1997 Moto Guzzi Sport 1100i
Miles: 18,403
Third Owner
Clean Title
Listed Price: $6,150
The Moto Guzzi Sport 1100i was less a cutting-edge sportbike and more a classy roadgoing sportster with tons of character and nods to the Italian manufacturer’s heritage. If that sounds like I’m damning the Sport 1100i with faint praise, well that depends. If what you’re looking for is something to replace your current GSX-R for trackday shenanigans, then this would make for a pretty poor choice. If instead you’re looking for a muscular, quirky machine that looks great, sounds great, handles confidently, will possibly run forever, and starts conversations whenever you stop, you might have found the perfect bike. By 1996, Guzzi’s two-valve, pushrod 1064cc v-twin engine had gained Weber Marelli fuel injection that produced a claimed 90hp, and the new fuel injected engine offered much smoother power delivery, compared to earlier carbureted Guzzis. This obviously wasn’t huge power, even back then, compared to something like the 155hp of the GSX-R1100 of the same era. Surprisingly, the Guzzi did weigh a bit less than the big Gixxer. The rest of the spec sheet was pure 90s Italian high performance though: triple goldline Brembo brakes, fully-adjustable suspension front and rear, from WP in this case. Overall, the Sport 1100i was always a bit marmite, even among fans of Italian sportbikes: a handsome and capable, but very flawed machine.
1997 Moto Guzzi 1100 Sport, excellent condition, low milage 18,403, third owner bike, recent maintenance and upgrades, everything you want in a Guzzi Sport. Weber Marelli electronic fuel injection and digital electronic ignition. Maintenance manual and some spares included- $6150 obo.
I have some maintenance records and spares (including new windshield and exhaust cans)
The bike was maintained by Cadre Cycles in Ohio, the dealership owner bought the bike from the original owner and did all of the typical maintenance items such as replace tires/tubes, fluids, timing chain tensioners, etc. The bike runs exceedingly well and accelerates like a “scared rabbit”
The color, fit and finish on all fairing pieces are amazingly well preserved. The ride and handling are excellent, this is where the bike really stands out and it tends to draw a crowd and admirers.
This Moto Guzzi Sport 1100i is a pretty rare machine and makes for an excellent “mature” sportbike: the big v-twin makes plenty of real-world power, and is reliable and easy to work on, particularly with those simple overhead valves, pushrods, and sticky-outy cylinder heads that make for simplified access. It’s less glamorous than the four-valve Daytona but also simpler to maintain. The shaft-drive means no chain to lubricate, tighten, or replace, although a lack of a spin-on oil-filter does complicate that particular chore. It’s not an agile bike, but it is stable, with relatively good brakes, although it lacks any sort of ABS. With just over 18,000 miles on the clock, this one is barely broken-in, and appears mostly stock, although the weirdly chopped exhaust is somewhat suspicious. At least it’s also probably suitably loud. Best to budget for a nice set of Termignoni or Staintune pipes that will better suit the bike.
-tad
The MGS version is a keeper and this guy is close behind it.