I have a '74 T3. I used to have an 86 SP1000. While at a rally in Lavigne, Ont, a guy I met insisted I test ride his ST1100. I rode about 2 miles, U turned, and came back. The SP beat me up on the trip home, and within 2 months I was the happy owner of my ST1300. Never looked back. This year (and last) at another Guzzi rally I test rode a couple of new Guzzi's. No comparison to my ST. Sorry, but I'm a sucker for a smooth ride, easy acceleration, decent wind protection and I l o v e that Honda motor. The new Guzzi's are better, but still pale in comparison to the capability of the ST (if and only if you do the kind of riding the ST excels at - LD touring and sporty stuff). Yes I miss the light weight of the old bikes compared to the ST, but the latter is still a winner for me.
Oh, and I sold the SP and will probably sell the T3 next year. For me a BIG part of the decision was Piaggio's poor support of dealers and the fact that there are so few dealers across the country. If you own a Guzzi, you have basically two sources for parts - Moto International (Dave Richardson is the guru of Guzzi Gurus) and Harper's. i spent thousands on parts rebuilding my bikes and the nod goes to Moto Int as the ultimate dealership (of course, because of Dave, the owner) - but then they are around 2500 miles west of me. If you are a MGNOC member then you no doubt have read how Moto Guzzi thumbed their nose at Frank Wedge's problems with his new bike's brake problem. While I do not know the finer details of his problems, for the brand to so thoroughly stick it to the head of the national owner's club seems to me to be, at minimum, poor public relations. At least they don't discriminate....