Good news for Guzzi/Aprilia.

[pete roper]

I read on one of the baords I frequent, (I don't think it was this one ) that because the Euro is in the terlet Aprilia products especially are getting really competitive with Japanese bikes in Europe! Hopefully it will knock-on to Guzzi as well but who would want an R1 or a Gixxer if you could have an RSV-4 or a V4-Tuono instead? Or even a (shudder!) Ducati

Given that they are able to sell Griso SE's in the US for $12,500 I'd say there will be some profits to be gleaned from the disastrous situation,

Pete

[Greyo]

...Given that they are able to sell Griso SE's in the US for $12,500 I'd say there will be some profits to be gleaned from the disastrous situation,

Pete

Only $12,500 for a brand-new Griso SE???
I got screwed!

[pete roper]

Imagine how dealers feel who still have old stock on the floor that cost $2000 more?

Pete

[Eli355]

I'm glad I have a Norge!!!!

[Mi_ka]

No, Pete, this ain't gonna happen: The crotch rocket fans here do not trust italian bikes for the usual reliability plus competent dealer coverage reasons. Also, most are addicted to the four-cylinder revving madness and do not appreciate engines that they cannot constantly bump on the rev limiter without fuss.

[RJVB]

Make the RSV V4 'cheap' enough, and enough of the crotch rocket crowd will buy one. In fact, last year all the big Jap makers sold less new bikes (except Honda, +7%) here in France, whereas all the bigger European makers sold at least 10% more than the preceding year. Guzzi was the big winner, with 72.5% increase, followed by Royal Enfield (+60%). Ducati and Aprilia each gained about 10% only, while MV Agusta increased sales by 37%.

What we don't know is how many of those Guzzi sales are due to the 'Premium' dealers ... nor how quickly the true new owners will want to get rid of their new bike (but I know it's more than 1) :-/

[Guy R]

The dealer issue is a big one for Guzzi. As we know even the new bikes can have a few teething troubles so if a newbie owner isn't prepared to stick it out until their bike is sorted they will trade in early on other brands. A few people I've bumped into said that they'd bought a Guzzi but had problems. When questioned further it seems that the issues were typically small things but the dealer support was not up to standard.

My local dealer is clueless. Guzzi's seem to be a sideline to other major brands and the staff just smirk if you mention the bikes. Luckily there's a good old school Guzzi guy an hour up the road so he gets my business.

I seem to recall that maybe Pete Roper has mentioned the problem of dealer mechanics not reading the tech bulletins for example.

Guzzi have got the bikes and the mystique to attract new customers but they need to find a way to keep them locked in.

Yes this post is a sweeping generilsation but it seems to be my experience.

I was told early on that you don't own a Guzzi, you have a relationship with it! MMMmmmm!!! A love/hate relationship I'd say!

[ett]

The dealer issue is a big one for Guzzi. As we know even the new bikes can have a few teething troubles so if a newbie owner isn't prepared to stick it out until their bike is sorted they will trade in early on other brands. A few people I've bumped into said that they'd bought a Guzzi but had problems. When questioned further it seems that the issues were typically small things but the dealer support was not up to standard.

My local dealer is clueless. Guzzi's seem to be a sideline to other major brands and the staff just smirk if you mention the bikes. Luckily there's a good old school Guzzi guy an hour up the road so he gets my business.

I seem to recall that maybe Pete Roper has mentioned the problem of dealer mechanics not reading the tech bulletins for example.

Guzzi have got the bikes and the mystique to attract new customers but they need to find a way to keep them locked in.

Yes this post is a sweeping generilsation but it seems to be my experience.

I was told early on that you don't own a Guzzi, you have a relationship with it! MMMmmmm!!! A love/hate relationship I'd say!

+1

As a recent, first time Guzzi owner that had issues with the dealer breaking my new Griso after only three weeks of ownership, a few possible lies (or at least extreme lack of knowledge) from them during that same time, AND Piaggio's customer service not responding to my emails.
(I'm certain they received them; because I run my own mail server and can see in the logs their mail server accepted my emails.)

I can say that although I'm very happy with the motorcycle it's self. The lack of dealership support just may cause me to switch back to Japanese rice rockets.

Guzzi may have the same issue that Buell had. Which is great bikes; but dealers who had no interest in them.

--ET

[davem]

I've not owned a Jap bike for 20 years, Triumph, BMW and Guzzi have served the purpose very well.
Talking to my local Yamaha dealer he is really struggling because in the bad times brand loyality is thin on the ground when it comes to Jap bikes and the craze for ultra sport bikes is drawing to a close in the U.K.
Triumph have got the edge now and can sell cheaper due to the pounds weakness and a strong range of bikes.
Guzzi should and could do better but a 'cottage industry' dealer network does a dis-service to the product, which I believe is good enough to compete in todays market.
Go into a Honda dealer, does it set the pulse racing? hardly. A lot of Jap bikes are ugly, soulless and over priced. They make there profits from selling small capacity machines in Asia with little return from larger capacities and frankly it's beginning to show.

[RJVB]

What do you think Guzzi, pardon, Piaggio make their profits from? Answer that question, and you may understand their after-sales service attitude (even if it is broke, don't fix it ... sell a new one).

A dealer with an interest in the bikes is of course a first necessity, but with Guzzi they need more than that in order to provide satisfying service, sadly.