2004 Moto Guzzi Breva V 750 IE Motorcycle reviews

The Breva 750 is my 3rd Moto Guzzi and about my 30th bike. I bought it after moving home to Australia from Asia (i don't really live in California. This webpage doesn't list other countries...) I had to leave my other two Guzzis behind in Asia when I went home, a 2001 California Jackal 1100 and a 2009 Bellagio 940. Both had a very respectable 75 horsepower. When I got home, finances dictated that I could only afford a cheap bike, but it HAD TO BE A GUZZI. Once you've owned a Guzzi, no other brand will do.... I found a nice 2005 Breva which has only 40 something horsepower. I wasn't expecting much after getting off two 75 horsepower bikes, but five minutes into the test ride I was sold. It ain't no rocket, but the 40 something horses are all pulling hard. The torque is great, the handling is very civilised and the acceleration and Brembo brakes are more than adequate. With 100,000 kilometers on the clock, it is only just broken in and the engine starts, idles, revs and runs beautifully. I don't expect it to get tired for at least another 100 or 200,000 kms. Guzzis are known to have done half a million miles without a rebuild when maintained right. The engine design is virtually the same as the first Guzzi V twin built in the 1960s, with reliability and fuel consumption improvements being the only real changes since then. The Breva has fuel injection and electronic ignition for great solid performance, though it won't blow anyone off the road, it will go all day at a respectable speed. I bought mine and rode it home, 6 hours on the highway and it never missed a beat then and hasn't since. Maintenance is easy. A valve clearance adjustment, oil, gear oil and shaft oil changes can be done in about an hour. Easy as! I love this bike.it was never meant to be a forever bike for me, just one to get me back on two wheels until I could afford a "real bike" and has since been joined in the garage by a 1200cc Moto Guzzi Griso, which will be joined by a 1400cc Guzzi California when I have the funds, but I can't see myself parting with the Breva. It is such a fun, light,zippy little machine that has grown on me, as all Guzzis tend to do. I'm keeping it, though I am giving it a cafe racer makeover, so it will look a bit more like the current model V7 range. Though costing significantly less than a V7. WARNING ! Moto Guzzis are addictive. Buy one and you will probably buy a few more to keep it company, as long as you have the cash and an understanding partner. Show less

After being away from riding for about 20 years, it's great to find a bike that simply puts a smile on your face very time you ride it. Moto Guzzi offers a unique brand of bike for people who want something other then the run of the mill motorcycles of today. Great bike, recommend it to everybody. Show less

I am over 50 and have owned over 20 motorcycles. This bike is quite different from any I have owned in many ways. It feels like a motorcycle. At idle it has enough vibration to make the mirrors really shake. This quickly subsides to more moderate levels as you accelerate. The exhaust note is very pleasant and almost quiet by most comparisons. Even with the recent improvments and upgrades, this is basically the same motor used for 30 years by Moto Guzzi. I have always liked the look and design of this motor. This particular model is very well put together and very well engineered. It is a real eye-catcher also. It is capable of sustained speeds of 70-75 mph for long trips and has good passing power at higher rpms up to and above 90 mph. I am convinced the quailty and reliability are excellent. This is not a particularly fast or smooth ride motorcycle but it is a lot of fun to ride. The shifting lever has a lot of travel, and smooth shifting takes a little while to get used to. It cruises easier than my VStar 650 at highway speeds and is much faster, but not really as smooth. While as fast or faster than my GS500F, it is not nearly as refined feeling and takes a lot more concentration to drive smoothly than either bike. It feels like going back to the great days in the '60s when you throw your leg over the Guzzi. If you never had a 305 Superhawk or a 650 BSA or the like, you just won't understand what I am getting at. Show less

Picked up my silver Breva on May 4th, '04 after reading the great article in the May 04 issue of Motorcyclist Mag. What immediately attracted me to the Breva after reading the article was that it was built to be a great bike for beginners and short riders. I've been riding scooters for the last 20+ years with my latest scoot being an '02 250cc Honda Reflex. The Breva is my first non-scooter motorcycle. While a 750cc machine may seem like a lot of engine for a first motorcyle, the Breva is perfectly tuned to let you enjoy the bike without getting yourself into a lot of trouble. The engine has a really nice sound and is very torquey and pulls strong through all five gears but also allows you to easily maintain street and highway legal speeds. The clutch is very light and even with the dry clutch, shifts are very smooth. Just a heads up though, first gear is a little stubborn when the bike is cold. Once it warms up though, it's all good. This bike is perfectly at home on city streets but where it shines is on twisties and mountain roads. This bike is very easy to handle and is happiest on well paved roads. Rough roads are another issue as the the front soaks up bumps well but the stiff rear suspension can get a little bouncy over bumps and potholes. One would figure that Moto Guzzi skimped here to cut down the cost. Currently I have almost 900 miles on it and it seems to get better the more I ride it. Fuel economy is pretty good for a 750 and seems to be improving. Currently getting in the high 50 mpg range during the break-in period. The price for the 600 mile service seems a little high for the first service, but dealer claims he will replace all fluids, adjust valves and sync throttle bodies. After the first service the intervals are every 6,000 miles. Overall,the Breva is a beautiful bike to look at and the build is of high quality. Ergonomics are very good and the bike is very comfortable to ride. I purchased the lower seat to accomodate my short frame and it allows me to ride and come to stops with confidence. The small windscreen suprisingly works very well although I still plan to purchase the accessory windshield. Overall, I am very very happy with my purchase and highly recommed the Breva to women riders, new riders and anyone who wants something different. Moto Guzzi has done a great job here. Show less

The breva is about my 25th bike in 20 years of motorcycling. It's surprisingly small and light, and is very friendly to ride. Power is more about torque than top end speed, and it's quite happy to run at whatever speed you want, being docile round town, but eager to accelerate (in a steady sort of way) out of town. Runs out of go at just over 100 mph. Handling is sublime, with plenty of feedback from the tyres, though this is acieved at the cost of a firm suspension. Gearbox is much improved over earlier Guzzis, though not as quick as Japanese boxes. The above makes it sound a boring bike with major faults, but it isn't at all. I just love mine, but I'm not blind to the fact that it isn't perfect. Take one for a test ride - it's a whole new experience compared to Japanese bikes. Show less