MOTO-GUZZI NORGE (2006 - 2011) Review

Year: 2007

Annual servicing cost: £200

Excellent bike for everyday and distance touring work. Love it.

Buying experience: I have had this bike for 3 years and use it everyday for work. Also have toured on it to France and Scotland and it is a brilliant bike...love it !

Year: 2007

Annual servicing cost: £200

Great bike for either everyday or touring use. A great comfortable bike to ride miles on !

Buying experience: I bought fine second hand 3 years ago and love the bike. I use it everyday for work and have toured France and Scotland on it. Overall a great bike.

Version: GTL

Year: 2007

Annual servicing cost: £300

So, so close. Guzzi have come off the blocks with an excellent alternative to BMWs, with more verve and style. It all works together and with the best looks on the market: sure there are criticisms, that need addressing for subsequent models, and if so developed will be THE tour de force.

Buying experience: Excellent from Haywards of Cambridge (new)

Version: TL

Year: 2009

Annual servicing cost: £300

Great motorcycle. Mine has some electrical issues with the sensors that causes the service light to come up. Everything else on this bike is awesome.

Buying experience: Dealer. Used for 7000£

A great solo touring option. Extremely comfortable over any distance, the fairing will let you sit out in the breeze or raise the screen and you are in a completely protected bubble. Lots of toys including ABS, heated grips, power socket etc. It is surprisingly stable and easy to manouevre feet up at low speed and the seat height is such that I (5' 10'') can get both feet down whenever the need arises. The engine will pull in any gear at any revs and it sounds amazing, although top gear is only useful once you are above the legal limit. It also seems happy to go round corners as fast as I shall ever need. The lights are extremely good, at least as good as my car, and do not limit your speed on unlit country roads. Above all it is engaging - even when you stop for traffic lights you can feel all manner of stuff happening under you. I haven't tried it with a pillion - not sure there is enough room for their feet if you have the panniers on. Mine came with a dodgy fuel gauge which is not uncommon but was fixed under warranty. The panniers are a bit fiddly until you get the hang of it. Sidestand is a long way forward and can be a bit of a stretch sometimes. I love it !

Good bike, previously owned V50III (when less than half my age!, Honda XBR500, Honda CBX250, Honda CB1, Guzzi V11 sport, Guzzi Cali Titanium, Ducati GT1000 and then the Norge. For the two-up riding I do with my wife it is great. I wanted a real motorbike (air-cooled engine) but with comfort and reasonable build quality (huge improvement). Clocks are at the wrong angle to see easily and Sat Nav doesn't charge on the bike (dealer couldn't fix) but basic package is cheaper than BMW for same spec (everything you could wish for is standard on GTL) with more character and nice, easy handling. Engine has plenty of torque. I do miss the 12v socket from the Cali Titanium though for easy battery topping up in winter. All in all, give this a chance - it's really good if you hate the arm ache from all the ugly paint crotch rockets that have zero charisma or style. Steve H from T. Wells

Awesome bike. I've tested loads of bikes over the years and this is the only one I didn't prefer my old bike over. I've done 8600 miles in 7 months including Rome and back. It's the sort of bike when you're potentially arriving early you find some more side roads to ride. Downsides? Suspension is too soft for two up riding. The Italians don't do good production engineering (fairing niggles), but whereas that would drive me ballistic with a Jap bike, the soul that the Norge has more than compensates

Moved from BMW to Guzzi and am glad I did. The overall package is superior. Shame though there are only 2 models to choose from as would have preferred the GT. You can ride this bike (as I have) all day. Sounds good too. The only niggle is that there is no grab bar to aid putting the bike on centre stand, this is even more awkward with panniers fitted. That said, I love this bike.