Here's a pretty cool bike. Is this a new model?

http://www.motoguzzi-us.com/Nuovi_modelli/1200sport/specifiche.asp?modello=1200sport&%20pagina=spec

Peace,
Mark

YOU RANG?

Yes, new, or newish... it's a new model made on the platform of my Breva 1100 (a platform that has only really been around a couple of years itself).

http://www.gigabikes.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10081/IMG_8003smll.jpg


One note, this thread needs to be moved to the Other Bikes discussion area...

Kev

YOU RANG?

Yes, new, or newish... it's a new model made on the platform of my Breva 1100 (a platform that has only really been around a couple of years itself).

http://www.gigabikes.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10081/IMG_8003smll.jpg


One note, this thread needs to be moved to the Other Bikes discussion area...

Kev

Sorry didn't know about that:doh

Mark

Hot bike...a bit 'spensive tho. Its something Id look for used in a few years :)

Hot bike...a bit 'spensive tho. Its something Id look for used in a few years :)

It's a Guzzi, you don't have to buy it used a few years later, you can buy it new, leftover, sitting on someone's showroom floor for a couple thousand less than MSRP :doh :laugh :laugh

It's a Guzzi, you don't have to buy it used a few years later, you can buy it new, leftover, sitting on someone's showroom floor for a couple thousand less than MSRP :doh :laugh :laugh

Ain't that the truth.
I pop in to my local Guzzi dealership every so often and say to the saleman "still got that bike huh". I'm wearing him down to a point he gives me a price that I can tell my wife was once in a life time deal. :smoke

I've come to the conclusion that I need something more suited for touring. The xxx Glides are just too damn heavy and BMW R's seem a bit appliance like. The more I look at the Breva the more I like it . I'm a bit concerned about the maintenance though. I've already got one Italian so I guess one more couldn't hurt.

I've come to the conclusion that I need something more suited for touring. The xxx Glides are just too damn heavy and BMW R's seem a bit appliance like. The more I look at the Breva the more I like it . I'm a bit concerned about the maintenance though. I've already got one Italian so I guess one more couldn't hurt.

Guzzi maintenance is a 3-fluid change and simple valve adjustment.

On the Breva you pop off a little plug at the front of the motor and insert a ratchet to spin the crank (I also remove a spark plug from each cylinder to relieve engine compression making it easy to make little turns). You also pop out a little rubber insert on the right side of the bike (flywheel housing) and you can see the marks on the flywheel.

If they're like the marks on the Jackal (and I expect them to be, but will know for sure in a couple of weeks) they are S and D -

D = Dissa' Side - (actually used to stand for Distributor WAY back when Guzzi used a distributor mounted to the right side of the motor).

S = Si udda Side - (actually stands for Starter, which is on the left side of the bike).

NOTE - On the Jackal I've marked the crank nut with a sharpie so I know TDC for each cylinder from those marks too.

Anyway, flywheel in that position you pop off the valve covers (have to loosen one bolt and lift up the back of the fuel tank on the Brevas to get at the top of the valve cover bolts, bug again, that's no bid deal). OK, actually I pop off the valve covers FIRST before I spin the crank so I can watch the intake valve closed and again I KNOW when it's on TDC.

Make sure both valves are fully closed, which they should be if the D or the S is in the window (depending on which side you're working).

Then set the valves to euro spec - 0.15mm Intake or 0.20mm Exhaust. (Off the top of my head, but I'd double-check that spec cause I'm anal).

little lock nut and threaded adjuster to make the work easy.

Pop the valve covers back on and you're good to go for AT LEAST another 5-6k miles.

After the first 10-12k miles the valves seem to stay in adjustment for LONG periods of time.

In 26k of riding the Jackal I've only adjusted one or two of the valves. It's not uncommon that I open it up, check it, and leave em.

Kev

Guzzi, the best european twin, better, for me, than Ducati.

Guzzi maintenance is a 3-fluid change and simple valve adjustment.

On the Breva you pop off a little plug at the front of the motor and insert a ratch to spin the crank. You also pop off a little plastic insert on the right side of the bike (flywheel housing) and you can see the marks on the flywheel.

If they're like the marks on the Jackal (and I expect them to be, but will know for sure in a couple of weeks) they are S and D -

D = Dissa' Side - (actually used to stand for Distributor WAY back when Guzzi used a distributor mounted to the right side of the motor).

S = Si udda Side - (actually stands for Starter, which is on the left side of the bike).

Anyway, flywheel in that position you pop off the valve covers (have to loosen one bolt and lift up the back of the fuel tank on the Brevas to get at the top of the valve cover bolts, bug again, that's no bid deal).

Make sure both valves are fully closed, which they should be if the D or the S is in the window (depending on which side you're working).

Then set the valves to euro spec - 0.15mm Intake or 0.20mm Exhaust.

little lock nut and threaded adjuster to make the work easy.

Pop the valve covers back on and you're good to go for AT LEAST another 5-6k miles.

After the first 10-12k miles the valves seem to stay in adjustment for LONG periods of time.

In 26k of riding the Jackal I've only adjusted one or two of the valves. It's not uncommon that I open it up, check it, and leave em.

Kev

Thanks for the information. I've just about got myself talked into getting one. I've wanted a Moto Guzzi for a long time. The Breva and a few aftermarket bits might be just the ticket for long distance sport touring.

a shop near me just started carrying Guzzis.

i really like a couple of them. the California vintage would make a beautiful sidecar bike...if it had a larger engine and/or was a LOT cheaper, it would be in the running next year..but for $15K we could get a couple year old RK...

Thanks for the information. I've just about got myself talked into getting one. I've wanted a Moto Guzzi for a long time. The Breva and a few aftermarket bits might be just the ticket for long distance sport touring.

Like I've said, let me know if you need any info.

Kev

a shop near me just started carrying Guzzis.

i really like a couple of them. the California vintage would make a beautiful sidecar bike...if it had a larger engine and/or was a LOT cheaper, it would be in the running next year..but for $15K we could get a couple year old RK...

Well, it doesn't really need much larger of a motor, I mean it'll run with a 1200 Sporty all day with the motor it's got and outhandle it to when it's pushed.

But, that said, the Vintage has a lot of gaudy crap on it.

And it's basically just a Cali.

You can pick up a used Cali, couple of years old, for $4-6k so it makes a new Vintage kinda crazy at that price.

Having owned both an RK and a Cali, they're both VERY capable bikes and probably the best JACK-of-all trades I've owned.

That said, the RK is a little more comfortable, especially 2-up, but the Cali will out handle it all to pieces.

Kev

Well, it doesn't really need much larger of a motor, I mean it'll run with a 1200 Sporty all day with the motor it's got and outhandle it to when it's pushed.

But, that said, the Vintage has a lot of gaudy crap on it.

And it's basically just a Cali.

You can pick up a used Cali, couple of years old, for $4-6k so it makes a new Vintage kinda crazy at that price.

Having owned both an RK and a Cali, they're both VERY capable bikes and probably the best JACK-of-all trades I've owned.

That said, the RK is a little more comfortable, especially 2-up, but the Cali will out handle it all to pieces.

Kev

well, like i said, my next bike's going to be a hack, so handling's already out the window. i figure a bigger bike and/or more powerful engine would be a better hack.

i have been looking at the possibility of buying smaller rig already together, (a rubbermount sporty would be ideal since i would already have some knowledge) and might consider it if it's a LOT cheaper, but if it's within a couple K of a brand new big bike, i'm gonna pick a bigger bike like a RK all day long and wait a year to attach a hack.

still don't know if we're gonna be able to swing it next year, but i always have my eyes and ears open.

i am trying to talk her into a Rocket III for a hack :wonderlan

Here's a pretty cool bike. Is this a new model?

http://www.motoguzzi-us.com/Nuovi_modelli/1200sport/specifiche.asp?modello=1200sport&%20pagina=spec

Peace,
Mark

Gorgeous bike ... the styling actually looks a little like the BMW R1200R series to my eyes ... but with more torque to it !

Every once and a while a bike comes around that really grabs my attention ... and this is one . :)

If only it had an ABS option available ...

well, like i said, my next bike's going to be a hack, so handling's already out the window. i figure a bigger bike and/or more powerful engine would be a better hack.

i have been looking at the possibility of buying smaller rig already together, (a rubbermount sporty would be ideal since i would already have some knowledge) and might consider it if it's a LOT cheaper, but if it's within a couple K of a brand new big bike, i'm gonna pick a bigger bike like a RK all day long and wait a year to attach a hack.

still don't know if we're gonna be able to swing it next year, but i always have my eyes and ears open.

i am trying to talk her into a Rocket III for a hack :wonderlan

FYI, the California chassis is a popular bike to add a Hack too.

Seems that the frame is so beefy that it's one of the rare bikes that doesn't require any frame strengthening to add a hack.

Certainly powerful enough too.

http://www.gigabikes.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10081/IMG_5620smll.jpg

http://www.gigabikes.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10081/IMG_5621smll.jpg

I see em come up for sale as rigs from time to time too....

and much cheaper than an RK rig OR rubbermount rig!

HELL a rubbermount rig isn't going to have any more power or any advantages over a Cali rig actually.

Kev

Gorgeous bike ... the styling actually looks a little like the BMW R1200R series to my eyes ... but with more torque to it !

Every once and a while a bike comes around that really grabs my attention ... and this is one . :)

If only it had an ABS option available ...

The R1200R is on paper very similar in spec to the B1100 and B1200.

I know the B1100 has essentially the same wheelbase, suspension travel (front and rear), seat height, etc... but the R1200R is a little lighter and more powerful.

Still, where the B1100 tends to sell for a couple grand less than MSRP, it's tough to find an R1200R that's not a couple grand more. And some of that is because of things that come standard on the B1100 that are "options" on the R1200R.

At the end of the day, I chose the B1100 because of a more intangable visceral quality.

I've always found Guzzi to be a middleground between the Form over Function world of Harley and the Function over Form world of BMWs.

Kev

HELL a rubbermount rig isn't going to have any more power or any advantages over a Cali rig actually.

Kev

the main advantage would be that i would already have some knowledge and tools since i already own a rubbermount.

other advantages would be wide availability of parts, service and aftermarket.

not a dealbreaker by any means, but advantages nonetheless.

my wife dreams of a RK custom with a sidecar.


i'm just trying to see what we can swing. which might mean a cheaper bike and hack.

but who knows what will happen between now and next year.; :geek

The R1200R is on paper very similar in spec to the B1100 and B1200.

I know the B1100 has essentially the same wheelbase, suspension travel (front and rear), seat height, etc... but the R1200R is a little lighter and more powerful.

Still, where the B1100 tends to sell for a couple grand less than MSRP, it's tough to find an R1200R that's not a couple grand more. And some of that is because of things that come standard on the B1100 that are "options" on the R1200R.

At the end of the day, I chose the B1100 because of a more intangable visceral quality.

I've always found Guzzi to be a middleground between the Form over Function world of Harley and the Function over Form world of BMWs.

Kev

I find myself agreeing with you again Kev, this is getting scary ... lol

the main advantage would be that i would already have some knowledge and tools since i already own a rubbermount.

other advantages would be wide availability of parts, service and aftermarket.

not a dealbreaker by any means, but advantages nonetheless.

my wife dreams of a RK custom with a sidecar.


i'm just trying to see what we can swing. which might mean a cheaper bike and hack.

but who knows what will happen between now and next year.; :geek


Well those are checks for the rubbermount column.

Obviously, not enough for me in some cases, but I understand them.

Of course, money talks and a done rig with a Cali for under 10k ought to look good to you.

I've seen at least one 20k rubbermount rig so far :doh

I find myself agreeing with you again Kev, this is getting scary ... lol

:shhhh:shhhh:shhhh

Guzzi, the best european twin, better, for me, than Ducati.

Blasphemer !!!

These Moto Guzzi's engines remind me an awful lot of my old 1981 Honda GL-500. I sold it to my brother in law and he trashed the bodywork, I then bought it back and stripped it. A few black rattle cans and a MAC- 2 into 1 later emerged "Hemi Bike".
I even had a lakewood sticker on the "Bellhousing" but most people never got it.
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i50/jimmyess333/Hemibike.jpg

These Moto Guzzi's engines remind me an awful lot of my old 1981 Honda GL-500. I sold it to my brother in law and he trashed the bodywork, I then bought it back and stripped it. A few black rattle cans and a MAC- 2 into 1 later emerged "Hemi Bike".
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i50/jimmyess333/Hemibike.jpg

Well,the difference being that the Honda post-dated Guzzi on that design AND it was water-cooled... but yes, they are similar in layout.

Actually, IF I have my history correct, Guzzi was mostly about single-cylinder bikes for much of their history and only changed to V-twins around WWII.

AND, if I'm not mistaken, I THINK that INDIAN may have been the first to come up with this configuration as a proposal for US military bikes, but Harley got the contract and it never went into production.

HARLEY also had something similar, as they had a boxer-like/shaft drive set-up as a proposal for military bikes.

:geek

Thanks for the information. I've just about got myself talked into getting one. I've wanted a Moto Guzzi for a long time. The Breva and a few aftermarket bits might be just the ticket for long distance sport touring.

If your going to do long distance touring why not get the Guzzi EV?

Thanks for the information. I've just about got myself talked into getting one. I've wanted a Moto Guzzi for a long time. The Breva and a few aftermarket bits might be just the ticket for long distance sport touring.

If your going to do long distance touring why not get the Guzzi EV?

Because I prefer to emphasize the sport aspect more than the touring and a quick glance at the specs leads me to think that the Breva would be a better choice. Also, it should be pointed out that the EV is just a little on the fugly side.

Because I prefer to emphasize the sport aspect more than the touring and a quick glance at the specs leads me to think that the Breva would be a better choice. Also, it should be pointed out that the EV is just a little on the fugly side.

HEY EASY THERE with the fugly, you're talking about my Jackal too... well mostly.

I actually think the EV is a bit gaudied up.

It's weird though the EV/Jackal etc Calis vs. the Brevas.

The bikes are similar in some ways and completely different in others.

They're both Guzzi V-twins, which means they have torque, but the revs too. They have some grunt, but sing as well.

They're both very good all-around bikes with decent chassis, strong brakes.

They're both comfortable for long hauls and fun in the twisties.

But that's about it.

Everything else is different.

The Cali's are a multi-decade old design, more upright, a little less sophisticated in look, fit, finish and feel.

The Brevas are the next step in refinement, and though mostly upright, they're more sporty, quicker in steering, smoother etc.

Don't get me wrong though, the Cali's can truly still dance.

I can't use all of the capabilities of the Cali, so why do I NEED a Breva?

In my case, I just wanted a little more, and a little newer you know.

Kev

Well,the difference being that the Honda post-dated Guzzi on that design AND it was water-cooled... but yes, they are similar in layout.
:geek

I forgot to mention that the Honda GL had a single cam in the middle of the motor like an old V8, with lifters, pushrods, and rocker arms, as well as a mechanical fan (not electric). fan was bolted to the end of the cam.

I forgot to mention that the Honda GL had a single cam in the middle of the motor like an old V8, with lifters, pushrods, and rocker arms, as well as a mechanical fan (not electric). fan was bolted to the end of the cam.

Guzzi too uses a single cam

http://www.gigabikes.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10081/BrevaMotorCutaways1.jpg