PJay
Just got it firing!
Finally, after some 40 years, I have followed three of my BMW Airhead buddies and bought a Guzzi.
Fittingly, it’s a 40-year-old 850 T5; yes, the one with 16” front and rear wheels.
I bought it on the NZ local equivalent of eBay whilst 1400 kilometres from home and without any riding gear. I borrowed kit from friends, changed my return flight to go where the bike was, another 400 or flying kilometres away. That is to say, I live in the far north of NZ, and the Guzzi was in the far south.
Rode home zigzagging up both South and North Islands: Crown Range, Lindis Pass, Lewis Pass, Remutaka Hill, Napier-Taupo road. So the direct line was exceeded, reaching a total trip of about 2600 kilometres. I loved it.
The bike used next to no oil, and as for the “handling problems” the Great Wise Minds of Magazine Planet wrote about back in the day? Well, I think the rear brake bias in the linked system is a bit excessive, but that’s it. Managed big side winds, hills, curves, the lot with complete equanimity.
This is number 172 in my list of motorcycles owned (still have 3 others road registered and used often). It’s a whole lot better than the Great Wise Minds said.
The pic is at the top of the Lindis Pass.
Fittingly, it’s a 40-year-old 850 T5; yes, the one with 16” front and rear wheels.
I bought it on the NZ local equivalent of eBay whilst 1400 kilometres from home and without any riding gear. I borrowed kit from friends, changed my return flight to go where the bike was, another 400 or flying kilometres away. That is to say, I live in the far north of NZ, and the Guzzi was in the far south.
Rode home zigzagging up both South and North Islands: Crown Range, Lindis Pass, Lewis Pass, Remutaka Hill, Napier-Taupo road. So the direct line was exceeded, reaching a total trip of about 2600 kilometres. I loved it.
The bike used next to no oil, and as for the “handling problems” the Great Wise Minds of Magazine Planet wrote about back in the day? Well, I think the rear brake bias in the linked system is a bit excessive, but that’s it. Managed big side winds, hills, curves, the lot with complete equanimity.
This is number 172 in my list of motorcycles owned (still have 3 others road registered and used often). It’s a whole lot better than the Great Wise Minds said.
The pic is at the top of the Lindis Pass.
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