1200 Sport 4V video/test

[atadaskew]

[R Doug]

That's the Guzzi I would want if I were going to replace my KTM with a Guzzi.  

I could listen to the exhaust note for hours on end.  

[garry]

That's the Guzzi I would want if I were going to replace my KTM with a Guzzi.  

I could listen to the exhaust note for hours on end.  

+1000000

I'm just waiting for my 8V 1200 Sport to find me. Notice the video said fully adjustable forks and shock. I hope he was right about that...

[sixgunner]

My brother has a 1200 sport 2V. its a really cool bike, but to me its more like riding a cruiser. compared to the super duke it handles like a big couch. Its way too soft & wallows thru the turns. when I first saw this bike I thought it might be a contender for my garage,but after riding it I was a little disappointed. the grin factor is just not there like the KTM.    

That's the Guzzi I would want if I were going to replace my KTM with a Guzzi.  

I could listen to the exhaust note for hours on end.  

[atadaskew]

 after riding it I was a little disappointed.     

Post reported to moderators.

 

[WitchCityBallabio]

I believe that with the new fuel map, the bike produces a much better torque curve. The Stelvio 8v I rode in Italy had been remapped and pulled like a freight train.

Pete Roper has tweaked his 8v Griso and has gotten 103hp at the rear wheel. On the Sport package, that should be a lot of fun.

[Orson]

Its way too soft & wallows thru the turns.    

Admitedly, the Tenni V11 I watched raced at the Isle of Man TT looked like it had a hinge in the middle  

I learned later that his steering dampner gave up the fight  

Nevertheless, at real world speeds, my V11 is rock steady in the corners  

Me thinks maybe your brother's bike might need its suspension set up.

[R Doug]

My friend's V11 Sport (w/ Ohlins) felt very planted in the corners.  Granted, the bike wasn't nearly as nimble feeling as the KTM and it did feel a bit heavier.  But, the Guzzi was more than up to some spirited riding and (as mentioned) that exhaust note is dreamy.  

[st ryder]

My brother has a 1200 sport 2V. its a really cool bike, but to me its more like riding a cruiser. compared to the super duke it handles like a big couch. Its way too soft & wallows thru the turns. when I first saw this bike I thought it might be a contender for my garage,but after riding it I was a little disappointed. the grin factor is just not there like the KTM.    

So you couldn't find a good suspension setting?  

[WitchCityBallabio]

I put HyperPro gear front and rear, and the HyperPro steering damper, and my V11 handles like it's on rails now. Much different than stock.

[st ryder]

The quircky steering was addressed with a longer WB at some point IIRC. Which years need a damper? What do you mean by "HyperPro gear front and rear"?

[Orson]

The quircky steering was addressed with a longer WB at some point IIRC. Which years need a damper? What do you mean by "HyperPro gear front and rear"?

I think it was the original red-framed, fairing-less, pre-2002 V11 Sport that had a shorter wheelbase.

I don't recall there being any problem with its handling...it was just "twitchy". I think all V11s came with steering dampners.

[st ryder]

I think it was the original red-framed, fairing-less, pre-2002 V11 Sport that had a shorter wheelbase.

I don't recall there being any problem with its handling...it was just "twitchy". I think all V11s came with steering dampners.

So they went to a longer wb in '02 in order to address the twichiness. Is that the same year they went to the black engine-gearbox cases, ie can one tell wb by engine colour? I didn't know they all had steering dampers from the factory. I love those red framed bikes, especially knowing the handling quirks are a solvable issue.  

[atadaskew]

Even my 1983 Lemans 850 came with a steering damper from the factory.

[Orson]

So they went to a longer wb in '02 in order to address the twichiness. Is that the same year they went to the black engine-gearbox cases, ie can one tell wb by engine colour?

I believe the longer wheelbase was a result of the new 6 speed transmission in 2002, and not from any desire to address any twitchyness. I don't recall any complaints about twitchy handling. That was just the way they handled  

I could be wrong though...maybe a Guzzi guru can chime in.

[st ryder]

...I don't recall any complaints about twitchy handling. That was just the way they handled  

I read about their quircky handling in Cycle Canada and other sources. Seems the longer wb addressed those issues.  

[WitchCityBallabio]

The quircky steering was addressed with a longer WB at some point IIRC. Which years need a damper? What do you mean by "HyperPro gear front and rear"?

HyperPro progressive spring in the back and HyperPro progressive springs in the front forks. They were set according to my weight and the type of riding I do. They are light years better than the factory springs as is the HyperPro steering damper. The Bitubo unit was just adequate. They HyperPro does a much better job of deadening out the washboards on corners. Important on New England roads.

When the rear Sachs shock blows, I'll replace it with the HyperPro 3D unit.

[st ryder]

HyperPro progressive spring in the back and HyperPro progressive springs in the front forks. They were set according to my weight and the type of riding I do. They are light years better than the factory springs as is the HyperPro steering damper. The Bitubo unit was just adequate. They HyperPro does a much better job of deadening out the washboards on corners. Important on New England roads.

When the rear Sachs shock blows, I'll replace it with the HyperPro 3D unit.

Oh okay, got it now. You meant new springs. That just further validates to me anyway, that early models can be dialed in with suspension tweaks/upgrades. The reviews I've read are simliar in that the rider doesn't really try to dial in the suspension, just rides it as is/stock set-up and then states it's quirky. I actually got pissed-off after reading the Cycle Canada review when they first came out, (at one time, they gave an honest review) as I thought they were too harsh on the bike by saying the handling was quirky without even as much as checking the tire pressures: owners know better.