DeTomaso Mailing List: August 97, Message #172
     



From: pantera@shiseis.com (Shane F. Ingate)

Subject: Re:  0>0

Date: Wed, 6 Aug 97 10:43:23 PDT



William King wrote:

	> what were the older Guzzi's like ?



William,



	You have touched upon the *oldest* love in my life (yes, even Pam came

later, but shes the top!).  I've owned Guzzis for 18 years, and put over

200,000 miles on them.  Before that it was a string of Ducatis and Spanish dirt

bikes.



	Guzzi is one of the oldest vehicle manufactiring firms in the world,

commencing soon after WWI and continuing, unbroken, through till the present

day.  The association between DeTomaso and Guzzi was short, and unfortunately,

somewhat unpleasant.



	The sporting Guzzis are very much like the Pantera; low tech in some

areas of engineering, inspired in others.  Guzzis are tremendously strong and safe

yet are perhaps the easiest of all motorcyles to maintain and work on.  Their

performance is in the long-legged class; I have ridden one across Australia

(twice) maintaining a leisurely 70-80mph all day, every day, in 100+ heat.  My bike 

deserved its first rebuild after 160,000 miles.



	I am a proponent of building up ones skills as a motorcyclist

slowly.  The skill to truely and responsibly handle a high-performance

motorcyle does not come quickly, easily and (probably) without pain.

Ask any motorcylist that you see without a helmet, gloves, boots or

other protective gear whether they have fallen off, and I know the answer

will be "no".  They will only ever fall off once.  Having said this, my preferred

route in motorcyle education would be in dirt bikes first, then followed by

say a 500 middleweight.  The smaller Guzzi that you saw was proably a 500

or 650, an ideal beginners bike.



	Parts availability for the older Guzzis are very good.  Owner engineering

is minimal because the package is already very good.  Gizzis are acquired tastes,

not for everyone, but for the few who discover their charm and grace will be delightfully

warmed by their personality.



	T.E. Lawrence, speaking of his beloved Vincent said "A skittish motor-bike

with a touch of blood in it is better than all the riding animals on earth, because

of its logical extension of our faculties, and the hint, the provocation, od excess

conferred by its honeyed, untiring smoothness".  These words are equally applicable

to a Guzzi.



	Shane Ingate in San Diego



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