My love affair with the 1000S

[djkid]

My love affair with the Moto Guzzi 1000S

Around 1990 I walked into a motorcycle shop for the very first time. A large Moto Guzzi dealer with a huge selection in the showroom. At the very front of the shop was a slightly old fashioned but muscular looking 1000S. In my opinion the most beautiful Guzzi from the showroom, but also one of the most expensive.
I had just learned to ride a motorcycle and wanted to buy my first bike. It would be a V35II that, in terms of my inexperience, weight and price, suited me better than the 1000S.
However I could not forget about the 1000S. After a few years I returned to the dealer looking for a 1000S. But the motorcycle was recently taken out of production. Fortunately I found an unsold and still new one at another motorcycle shop.

It would be the start of a long-lasting bond between me and the 1000S. Other motorcycles came and went in the intervening years, but the 1000S remained to this day.

I immersed myself in the many versions that appeared from the 1000S between 1989 and 1993. The first series with cast wheels and the simple plastic instrument holder and the second series with the shiny stainless steel instrument holder, and wire wheels.

Allow me to share my story about the history of the 1000S here with you Guzzista.

In future posts I will add photos of the 1000S versions 2.1 (restored), 2.2 and 2.3 (unrestored in original condition) in a following post. The version 2.2 is now under restoration. I will also post a number of pictures of the restoration process.

To be continued.

[djkid]

The memorable history of the Moto Guzzi 1000S (1989-1993)

The Moto Guzzi 1000S is an extraordinary motorcycle. Not only for the motorcycle market in general, but also for the manufacturer itself. To start with the latter. Strangely, the 1000S model does not carry its own homologation. The homologation documents speak of "Tipo e series: <<VV>> (Moto Guzzi LE MANS CI). The frame is therefore almost identical to the sister model the 1000 Le Mans. Only the rear tubes of the frame run straight instead of at an angle.

The design of the 1000S was strongly inspired by the model from 15 years earlier, the 750S from 1974. The polished stainless steel fenders, and tank were inspired from this model. The graphics of the tank and the side covers also match. The side covers were inspired by the 850 le Mans from 1976. The seat is familiar to the seat of the V7 Sport of 1971. This makes the 1000S the first true ‘Retro’ styled motorcycle of its time.

The model was received with appreciation, but most potential Moto Guzzi buyers preferred the much more modern 1000 Le Mans, with a glass fiber fairing and angular headlight.
On the American market, the factory was unable to exploit the nostalgia of potential buyers. After all, the models that served as a historical inspiration, the 750S and 750S3 were never sold in America.

The 1000S is produced in quite a small numbers and in quite a lot versions! The already small sales figures were plagued by the ever stricter emission and noise regulations, which moreover evolved within Europe for the German and Swiss market, but also in America.
This has led to a confusing number of model series, versions and variant !. In addition there is an edition of the 1000S that is marketed as 1000SE, but still bears the name 1000S on its side panels.
I want to make an effort to classify the various models. The classification may be of interest to anyone who as a fan of this model. It can be used as a help for those who wants to restore their 1000S. The 1000S can be classified into two series, while both series come in several versions and variants. Details are shown in the table.

Today  the 1000S appeals to a small group of very loyal fans of this particular model. Mostly the are kept by their owners. Partly caused by the very low sales numbers they rarely come up for sale. But when they are for sale, they can remain unsold for a long time, just as in the years the 1000S was in production.

The 1000S was not a commercial success for Moto Guzzi. The spiritual successor of the 1000S, namely the contemporary V7, has become this. Moto Guzzi owes its continued existence to this day to this model, which has many enthusiasts. Not only Guzzista of all time are attracted to the V7. But much more importantly, the present day V7 manages to attract an entirely new generation of motorcyclists.

[djkid]

[djkid]

[djkid]

Moto Guzzi 1000S (series 2.1)

[djkid]

Within de brand Moto Guzzi it is often unclear how much of a specific model were produced and when. This is also the case with the 1000S and its various series. I tried to combine various sources and the result is reflected in the table above.
Series 1.1, 1.2, 2.1 and 2.2 total 1190 units (confirmed by total frame-numbers). According to Vittorio Crippa in his book MotoCiclismo racconta la Moto Guzzi ( the total number built is less than 1300. However Ian Falloon in his book Moto Guzzi Sport and Le Mans bible (2007) mentioned a total production of 1360 units. Citations from the wildguzzi.com forum: "Franz was the owner of the Spare Parts Co. in Philly, United States (a legendary Guzzi dealer) and he is a great source of information. He said that only a party of the '91s arrived in the USA in the summer of '92 Of those, 17 were orange and 17 were orange green. All 34 motorcycles came in a shipment and all the paperwork was dated 7/92". The second USA delivery were all black/green and said to be 84 in number, so the in the would be a total of 118 units.
The British SE version is included in the same VV frame-number row as series 1.
In a British magazine the importer announced that 30-40 would be imported for one year only as a special edition.
The split between the number of series 1 and 2 is best guess work.
Series 1 was only produced in 1989 and 1990. From Ian Falloon’s book these add to 679 units. Suggesting series 2 would total 629 units. This suggests an about equal split between these 2 designs and thus parts unique to these series. What could be a good indication as the unique parts probably have a minimum order quantity from their suppliers (e.g. seat supplier, wheels supplier etc.).

[djkid]

Moto Guzzi 1000S (series 2.2.1)

[djkid]

Start of the restoration. Tank and side covers removed.

[djkid]

To be continued...

[Dave Swanson]

Wow! What a great thread!   You are a true devotee!   I suspect the admin this will move this thread to the General section for more exposure.

[oldbike54]

 Bump

 Dusty

[brider]

Around 1990 I walked into a motorcycle shop for the very first time. A large Moto Guzzi dealer with a huge selection in the showroom. At the very front of the shop was a slightly old fashioned but muscular looking 1000S. In my opinion the most beautiful Guzzi from the showroom, but also one of the most expensive.

This is deja vu all over again for me. I, too, recall walking by, and even sitting on, a 1000S @ Donaldson Cycle in St. Louie at about this same 1990 time period. It was in the showroom for a very long time, and I liked it every time I walked by it as my Convert was either in the service bay, or I was at the parts counter.

If I only knew then what I know now.

[Groover]

Great devotion indeed. Nice write-up and thread. Thanks for sharing what you know.

[wicks]

Subscribed!

[s1120]

Vary nice!!  The 1000S was also a big eye opening for me also. It was I think 90, or 91..  I was at Amercade up in lake george NY, and hitting up the demo rides. Ran across the MG's and figured I would give them a shot I cant remember what I rode first...  I rode the 1000S, mille, and I think a LM V. I really liked the LM, and not really for the Millie.. But that 1000S...  I was smitten!!!  I think that week I rode that bike 5-6 times. A reall good group of guys there at that time running the demos..  MAN I wanted that bike!!  Sadly it never happaned..  I just couldnt swing the high price.  It was almost twice the price of a nice new conversion van we bought a year or two later..  As time went on, the prices faded a bit..  but I started having more responsibility in life, and really didnt have the money. Todays world, the value is WAY out of my range..  so pretty much sadly the time slipped away. I still love the bikes, and after all those years I finely got my first Guzzi. I love the bike I have, but the 1000S is always the one that got away.

[Bulldog9]

This is what Guzzi should do with the V85 motor and chassis. Bump displacement another 100CC's, put on seat  gauges, headlight and tank from a V7, satil aluminum or chrome fenders, chrome exhaust from the V9 with a few tweaks and boom..............

[wirespokes]

Great start and welcome to the forum!

Where are you located? I get the idea it's someplace in Europe?

For a decade or two I wanted a Guzzi but didn't know which one. I had an idea what the 'right' one would be like and thought the early LM was it. Eventually I wound up with a LM4 and love the bike, hate the looks. And then I found out about the 1000S - BINGO! So for the last year I've been converting an 85 LM with wire wheels, straightened the rear frame, stainless fenders, round headlight, stainless LaFranconi exhaust, early style gauges and getting ready to build a fiberglass seat pan and make some molds of old LM1 side covers. It's been quite a learning experience and labor of love. Even though it's not finished yet, everywhere I take it people come up and tell me they like my bike. Even non motorcyclists.

The 1000S, along with the V7S it's based on, are timeless works of art like the Mona Lisa or Michelangelo's David. It's got a universal appeal. I'm sure the oldtimers here are sick and tired of it, but it still rings my chimes.

[Groover]

Found a nice link showing some great photos of a '93. Small contribution to this thread..  https://motoborgotaro.com/sold-motorcycles/1993-motoguzzi-1000s-for-sale

[blackcat]

"....and make some molds of old LM1 side covers."

?? Why not just buy them?

[Turin]

this is great! keep it up!

[wirespokes]

?? Why not just buy them?

Because the copies are supposedly not very good. Also, I discovered that the covers from the LM1&2 have a lot of material missing from around the lower mount. It's cut away for the brake actuating rod on one side and forgot what on the other. It's a weak area and I can fill all that in for use on the 1000S copy. Also, I have access to a fiberglass shop, plus I've got a feeling I'll want more, so having a mold to pop out extras will save big time in the long run.

[blackcat]

Because the copies are supposedly not very good. Also, I discovered that the covers from the LM1&2 have a lot of material missing from around the lower mount. It's cut away for the brake actuating rod on one side and forgot what on the other. It's a weak area and I can fill all that in for use on the 1000S copy. Also, I have access to a fiberglass shop, plus I've got a feeling I'll want more, so having a mold to pop out extras will save big time in the long run.

I haven’t seen the fiberglass copies but I think that Gutsibits has the original covers in stock, not painted and not cheap.  But I understand why you are doing this because the mounting tabs can break. I keep a small amount of grease on mine and am very careful removing them when the weather is cold.

[Anomaly]

Bump

(what happened to this thread??-- trying to read up on the 1000 S)

[Dave Swanson]

Daan is one of the top 1000S enthusiasts!  He went to great lengths to help me acquire a correct set of Ariete grips for my 1000S that I will always be grateful for. 

For a space in time I was the lucky owner of 2 1000S, now down to 1 and still feel lucky!   

[JohninPA]

Here's my 1000S ... regretfully sold long before they were considered anything special. Fellow who purchased it was, if I remember correctly, a school teacher from the mid-west, maybe Illinois ... maybe he still has it and is on this forum? I believe he had his young son with him when he came to pick it up. Probably about 25 years ago. The 1000S was my sixth Guzzi, and I'm on number 19 now. This relates to the 'fickle motorcycle thread

[grebmrof]

I had a '91 big valve green 1000S and think that it was almost the finest Guzzi I ever had, of course I sold it.  When I started it up, it just leap to life after less than a single revolution of the engine, it always spoke to me, something like:  "let get on the road, I want to run" or so I imagined.  Yes it is one that I was sorry to see go, but there was a Guzzi SP/Hedingham in my sights then (and that was a money pit)...  sigh...

[jguzzi]

I enjoyed reading this.  Especially the history.  I remember visiting the American importer Moto America in the early 90s.  It was in Lillington NC, a small town and the dealership/importer seemed to be in an old main street car dealership building....a big building for that town.  And on the sales floor were Milles, SP3s, and 4 or 5 1000s's in both colors.  I think the list price was about $8995 which was too much for me....but I will always remember the happiness of seeing a group of them.  I miss that location and building with the Moto Guzzi business....it was also the location for several Moto Guzzi annual open houses and people would come from many distances.  Fun.

[s1120]

Back in the early 90's at Amercade in Lake George NY. I loved sporting v twins, but was riding my old reliable Suzuki GS650. I knew of Guzzi, but never been on one, or at a dealer. Hit them up at the demo rides, and first time out was on a 1000S. I fell in love from the first second! Those few days I rode the whole line, and that 1000S the most. I wanted one in the worst way after that but sadly life got in the way, and it was always just a bit out of reach. As the years went on I always kept my eye out for a 1000S or any guzzi but the deal just never came. Fast forward to a handful of years ago and I got my first Guzzi. A Cali stone Metal, and I do like it, but its not the same. At this point I know I will never get one of the 1000s' being the price range, but they were my first interdiction to Guzzi, and why I will always own one as long as im riding.

[kidsmoke]

Daan is one of the top 1000S enthusiasts!  He went to great lengths to help me acquire a correct set of Ariete grips for my 1000S that I will always be grateful for. 

For a space in time I was the lucky owner of 2 1000S, now down to 1 and still feel lucky!   

That's an abundance of riches, Dave. I take you kept "Sparklehorse'?

Where would you go in 2022 to restore or replace a seat to get that original line?

Were both of yours mid valve engines with 36mm carbs or did you have one of the Big valve motors as well, with the 40mm's?

Unfortunately, Daan's links are broken, it appears. I'd be interested to see those charts.

I've got a line on a mid valve 93 with a custom seat. Not bad, but I like the stock seat lines better.

[blackcat]

I don't believe that anyone makes a replacement cover for a stock 1000S seat. About three or four years ago a stock seat in almost new condition popped up on eBay with a buy it now and that is how I got mine. Haven't seen one since then but I stopped looking.