Moto Guzzi V9 delivered – a smooth drop off from Churchill

A week after calling down to Churchill Motorcycles in Towcester, the day arrived for the Moto Guzzi V9 to be delivered. As I mentioned in the previous post, Ian had arranged everything in a way that felt reassuringly straightforward. I had paid a £500 deposit, with the balance to be transferred once the bike was safely at my home. It’s a simple approach, but it speaks volumes about how Churchill Motorcycles operate and it provided me with the reassurance I had sought a week earlier.

Terry arrives with the V9

Late morning, Terry who I had met briefly during my visit turned up with the V9 securely strapped in the back of the van. He arrived within the one hour time window that Carley had mentioned in her email a few days earlier.

Terry is one of those people who immediately puts you at ease: calm, careful, and clearly someone who’s moved more bikes than most of us will ever own. He even apologised for not being able to get the van any closer to the garage, which in turn meant it would get rain on it. Churchill are decent dealers but although I would have preferred the sun to be shining I wasn’t about to hold them responsible for the Manchester rain.

How would Lowry have portrayed it

But I did take a moment to imagine how that great Mancunian artist L S Lowry might have captured the scene. Here’s how I pictured it as Terry prepared to unload the bike in absolutely torrential weather.

In practice Terry unloaded the V9 with the kind of methodical care that tells you he treats every bike as if it’s his own. No rush and no drama, just steady and confident.  It didn’t take long to get the Bobber down the ramp and in the garage. The Guzzi looked every bit as immaculate as it had in the showroom.

Moto Guzzi V9 – exactly as promised

The bike was exactly as described and in truth, better. The new Bridgestone H50 tyres, fresh battery, new oils and brake fluid, and the overall condition made it feel like a bike that had been cherished rather than just prepared for sale. In general terms I think it’s quite rare these days to have a buying experience where every part of the process matches what was promised. But Ian, Carley, and Terry delivered exactly what they said they would, exactly when they said they would.

A moment to take it in – maybe three is the magic number

There’s something really satisfying about seeing a new bike arrive at your home. I’ve had a lot of bikes over the years and I never tire of that delivery/collection day feeling. No showroom lights, no sales desk, no distractions — just the machine itself, sitting there in the garage for the first time.

The V9 looked superb alongside the V7 and the CMX1100. Three very different bikes, each with their own character, but there’s no doubt that the V9 brings something slightly unusual and unmistakably Moto Guzzi to the garage. Back in 1989 the New York Hip Hop group De La Soul had success with (3 is) The Magic Number – I think they may be right, three really is a decent number . The V9 now fills the space the BMW RnineT had occupied until June last year – click here to listen to De La Soul.

 

Moto Guzzi V9 – a few delivery day photos

I took a few pictures as Terry unloaded the bike and once it was settled in the garage. They’re not dramatic shots — just moments from the bike in the garage on a delivery day that felt refreshingly straightforward.