2007 Moto Guzzi 1200 Sport Introduction Report - Motorcycle.com

The "Sport" moniker evokes sweet memories among Guzzisti but don't let that carry you away too much. Back in `72, the arrival of the Guzzi 750 Sport shot the company into the high-performance battle raging then against the likes of CB750 and KZ900. However, this 1200 Sport is clearly not a GSXR beater but rather a nice big-bore roadster. A quick glance proves that the term Sport carries a very different meaning in Mandello nowadays.

There are other upgrades as well. There is now adjustable suspension at both ends; the fork got a TiNi treatment to the legs for reduced friction, while wave-type rotors replace the fully circular discs of the regular Breva. A humped rear seat with an optional racy cover and a "carbon like" finish to the silencer give the otherwise sedate-looking design of the Breva a more purposeful look.

Swing a leg over the thing and it's hard to believe the impact of those flat handlebars on the seating position. The original Breva bars put you in an almost "big-trailie" posture while here, the rider's upper torso is canted forward quite notably, to the point where shorter testers in the launch event complained about the long reach to the bars. For me it was spot-on, reminding me more than anything of the riding position in my old-skool GSXR-based streetfighter.

Blipping the throttle in the parking lot is quite a tease; the healthy bark reflected from the walls of the old factory is a nice tell-tale sign. Moving on slowly at first, all the sweetness of the original Breva is here intact, though the quick and light steering do not create the same shock effect anymore. Better get used to that; the truck-like steering manners of Guzzis of yore are gone forever.

We only have a few hours of riding planned so instead of taking the long way around, "Checo" -- our trusty lead and Guzzi road tester -- takes us straight to the nearest twisty road. He doesn't wait too much before rolling on in earnest and the 1200 turns out to be a tool that lets you start pushing with confidence from the word go. Roll on with decision driving out of turns, and the 1200 responds with a strong pull, the likes of which you could only dream of with the 1100 mill.

Although it's a shafty, the CARC system does a good job canceling torque reactions at the rear, but just like on Beemers, the system can't get rid of the effect fully. Get used to that and it becomes a minor distraction, but for now, I'm really enjoying the extra precision that the flatter bars give. It might not amount to much, but the little extra weight over the front makes this "Super Breva" more reactive than the 1100 model while front end feedback is improved as well.

After this medium-length hill climbing session our guide is in bad need of a cigarette and we stop in the empty parking lot leading to a ski resort above the lake. Up here, sly smiles abound. Guzzis used to be mature rider tools, like connoisseur's wine to be enjoyed in slow sips, yet this one is like a good shot of grappa and can bring out a little devilish grin in anybody, experienced as he might be.

Checo notices that everybody's looking for some hotter action and suggest that we do the (in)famous Pian di Razzinelli hill climb. The road has been used in the past in numerous open road races. Sounds good -- our photographic session has been cancelled anyway (hence the PR shots at Monza) - so let's go.

"...this one is like a good shot of grappa and can bring out a little devilish grin in anybody..."

The brakes, although not of the latest radial fashion, supply very reassuring deceleration rates with plenty of feel. These wave-type rotors might lack the classy looks but they sure work. If anything, an increase in fork preload could help here, but I didn't have time to play with the adjusters.

Nice way to finish the day. On paper, Guzzi did a parts bin special: a Breva frame, a Norge engine and some goodies thrown in. The reality? It not only works, but the Sport 1200 and Breva have an entirely different character. Need I explain which one I'd rather? Guzzisti can play the hoodlum hooligans at last.