will touch a marvelously bike of unique design on the earth.
Sure, you can do it. Don't hesitate.

Ombra
Dec. 2005

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