Moto Guzzi V4 Sport - Opinions?

I've been browsing the market for some time to look for a suitable replacement
for my trusty but aging Blackbird. A couple of the guys that I go riding away
with ride Guzzis, a Breva 1100 and a Belagio, I think it is.

These guys look so comfortable and at ease on them, so I have decided to look at
what MG has to offer.

The V4 Sport looks OK. But I cannot find any definitive reviews on it. The M-G
website is lacking for detail, photos of the bike, other than what appears in
its brochures.

Just wondering if any Guzzi afficionados here have either ridden one or who may
even own one. And if so, what are your views on the bike?

Bikesales, if I'm entering in the right search critiera, has only 3 of them. All
new, all in QLD. The closest dealer for me is A1 Motorcycles in Ringwood and it
doesn't appear to have a presence or items in the web sales sites.

What do these bikes sound like with an aftermarket exhaust? Can one be fitted,
like some bikes which is merely a case of undoing a clamp and the muffler slides
off and the aftermarket one slips on in its place?

Or is doing this to a M-G an act of heresy?

As for the Blackbird, it's an 00 model, firs reg 01. I did a search for it to
get an idea of what mine would be worth. the prices are all over the place, some
in the "tell 'em 'e's dreamin'" category, others what seem to be geniune
bargains. I wonder whether the dealer would take it as a trade-in, or would his
butler usher me to the kerb and pointing me to Peter Stevens up the road where
they sell UJMs...

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sat, 29 May 2010 07:02:26 +1000

I don't think it's been about much. Your best bet with the new motor
is to hunt Griso reviews as the GRiso 4V has been about a bit more,
and you should get an idea of the feel from them. Combine that with
1200 Sport reviews and you'll get the best feel you can get right
now.

Try the forums at guzzitech.com. If you can persuade Roper out of
hiding on the forums there you'll get an earful about it all

You'll get owners of 4Vs and Sports anyway.

I don't know of anyone who has bought one. They'll turn up
eventually, but no one on AIGOR has mentioned one yet that I know of.

COuple of Griso 4V owners though. They seem to like the new motor.

Problem is chipping. Like all modern bikes really... The added
complication with Guzzi is that they use a computer that isn't easily
modded and there isn't the aftermarket volume for 3rd parties to get
into the act.

If the pipe doesn't change the fuel cycle much then it can be added,
heaps of people have put pipes on the two valvers and I'm fairly sure
to four valvers.

Remember that Guzzis are not horsepower monsters or flicky bikes. You
have to love corner speed and deliberate riding to enjoy them. They
are a very different experience to something like a blackbird or a 600
sport.

Zebee

 

I wanted to test ride a 1200 sport but couldn't find one to try, I ended
up buying a Norge (which I could test ride).

I suspect you'll find it hard getting a ride on one before buying.

Also A1 don't seem to carry the range of bikes that the NSW and Qld
dealers do.

G-S

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sat, 29 May 2010 08:57:33 +1000

http://www.motoguzzi.com.au/ridemenu.html doesn't list the 4V sport
which doesn't surprise me, great website updaters they ain't!

However... email them ( http://www.motoguzzi.com.au/contactmenu.html )
and see what can be arranged.

I expect your changes are minimal, but you might get a chance on a
Griso which will tell you about the motor.

Welcome to small volume motorcycle land.

Zebee

 

http://forum.guzzitech.com/forum/188/4599.html seems to be the go,
complete with Roper!

You might want to join that forum and send a message to Pete, as he
lives just outside Canberra and says he's had a 1200 Sprt 4V through
his mechanic business so should have some pointers. He has a 4V Griso
so understand the motor.

Zebee

 

Eh? I've heard lots of "what if"s and seen a few pretty good photo-shops
but is there REALLY a V4 Moto Guzzi in existence?

 

I've seen a couple of V4 Griso's and 1 V4 1200 Sport and 1 1200V4
Stelvio, I've yet to see a 1200 V4 Norge.

G-S

 

In aus.motorcycles on Mon, 31 May 2010 10:11:25 +1000

Every Griso I've seen still only has 2 cylinders....

Zebee

 

*sigh*

ok you got me... 4V not V4


G-S

 

Last year I saw a Stelvio at the top of the Stelvio. Kinda nice looking.
I think
it was being ridden by a septic, the only one in the group not on a H-D.

Moike

 

My mate has got back into Guzzis. He has a 1200 Sport, a 1951 Falcone
and is about to receive a La Mans III.
I must organise a ride on the Falcone.

Theo

 

I had a 97 Blackbird with carbs and it was great. 120,000ks on it and still
ran like a swiss watch. It had power up the wazoo and was like sitting on a
jet engine. Only problem was it was a bit heavy which made it a bit of a pig
around town.

Fraser

 

Zebee Johnstone wrote...

Closest for me is one fellow who owns a Breva 1100 and a Bellagio (1200?). They
love 'em.

That's a point.

Then it will be a refreshing change. The bike characteristics of Honda's sports
tourers have changed little since I got my first one, an 89 CBR1000F back in
'90. The Blackbird just feels like a more refined and gruntier version, and one
that makes me stretch out a bit further.

When we pull up after say, a 2hr stint, I get off, stretch my incipiently
arthritic limbs and restore feeling to my right wrist. These guys pull up, say,
"what's the matter, why are we stopping?". They look so damned comfortable and
at ease on the darned things.

That I'm considering one at all is what they'd call a "seachange" I s'pose. But
the idea of a 1200cc v twin appeals to me. So too does a shafty, presumably that
they're smoother in operation than a chain drive.

 

G-S wrote...

More'n likely. But if I can ride a comparable model to get an idea of they're
like to ride, then all the better.

Bikesales only had 3 examples, all in QLD. I s'pose it'd be a good excuse to fly
up, pick it up and spend a week riding home, assuming, of course, that I'm not
subjected to raping and pillaging by the local villagers...

 

Nev.. wrote...

Was in there recently. A mate shredded a rear tyre on our way home from Bright
via Mansfield, Reefton, etc. So, he dropped the bike in to get a new tyre fitted
and we browsed A1.

I can't remember if they had the Sport there but some of the other models look
pretty spic. The mate, a sports bike rider was attracted to the Aprillia V4....

Mine's an 00' model, first reg 02/01. It's EFI, about 55,000km on the clock and
a few scratches down the right side where I dropped it in the carpark at work
recently...

As for how much, if I got between $4-5k I'd be happy.

Anyway, I'm probably getting ahead of myself. I'm still considering this and the
Minister of Finance and Major Expenditure Projects has yet to grant preliminary
approval, let alone authorising a release of funds to complete this project.

 

OOOhh, now you've got me interested. Keep talking.
Where you located?

 

You're a sick puppy - from passing interest to excitement at the mere
mention of crash damage

 

She said years ago that you could have all the VB you want!


G-S

 

You're a sick puppy - from passing interest to excitement at the mere
mention of crash damage [/QUOTE]

I have other reasons for ramping up of interest, but that's a really
long story.

I'm not after showroom bikes. I will use a bike to within the last
inch of its life. I couldn't give a **** if it is has a couple of
scratches on it.

 

Diogenes wrote...

Unfortunately, I (as do most married couples) don't work under a Westminster
system. Rather, it's more of a benevolent dictatorship...

After all, they don't refer to "SWMBO" as such for nothing, do they?