Topica Loopframe_Guzzi Archive


Subject: Re: Guzzi on Ebay

Author: Harry Burris

Date: Aug 1, 2003, 6:20 AM

Post ID: 1713998524




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-------Original Message-------

From: Loopfram-@topica.com
Date: Friday, August 01, 2003 07:38:06 AM
To: Loopfram-@topica.com
Subject: Guzzi on Ebay

Hey, A.J.

Regarding the Guzzi on E-Bay - that bike is a "Convert" - the term describes
the transmission, which is a 2 speed (High and Low Range) gearbox with a
torque converter in front (they also have what I consider a mostly redundant
clutch). I personally think these are wonderful bikes, but they aren't for
everyone, mainly because some people just don't like the idea of a
semi-automatic transmission in a bike. They have triple disk linked brakes,
a very torquey 1000cc motor, and they offer superb handling qualities for a
bike of their era. The chassis is the famous (among Guzzisti at least)
Tonti" which was introduced for the V7 Sport in 1972. This chassis and
derivatives of it has been used for the majority of Guzzis sold in America
since then. It is a very easy bike to ride, and they are great in traffic,
due to the fact that you do not have to shift or manipulate a clutch - just
twist the throttle and go. They are also sneaky quick on twisty roads - I
ve surprised a lot of riders on supposedly superior equipment with ours.
And the brakes are very good, vastly superior to the drum brakes on the
Loops". They have a few negatives, however:

1. They are a lot bigger and heavier than I would recommend for a first
bike - but then, so are the "loopframes". I strongly suggest something
significantly smaller and lighter for the first season, then if you want to
continue riding, go for what you really want.

2. If you are among the taller (say, 6' or so), you will find yourself
constantly banging your knees on the cylinder heads. Some big guys get
around this by adopting the knees out style of a lot of Harley riders.

3. The early production of this bike (1976) had a reputation for developing
cracks in the flywheel, which was a lightweight reinforced sheetmetal part.
Guzzi quickly replaced these with a much heavier (1" thick!), indestructible
solid steel part - there was a recall, and the early ones were mostly
updated. However, we had two '76 Converts that both had the original
lightweight flywheel. Nedither of them gave us any trouble. One of them
had over 160,000 miles on it when we finally sold it, and the original
flywheel was still fine.

4. Guzzis of this vintage (the early DeTomaso years) had notoriously poor
quality switchgear (along with other typically Italianesque electrical
issues), and some serious quality control problems such as misaligned
gearboxes, porous engine cases, and crummy chrome.

Having said all that, if this bike was within 300 miles of us, I would "Buy
it Now" for $800 in a heartbeat.

HarryBinNC

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------
Original message:

Hi guys, I've been lurking on this list for a while now, learning and
researching. I've posted once or twice, so some of you may know that I am
looking for my first bike. I've been smitten by Guzzi since I first saw one
10 or so years ago, and I really want a Loop versus all the other choices.
I've really appreciated the feedback and openness on this list.

That said, does anyone know anything about this bike?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI
dll?ViewItem&item=2426243222&category=6713

It's not a beloved loop :( but the location is perfect for me, (my folks
live there). I was thinking it might be a good place to start and find an
Ambo/Eldo later after learning about Guzzi on this one, but I don't want a
huge project, I want a bike I can enjoy. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

AJ




"Everybody has a little bit of Watergate in him." -Billy Graham
http://www.aj.huff.org/satellite.htm

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<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV id=IncrediOriginalMessage><I>-------Original Message-------</I></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV id=receivestrings>
<DIV dir=ltr style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt" <i><B>From:</B></I> <A
href="mailto:Loopfram-@topica.com">Loopfram-@topica.com</A></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt" <i><B>Date:</B></I> Friday, August
01, 2003 07:38:06 AM</DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt" <i><B>To:</B></I> <A
href="mailto:Loopfram-@topica.com">Loopfram-@topica.com</A></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt" <i><B>Subject:</B></I> Guzzi on
Ebay</DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Hey, A.J.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Regarding the Guzzi on E-Bay - that bike is a "Convert" - the term
describes the transmission, which is a 2 speed (High and Low Range)
gearbox with a torque converter in front (they also have what I consider a
mostly redundant clutch). I personally think these are wonderful
bikes, but they aren't for everyone, mainly because some people just don't
like the idea of a semi-automatic transmission in a bike. They have
triple disk linked brakes, a very torquey 1000cc motor, and they offer
superb handling qualities for a bike of their era. The chassis is
the famous (among Guzzisti at least) "Tonti" which was introduced for
the V7 Sport in 1972. This chassis and derivatives of it has been
used for the majority of Guzzis sold in America since then. It
is a very easy bike to ride, and they are great in traffic, due to the
fact that you do not have to shift or manipulate a clutch - just twist the
throttle and go. They are also sneaky quick on twisty roads - I've
surprised a lot of riders on supposedly superior equipment with
ours. And the brakes are very good, vastly superior to the drum
brakes on the "Loops". They have a few negatives, however:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>1. They are a lot bigger and heavier than I would recommend for
a first bike - but then, so are the "loopframes". I strongly suggest
something significantly smaller and lighter for the first season, then if
you want to continue riding, go for what you really want.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>2. If you are among the taller (say, 6' or so), you will find
yourself constantly banging your knees on the cylinder heads. Some
big guys get around this by adopting the knees out style of a lot of
Harley riders.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>3. The early production of this bike (1976) had a reputation
for developing cracks in the flywheel, which was a lightweight reinforced
sheetmetal part. Guzzi quickly replaced these with a much heavier
(1" thick!), indestructible solid steel part - there was a recall, and the
early ones were mostly updated. However, we had two '76 Converts
that both had the original lightweight flywheel. Nedither of them
gave us any trouble. One of them had over 160,000 miles on it when
we finally sold it, and the original flywheel was still fine. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>4. Guzzis of this vintage (the early DeTomaso years) had
notoriously poor quality switchgear (along with other typically
Italianesque electrical issues), and some serious quality control problems
such as misaligned gearboxes, porous engine cases, and crummy
chrome. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Having said all that, if this bike was within 300 miles of us, I
would "Buy it Now" for $800 in a heartbeat.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>HarryBinNC</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</DIV>
<DIV>Original message:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Hi guys, I've been lurking on this list for a while now, learning
and</DIV>
<DIV>researching. I've posted once or twice, so some of you may know that
I am</DIV>
<DIV>looking for my first bike. I've been smitten by Guzzi since I first
saw one</DIV>
<DIV>10 or so years ago, and I really want a Loop versus all the other
choices.</DIV>
<DIV>I've really appreciated the feedback and openness on this list.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>That said, does anyone know anything about this bike?</DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2426243222&category=6713">http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2426243222&category=6713</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>It's not a beloved loop :( but the location is perfect for me, (my
folks</DIV>
<DIV>live there). I was thinking it might be a good place to start and
find an</DIV>
<DIV>Ambo/Eldo later after learning about Guzzi on this one, but I don't
want a</DIV>
<DIV>huge project, I want a bike I can enjoy. Any thoughts?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Thanks,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>AJ</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"Everybody has a little bit of Watergate in him." -Billy Graham</DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://www.aj.huff.org/satellite.htm">http://www.aj.huff.org/satellite.htm</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
-----</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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