Looking for 95-97 1100 Sport info

[Guest fallzboater]

I'm currently looking to replace my Hawk GT of 11 years with my first Guzzi and have found a couple of '95 to '97 V1100 Sport models within my price range. I love the style of these bikes (except for the US rectangular headlamp), in some ways better than the V11's (sorry).

 

I've found some sites with specs, but have had some difficulty determining what all the year-to-year changes were. The '95s (and '96s, AFAIK) are carbed with "normal" forks, while the '97 I've looked at has a WP inverted fork, and different wheels. I was told it was carbed (didn't look real close), but most of the specs list '97 as having FI. I believe the '97 also has a 17" rear wheel, which would be an advantage as far as tire selection. The aluminum side plates are a different style, but I don't know if the suspension geometry is the same or not.

 

Is anyone familiar with the specific changes within this generation 1100 Sport? Do any of the changes result in significantly better performance (or reliability)? I imagine the inverted fork is a worthwhile improvement, at least. Anything else in particular I should look out for?

 

Anybody need a nice modded Hawk GT (listed on Craigslist, Portland)?

 

-David

[antonio carroccio]

...so guys, give him an answer...

 

 

...better than a V11..... ts ts

[Paul Minnaert]

well Antonio, there are more people who don't think the v11 is the best looking bike:-)

 

the sport carb is build in 94-95, and has 18"rearwheel, conventional forks, no cushdrive in the rearwheel. The later 1100 sport i has 17"rear, Wp updide down forks, cush drive in the rear wheel.

The carb was bad adjusted from factory, but at this time, that should be sorted.

 

Technical the sport i is better, but also heavier.

 

Get a good sport i

[callison]

There are several areas where the Sport 1100i is better than the carb sport - but - the Sport 1100i is notorious for FI problems as well as some electrical maladies that are easily remedied. These can be cured, you just need to be aware of what you're getting into before you buy. Personally, I would not buy the carb version. YMMV.

[Guest mathieuguzzi]

Hi everyone,

Well, let me express an other opinion on this delicate topic !

First off I should confess that I am the owner of a 1100 sport carb and a particularly enamoured one, which may explain that I may not be partial to its little defects...

 

All in all, it's mainly a matter of taste, and there is no bad choice to be made :

 

First about the engine

The 1100ie engine is certainly more compliant, smoother and easier to use, with better mileage. BUT : you will NEVER, whatever tricks you use, obtain the same charisma/soul/character as you will get with a properly tuned carbed version. Period. The 1100 carb is your only chance to ride the big 1100 bloc fitted with carbs. As such, this bike is for the real Guzzi aficionado, the connoisseur... The carbs produce an even more melodious song, and the way the engine pulls during the "nice spot", ie between 5k and 7k, simply does not compare with any other bike.

And this statement comes from someone who knows quite well the FI version, wich btw is essentially the same as in the V11.

You may also be intersted to know that the intakes of 1100 carb were polished by the factory ! Which is not the case for the 1100ie.

 

But you have to be aware of the obstacles that would need to be overcome in order to reach the pinacle of the Guzzi delice. As Paul mentioned, and mainly because of anti-pollution regulations, which promted the launch of the fi version after only two years of production, the stock 1100 carb does not ride well as stock. The throttle is really too hard and the carb settings are just not right. Both pbs wich can be very easily dealt with. Not to mention that I would be happy to provide you with all tips and advices !!!

 

Then the handling

The 1100ie gets the front inverted WP, the 17inch rear wheel with cush drive, and a somewhat modified chassis (narrower) with new side plates.

As for the front forks, the WP is not that better compared with the conventional Marzocchi 41.7mm. The Marzocchi is a first class element, and was considered as the best conventional forks you could get when the 1100 sport was produced : it was also the choice of Ducati for the 851. I retrofitted a WP element on my carb and it seems to me that it works a little better, but would not justify to go with the FI version just to get them. I made this decision to go with the WP forks mainly because I had found a special triple clamp, from Daes Mototec with reduced offset, made for the WP fork.

The 17inch with cush drive. This is a real improvement over the 18inch wheel of the carb. However, you may want to go with lighter wheels (PVM or OZ Racing) than the 17inch which wheighs a ton... As for me, I am in the process of fitting OZ racing.

Different side plates : except for the different look, that I don't like as much as the original hollow ones, it does not make any difference in the handling.

 

Finally the gearbox

This is a topic which is quite illustrative of the 1100ie/1100carb debate... The FI comes equiped with the "helicoidal" gearbox, supposedly more reliable, whereas the 1100carb comes with a "racing" gearbox, faster, which may not be as durable as the helicoidal version. My bike appraoches 40.000kms and is fine, thanks...

 

 

 

Mathieu

[Guest MotoMessiah]

Boy my bum hurts just looking at that seat.

 

But WHAT a looker.

[callison]

I don't neccessarily agree with the statement that EFI can never operate as smoothly as carbs. It does seem unlikely to do so when using the Weber Marelli components though. The Sport 1100's have a more svelte appearance than the V11 Sport but the ergonomics are far more radical. Almost the only way to make a Sport 1100 of any sort tolerable is to fit some Helibars to raise and move the handgrips back a tad. I haven't seen a set of Helibars for sale for the Sport 1100's for some time. Alleviating the seating position will likely require some fairly expensive after market adjustable bars.

[Guest mathieuguzzi]

I don't neccessarily agree with the statement that EFI can never operate as smoothly as carbs.

 

 

Hi Carl, I think it is a misunderstanding because I totally agree with you ! I do think that the EFI 1100 engine IS smoother that the carbed 1100. My point is about character. And I think that EFI engines tend to feel a bit less alive although more usable, which is why I swear by my carb engine. To me, it is an addiction. Really it's a hard drug.

I like the EFI engine, I just love the carbed one... It's like comparing a v12 ferrari fed by double webers or injection. Progress and modernity does not necessarily carry more pleasure.

 

Mathieu

[Guest mathieuguzzi]

Boy my bum hurts just looking at that seat.

 

But WHAT a looker.

61514[/snapback]

 

Comfortable is certainly not the best word to characterise the riding experience offered by my Guzzi, although you might find it much less uncomfortable than what a glimpse at the seat might suggest...

The secret lies in the Ohlins shock at the rear, found on ebay (thx Paul !).

[callison]

I don't neccessarily agree with the statement that EFI can never operate as smoothly as carbs.

Hi Carl, I think it is a misunderstanding because I totally agree with you ! I do think that the EFI 1100 engine IS smoother that the carbed 1100. My point is about character. And I think that EFI engines tend to feel a bit less alive although more usable, which is why I swear by my carb engine. To me, it is an addiction. Really it's a hard drug.

I like the EFI engine, I just love the carbed one... It's like comparing a v12 ferrari fed by double webers or injection. Progress and modernity does not necessarily carry more pleasure.

 

Mathieu

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i.

The engine on my V11 Sport is far livelier and charismatic than that of my Sport 1100i. I suspect that it is due to a better ECU as well as higher compression and slightly different head designs. I don't know whether the carb sports and the sporti's share the same head or not although that would seem logical - which throws the notion right out of the window when considering Italian design.

If I fail to get a new VIN assigned to FrankenSport, then that engine and wiring will go into my Sport 1100i. I hope not, the intent is to get the V11 Sport back on the road, finish the custom fairing stuff and then ship it off to England to my son, providing I can get it all done before the USAF transfers him back stateside. Meanwhile, the V11 Sport project is stalled while I await a resolution from the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

[Guest kfz]

Another factor is that the carb bikes with the 18 inch rear wheel are more difficult to pick tyres for. In fact wide 18" tyres are few and far between. the 17" rear allows yo to get tyres deals and save money.

 

Kev

[Baldini]

...Kev....

 

? what you doing here??? Has Roper's defection got you thinkin about moving into the 90's?

 

Best, Keith

 

ps - you still not got a bike on the road?

[Guest mathieuguzzi]

i.

The engine on my V11 Sport is far livelier and charismatic than that of my Sport 1100i. I suspect that it is due to a better ECU as well as higher compression and slightly different head designs. I don't know whether the carb sports and the sporti's share the same head or not although that would seem logical - which throws the notion right out of the window when considering Italian design. 

61549[/snapback]

 

Interesting. It is probably due to the refined injection though because the heads of 1100ie and V11 share a nearly identical design,a s I've been told.

As for the compression ration between the sporti and the V11, it is the same until 2003 when the v11 was increased by half a point.

The heads of the 1100 carb got a special treatment by the factory and were polished, which gives a small boost.

[Guest fallzboater]

Thanks for all of the replies. Since my original post, I've ridden my friends '95 1100 Sport carb (46k miles), and a '97 1100i (17k miles). The '97 felt a little smoother, but also had a gear whine off the throttle which worried me a bit. I have no idea what it is. The '97 shifting was also much easier (less clunky), and the throttle didn't have the crazy amount of rotation of the '95. The '97 seemed to shake more at idle. Other than that, I didn't notice much difference riding the two. The '95 was already warmed up when I rode it, the '97 was cold when I started and had some FI "hiccups" but improved as it warmed up.

 

I was surprised that the midrange wasn't stronger on either bike. I have a piped and jetted Hawk GT (51Hp ATW) that seems to pull harder from about 3-5k (it's also 100 lb lighter), but the Guzzi is much stronger after that, the brakes are much better, and it's a lot more stable at speed and in the wind. The position isn't that much different, since I have low clip-ons on the Hawk.

 

There's also another '95 for sale a couple of hours away that I might be able to get a good deal on. I haven't been able to get any pictures of it yet, though.

 

-David