PIAGGIO TO CLOSE THE MOTO GUZZI FACTORY

As you are all aware over the last couple of years rumours have been rife about the closure of the legendary Moto Guzzi factory at Mandello del Lario, home of our beloved Guzzis since 1921.

Since the Piaggio take over and last year's full integration of Moto Guzzi as a Piaggio brand these rumours have gathered pace.

There is still a great deal of speculation around the cyber world as to whether it is true or not, exacerbated by the fact that Piaggio themselves have been strangely tight lipped about their intentions. It is true that the Pontedera giant has invested an estimated €12,000,000 into the production line and machining equipment (this may be seen in the year end accounts report) so there has always been confusion as to whether they were serious about the closure. Why spend all that money if Mandello is going to be canned?

Without official word from Pontedera it has been left to all of us to form our own opinions on the subject. Opinion is also divided amongst Guzzisti on the imminent loss of our spiritual home.

Some say that closing the factory will not matter in the end. As long as there are motorcycles being produced with a Guzzi badge that's good enough, especially if quality control and parts supply improves. A move to a modern motorcycle plant is surely a sign of progress...is Triumph not a good example of how that can work for the better? Tradition and heritage on their own cannot and will not guarantee success.

Others on the other hand see the closure of Mandello as the end of Guzzi. Is a motorcycle manufactured in, say, Pontedera alongside Vespas or at a far eastern plant a Moto Guzzi? Can a bike that isn't produced and tested on the twisty roads around Lake Como or the lower slopes of the Alps have the same character as the Moto Guzzis we have grown up with? Will a Piaggio badge engineered bike not be just another bland, featureless, sanitised product? Progress is better with tradition, not at the expense of it or in spite of it. Besides, one of the reasons we like Moto Guzzis so much is precisely because they are different...otherwise we'd all be on something else.

So, there are apparently reasons for and against. Do we really care? Should we care? Does it really matter in the end? The fact is that life is sanitised in the modern age and there is still a place for a bit of something that makes us smile when we look out the window. When we put our gear on, turn the key and feel the old vibes, the sound, and we realise that the dream we had as children to own a Moto Guzzi is actually a reality...Mandello del Lario is part of that. We have our Moto Guzzi and to hell with the razor sharp, advertising exec friendly, weekend accountant's toy loaded with needless "technology" that you need to book into a shop just to change the plugs. By all means develop the marque, modernise it...just do so at Mandello, there's plenty of room...hell, Guzzi used to be the largest manufacturer in Italy.

We are different, Guzzis are different, and that's how we like it so, if you feel the same and would like to take part in a good old fashioned protest from the heart read on. If not, I guess you stopped reading this page long ago anyway...

How you can help

1:- The petition: There is an online petition to sign if you wish to protest at the closure of Mandello del Lario. Click here to sign. (Ignore the bit about the donation)

2:- The protest rally: This Saturday, 19th September, there will be an International Rally organised by Italian Guzzisti to support the workers of Moto Guzzi in Mandello del Lario where thousands of motorcyclists will attend. Motorcyclists from France will show their support gathering in Paris on the same day. We ask to all the friends of Moto Guzzi worldwide to show their support!

If you can't go you can still help, this is how:- during the rally, our Italian Guzzisti friends from Anima Guzzista will be in connection via phone or skype from Paris with the rally in Mandello. The Mayor of Mandello will be in contact to show how the support to Moto Guzzi is international. It will be great to tell them that, as a sign of support, the symbol of the rally (see the link below) is displayed worldwide, from Australia to the US. So print out the attached symbol of the rally and take a picture of yourself holding it! Then send your message with the picture attached to the e-mail addresses below! The pictures you send will be shown worldwide during the rally and the names will be listed.

• The symbol of the rally to photograph yourself with is here.
• E-mail your pictures with the symbol to: motodiprotesta@libero.it and copy to guzzi@goffredo.com (co-ordinator)
  
  • Remember to add your name and to mark it Squadra Guzzista

3:- Word of mouth: Tell every Moto Guzzi fan you know of this page! Post on all your forums, clubs, societies, facebook...everywhere!

Thank you for your help.

Forza Guzzi!

Remember to send in your protest photos to the e-mail above!

Did you send any photos in support? add them here!