Even is the sunny southwest, winter is the preferred time for tear downs and projects. Winter, instead of summer when God, Mother Nature and Arizona Public Service all conspire to ruin the hobbyist’s quality time by threatening heat exhaustion. When the holidays draw near, we sometimes find ourselves with a bit of extra time. The gifts are all bought (or the money to buy them is gone) and Aunt Mildred’s fourth green bean casserole has distracted everyone. This year, my aim is to sort the few niggles that remain on my recently purchased Moto Guzzi 1100 Sport.

My first exposure to the Sport came on one of my earliest journalism assignments. At the request of Frank Wedge, Director of the Moto Guzzi National Owners Club, I was dispatched to Renaissance Motorcycles in Tucson where my old pal Steve Spreter was uncrating one of the first Sports to arrive in the US. A silver carbie (later ‘Spots’ were injected, starting in 1997) my already Guzzi soaked brain shifted to brine. Someday, someway, I’d have to have one.

What’s the attraction? The early Sports, inspired by John Wittner’s racing glories was recognized early on by Guzzi management as a solid bet. Melding Wittner’s modern spine frame with a stroked version of their evergreen 2v twin to create the poor man’s Daytona. That bike, fitted with a spunky otto-valve top end was rangy and exclusive, but it was also heavier and more complicated. Many knowledgeable Guzzisti consider the Sport a better overall machine. Think of the 1100 Sport as Old World craftmanship (translation: tractor technology) meets modern day suspension and brakes. That's a good thing.

Being a Guzzi, the Sport retains certain hereditary aspects of the breed. Being tough and durable are two of the positives, but left unattended even a design this robust will exhibit a tendency to self-destruct. When that happens, Moto Guzzis are as -or more- expensive to repair than many. Parts, although widely available are in great demand. Best to jump on the scene early for a bit of preventive medicine. The good news is these motorcycles will take a lot of punishment before something major breaks, so finding a low mile example is definitely a double bonus.

With over 30 years invested in tinkering with them, working on a Guzzi twin is like enjoying a favorite book; re-read many times over. Still, this being my first ‘spiny’ there’s a few challenges. Like meeting a new woman, the first few weeks are spent getting to know each other. I learned this lovely Latin loves to be revved hard and thrown into corners; always ready to up the pace. Glorious. I was also pleasantly surprised that with the aftermarket Heli-bars, the machine was quite comfortable. Another bonus. Shapes and curves dominate its profile, distinctively Italian.

With barely over 10K on the dials, there were many areas of the bike that had yet to be seen to. The rocker boxes had never been off, and the lube inside the tranny and gearbox was dark and foul. Dropping the sump (a long honored tradition...) after draining the oil gave me a chance to butt a hose clamp around the internal filter. Can you guess why? Next comes replacing the Sport’s rock hard rubber fuel lines, swap its weeping fork seals for a new set, flush the brake fluid and grease the drive shaft splines. Past and current owners chip in with other valuable tips, like running a ground wire from the voltage regulator ($$...) to one of the battery’s negative posts. Batteries? Yes, the Sport has two, but I’ve been assured there is a single-unit replacement. More to come on this...

I’m convinced that owners who work on their own bikes enjoy them more. While that may not be fair to those who have neither the time nor the inclination to do so, there is no question a degree of familiarity is earned that can serve one well if problems arise away from home. Just the same, if I was financially able to not worry about such things, my attitude and opinion may be entirely different. But regardless of one’s position in the big picture, there is a certain satisfaction to be gained from these mid-winter bonding sessions. When you’re fortunate enough to spend that time with something you’ve admired from afar for so long, the experience is even sweeter. Nolan Woodbury