If I could special order one last Guzzi .......

[ohiorider]

I was looking over some YouTube videos of one of my favorite bikes, the Guzzi 1200 Sport.  My older 2v now has over 65,000 miles on the odometer.  And she's been great, and hopefully, the bike and I will hold up and enjoy the ride over the next few years.

Having said that, I also watched a couple of videos of the 1200 Sport with the 4v (per cylinder) engine, and thought to myself, 'yep, that'd be the one I'd want.'

I owned an 8v Griso for 3 years, but hated the harsh (to me) suspension, whereas my older 2v 1200 Sport was is such a sweetheart ride-wise.

I need to get into somewhat lighter bikes, but if (BIG IF) there was an opportunity to purchase a 4v 1200 Sport here in the USA  that had been professionally rollerized, I'd buy it and finish out my Guzzi riding on it.  Plush suspension, beautiful styling, CARC final drive, plus the grunt of the 4v engine.  I think that would have been about perfect.  Make mine silver!

And no ..... I don't want to modify a 4v Norge.  Oh, as long as I'm wishing, give me an unlimited time and mileage warranty on the dashboard assembly!

[not-fishing]

I'm hoping that a year after my forced retirement I'll be in good enough shape to build and ride:



In tenni of course

[willowstreetguzziguy]

Just curious, what would it take to convert a 4V Norge into a 1200 Sport? It would entail taking off the fairing and putting on the lower bars and the sport fairing. Come on... Can it be that hard?

[ohiorider]

I don't know whether it would be difficult or not.  There are a few other items that might need changed out, such as the swap out of the suspension for the supposedly better forks and shock from the Sport.  I was simply saying that if the 4v Sport was available in the USA, i would have owned one.  But to cobble one together from a Norge, I'm just not interested in doing that.

BTW saw the great pics of your 1200S on the BRP.  Great road!  I've ridden it several times, and it always felt new, each and every ride!

Bob

[willowstreetguzziguy]

Is an engine swap out of the question?

[pete roper]

Why not try the Hi-Cam motor in your chassis? It will probably fit. If it doesn't? Well sell it on. I'm betting I could make it work Bob.

Pete

[willowstreetguzziguy]

BTW saw the great pics of your 1200S on the BRP.  Great road!  I've ridden it several times, and it always felt new, each and every ride!

Bob
[/quote]

Yes, it was 8 fantastic days of riding those wonderful roads on the 12S! The pictures and the memories help me make it through the winter.

[ohiorider]

Why not try the Hi-Cam motor in your chassis? It will probably fit. If it doesn't? Well sell it on. I'm betting I could make it work Bob.

Pete

Pete, I know you could do the swap!  i don't think I have the talent or the incentive to approach a project like this.  I need to get into a lighter bike, so I probably wouldn't go to this amount of time and trouble at my age to build a 4v 1200 Sport.

My original point was ...... IF these bikes had been available in the States, back in the 2010 time frame, I would have owned one.  For me, at that time, it would have been perfect.  My 2v has been a wonderful bike.  The perfect stable would have been a 2v and 4v 1200 Sport.  I think I would have enjoyed both, and not tired of the 2v.  I think each bike would have been unique  in its own way.

CARC forever!

[pete roper]

There's that 1400 motor on fleabay. I can single spark that bad boy for you and build you the hairy-arsed-ist 1200 Sport on the planet!

Pete

[beetle]

There's that 1400 motor on fleabay. I can single spark that bad boy for you and build you the hairy-arsed-ist 1200 Sport on the planet!

Ooh! Say yes!


Curious: how different are the Sport frames betwixt the 2V & 8V version?

[pete roper]

Not a lot. Only thing I'd be concerned about would be the *Squashed* bits on the frame rails clearing the back of the bigger Hi-Cam heads.

Pete

[beetle]

I'm hoping that a year after my forced retirement I'll be in good enough shape to build and ride:



In tenni of course

Cool eagle.

[Huzo]

Not a lot. Only thing I'd be concerned about would be the *Squashed* bits on the frame rails clearing the back of the bigger Hi-Cam heads.

Pete

Is that the same issue you spoke to me about regarding 8 valving my Norge ?
re, the frame rails ?

[pete roper]

Is that the same issue you spoke to me about regarding 8 valving my Norge ?
re, the frame rails ?

Yah. You want 1400 Norge?

Actually even if you can fit the motor you need the clutch and gearbox too. The box will fit, it's dimensionally identical to the one in the 2V bikes. But the clutch and input shaft are different on the 8V.

Pete

[ITSec]

Yah. You want 1400 Norge?

Actually even if you can fit the motor you need the clutch and gearbox too. The box will fit, it's dimensionally identical to the one in the 2V bikes. But the clutch and input shaft are different on the 8V.

Pete

So you're saying my venerable 2008 2v Norge is a candidate for a heart transplant should I wish? Yowza! 

[Huzo]

Yah. You want 1400 Norge?

Actually even if you can fit the motor you need the clutch and gearbox too. The box will fit, it's dimensionally identical to the one in the 2V bikes. But the clutch and input shaft are different on the 8V.

Pete

I didn't until I knew it could be possible.
If I'd got that bloody Stelvio donk that was going begging, I know I'da started sniffing around that type of thing.

[Carlo DeSantis]

I need to get into somewhat lighter bikes, but if (BIG IF) there was an opportunity to purchase a 4v 1200 Sport here in the USA  that had been professionally rollerized, I'd buy it and finish out my Guzzi riding on it.  Plush suspension, beautiful styling, CARC final drive, plus the grunt of the 4v engine.  I think that would have been about perfect. 

Bob, other than "beautiful styling" (beauty being in the eye of the beholder), you're describing the attributes of the camhead R1200R that a lot of older riders find attractive.

Best,

Carlo

[JJ]

I was looking over some YouTube videos of one of my favorite bikes, the Guzzi 1200 Sport.  My older 2v now has over 65,000 miles on the odometer.  And she's been great, and hopefully, the bike and I will hold up and enjoy the ride over the next few years.

Having said that, I also watched a couple of videos of the 1200 Sport with the 4v (per cylinder) engine, and thought to myself, 'yep, that'd be the one I'd want.'

I owned an 8v Griso for 3 years, but hated the harsh (to me) suspension, whereas my older 2v 1200 Sport was such a sweetheart ride-wise.

I need to get into somewhat lighter bikes, but if (BIG IF) there was an opportunity to purchase a 4v 1200 Sport here in the USA  that had been professionally rollerized, I'd buy it and finish out my Guzzi riding on it.  Plush suspension, beautiful styling, CARC final drive, plus the grunt of the 4v engine.  I think that would have been about perfect.  Make mine silver!

And no ..... I don't want to modify a 4v Norge.  Oh, and an unlimited mileage warranty on the dashboard assembly!

When I lived in NORCAL, (2006-2011), I went to the IMS show and almost bought a new 2008 black & white 1200 Sport.  It fit me like a glove!  Nice bike!!

[twowings]

I agree...you WERE rocking that bike look! 

[bad Chad]

 What about taking your 1200 sport in for a professional overhaul by one of our Guzy gurus?   Surely at 65,000 miles it is far from worn out but could likely benefit from some work.   At 65k it's likely not putting out the power it was when it was brand new.  Could the right Tech with the right equipment get another 10 hp and some torque out of the motor?

[Huzo]

When I lived in NORCAL, (2006-2011), I went to the IMS show and almost bought a new 2008 black & white 1200 Sport.  It fit me like a glove!  Nice bike!!

No it didn't..
YOU fitted IT like a glove !

[Huzo]

One last Guzzi ?
Either a brand new Red '07 Norge still in the crate...
Or
A red V11 Sport Le Mans.. (did I get that right ?)

[Bisbonian]

We have (had?) a guy around Tucson whose 2v lump blew up so he got a wrecked Griso and swapped the 8v engine into his 1200 Sport chassis.

I believe there were some compatibility issues at the time and he ended up using all the Griso electronics, including the dash. I haven’t seen him around in a while.

I enjoy my 1200S the way it is, not looking to replace the engine any time soon.

[ohiorider]

We have (had?) a guy around Tucson whose 2v lump blew up so he got a wrecked Griso and swapped the 8v engine into his 1200 Sport chassis.

I believe there were some compatibility issues at the time and he ended up using all the Griso electronics, including the dash. I haven�t seen him around in a while.

I enjoy my 1200S the way it is, not looking to replace the engine any time soon.

Hi, Biz ..... no, I didn't want to replace the engine in my 2v ...... was just daydreaming about how nice it would have been if Guzzi had made the 1200 Sport available in the USA as a 4v also.  I would most likely have kept my 2v and added a 4v to the stable.  As you and I both know, the 2v B12S is a remarkably nice machine.

[Huzo]

We have (had?) a guy around Tucson whose 2v lump blew up so he got a wrecked Griso and swapped the 8v engine into his 1200 Sport chassis.

I believe there were some compatibility issues at the time and he ended up using all the Griso electronics, including the dash. I haven�t seen him around in a while.

I enjoy my 1200S the way it is, not looking to replace the engine any time soon.

Hmmm...
So the bolt holes lined up ????
And he used the Griso engine/ clutch /gearbox motive unit ?
I think I've been told one must.

[Huzo]

I take it all back.
I want a Red, '07, wire wheeled,  8V Norge, washed and brought to my tent...
I don't expect to be disturbed until dawn...

[Huzo]

I'm hoping that a year after my forced retirement I'll be in good enough shape to build and ride:



In tenni of course

What the bloody hell is that...!

[pete roper]

Sez on the swingarm. While it has its points I'm overall not impressed by Ipothesis stuff because they don't understand how the 8V works.

From a purely subjective viewpoint I also think it's as ugly as a bucket full of bashed crabs.

Pete

[Huzo]

Yes, to a degree.
Got an arse like a $10 mule and the left side would be ugly exhaust wise, but I'd fix that quick sticks.
Throw some Termignoni stuff at it or anything that sounded wog like, and there's your chubby on the way.
Thought the fairing looked the duck's guts.

[JohninVT]

I loved my Sport and I actually preferred the power delivery of the 2v over the 1200 4v.  The Griso didn�t work for me either.  However, the 1400 is really the cat�s ass.  There�s plenty of torque everywhere and the rev range is high enough that you can hold a gear without constantly shifting to avoid bumping the rev limiter.  It�s a crime that Guzzi hasn�t stuffed the 1400 into a roadster package.  If I could special order one last Guzzi it would be a hotted up 1400 stuffed into a V7-ish package with standard ergonomics.  Alternatively, a 1400 Custom that weighed 70-80lbs less might work too.  I just can�t see where that much weight savings could be made.  I�d love to pick up a crashed one as a project.