Hi All,
I bought my first Guzzi in March a shiney new 1200 sport ABS. 250 miles in 2 days....and it was up for sale. No really. I hated it...with a passion. 2 weeks getting my back sorted, and a bike that dragged its bum and squirmed at the slightest hint of a corner. After many many years of building race bikes to a very high level and having all my bike handle well it was simply, horrid.
I didnt expect much but this was way worse than bad. So bad I didn't ride it for 2 months...as I contemplated its fate.
So I went to 3 dealers and test rode other bikes. The same. Those of you thinking "why didnt you test before you purchased"....well I did but it was winter and it felt ok in the depths of a dry but cold December. I was also restricted to a Stelvio for test as there were NO and are still NO SPORT 1200 test bikes in the UK. Different sort of bike and handling but the engine is the same and I liked that..something different.
Ok so....having paid my money and being someone well known for making bikes from scratch and ones renowned for their handling what could I do? Make it handle of course!
So if you want a sport 1200 or Norge (same bike but with fairings) here is what you do.
Junk the rear shock...it can not be saved and is pure rubbish. It is a penny pinching cheap piece of poo. The spring rate and damping are just simply wrong!
Go to Nitron Shocks and buy a new shock. We have worked with Nitron to up the spring rate and length and make the damping work. I personally have the all singing 3 way damped version but the other types they do will definitely improve the situation a 1000 fold.
So now it goes around corners.....off the side of the tyres with out the pegs decking and turns. There was indeed a nice bike under there just waiting to be freed.
Comfort. at 6' 1" I am a little taller than some (and shorter than others) but found the seat to peg height was too cramped. I there for went to my seat man (Mick the Trim) and got him to add 60mm to the seat using a combination of harder foams and memory foam. The pillion got more too...my wife was very pleased. WHile I was at it we redesigned the new cover to match the nice plastic cover that covers the pillion cover...but stupidly you never see if you carry a pillion because its left in the garage!!
Now I have a comfy seat, bum and legs AND a bike that goes around corners.
Front forks. Ahhhhhhhhhhh right way up and damping in one side and rebound in the other. REALLY. this is ok in 2014. Lets make a wooden wheel and bolt that on. I dont think so.
So forks gutted and proper cartridges fitted/modified. took a bit of doing but now..the bike glides over bumps rather than beating me to death.
I can put the pictures and mods online if any one is interested.....
Now the Guzzi is one of my favourite bikes ....ever. Sure it vibes a bit...but that is character and I can live with that.
My credentials....for telling anyone what they can do and that the bike was not handling...? Well you judge if I know what I am doing... www.altoracing.co.uk.
If your interested I just want to help others have as much fun as I am now having...touring with the odd blown away Jap bike for fun. You should see their faces!!
Ben
I bought my first Guzzi in March a shiney new 1200 sport ABS. 250 miles in 2 days....and it was up for sale. No really. I hated it...with a passion. 2 weeks getting my back sorted, and a bike that dragged its bum and squirmed at the slightest hint of a corner. After many many years of building race bikes to a very high level and having all my bike handle well it was simply, horrid.
I didnt expect much but this was way worse than bad. So bad I didn't ride it for 2 months...as I contemplated its fate.
So I went to 3 dealers and test rode other bikes. The same. Those of you thinking "why didnt you test before you purchased"....well I did but it was winter and it felt ok in the depths of a dry but cold December. I was also restricted to a Stelvio for test as there were NO and are still NO SPORT 1200 test bikes in the UK. Different sort of bike and handling but the engine is the same and I liked that..something different.
Ok so....having paid my money and being someone well known for making bikes from scratch and ones renowned for their handling what could I do? Make it handle of course!
So if you want a sport 1200 or Norge (same bike but with fairings) here is what you do.
Junk the rear shock...it can not be saved and is pure rubbish. It is a penny pinching cheap piece of poo. The spring rate and damping are just simply wrong!
Go to Nitron Shocks and buy a new shock. We have worked with Nitron to up the spring rate and length and make the damping work. I personally have the all singing 3 way damped version but the other types they do will definitely improve the situation a 1000 fold.
So now it goes around corners.....off the side of the tyres with out the pegs decking and turns. There was indeed a nice bike under there just waiting to be freed.
Comfort. at 6' 1" I am a little taller than some (and shorter than others) but found the seat to peg height was too cramped. I there for went to my seat man (Mick the Trim) and got him to add 60mm to the seat using a combination of harder foams and memory foam. The pillion got more too...my wife was very pleased. WHile I was at it we redesigned the new cover to match the nice plastic cover that covers the pillion cover...but stupidly you never see if you carry a pillion because its left in the garage!!
Now I have a comfy seat, bum and legs AND a bike that goes around corners.
Front forks. Ahhhhhhhhhhh right way up and damping in one side and rebound in the other. REALLY. this is ok in 2014. Lets make a wooden wheel and bolt that on. I dont think so.
So forks gutted and proper cartridges fitted/modified. took a bit of doing but now..the bike glides over bumps rather than beating me to death.
I can put the pictures and mods online if any one is interested.....
Now the Guzzi is one of my favourite bikes ....ever. Sure it vibes a bit...but that is character and I can live with that.
My credentials....for telling anyone what they can do and that the bike was not handling...? Well you judge if I know what I am doing... www.altoracing.co.uk.
If your interested I just want to help others have as much fun as I am now having...touring with the odd blown away Jap bike for fun. You should see their faces!!
Ben
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Not sure how many clams I want to spend on this bike. My Jap bikes are far better standard.