I own three. The R100GS, that has been in the garage over nineteen years, and has seen lots of other bikes come and go. The 2003 T100, which has also seen a few bikes roll in and roll away to another owner. The newest is the Moto Guzzi 1200 Sport.
I took all three for rides today. It was hot and very humid, so I was quite happy that none of the bikes had full shields or fairings. The T100 took me on a sweet ride thru the Cuyahoga National Park, and all its twisty crossroads. The Beemer got an 80 miles trip across roads I normally ignore (too close to home), but I found a couple of new ones, and am now quite enamoured with my new two hour ride. The long travel suspension was wonderful on some of the less than perfect surfaces. The Guzzi .... well, we went out and let this pushrod v twin rev like no stock HD revs. This old pushrod design, with two valves per cylinder, is a surprisingly powerful engine. I think I ran the loop between two Interstate ramps at least twice.
In common: All are twins. I seem to like two cylinder bikes the best. I'm sure Triumph's triples would also fill the bill, but the twins just seem to roll into the garage and never leave!
Also in common: the old airhead Beemer and the much newer T100 both fire every 360 degrees, although they don't sound the same, at least with TORs on one, and stock exhaust on the other. The Guzzi, on the other hand, is a 90 degree V twin, and it has the same firing intervals as a 270 degree Scrambler (or Triumph cruiser). This sucker sounds like a small block Chevy!
As different as these bikes are from each other, it is easy to jump off one and onto one of the others.
The Beemer and T100 are all day rides for me. I'd take either cross country. I'm close to getting the Guzzi there, too, but it is going to require sending the saddle to Sargent to create a day long ride.
Anyway, that's my bike story for this hot, sticky Sunday.
Bob
I took all three for rides today. It was hot and very humid, so I was quite happy that none of the bikes had full shields or fairings. The T100 took me on a sweet ride thru the Cuyahoga National Park, and all its twisty crossroads. The Beemer got an 80 miles trip across roads I normally ignore (too close to home), but I found a couple of new ones, and am now quite enamoured with my new two hour ride. The long travel suspension was wonderful on some of the less than perfect surfaces. The Guzzi .... well, we went out and let this pushrod v twin rev like no stock HD revs. This old pushrod design, with two valves per cylinder, is a surprisingly powerful engine. I think I ran the loop between two Interstate ramps at least twice.
In common: All are twins. I seem to like two cylinder bikes the best. I'm sure Triumph's triples would also fill the bill, but the twins just seem to roll into the garage and never leave!
Also in common: the old airhead Beemer and the much newer T100 both fire every 360 degrees, although they don't sound the same, at least with TORs on one, and stock exhaust on the other. The Guzzi, on the other hand, is a 90 degree V twin, and it has the same firing intervals as a 270 degree Scrambler (or Triumph cruiser). This sucker sounds like a small block Chevy!
As different as these bikes are from each other, it is easy to jump off one and onto one of the others.
The Beemer and T100 are all day rides for me. I'd take either cross country. I'm close to getting the Guzzi there, too, but it is going to require sending the saddle to Sargent to create a day long ride.
Anyway, that's my bike story for this hot, sticky Sunday.
Bob