Celebrating Moto Guzzi’s 100th Birthday

Admin · September 14, 2022

Led by a pair of California 1400 police bikes, a near-endless stream of Moto Guzzis of every age and color make their way on the road circumscribing Lake Como. Squint hard and you’ll make out Ewan McGregor on the V100 next to the red sidecar outfit in the first row. (Moto Guzzi/)

Moto Guzzi was officially founded on September 6, 1921, and for a number of years passionate Guzzisti from all over the world have gathered in Mandello del Lario on that date to celebrate the anniversary. The 100-year celebration was expected to be something extraordinary, but due to the COVID pandemic there was no Giornate Mondiali Moto Guzzi, known colloquially as the GMG. So this September, the anniversary was extra special: the 101st, for some of us an even better number.

More than 60,000 Guzzisti from all over the world attended the 2022 GMG. The forever-faithful enthusiasts of the Mandello Eagle had booked every hotel in the 46 miles from Lecco to Chiavenna; those who were late at booking took their tents with them to camp along Lake Como. The weather was merciful enough, save for a couple of evening thunderstorms.

You’d swear that every Moto Guzzi ever built had come home to roost at the 100th/101st birthday reunion. Guzzi riders are a notoriously loyal bunch. (Moto Guzzi/)

The real queen of the 2022 GMG was, of course, Guzzi’s new V100, and at the 100th anniversary celebration thousands of enthusiasts had the opportunity to see the new bike in person. An example in Magna Red was on display at the entrance of Guzzi’s famous old wind tunnel; a second, in Polar White, was at the center of the “village” created by the Mandello township to provide a gathering and socializing space to the enthusiasts. Access to the inside of the factory and, most importantly, to the Moto Guzzi Museum was limited to the 20,000 people who had booked their visit in time.

The museum has been totally refurbished and every motorcycle on display there accurately restored. The bikes are gathered in three groups: Production, Racing, and Military. Moto Guzzi isn’t done yet, either: After the old production building is taken down, the open space will become a beautiful park and the site of future enthusiast meetings.

To say that the Guzzisti took over the town is an understatement of considerable magnitude. “Only” the first 20,000 got into the renovated Guzzi museum. Want a hotel? You need to book it a year or more in advance. (Moto Guzzi/)

Two Moto Guzzi California 1400 police bikes led the motorcade on the highway from Lecco to Mandello. They were followed by none other than Ewan McGregor on a new, silver-and-green V100, leading thousands of Guzzisti on their personal bikes. The sight was impressive, the low-frequency rumble even more so. McGregor was available to entertain the crowd with great passion: he is a bona fide Guzzista who rides a V85 TT, and whose passion started from his first Moto Guzzi many years ago, a used Le Mans.

Ewan McGregor was—natch—at the GMG, and in fine form. He’s not a newcomer to the brand either, having owned a Le Mans as his first Moto Guzzi and riding a V85 TT today. (Moto Guzzi/)

Moto Guzzi and the Mandello del Lario township made the four-day event as gratifying as possible for all, with good music, great food, fireworks, and all that goes into making a super festa like this unforgettable. Moto Guzzi is rated the second-most-loved motorcycle make in the world, and the Guzzisti brand of passion, fidelity, and dedication are unique. During the 100th Anniversary Guzzi World Days it was common to meet Guzzisti from Australia, New Zealand, California, and even Indonesia who came to Mandello riding their immaculately original V7s or spirited V7 Sports in a great expression of motorcycling spirit.

Bike parking only! (Moto Guzzi/)

Sound like fun? See you next year at the old gate on the front street factory building, Via Parodi, number 57. Don’t miss it.

Lots of stateside motorcycle rallies look like geriatric conventions. Not the GMG. The love for Guzzi (and motorcycles in general) in Italy knows no age limits. Here’s to the future, and the next 100 years. (Moto Guzzi/)