1200 Sport - parts, etc.

[bisbonian]

I'm really jealous how good these bikes look with the bags off the bike.  My FZ1 looks like an alien spacecraft compared to the well hidden hardware of the Guzzi.

This is why I went with the Guzzi bags instead of Hepco-Becker.  While the crash bar look with the bags off was okay on my V-Strom I felt the H-B brackets had no place on this bike.

[blakebird]

The centerstand can be installed with the bike on the side stand.

I found the installation to be a royal pain but doable if you take your time.  There are no instructions but if you look at the exploded diagram you can see how it's done;

There are some unofficial "instructions" on a thread with the exploded parts view - I had it all printed, parts laid out and ready to do it yesterday....but I had to work. I've got a trip to the Canadian Rockies coming up next weekend, and have been buried at work. I'm going to leave for a week feeling guilty for not staying   not really....but there is precious little free time to do this, so I called the dealer and got a quote for a half hour labor.

Trying to wrap up some project work had me at the office Saturday and Sunday. I almost didn't get down there in time on Saturday afternoon - but I did and was glad to get it done quickly. Another task off my list of things to do before I head out.

It is not a difficult task, but time was not on my side for this one.  

[blakebird]

wow.... you don't even begin to get the bike leaned over before that centerstand drags.  
I'm all for the convenience of it, but that's ridiculous how early that happens.

I'll look at shaving the rubber bumper, but it's hard to believe that could make much of a difference.

Now that all the main bracketry is mounted, maybe taking the stand itself off is less of a big dang deal. That's a bit disappointing how early the fun ends.

I have my bags mounted for a trip.....so maybe it's worse with the bumper stop lower because of the muffler tab.

[Biking Sailor]

Thanks for the info Blackbird, I've been considering a center stand but that is a bit of a turnoff!  Could you send some pics (close-up details) of how it fits and what it mounts to?  Might be time for some home garage engineering for a maintenance stand as my other stands are all for two sided swing arms.

[johnnyquest]

I just emailed Dave at MI and ordered the center stand. Before ordering it I mentioned my concerned with the center stand dragging, he said that when they install one on a 1200 sport they modify the rubber bump stop and the muffler tab, he said when they get it done it has about the same clearance as a '06 Breva 1100 with a center stand. $185 installed seemed reasonable, and I really think I'll miss having one. Time will tell if it's worth it. Blakebird, give MI a call and ask Dave about how they install the centerstand, maybe a little modification will make it better.

JQ

[blakebird]

I ended up cutting the bumper in about half, heightwise. Took about 1/2" off it. It does tuck the centerstand nice and close to the muffler now, so it was a big help.
How much it helps I'll have to see when I go the same way home today.

The muffler tab being modified - I'd be interested in seeing the end result, to see what's changed. It's a stout tab and didn't seem like it was easily modified. When the muffler is lowered to clear the bags, it drops that whole enchilada down about 1.5" to 2".

[johnnyquest]

I ended up cutting the bumper in about half, heightwise. Took about 1/2" off it. It does tuck the centerstand nice and close to the muffler now, so it was a big help.
How much it helps I'll have to see when I go the same way home today.

The muffler tab being modified - I'd be interested in seeing the end result, to see what's changed. It's a stout tab and didn't seem like it was easily modified. When the muffler is lowered to clear the bags, it drops that whole enchilada down about 1.5" to 2".

So, you never told us how your ride home went after modifying the centerstand bump-stop. Can you live with the clearance now or is it still dragging like crazy?

JQ

[blakebird]

The last couple of days I took twisty roads home to see how the bumper trim helped. I haven't been able to get it to touch down, and that's with the bags on (and muffler lowered) still.

I was a little surprised - I thought it would still drag, but I got the bike over pretty good and no drama.
The real test will be a sweeper at speed, when the bike is being pushed.... but I'm very happy with the 'back to normal' at average speeds around 90* corners and such.


Friday I took off around noon to run some errands. It was our first seriously hot day here, and in stop and go traffic I'm sure that's as warm as the engine's gotten. At a signal stop, I smelled burning oil so I pulled into a parking lot to see what was up.
I had a couple of drips on the right header, and it was coming off the fins and spark plug cap.

I got back on and headed for the dealer (pretty much across town at this point). More stop and go, more traffic light stops. At each stop I looked down and saw a dozen or so drips. My right boot was speckled with oil, and it was dripping enough to see them...getting worse as I rode.
The dealer took it in but was busy, so it would get looked at later in the day. I took light rail home....

It was the valve cover gasket as I suspected, and though they didn't have one... they got one. It will be ready by noon today.
(I mentioned I was headed out Tuesday am before dawn on a week long road trip to the Canadian Rockies - so I needed it back by EOB Saturday, if it meant taking a gasket out of a bike on the floor)


Which reminds me.

Does anyone have the 800 number for Guzzi's 24hr Roadside Assistance?

[johnnyquest]

Well, that's good news about the centerstand, bad news about the leaky valve cover gasket! I think I will make sure I have Guzzi USA's 800 number, as well as Progressive Roadside assistance and every dealer mapped out between Seattle and Tucson!

I'm kidding, not that paranoid. I know several others rode their bikes home with zero problems. I hope this was your one minor hiccup. Thanks for the centerstand info. Have fun on your upcoming trip, post up pics and a trip report when you can.

JQ