Topic: Honda CB vs. Moto Guzzi

[Holdingfast]

Ok so quick survey realizing its the wrong Forum to ask this but here's something i wanted to ask you guys.
 
what would you do? CBs are rather rare over here in switzerland and when one does pop up at a dealership - at a price i can afford - its usually gone within the first 24 hours (from now on I'll be quicker - and just buy the next one that seems to be O.K.)

So of course I'll keep looking, but now I've found a Moto Guzzi V50 C that seems to run just fine at a price i could afford, though it seems it wouldn't cafe very well - though that remains to be seen.

so. what would you do? Wait? Get this and see what one can do with it? Try to find another model Honda which might be easier to come by (I've been looking at a Honda CX 500 Z which is 1000.- cheaper than all the CBs that have come up for sale - but the CX definietly need a LOT of work).

OR of course I could try to save up and get a CB that's in good shape... ahh.. questions galore  

thanks for any input you might have!

[sangyo soichiro]

In this thread there are some Guzzis (not all the bikes in the thread are Guzzis, but you can see some, and a couple videos taken from a camera on a Guzzi in a race, thanks to forum member MEC).  They look pretty darn cool.  Check it out.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=59881.0

[bucky katt]

how expensive are the Guzzi parts as compared to the Honda parts? every Guzzi i've ever ridden has been as heavy as a small car i think. they look cool but i dont know if i'd want one or not.

[Old Scrambler]

If you are in a Guzzi crowd.........that's the way to go. But don't plan to go too far or fast on a C50! 

[Holdingfast]

If you are in a Guzzi crowd.........that's the way to go. But don't plan to go too far or fast on a C50! 

  I see. we dont like that - not going anywhere far nor fast
thanks

[Uncle Ernie]

I don't know how old you are, but this sounds to me like comparing a TR3 to an MGA.  If you don't know them, they're just little cars.  To those who know them- quite different.

The V50 is a pretty good little bike, but it depends on where you're coming from- and how big you are.  Older Guzzi's are quite easy to cafe.  They are often refferred to as "Italian Harleys" because of their V-twin tug / torque.  They're simple and not hard to work on, but American dealers rarely have normal parts, so they have to be ordered.
That Guzzi may feel a little heavy at slow speeds, but at speed, going through a sweeper- it's scary how good they feel. 

A Honda 4 is much smoother but has less low-end torque.  Twice as much of everything to tune and adjust.  In the 'States anyway, tune-up bits are easier to get.  To my mind, the 400, 500, and 550 are the way to go.  The 350 is too anemic and the 750 feels rather heavy (to me). 

[martin99]

The V50 is a pretty good little bike, but it depends on where you're coming from- and how big you are.

+1. Personally I think the V50 is a great looking bike, but boy is the seat height low. All the girls used to ride 'em over here!

[Holdingfast]

thanks so much for all the great input!

I'm in europe so the parts situation should be pretty different than in the states, but of course i dont know about the pricing of the available parts..

i'm pretty tall, and it'll be my first bike ever.. so if that changes anything..  it's pretty much a question of ideology right? But its hard to know where one belongs when you have no idea what you should look for except the lack of money in your pocket haha.
So by now I've found a nice BMW Boxer (parts prolly expensive?) and a Yamaha xs650 (which produces more low end torque than a CB I hear(and of which you can make super nice bratstyle bikes)) ...and the Moto Guzzi which i guess i'll go to check out when the dealer gets back from vacation.

and of course i ll keep looking for a nice CB. keep them opinions coming!

[Uncle Ernie]

Honda made / makes literally millions of "CB"s from 50cc up.  You'll probably need to be more specific on that for discussion purposes. 

I think anything around 400-500cc would be a great bike to learn on.  I'm sure there are Eurpean sites for Moto Guzzi and Yamaha to get more info on parts avaiability and prices.  If they're running good, though, mostly you'll just need batteries, plugs, oil, etc.

(It would be a hoot is that V50 turned out to be a fairly rare LeMans!)

[BeSeeingYou]

The XS650 would be a good choice.  Simple, easy to work on, and reliable.  Excellent parts availability and like you said they make great looking cafe /brat style bikes, better than most others.  Great sound and low end torque but it will vibrate more than the 4 cylinder Honda.  Had mine for 30 years and still love it.

[Holdingfast]

to be more specific, I'll keep looking for a CB 550/750. Though I WILL check out the moto guzzi (I'll let you know if it indeed was a le Mans, but prolly not, ey?) and the XS. The thing is that the xs is 700 bucks more... but prolly worth it. so I'm pretty excited to go see the xs even though its over my budget, but i guess i d rather spend a bit more and not have to worry too much about having to fix the engine too much..
And since i'll mostly ride in the city: more torque will be good.