Impressions of the SP 2
Impressions of the Quota by Peter Oey
Since April this year (2004) I own a Guzzi SP2 from 1987. It had about 85.000 km and since then I have ridden about 8.000 km’s.
Now here’s a funny story.
I always thought that when I would be converted to Guzzi (I did look at them, but was still faithful to my BMW R100RS 1977) it would have to be a California-II or a SP first series. The latter I really liked for its sports-touring looks and qualities.
After one and a half year without a bike (sold my R100RS to an even bigger enthusiast), I ran into this SP-2. Well, OK, not really my type, but it was cheap and looked OK. And it was very much similar to my favorite type, the SP1-, isn’t it?
Apart from the odd steering-behavior, in my opinion caused by the 16 “ front in combination with 18 “ rear wheel, I really began to like this bike. It steered and braked much more better than my classic BMW, and it had more power! Getting used to the steering, I still kept looking for a SP-1. I even had announced my search on the internet, and did not hear anything, for months. And then the phone rang: hey, that’s another Peter, owning a SP-1, and living only 12 miles from me!!! What a coincidence… Peter had bought his SP-1 a few years ago, but his heart went out for a SP-2. But you know how that goes: you can’t always get what you want, but you do find what you need.
So he had an SP-1 and originally wanted a SP-2, and I had a SP-2 and have always been looking for an SP-1. 1 + 1 = 2!
So, we arranged a meeting, both willing to trade!
One night I went over, we talked a little, and decided to take it to the next level: ride each others bike. Well, that seems a formality: from appearance they look very much similar, apart from some details as buddy seat, the tank, the covers. Basically, it is the same bike, but the SP1 has the round cylinders, not with the nikasil.
Off we rode. When we first stopped, we exchanged some impressions, and we took off again, till the next stop. Same thing over again. And more and more, for almost an hour.
Afterwards we sat down, and discussed our findings. Me, I was used to the ‘ bite’ of my bike and I ride it accordingly: most of the time revving it up, getting the last horse out of the stable. Peter’s SP1 was a more gentle bike, just like he rode it: quiet, steady, easy. Even his mufflers made less noise than mine, and that’s one of the things I like most of my bike: you can hear it’s alive! It also gives the impression of power.
Well, that was one dream gone. From Peter’s side, it was the same: having dreamt of an SP2 all those years, and now coming to the conclusion that he liked his own SP1 more than the modern version of it, which he always admired for its looks. Two dreams eventually appeared to be illusions; it was really a night of the truth.
Since then, we have not met yet. I guess the loss of a longstanding dream needs time to mend.
Well, at least I am now very happy with my bike, and this winter I will take it apart to make it look nice too. It now has a non-color grey/grey/blue, and of course it should be red with black!!!
I wish everybody many happy and safe miles!
Peter Oey