2007 Guzzi Breva 1100 purchase

[Kev m]

Yeah Kev, I agree (for once). I only tour with one bloke and he owns a BMW R1100S and I'm on an '07 Norge. Much like your comparison, I know on most KPI's the BMW is "better" but it's still not as "good". What's the reality behind that ?

I think it comes down to the experience being more than the sum... It's feel vs. spec sheet.

In 1996 I test rode a Harley Road King and a new BMW R1100R. The "R" was a "better" performing bike in all metrics. It stopped better, turned better, went better...

...I bought the RK and NEVER regretted it.

[jas67]

As for the dash it got wonky by something like 15-17k miles and then failed multiple times.

Great bike in some ways though...

It failed at 17k.   I replaced it with a new, zero mile one, that one failed at 7k miles.    I replaced that one with a used one from ebay, and sold the bike after putting an additional 5k miles on it.    I didn't want to still own it when the dash failed again.

The clutch failed at around 24k miles.   $1,800 later, it was back on the road (didn't have time to do it myself).   Within a month of getting it back on the road, was when the second dash failed.   Needless to say, I was pissed.   If that had happened before the clutch failed, I would've likely parted out the bike.    In the three years I owned it, I only put 14k miles on it in the three years I had it (sat for 10 months until I decided that I'd never have the time to do the clutch).    During that time, I put $3k into repairs (clutch + two dashes).     Aside from the heat issues (which made it a great cold-weather bike), I loved the bike, but, if it was my first Guzzi, it would've been my last.

That said, not everyone has had this bad an experience, and I fully believe it is likely reliable now that I paid dearly to sort it out.      The clutch was replaced with an improved design clutch purchased from Moto International.

Here is a 2007 with only 5K miles on it for sale in NJ:
http://newjersey.craigslist.org/mcy/5932377176.html

[jas67]

Fwiw, I liked my B11 more than I liked my R1100RS.

I liked the B11 better than the R1150R that I considered replacing it with.

In the end, I bought a F800GT, which is lighter than both, and while I'm not crazy about it's looks, it has great wind protection, is a good bit lighter than both the B11 and the oil-head BMW's.    I've put just shy of 10k trouble free miles on it in the 16 months that I've had it.

[bad Chad]

Why did the clutch fail?  That's an exepensive repair for such low mileage. I would have been pissed too. 

[Huzo]

I think it comes down to the experience being more than the sum... It's feel vs. spec sheet.

In 1996 I test rode a Harley Road King and a new BMW R1100R. The "R" was a "better" performing bike in all metrics. It stopped better, turned better, went better...

...I bought the RK and NEVER regretted it.

Yeah, strange but true.

[Kev m]

Why did the clutch fail?  That's an exepensive repair for such low mileage. I would have been pissed too.

No idea.

I mean it really wasn't abused (anymore or less than any other bike I've owned and the only clutch I've ever had to replace on my own bike was a 90k+ airhead with a leaky rear main seal).

<shrugs>

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

IMHO way too much for a bike that is brutally hot in the summer. Expect the dash to do all kinds of weird things. Sure it is fun to ride as I have over 50K on mine, but I have friends to give me a ride home.

Tex

Seems like an odd comment...  I know it's hot in texas with all that sun and miles of straight roads... but I ride my Breva in southern summers with temps in the 90's+ and very high hummidity..  Never felt the heat was much of an issue

As for the dash, I think there are roughly 20x more issues with the Sport 1200 (white face) dash than the Brevas or Norge have reported.. and the sport dash issue seems to be pretty rare (tho a major PITA if it goes out)

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

I'm curious if all you guys complaining about the heat are running your chin fairing?

I took mine off early (didn't like the look, wanted to see the engine), haven't run it since, and I cant remember ever finding it oppressively hot in the last 12k miles

[Kev m]

I'm curious if all you guys complaining about the heat are running your chin fairing?

I took mine off early (didn't like the look, wanted to see the engine), haven't run it since, and I cant remember ever finding it oppressively hot in the last 12k miles

Chin fairing?

You mean the sponsoons on either side of the tank or?

By hot I mean my whole lower torso and crotch got no airflow and some additional heat which equaled bathing in my own crotch sweat at temps of 80°F or more.

[rdbandkab]

We loved our 06 Breva 1100....  We put 53,000 2up miles on ours.  Aside from a preventative "startus interuptus" mod,  we also had to replace the carc seal after we finished our first trip.  The B had been sitting a while before we purchased it,  so I'm incline to thing that had something to do with the oil drip.   Speaker's Cycle installed a new seal (very inexpensive) and we never had another issue. 
Dash issues??  I wonder if my putting a good coat of wax around the dash face and case helped stave off that problem?

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

Chin fairing?

You mean the sponsoons on either side of the tank or?

By hot I mean my whole lower torso and crotch got no airflow and some additional heat which equaled bathing in my own crotch sweat at temps of 80�F or more.

No I'm talking about the hunk of grey plastic under the sump

[Kev m]

No I'm talking about the hunk of grey plastic under the sump

Ohh, hmm never thought of that. I wonder if that would have helped.

[siabeid]

When I got my used Norge, it had a small leak from the CARC seal. I removed the breather and blew it out with an air nozzle. I guess the breather was plugged up. It never leaked again.

[MAC]

Breva Alternative.
http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=86105.0

[derek533]

Love my 06 Breva 1100.  It's my fourth bike I've owned and my very favorite of all of them.  There's just some character there that you don't get on other bikes.  The Guzzi shake (side to side oscillation at idle), big ole V-twin with ease of access to the valves for your own adjustments, extremely comfortable riding position that is darn near perfect for me (I'm 6'0, about a 32-33" inseam just like you), and the attention it gets when parked in the sea of Harleys around here.  There's just nothing like it.  Seems to me like the bike is over engineered as well. 

My bike has just over 9K on the odo and I too don't have a heat issue and we have 100 degree days here in OK?

[rdbandkab]

Forgot to mention:

We absolutely loved the sound of that engine.  *We missed the clutch rattle when we went to the Stelvio single plate (boooooo!). 
The Breva had the perfect symphony of mechanical sounds in my opinion.

Getting another 4v is always in the back of my mind....

[Nic in Western NYS]

Forgot to mention:

We absolutely loved the sound of that engine.  *We missed the clutch rattle when we went to the Stelvio single plate (boooooo!). 
The Breva had the perfect symphony of mechanical sounds in my opinion.

Mine with stock pipes sounded perfect.  Nice understated growl at wot and good decel tones too.

[Kev m]

Mine with stock pipes sounded perfect.  Nice understated growl at wot and good decel tones too.

I can't argue with that. I loved the sound and feel of my B11.

And when I replaced the OEM crossover with the Guzzitech crossover (sans cat-con) it sounded just a hair louder and more visceral.

One weird side effect was that even though it was still pretty darn quiet it was just loud enough to hear some popping on decel and to scare deer or horses, so I had to be extra careful when I came across riders (which happened pretty frequently in the horse country I was living in when I had it).

[rdbandkab]

...we went with a cross over and Mistral Carbon Oval minus the db killer..  Sounded awesome!

I think this is the link to my sound clip....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5qwWZpMVOA

[flip]

My Breva 1100 has a Guzzitech crossover in place of the cat and a Staintune slip-on. I have tried it with and without the db killer. The sound is much better without it but it is a bit louder than I prefer.

[rodekyll]

I'd like to unload my POS Breva but I'm to ugly to hide and too fat to run so I can't dump the thing on a fellow Guzzist.

Tex
[/quote




Eat those words. POS is maybe the operator, sorry if I may offend but I say it like it is. The Breva is a great bike. I would never sell mine. On the leak issue it could be the oil sensor or valve cover gasket leaks. Buy the bike and don't look back.

Let me tell you how it is, Rizzi, so you can say it like it is: Tex is one of the Old Guard.  He has about a million miles on Guzzis since 1971, and has at least two dozen guzzis at his place as I speak.  He's owned about every Big Block made, including the Breva, and has attended all but the second MGNOC National Rally -- a record that will never be touched.  He's quite well qualified to have an opinion.  It might be a different opinion than yours, but you don't have the chops to call him a POS for saying what he thinks.  Not sorry if that offends, on account of that's the way it is.

As far as your qualifications to comment -- How does a CARC leak from an oil sensor or valve cover gasket?  Have you seen a CARC or even know what one is?  Not sorry about that, either.

[Moto Rizzi]

Let me tell you how it is, Rizzi, so you can say it like it is: Tex is one of the Old Guard.  He has about a million miles on Guzzis since 1971, and has at least two dozen guzzis at his place as I speak.  He's owned about every Big Block made, including the Breva, and has attended all but the second MGNOC National Rally -- a record that will never be touched.  He's quite well qualified to have an opinion.  It might be a different opinion than yours, but you don't have the chops to call him a POS for saying what he thinks.  Not sorry if that offends, on account of that's the way it is.

As far as your qualifications to comment -- How does a CARC leak from an oil sensor or valve cover gasket?  Have you seen a CARC or even know what one is?  Not sorry about that, either.

Hey I was defending the Breva. I understand what you said but do know what the CARC is. That was one of the  reasons I bought the bike. By the way I've been on my share of bikes but first Guzzi so I'm not some new punk on his first bike. The leak issue if not mistaken i read was in multiple places and I was referring to mine. By the way its not a POS, that's the way it is.

[PJPR01]

Yeah Kev, I agree (for once). I only tour with one bloke and he owns a BMW R1100S and I'm on an '07 Norge. Much like your comparison, I know on most KPI's the BMW is "better" but it's still not as "good". What's the reality behind that ?

Perception is reality...there are specs and there is feel...as you well know.  There are lots of great looking bikes, but they don't all feel right when ridden... 

I want to see the dash on yours when you turn 200K miles Huzo...and as for the Arctic circle ride, I think some good training for that would be a summer ride in Texas...100F and 99% humidity! 

As far as heat goes...I wonder if the Breva (great looking and riding bike) does run hotter than the Norge...even on the hottest of summer days, my 2V Norge has never felt uncomfortable...unl ess in stop and go traffic in which cases, you can feel the heat coming off the bike...but once moving, never an issue.

[Huzo]

Perception is reality...there are specs and there is feel...as you well know.  There are lots of great looking bikes, but they don't all feel right when ridden... 

I want to see the dash on yours when you turn 200K miles Huzo...and as for the Arctic circle ride, I think some good training for that would be a summer ride in Texas...100F and 99% humidity! 

As far as heat goes...I wonder if the Breva (great looking and riding bike) does run hotter than the Norge...even on the hottest of summer days, my 2V Norge has never felt uncomfortable...unl ess in stop and go traffic in which cases, you can feel the heat coming off the bike...but once moving, never an issue.

Did the Arctic circle one in 2015 and no dramas. Will be there again in August this year.