Moto Guzzi 1200 Sport
MOTO GUZZI 1200 SPORT
Quick Ride
Hot-rod Italian V-Twin
MENTION "MOTO Guzzi Sport" to riders of a certain age and a clear image comes to their minds—that of a classic, elegantly styled, V-Twin sportbike painted bright metallic green with a flaming-red frame, big drum brakes and wire-spoke wheels.
This is not that motorcycle. In fact, the 1200 Sport was supposed to be called the Breva S after the sporty all-rounder upon which it is based.
Though it is a close relative to the Breva, the new Sport has sharper lines and a moreaggressive appearance. A small headlight-mounted fairing, redrawn fenders, a reshaped seat, a smartly designed oil-cooler cover that doubles as a chin spoiler, a huge muffler wrapped in imitation carbon-fiber, and exciting new graphics and
paint have turned the mildmannered Breva into a firebreathing dragon. Well, not exactly, but there’s no denying the Sport has sex appeal.
Not much was done to up the output of the latestgeneration, air-cooled, twovalve-per-cylinder, 1151 cc engine. A new 2-into-1 exhaust system and related fuel-injection tweaking
resulted in peak horsepower (95 hp at 7800 rpm) and torque (74 ft.-lb. at 6000 rpm) coming 300 and 200 rpm higher, respectively, in the power curve than on the Norge sport-tourer that shares the same mill. So while the engine produces the same level of power, it
feels more responsive. For those seeking even more performance, Moto Guzzi offers a factory hop-up kit that includes higher-compression pistons, a racy 2-into1 -into-2 Lafranconi exhaust and an upgraded ECU, the combination said to bump output past 100 hp.
Geometrically and structurally, the chassis is a complete carryover from
the Breva. Steering-head angle is set at 25.1 degrees, and with 20mm-offset triple-clamps and a 17-inch front wheel shod with a 120/70 radial, trail is 4.7 inches. Wheelbase spans 58.8 inches. Rear suspension is by a single-sided swingarm inclusive of the patented CARC floating crown-and-pinion assembly that prevents unintended rear-end reaction under acceleration or braking. Unique to the Sport are its wave-style 320mm Braking front brake rotors, Metzeler Sportec M3 tires and friction-reducing Tinalox (titanium nitride and aluminum oxide) coating on the conventional 45mm Marzocchi fork.
Our initial contact with the Sport 1200 came on the 1.5-mile Franciacorta circuit near Brescia, Italy, the town made famous by legendary Mille Miglia automobile race. Though short, it’s a fun track, mixing a very twisty section with a very fast one. Thanks in part to its 505-pound claimed dry weight, the Sport proved quite capable, its sporting ancestry more apparent in its chassis than its engine. The big Twin was better suited to the second half of the test ride, pulling strongly on the roads around Lake Como.
Road or track, enhanced agility remains the Sport’s greatest virtue.
Just like the original. □
