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Moto Guzzi Motorcycles – To ‘Air’ is Human
Moto Guzzi Motorcycles
To ‘Air’ is Human
“I expect what draws me to Guzzi is the character and uniqueness of the loafer wearing, chain-smoking, coffee drinking Italian machine and it’s one-of-a-kind engine.” Hunter Betts, 2025
It sits there in my memory not unlike a first ride, the first date or first drive. In 1974, having no money for school, I had followed my folks to Dallas in hopes of working, saving and returning to Indiana University the following fall. Amazingly, while not having money for school I did have money – or, at least, the credit – for a BMW R75/5, the bike I believed to be perfect for a novice rider in Dallas. My riding took me to Storm’s Cycle Sales in Grand Prairie, where Doc Storm presided over a showroom featuring Moto Guzzi. And despite my preferences for the architecture of what had become known as a café racer, the visual vibe – its air-cooled V-twin framed by more chrome than a Cadillac – supplied by Moto Guzzi’s California cruiser was nothing short of dazzling.
Several years later, after God-only-knows how many visits to Storm’s, a white LeMans III was sitting on Doc’s showroom, while an ’82 Alfa Romeo was parked in my garage. At that point I really couldn’t afford the Alfa, but I could afford the Guzzi – or so I thought. A trade was made (Doc always won these negotiations) and I had my first Guzzi. The LeMans III was an update on Guzzi’s first LeMans, which itself was a more race-oriented iteration of Guzzi’s V7 Sport. And in the early ‘80s, relative to what sat on almost any other showroom, the Guzzi was amazing.
The best part of a Guzzi may be sitting on it. Its V-Twin, air-cooled engine’s two cylinders sit transversely, out in the airstream and right in front of your knees. At low rpm there’s a gentle rocking motion, reminding you that it’s a motorcycle and not a New Era device from an Asian lab. In its totality a Moto Guzzi is a singular statement, and one of the easier ways to access your singular voice.
Below you’ll find a handful of Guzzi owners, explaining their ‘moto’vations:
RICHARD CROSS
I first saw a Moto Guzzi around 1966 – at a drive-in restaurant. All my friends had Brit bikes or old Harley-Davidsons. I had a 1954 BSA Gold Star B34 Clubman (and yes, wish I had it back..). The bike was hard to kickstart due to the compression ratio, and I became all-too-familiar with the concept of ‘run and bump’.
A young lady rode up to the restaurant on a new Moto Guzzi V700, had her meal, got on the bike, hit the starter(!) and rode off. Seeing a nice European touring bike with an electric starter left a lasting impression.
I bought my current Guzzi – a 1993 California III – in 2005, after a V65C and a Mille GT came and went; the bike’s Givi saddle bags sold me! We also have a 1988 Harley FLHT-C (bought new) in the garage, but the Guzzi seems to get all our attention these days. We are thinking of selling both and looking at a new Guzzi V85 series.
I must mention our long time association with the Moto Guzzi National Owners Club (MGNOC). Texas members are fortunate to have a state rally on the first Sunday in October in Lindale and, through MGNOC, we have access to other state rallies and a REALLY good club newsletter! And my favorite T-shirt logo? Moto Guzzi – Going Out of Business Since 1921.
KAREN PHILLIPS
My red Moto Guzzi V50 II was a rumbling, shaking beast of a motorcycle, and very, very quick – accelerating too quickly could find me sitting on the back fender and hanging on with one hand! In the city I wore a red helmet, Hein Gericke jacket and Italian scarf to match the bike for more “conspicuity” (a term used by the Women’s International Motorcycle Association). Riding a Guzzi out on country roads was exhilarating and provided an unmatched feeling of speed and freedom.
When my daughter and I were in Italy with a group of Alfa Romeo owners, we took a side trip to Lake Como to visit the Moto Guzzi factory. They had a small museum that displayed bikes representing their proud racing heritage, including the legendary 500cc 8-cylinder racer of the 1950’s. I love the look and the sound of these thoroughly Italian motorcycles. Italian motorcycles are like Italian cars – you can’t help loving them!
GEORGE MUDROVICH

In 1987, when I was 36, I hadn’t ridden a motorcyle in 20 years. But then a good friend – Dave Boldt – convinced me to buy a used V50 Guzzi (500cc) that was advertised. I bought it, and I liked the heck out of it. I took a couple of long rides with Dave and our friend Ron Hector. Then something earth-shattering happened: Dave let me ride his LeMans 850. The extra oomph of that bigger engine mesmerized me.
Within a few days I bought a 1,000cc LeMans from Doc Storm. I rode the heck out of it on a rural path that had plenty of sweepers and S-curves. What joy.
In 1993 I moved away from Texas and sold the LeMans. Years after I got settled in Wisconsin I eventually realized that I again needed a Guzzi. In 2006 I bought a spanking new California 1100EV. This has been my favorite Guzzi, by far. Lots of sporty aptitude, while also suited to doing some real lazy cruising. On my favorite route there are three nice blind right and left sweepers. I pull over and stop before they begin, then I accelerate steadily (but not crazily) through them, never backing off on the throttle, and never braking. That always makes me feel like I’m a hero racer, without having to do hero stuff. The Guzzi is perfect for such “heroics.”
ADDENDUM
In North Texas, your Guzzi needs can be met with a visit to Plano Kawasaki in – you guessed it – Plano, where you’ll enjoy both a large inventory (they also represent Aprilia and Vespa) and an enthusiastic sales and service team. In a world of tech this and app that, a Guzzi is arguably one of the most analog purchases you can still make on a new showroom. And if you don’t do it soon, well…when-the-hell are you gonna’ do it?
