I understand all the comments, but this is the issue, when I buy a Honda, I know what I’m buying, Honda don’t say “handbuilt in Tokyo” When I buy a Triumph , I know what I’m buying and where it’s likely manufactured, They don’t say “Built in the UK” Moto Guzzi Do say Built In Mandello but it turns out, err Nah it isn’t. That’s the difference, you think you’re buying a certain thing but, in fact, you are not, it’s a con and I feel conned. Now a large part of that could be Mea Culpa, but that is how I feel.
1 Like
You may have grounds for a misrepresentation of goods or services case if.
- you believed in good faith that your bike was built in The Guzzi factory
2)no one told you otherwise in terms of 1) - the bike says “ built or manufactured in Mandello” when fired up?
- its factory documents state its build location as Mandello
As a layperson any argument about you checking a VIN number beforehand is not an argument that would stand a test in court.
It all depends to what level you feel upset as most would just forget it and ride on regardless. However, we must also respect the fact that shelling out many thousands of pounds on a product means that any owner has the right to challenge if he/she feels the need to.
1 Like
I was literally pondering the same thing, I believe it is deliberate misrepresentation
When I the customer, believe I am gettin X but I am in fact getting Z
All the ads, Marketing and indeed the entire Guzzi brand leads you to believe your motorcycle is built in Mandello and it isn’t. That is fundamentally dishonest
Caveat alert.
Even if you went all the way with this and won you may still not get all your money back as the other party may successfully argue that they are entitled to deduct a big chunk of money from any compensation due to wear and tear and depreciation vs rejecting goods at collection when they were new and unused.
People can win these cases but can end up in a worse £££ position when the above is factored in and other costs and time are calculated.
It’s also a risk going to litigation no matter how confident and robust any case may present itself.
However, if you feel strongly about it then it won’t do you any harm to talk with a lawyer about it as most won’t charge you for an initial call.
If it was me and I had a lovely reliable bike I would just get on with it and enjoy the coming months as providing it was built correctly and is reliable I’d simply not care about its origin as if/when you trade it or sell it on I doubt anyone else will be bothered about its origin either.
4 Likes
Hi, Yes I am very familiar with the law around this, I have succesfully won cases before and I am indeed involved in one at the moment, this doesn’t meet my criteria for engaging in a legal dispute that I suspect would rely heavily on nuance, it’s a fight that just isn’t worth it, I would rather just sell the bike and cut ties than pursue this legally. It’s just not worth the time and effort
Before getting my Mandello I had a Morini Xcape 649cc parallel twin. Actually a carbon copy of the long standing Kawasaki 650 now built in China. Bulletproof. The bike was designed and assembled in Italy with top class parts and finish. Brembos, Marzocchis, Pirellis, Bosch electrics and a ridiculously cheap new price. What it had in addition was impeccable handling and unmistakeably Italian style. Was it perfect or topped the performance league table? No! It was affordable, well made and easy to work on. Did I care where the parts started out? Not!
What I found spoiled my huge enjoyment of it was more to do with me. It was tall and somewhat heavy. With the Mandello I got the same weight but lower and manageable for my inside leg and more ‘big bike’ feel. I could not fault it as a product though.
1 Like
It’s a feelings thing, I feel disappointed and like I said either a little stupid or naive for not doing my due diligence correctly, however, I didn’t feel it was necessary when buying Moto Guzzi, built in Mandella where they have been built for ages as all the ads say.
I have heard that the 2025-6 models dont have made in Mandello del Lario on the instrument panel. Is that true?
Mind you the Brit bikes of the 50s and 60s all outsourced their instruments to Smiths and their electrics to Wipac, Miller or Lucas so i doubt if the v85tt instruments were ever made by Aprilia
1 Like
a fair few parts are interchangeable across guzzi and aprillia bikes
1 Like
Are you willing to lose a few grand through depreciation just because it was bolted together in a different shed? Quite possibly by the same people.
If you want to go for the Honda, get a test ride first. I found the Hornet motor really buzzy (thats not a joke) and lacking low down punch. I was thinking id replace my Tracer 9GT with a CB1000GT but the Yamaha engine is much nicer.
2 Likes
Why do I keep thinking of Champagne.. and Cornish Pasty’s..
Tell you what, I’ll take it off your hands for £500 
3 Likes
Ooh a nice cheap v85 on marketplace soon then 
2 Likes
I heard that the ones not built at Mandello are worth nothing.
I may be able to scrape up £550
4 Likes
Naughty! 
All the fun jibes aside, I can completely see where you’re coming from DB.
While ultimately, there may be some benefits to being created in a modern, up to date facility (hell they might even have tighter procedures to ensure more consistent quality control.!), if someone uses ‘history’ as part of their sales pitch, (hello Harley Davidson), they really ought to be open and state clearly any alternative origin, otherwise they are at the very least, misleading buyers.
On the flip side, I could imagine in time, having ‘one of the few’ created elsewhere could be seen as a unique selling feature.. rarity value and all that.
Ultimately, as you’ve intimated, it’s only an issue, if ‘you’ decide it’s an issue, otherwise, it will likely run and ride just like the rest, and nobody, unless they’re a proper Guzzi Nerd, will ever know the difference.
Maybe, as a solution, do indeed take your bike to Mandello, then, sprinkle a few drops of water from Lago di Lecco over it at the famous gate to give it a ‘re-birth’.
I reckon if, in an almost sacramental initiation, a personal affirmation of it’s pedigree, it’s history, it’s ancestry, you take it to be ‘christened at the altar’.. then that pilgrimage, if not the ride there alone, may re-kindle your fire and love for a ‘special’ Guzzi.
(And heck, it’d be a damn sight easier than riding a Honda to Hamamatsu.! )
3 Likes
The earlier comment about your bike being build in a more modern factory may prove to be the case. Better QC, attention to detail etc as Aprilia have been doing this a long time as well.
Hell yeah the ones built in Aprillia may ultimately in time become the most sought after ones
Don’t sell your bike and lose a wade of money. Suit up and put a smile on your face when you crack the throttle open as the next owner won’t bother about where it was built. 
I can imagine the level of responsibility and MG focus on the Aprillia folks who will in turn ensure they put out bikes that are at least on a par with the old MG factory origin
3 Likes
It might even have grease in the steering head bearings unlike the Mandello bikes
3 Likes
I do understand the sentiment DB100. I once owned a Honda F6C and it meant a great deal to me that it was built at the (now defunct) Honda plant in Marysville, Ohio.
I could go to the Made in the USA days at Brooklands Museum where American made vehicles got in for free. When I was stopped at the gate I could point at ‘Made in USA’ on the back of the seat. It gave me some satisfaction to park it up in amongst the HDs!
2 Likes
steveras1957
Well a tirade of assumptions, I at not point flagged or reported your post nor was I offended in any way. I just thought your post was unqualified psychobabble borderline projection. Your issues are yours alone and no one elses . If your post was removed or flagged ( as one of mine has been ) it’s either the system or the moderators. Calm down fella.
Nope dont do calm!