New to me 1987 SPII

[Dragonknee]

I picked up a SPII and don't know much about the differences between it and other tonni framed bikes. My search for a seat to fit my SP2 is not being fruitful and so I came here to ask if anyone had a SPII and if they could take some pictures under their seats so I can try to find another pan or whole stock seat. The issue I have is it seems to have 2 brackets on the right side and a seat lock on the left. What I really want is another seat that will work or can be modified. Thanks

[pehayes]

Good Luck!!  Better buy a lottery ticket first.
I had an SPII for a number of years.  Seat had been reupholstered by Corbin before I bought it.  I had it re-done by them after seam failure due to age.  Pictures of the seat and pan below.
Very odd seat.  Hinged on the right side and locked down on the left side.  One of my hinge receivers snapped off the frame and I managed to bodge in a reasonable facsimile repair but don't have any pic of that.

Handlebar switchgear is hideous inside.  Can't be easily replaced by something better.
Front master cylinder has unobtanium parts worldwide.
16" front wheel is finicky about tire dimensions and air pressure.
Stock sidestand hard to deploy by a two legged human.  Not many other options for it.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[Dragonknee]

Good Luck!!  Better buy a lottery ticket first.
I had an SPII for a number of years.  Seat had been reupholstered by Corbin before I bought it.  I had it re-done by them after seam failure due to age.  Pictures of the seat and pan below.
Very odd seat.  Hinged on the right side and locked down on the left side.  One of my hinge receivers snapped off the frame and I managed to bodge in a reasonable facsimile repair but don't have any pic of that.

Handlebar switchgear is hideous inside.  Can't be easily replaced by something better.
Front master cylinder has unobtanium parts worldwide.
16" front wheel is finicky about tire dimensions and air pressure.
Stock sidestand hard to deploy by a two legged human.  Not many other options for it.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

Thanks for the thoughts. Not sure how I will deal with the seat but If I can't find a pan I will just work with the seat I have for sure. Time will tell how long it stays just because I have a V11 as well, but it has 158,000 miles on it and a motor rebuild at 131,000 miles... We shall see.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I thought the seat from the T5 and Mille GT was the same, but maybe not. Same tank, sidecovers and tail section.

The original "trapezoidal" master cylinder can be rebuilt - I just did one for my friend Scott. Stein-Dinse has the kit in stock: https://www.stein-dinse.com/en/item-2-1427337-28659300-.html

[Dragonknee]

I thought the seat from the T5 and Mille GT was the same, but maybe not. Same tank, sidecovers and tail section.

The original "trapezoidal" master cylinder can be rebuilt - I just did one for my friend Scott. Stein-Dinse has the kit in stock: https://www.stein-dinse.com/en/item-2-1427337-28659300-.html

Thanks for the heads up on the brake parts. I looked at the seats and they are different. I'm looking all over for info so anything helps...

[JJ]

This is my old 1993 SP1000-III.  Photo taken in NORCAL, (Pleasanton, CA), when I lived there 2005-2011.  It was a good touring bike and I had fun with it. 

It had a CORBIN custom seat and also a removable top case on the rear rack.  After a few years, I sold it to a guy in NJ who rode it from NORCAL back home.  Later, I learned he was T-boned at an intersection, (non-fatal), and the poor bike was totaled...

[slopokes]

Yes I am still alive and the sp3 was being put back together out in Long Island….

[Dragonknee]

Yes I am still alive and the sp3 was being put back together out in Long Island….

Glad your still alive my friend, I got hit on my Lemans by a 84 year old man and still kicking as well. Any chance the bike had the stock seat besides the corbin? I would love to find a stocker. Thanks

[Cdn850T5NT]

T5 seat and SPII seat are identical. OP's bike appears to have an 18" (non stock) frt wheel, and has non OEM windshield. I can't tell for sure, but rear wheel appears smaller than the OEM 18, but I'm not sure...

[Cdn850T5NT]

Good Luck!!  Better buy a lottery ticket first.
I had an SPII for a number of years.  Seat had been reupholstered by Corbin before I bought it.  I had it re-done by them after seam failure due to age.  Pictures of the seat and pan below.
Very odd seat.  Hinged on the right side and locked down on the left side.  One of my hinge receivers snapped off the frame and I managed to bodge in a reasonable facsimile repair but don't have any pic of that.

Handlebar switchgear is hideous inside.  Can't be easily replaced by something better.
Front master cylinder has unobtanium parts worldwide.
16" front wheel is finicky about tire dimensions and air pressure.
Stock sidestand hard to deploy by a two legged human.  Not many other options for it.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

Patrick, could you please give more details about your comments on the stock 16" frt wheel; that is to say your comments on how sensitive it is to "shape/dimensions/presumably tire tread design"? I know one ought to run 38 psi or more for best results...Stock is 110/90-16 if memory serves, and it is tube-type, non-radial.

Thx!

[Cdn850T5NT]

OP, re the switchgear, "Chuck in Indiana" has an '87 Lario with that same switchgear, and he has the low-down on how to disassemble- and rebuild the contacts... and most importantly how to re-assemble the assemblies!

[SLDMRossi]

On my second one. Bought the first...sold it...regretted it...and then bought another.

Obviously, judging by the photo, yours has been repainted. Truth be told, my first one had a 16" front wheel and it really wasn't an issue...despite all that's been written about it. The fact is, getting a replacement tire could be iffy, though. The one I've had since 2005...and still have...was retrofitted with an 18" front wheel and has also been fine. They really are wonderful to ride and it's so unfortunate that they were only here for one year (1987). And...it's a real Moto Guzzi, with Linked Brakes.

FYI, they also came with standard hard bags (unlike the SP 1000 predecessor)...though they were a bit fragile and finicky.

The most important thing with an SPII is to simply ride it and enjoy it! It's a unique chapter in Moto Guzzi history that had never been properly replicated until the arrival of the Norge. Which has also been since discontinued...Damn .

Steven Rossi
East Haddam, CT

P.S. -- yeah, seat = T5. Of which even fewer were imported.

[Cdn850T5NT]

On my second one. Bought the first...sold it...regretted it...and then bought another.

Obviously, judging by the photo, yours has been repainted. Truth be told, my first one had a 16" front wheel and it really wasn't an issue...despite all that's been written about it. The fact is, getting a replacement tire could be iffy, though. The one I've had since 2005...and still have...was retrofitted with an 18" front wheel and has also been fine. They really are wonderful to ride and it's so unfortunate that they were only here for one year (1987). And...it's a real Moto Guzzi, with Linked Brakes.

FYI, they also came with standard hard bags (unlike the SP 1000 predecessor)...though they were a bit fragile and finicky.

The most important thing with an SPII is to simply ride it and enjoy it! It's a unique chapter in Moto Guzzi history that had never been properly replicated until the arrival of the Norge. Which has also been since discontinued...Damn .

Steven Rossi
East Haddam, CT

P.S. -- yeah, seat = T5. Of which even fewer were imported.

I managed to find several 16" 90 section-











ratio tires... All but the Duro and the Kenda are 110 section; Duro and Kenda are 100 section width.

Folks have cautioned against going with 120 section width; not sure why. The 16" wheel/tire models are apparently very sensitive to tire size, pressure, and maybe tread pattern.

Not all of the frt tires are great for speed rating, and the load ratings likely differ, too. And the mfrs differ by way of perception / reputation.

[guzziart]

The original "trapezoidal" master cylinder can be rebuilt - I just did one for my friend Scott. Stein-Dinse has the kit in stock: https://www.stein-dinse.com/en/item-2-1427337-28659300-.html

Is anyone producing the reservoir diaphragm for those?  I rebuilt mine 15 years ago with new seals, etc. but the reservoir diaphragm is beginning to look like the original did.
The switchgear is not that great but I was able to clean & lube mine to where it works well.  I believe these are available (aftermarket??).
I have the 16" front on my LMIVSE and am currently running a Bridgestone BT46 tire, it was a big improvement over the Dunlop Aeromax but idk what the longevity will look like right now...don't put that many miles on it these days.
Oh well, congrats on your new ride!

[Cdn850T5NT]

Is anyone producing the reservoir diaphragm for those?  I rebuilt mine 15 years ago with new seals, etc. but the reservoir diaphragm is beginning to look like the original did.
...

It's my sense that to replace the diagram, a person would have to
i) cut-down an automotive one, to make it fit; and to
ii) replace the top plate with a piece of aluminum (shaped identically) so as to be able to exert more-even closure force for the non oem diagram.