Moto Guzzi Norge first impressions - Page 7

Scott of the Sahara · 07-09-2011, 07:10 AM

At some point we will not have a choice in new bikes. I think most of the 08's are sold now. I for one do not need more power and more high rev power.
If I wanted lots of power, I would not have chose Moto Guzzi. I am still amazed with the top gear throttle response at 65 or 70mph. If I drop it to 5th it really pulls to faster than I want very quickly.
After 11 months I have over 7,000 miles and have done all of the service stuff (adjusted valves, spark plugs, oil change, carc and tranny oil change) myself. If I do not ride like a nut, I can get 45 to 47 miles to a US gallon. Around town on short backroads I constantly get 40 MPG.
The only mod I have done is a Cal Science bigger windscreen:

richarddacat · 07-23-2011, 08:47 PM

bump to treat the bug

leafman60 · 07-25-2011, 04:40 AM

Thanks for the write-up. Sounds like a LOT of problems with fit and finish and bodywork !

Firefighter12 · 08-19-2011, 06:13 PM

Greetings, Road Warriors.

My NOS 2008 Norge is finally back in my possession, after time away at the body shop, and I'm $760 lighter. (Side panel and fairing lower; tank and shifter mount.)

Regards,

John / FF12
Colorado, USA

Scott of the Sahara · 08-20-2011, 08:42 AM

Within the first couple of days of having my Norge, I had the side cases on and no trunk yet. I took my wife out for a ride and went to see a friend. He had a gravel driveway and I dumped it on the driveway while trying to get to the street. I put some serious dings on one side case. Well now it is broke in. My wife said "dump it again with me and I won't ride with you again". We are still riding together.
The factory bags look cool. I like the removeability. I put everything into large ziplock bags. I may put another latch on the front corner of the bag to get it to seal better.

richarddacat · 08-20-2011, 09:16 AM

pretty cool photo arrangement.

front page material.

rocker59 · 08-20-2011, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richarddacat

pretty cool photo arrangement.

front page material.

Nah, it doesn't have a BMW in it...

CurtOKC · 08-20-2011, 05:29 PM

Back in July of this year while I was on vacation and in Seattle I stopped in at Moto International. I ended up buying a copy of Guzziology from Dave. Then when I got home to Oklahoma City I ended up ordering my first bike from Dave. A 2011 red V-7 Classic. It arrived by truck tuesday afternoon. I am so damn happy. Pudding face does not compare to Guzzi face. Dave and all the people at Moto International are the very best and I look forward to do business with them again.

BarkSlayer · 08-21-2011, 08:38 PM

One of the best looking sport-tourers ever! Too bad I'm 6' 4".

Scott of the Sahara · 08-22-2011, 07:34 AM

Being 6'4" is a blessing if you want to try out the many offerings of Sport Touring and Adventure Bikes.
With my impressive 5'8" Frame and 29" inseam (maybe it's 28"), I am limited to a bike that fits me and I can hold up in an intersection. The Honda ST 1300, The Yamaha FJR and The Kawasaki Concourse all had higher seat height that made those deal killers. My closest consideration was the BMW RT1200 but you had to buy a special seat lowering kit.

g®eg · 08-23-2011, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firefighter12

I, too, would dearly have wanted cruise control. I ended up reaching across on certain tame sections of road, and holding the throttle open with my left hand. At the least, I will invest in a paddle, in the hopes that a mechanical accessory might may the long rides less tiresome.

Best,

John
Colorado, USA

I have cruise control... very cheap

DRONE · 08-24-2011, 08:21 PM

I just stumbled on this thread. Never occurred to me that there might be a Norge thread on ADV.

I've had my Norge for two years. It's nice living 40 miles from Moto-International. I can drop in to see Dave and the boys anytime I want. My son lives about 10 blocks from their shop in Seattle. But I actually got the bike in a eBay auction from a BMW dealer in Arizona!

Here's a pic, since it's a dirt road pic and that makes it sorta like a ADV type pic--

Scott of the Sahara · 08-24-2011, 08:59 PM

I love the red ones. you have the same trunk as I do.

jdgretz · 08-25-2011, 01:32 AM

Back a few pages some folks were asking about 2-up riding. Here are a couple of the wife and I on the Norge. She's 5'7" with about a 32" inseam. Other than the wind buffeting at highway speeds with the stock windshield (which I prefer) she is quite comfortable (I change out the windshield if we're going any distance).

jdg

Scott of the Sahara · 08-25-2011, 06:34 AM

I like your mirrors.
I use the Cali Science taller windscreen and it can give me plenty of protection. In fact the windscreen gets taller when we ride 2 up.

07-23-2011, 08:47 PM	#92
richarddacat breaking wind Joined: Nov 2006 Location: VolunteerState Oddometer: 2,579	bump to treat the bug __________________ * 05FJR/74R90s * If we concentrated on the really important stuff in life, there'd be a shortage of motorcycles. project litter box

08-19-2011, 06:13 PM	#94
Firefighter12 n00b Joined: Aug 2010 Oddometer: 6	NOS Norge Greetings, Road Warriors. My NOS 2008 Norge is finally back in my possession, after time away at the body shop, and I'm $760 lighter. (Side panel and fairing lower; tank and shifter mount.) Regards, John / FF12 Colorado, USA

08-20-2011, 08:42 AM	#95
Scott of the Sahara ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2009 Oddometer: 292	Body work Within the first couple of days of having my Norge, I had the side cases on and no trunk yet. I took my wife out for a ride and went to see a friend. He had a gravel driveway and I dumped it on the driveway while trying to get to the street. I put some serious dings on one side case. Well now it is broke in. My wife said "dump it again with me and I won't ride with you again". We are still riding together. The factory bags look cool. I like the removeability. I put everything into large ziplock bags. I may put another latch on the front corner of the bag to get it to seal better.

08-20-2011, 09:16 AM	#96
richarddacat breaking wind Joined: Nov 2006 Location: VolunteerState Oddometer: 2,579	pretty cool photo arrangement. front page material. __________________ * 05FJR/74R90s * If we concentrated on the really important stuff in life, there'd be a shortage of motorcycles. project litter box

08-21-2011, 08:38 PM	#99
BarkSlayer Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Northwest Ohio Oddometer: 331	One of the best looking sport-tourers ever! Too bad I'm 6' 4". __________________ 2007 BMW R1200GS 2009 KTM 300 XCW "If guns cause crime, then all of mine are defective." Ted Nugent

07-09-2011, 07:10 AM	#91
Scott of the Sahara ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2009 Oddometer: 292	At some point we will not have a choice in new bikes. I think most of the 08's are sold now. I for one do not need more power and more high rev power. If I wanted lots of power, I would not have chose Moto Guzzi. I am still amazed with the top gear throttle response at 65 or 70mph. If I drop it to 5th it really pulls to faster than I want very quickly. After 11 months I have over 7,000 miles and have done all of the service stuff (adjusted valves, spark plugs, oil change, carc and tranny oil change) myself. If I do not ride like a nut, I can get 45 to 47 miles to a US gallon. Around town on short backroads I constantly get 40 MPG. The only mod I have done is a Cal Science bigger windscreen:

07-25-2011, 04:40 AM	#93
leafman60 Beastly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2005 Oddometer: 1,015	Thanks for the write-up. Sounds like a LOT of problems with fit and finish and bodywork !

08-20-2011, 05:29 PM	#98
CurtOKC Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2011 Location: Oklahoma City,Oklahoma Oddometer: 185	Back in July of this year while I was on vacation and in Seattle I stopped in at Moto International. I ended up buying a copy of Guzziology from Dave. Then when I got home to Oklahoma City I ended up ordering my first bike from Dave. A 2011 red V-7 Classic. It arrived by truck tuesday afternoon. I am so damn happy. Pudding face does not compare to Guzzi face. Dave and all the people at Moto International are the very best and I look forward to do business with them again.

08-22-2011, 07:34 AM	#100
Scott of the Sahara ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2009 Oddometer: 292	Being 6'4" is a blessing if you want to try out the many offerings of Sport Touring and Adventure Bikes. With my impressive 5'8" Frame and 29" inseam (maybe it's 28"), I am limited to a bike that fits me and I can hold up in an intersection. The Honda ST 1300, The Yamaha FJR and The Kawasaki Concourse all had higher seat height that made those deal killers. My closest consideration was the BMW RT1200 but you had to buy a special seat lowering kit.

08-24-2011, 08:21 PM	#102
DRONE Dog Chauffeur Joined: Oct 2007 Location: Tacoma, WA Oddometer: 2,665	I just stumbled on this thread. Never occurred to me that there might be a Norge thread on ADV. I've had my Norge for two years. It's nice living 40 miles from Moto-International. I can drop in to see Dave and the boys anytime I want. My son lives about 10 blocks from their shop in Seattle. But I actually got the bike in a eBay auction from a BMW dealer in Arizona! Here's a pic, since it's a dirt road pic and that makes it sorta like a ADV type pic-- __________________ ******************* WUMPA! Goot-Z 4XKPN - sold DRONE screwed with this post 05-09-2012 at 04:58 PM

08-24-2011, 08:59 PM	#103
Scott of the Sahara ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2009 Oddometer: 292	I love the red ones. you have the same trunk as I do.

08-25-2011, 01:32 AM	#104
jdgretz Looking for new places Joined: Apr 2009 Location: Canoga Park - A great place to live work and shop Oddometer: 711	Back a few pages some folks were asking about 2-up riding. Here are a couple of the wife and I on the Norge. She's 5'7" with about a 32" inseam. Other than the wind buffeting at highway speeds with the stock windshield (which I prefer) she is quite comfortable (I change out the windshield if we're going any distance). jdg __________________ '07 Norge - the fast red one '03 Honda Shadow 750 - Rocky '99 Honda Helix - Little Zippy '88 Kawasaki C-10 - Ruby '76 Honda CJ360T

08-25-2011, 06:34 AM	#105
Scott of the Sahara ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2009 Oddometer: 292	I like your mirrors. I use the Cali Science taller windscreen and it can give me plenty of protection. In fact the windscreen gets taller when we ride 2 up.

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