PRESS RELEASE
Moto Guzzi 1200 Sport
To most motorcycle riders the term sports bike means something like a 600cc middleweight with a screaming engine and super sharp handling, or a one litre superbike capable of 170mph plus. There’s an old school view though, which sees the sport not in knocking fractions of a second of your best lap times nor wearing out a set of knee sliders in an afternoon, but in sweeping down an Alpine valley, bowling along a countryside A-road, enjoying the booming beat of a big V-twin engine.
It’s less intense but potentially a lot more tactile and pleasing to the senses. You can read that as an excuse for being slow if you wish, and if you do then a full-on Japanese sports bike is what you’re after, because they’re fast enough for anyone. But if you know what I’m getting at, then Moto Guzzi’s new 1200 Sport might catch your eye.
Its styling certainly helps, as this is another offering from the famous old Mandello factory – clinging to the side of a mountain beside Lake Lecco in the Italian Alps – which is distinguished by particularly classy, elegant lines. Although the bike is a close derivation of the established Breva 1100, the gloss black finish and white racing number roundels on the tailpiece, together with the small nose fairing, contrive to give the Sport a quiet distinctive and very appealing look.
Guzzi did let us out on a race track with the bike, which only confirmed it’s really not at home there. The steering feels slow, ground clearance becomes an issue and it doesn’t like being forced into fast direction changes. On the roads, where it will only ever be ridden anyway, everything makes much more sense. The 1200cc air-cooled V-twin is an uprated version of the Norge touring bike unit, and as such produces plenty of useful torque to make it a relaxed yet surprisingly rapid machine, with little need to call on the slick six-speed gearbox. Rev the motor hard and it gets a touch harsh, but you do far better to exploit the strong mid-range pull anyway, where this is a characterful, muscular engine with a low-flying biplane boom and endearing twitter from the exhausts on the overrun.
The riding position is fine for long trips or round-town manoeuvring, although the bars are set very wide and take a little getting used to, putting a lot of pressure on the palms of your hands. But they are adjustable, and the layout does mean the mirrors are very effective as you can see past your elbows much better than on most bikes. Don’t be tempted to lop an inch or so off the bar ends though as the steering is quite heavy and it could get too much with any loss of leverage.
The suspension also enhances rider comfort with its plush ride, and it copes well with rapid road rather than track work. Indeed, the handling is very good away from the track, with excellent stability and typically Guzzi neutral steering, ideal for the mix of roads you’ll get on an afternoon out or continental tour. The tank holds 5.1 gallons which with the 45mpg plus you should expect means a very good fuel range, adding to the bike’s distance potential.
Not really a sports bike then, despite the name, unless you subscribe to the view that motorcycling itself is a sport. But it is a good looking, capable all rounder with classy styling and a strong character that will win over riders with its sound and feel as much as its performance. But it’s pretty quick anyway!
The Moto Guzzi 1200 Sport is available on the Moto Guzzi 0% finance offer until 30 Sept 2007, with payments over two years and a 10% deposit. For a brochure and details of your nearest dealer contact 01293 823890 or email Promark.pr@virgin.net.
Kevin Ash
A COPYRIGHT FREE ROAD TEST FROM INDEPENDENT FREELANCE JOURNALIST KEVIN ASH (Motorcycle Correspondent for the Daily Telegraph)
Pictures: Milagro
ENDS
1.8.07
NOTES TO EDITORS
For further high resolution images or more information contact the Moto Guzzi Press Office at Promark PR Tel: 01293 823890 Email: Shirley.promark@virgin.net
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