2008 Sport 1200: Does it have the tappet issue?

[CanBike]

Did the 2008 Sport 1200 suffer from the cam issue?

[Kiwi_Roy]

I don't believe any 2 Valve Guzzi has a cam wear problem.
The 2 Valve motor is bulletproof

[Huzo]

I don't believe any 2 Valve Guzzi has a cam wear problem.
The 2 Valve motor is bulletproof

Correct.

[Bulldog9]

The US (and Canada?) only received the 4V motor/2Valves per head, so safe from the  8V flat tappet issue. The 2009 Euro models had the 8V motor and they had the flat tappet issue.

The 1200 Sport came with a bi-color fairing and cowl cover over the passenger section of the seat. Bikes were black or red with a white flash on the fairing and cowl. It also has more squared off valve covers, a white face speedo/tach display, a bit different exhaust that has a y pipe crossover and the catalytic convertor in the exhaust can which has a faux carbon fiber finish. The Breva 1100 and Norge 1200 had black faced gauges, the cat in the crossover/y pipe and rounder valve covers.

It is a great bike. Solid, stable, the Breva/Norge chassis is a nice balance between sporting and touring. A little top heavy with a full tank of fuel, but largely bulletproof. 77K miles on mine. Only 6-7K from me, Ohiorider was the original caretaker.

[ohiorider]

The US (and Canada?) only received the 4V motor/2Valves per head, so safe from the  8V flat tappet issue. The 2009 Euro models had the 8V motor and they had the flat tappet issue.

It is a great bike. Solid, stable, the Breva/Norge chassis is a nice balance between sporting and touring. A little top heavy with a full tank of fuel, but largely bulletproof. 77K miles on mine. Only 6-7K from me, Ohiorider was the original caretaker.

I second your opinion.  It truly is a great bike!  Glad it went to such a good owner.

Bob

[Huzo]

If the covers look like this

 you’re safe.

[Bulldog9]

If the covers look like this

 you’re safe.

They look like this.

[bad Chad]

The states never got the 1200 Breva.  As said, the 1200 Breva had the same drivetrain as the 1200 Norge, 2v.   A very robust set up!

[Huzo]

They look like this.

Don’t hang your hat on this, but I think that’s an 1100 motor.
Anyway, it’s a 5 minute job to take a cover off and check.
Take a couple of GOOD photo’s and post them.

[Huzo]

Thanks for the replies. I find it a very interesting bike. As mentioned, I want to move more into a bit of sport touring. I suspect the Breva / Sport is more sport than touring? I doubt I'd ever find a 1200 4v Norge. Maybe I'll keep an eye out for a 1200 8v Norge. Or maybe I'll see if I can make the Breva work for more long distance work.

vMate, 1200 4V (2VPC) Norge’s are a dime a dozen.
There have been several on here for sale in recent times.

[AH Fan]

Yes the 1200 Sport (2V pr/cyl ) was offered for one year only up here in Canada and has the very unique valve covers offered as an indication of that particular model as well.
Offered as stated in red/white trim or black white trim.
Not very many of them produced and offered over here but is absolutely fantastic machine to own and ride.
finding them in descent condition can be challenging for sure but patience will be required if looking for a well sorted low mileage example.

Enjoy              Ciao

[Bulldog9]

Don’t hang your hat on this, but I think that’s an 1100 motor.
Anyway, it’s a 5 minute job to take a cover off and check.
Take a couple of GOOD photo’s and post them.

That is definitely a 1200 motor my friend... Because that is my 1200 sport :-). It just so happens that my 1100 Griso has almost identical valve covers :-)

[ohiorider]

Breva 1100 = 1051cc (Or in Guzzispeak 1100cc)
1200S =        1151cc (Or in Guzzispeak 1200cc) Also holds for 2v/cyl Norge

Bob

[AH Fan]

Oddly enough there appears to be blk one for sale in Ont. right now.............

Ciao

[jpv7]

Oddly enough there appears to be blk one for sale in Ont. right now.............

Ciao

yes.  That is the second time he’s listed it if we are talking about the same bike.  He’s a good guy who is trying to thin his herd…

[Bulldog9]

I've been in touch with him. Hoping to make it happen. :)

You won't regret it

[guzzi ride]

Congratulations on a great bike...enjoy

[ohiorider]

Congrats!

Bob

[Bulldog9]

Done! And I'm very pleased. And what a sound!

Congrats!  I really like the windscreen, do you know what it is?

[Huzo]

Congrats!  I really like the windscreen, do you know what it is?

Looks similar to this.


It worked very well.

[Huzo]

You have the Sport with the new 8v 1200 motor? Is the frame and other bits all the same as the earlier 1200?

That bike was my Son Christopher’s for a while.
I had a bit to do with it, but not a lot.

Absolutely beautiful thing to ride with a glorious engine.
The interactions I had with it “undressed” in the workshop, showed it to be fundamentally the same as my ‘07 Norge.

[jpv7]

Done! And I'm very pleased. And what a sound!



Congrats!  Has he sold off his V11s?  I was looking but no $ right now…

[BRG-BIRD]

Nice Guzzi!

[ohiorider]

A note I wrote myself nearly 12 years ago, shortly after purchasing the 1200 Sport:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Initial thoughts about the Moto Guzzi 1200 Sport
Bob Gilligan – May 22, 2010

I picked up my new 1200 Sport in NH a little over a month ago.  And I immediately began thinking, 'I'll never get this bike to fit me.'  Love the engine and tranny, CARC feels good, suspension not bad, and I haven't fooled with the preload or compression damping yet.  But what a torture rack!

Installed the Mana handlebars a few days ago, and couldn't be more pleased.  Just enough change for me.  Slightly more height, slightly more rearward position.  But enough. Makes me think this bike just might work out for me! Gotta call Zoom Zoom and find out what he wants for the foot peg lowering kit.  It feels good, too, now that the bars are within reach.

I still have the no-taillight issue, but that'll be resolved either by finding and fixing the problem or bypassing it.

My evolving opinion of the 1200 Sport ...... this bike may not be the fastest, but she feels like a real brawler. Maybe the Ying and Yang of motorcycles .... easy on the eyes, but with an engine that sounds like she's all for mixing it up with a Sportster, and winning!  Love how all that power and side-to-side shaking at idle can be turned on by simply tapping the starter button, and allowing Guzzi logic to spin the starter as long as necessary. And so far, I haven't found the stepper motor throttle adjustment too intrusive.... once she's warmed up, she slows to the sweetest idle I've heard.  Nothing like BMW, nothing like the Triumph, more like a big block v eight, because the power pulses are uneven.  But no potato, potato, potato  ......  Unusual, but so sweet.

The 6-speed transmission shifts surprisingly smoothly, and I find the ratios perfect for this bike.  I was expecting big jumps between gears, but instead, each gear seems to lead to another very good ratio .... how does one talk about a transmission, anyway?  All I can say is, 'Guzzi, nice mating of engine and tranny.'

As for the pushrod engine, I'm stunned that the apparent abundance of torque at lower rpm continues into the upper rpm range.  She's not broken in yet, but all indications are that this engine will be a hoot on Ohio's two-lane secondary roads on a Sunday morning.  Overhead cams would be an improvement, possibly, but I like the fact that MG has been able to get such usable power out of a traditional engine design.

I think I really like this bike!

Bob

[AH Fan]

Done! And I'm very pleased. And what a sound!