Special Sport Impressions

This is my second Guzzi and my first cruiser/tourer style bike. My other bike is a 98- BMW R1100RT. Purchased in March 2002 - Miles to Date: 3,500 Fit/Finish - Excellent. The red/black paint combination is excellent and overall quality of the fit is excellent. All bolts/screws, etc... were

properly tighten. The only problem was a nut on the brake line that came loose (easily tighten) and the bolt on the shifter comes loose but is again easily tighten. There is a ugly gap between the right side of the seat andthe plastic cover. You can see the relays under the seat. Not a drive ability issue more cosmetic. The bike has plenty of shinny chrome parts but also some cheap plastic covers that look tacky. They can be removed. Style - I love the looks of this bike. Sleek and low. Since purchased I added a Guzzi Classic Windshield (sucks) and leather saddle bags (very nice) and new pipes (also very nice) from Monaco's Moto Guzzi. The bikes gets a lot of looks as it neither a Harley or a clone. Like all Guzzi's - stands out in the crowd. Not sure if everyone is a fan of the "sticking

The Ride - As this is my first cruiser I had a bit of a time getting used to the riding position. The handle bars were a little lower than I liked so I raised then a tad and they fit perfect. The seating position is not long legged cruiser style but not sport bike short either. I find it very comfortable but on longer rides (2 hours+) I wish I had a set of highway pegs. However, the driving position does let you hustle it around the corners and its easy to get "connected" to the bike. My 31-32" inseam lets

me easily flat foot it at stops with room to spare. The new seat is wonderful and my longest day on it (5 hours) did not cause any bun burn!! The integrated brake system works well but I wish I had both front brakes using the hand brake as the single front doesn't stop quite as nice as I would like. I want to stress that this is not a major issue as the bike stops more than fine. I get a little front end dive when I use the rear brake. Gear changes are also in the excellent range - not as good the V11 Sport

but better than the Beemer. Its a longer shift than what I am used to but it gives very specific feedback on shifts and I have never had a problem finding neutral. Like the Beemer if you pre-load the shift level you can "snick" it into gear.

The engine is classic Guzzi. Perfect for slow speed crawling to high speed highway rides. This is my best bike for all around riding. The bike likes the 4-5k RPM range as I get buzz outside of that range. Its not a bad buzz at all but its butter smooth between 4-5k. If its anything like my V11 Sport then it will smooth out over time. All in all, this is an excellent example of a Sporty Tourer. It has the

looks, the speed and the handling of some of the best bikes available. It's also a blast to ride. Unlike Harleys - where you give up everything for looks - you dont have to make excuses for any road or any road speed on this bike. Want to go coast to coast - no problem. Cruise the boulevard -

I bought a 2001 Cal Special from a dealer in Fresno. Ca. in April, 2002. The deal was handled entirely over the phone. They delivered the bike the next day and I tried it out. Problem: bad ecu, would not adapt to altitude changes. Called Wilson's, they came down and picked it up. 3 months of hassles with MGNA, I finally got the bike back. Let me tell you, this is amazing motorcycle. It easy (very freaking easy) to exceed posted speed limits, while not even nearing handling limits. It's like the bike can read your mind. Even in the heavy crosswinds you get in the High Desert of California, the bike just leans into the wind on its own. You don't change lanes involuntarily like I did on my Harley. Ergos could be better, but nothing that can't be solved with an aftermarket seat and hwy pegs.