Moto International Closing

Moto International - Moto Guzzi & Aprilia Seattle
14 hrs ·
It is with great regret to inform you that Moto International will be closing our doors permanently. Our last day open to the public will be September 29th, with a final closure date of October 15th. We will continue to service bikes and fulfill existing parts orders to the best of our ability. Stay tuned for info on where to bring your bikes for future service/warranty needs. Motorcycle sales will be discontinued shortly, and currently all bikes are priced at our cost. We will not be taking any more special orders, or booking new service appointments. Look for deep discounts on all parts and accessories that are in stock. We appreciate the support over the last 25 years, but are at the point where it’s no longer financially viable to keep the lights on. Thank you for allowing us to serve you over the years…

It's unbelievable that Guzzi is still in business.  The dealer network is the life blood of a motorcycle marque, especially today when the machines are so hi-tech and you need a special computer program to talk to the computer in the bike.
When a well known and respected dealer can't make a living selling and servicing these bikes something is really wrong.

There are two model Guzzis that I could be interested in, BUT I also like to travel and the thought of breaking down in the middle of Nebraska and the closest dealer is a two day tow away and when you get there you find the dealer is also a lawn mower repair shop will keep me on a Beemer.

I like the sound and look of the bikes, but the only ones that might get into my garage would have points and a carburetor, or something so cheap I could trash it when it stopped running.

mogu83 wrote:

It's unbelievable that Guzzi is still in business.  The dealer network is the life blood of a motorcycle marque, especially today when the machines are so hi-tech and you need a special computer program to talk to the computer in the bike.
When a well known and respected dealer can't make a living selling and servicing these bikes something is really wrong.

There are two model Guzzis that I could be interested in, BUT I also like to travel and the thought of breaking down in the middle of Nebraska and the closest dealer is a two day tow away and when you get there you find the dealer is also a lawn mower repair shop will keep me on a Beemer.

How's this really any different from any other marque? Are there THAT many BMW dealers these days?

Not to mention you don't need anything more than an ODB-II cable and the free shareware Guzzidiag to talk to the computer on a Guzzi (and that's only for models where you can't pull the codes through the dash like on the CARCs).

For a long distance - far from home bike I would have to agree that a Guzzi may not be the best choice. Same reason you don't plan a cross country trip in an Alfa or other lesser known brand.

That said, Guzzi seems to be doing OK in the northeast at least.

Too bad MI closed. I got my '03 California EV there. Dave was a super nice and knowledgeable Guzzi guy.
As far as taking a long ride with a Guzzi.....I would. I did not get a Guzzi because it's the fastest, cheapest, most fuel efficient, best made, most beautiful, most comfortable, etc...It brings a smile to my face when I ride it, and gets around pretty good and in style.
And if I do breakdown, I'll use my CC (or call my wife to pick me and the bike up   )

Kev M wrote:
How's this really any different from any other marque? Are there THAT many BMW dealers these days?

From what I've observed few Guzzi riders 'travel' on their machines, I'm not talking about New Hope, more like back roads in the Rockys. I travel, and if I have a problem 2,000 miles from home I want a dealer that has parts and someone that knows how to install them correctly. I've also visited Guzzi 'dealers' in some rural States and although usually friendly, their generally less than confidence inspiring with a somewhat limited parts supply. OTOH the two times I've needed help out of State the two dealers I used were large operations (One Denver BMW) with a two floor showroom, all the parts I needed and trained techs that did a first rate job in a minimum amount of time. I've never been to a BMW dealer that I would have any concerns about letting them work on my bike.

My preference in motorcycles would be Guzzi, but for what I do, I wouldn't be comfortable.

I hear what you're saying, BUT....

I'm just thinking of the time many years ago we lost a coil on an airhead (terminal came off) on the Blue Ridge, limped it to Knoxville TN cause that's where we were going, and overnighted a new coil from California (because dealers there hadn't closed yet and could still make Fed Ex, and there were no dealers anywhere near Knoxville). We were on the road the again the next morning.

Seems to me that one could reasonably do the same with a typical needed Guzzi part.

Or that one would be equally screwed with an atypical BMW or possibly even Harley part.

I mean if it's weird enough that it's not stocked somewhere it could be overnighted, then you're screwed either way.

I also remember a buddy very early in owning one of the first FIRST YEAR Twin Cams. He left from PA for a few weeks in TX. He only got as far as VA when a camshaft bearing let go. It was a Saturday afternoon.

Harley guy passing by loaded his bike on a trailer and dropped him at a hotel near a dealer.

Harley dealer was closing for the weekend, but when they opened again MONDAY they didn't have techs working on Mondays, and when the techs came in on Tuesday they didn't have the part, so it was Wed or Thursday before he was back on the road. YUP, even with a Harley he was off the road about 5 days.

Pooo can happen with any brand and life's too short not to ride what you want.

But you do you...