2008 Moto Guzzi Breva 1100 Review

Test Drive

2008 Moto Guzzi Breva 1100

Being a naked bike, as soon as I swing a leg over it I felt needed to get a feel of its performance in crowded city traffic and I must say that it is easy to accommodate with and get along nicely even if never been riding it before. Despite its 509 lbs it doesn’t become a nightmare between cars as the wide handlebars let you deal with those pounds and maneuver it nicely even at slow speed. But as soon as the road clears and you start opening the throttle a little bit it starts unveiling road qualities such as versatility and agility.

Such road behavior couldn’t have been possible without the dear intervention of one of the best engines ever produced by Moto Guzzi. The 90 degree V-Twin develops 86 horsepower at 7800 rpm and although the numbers aren’t worthy of a sportsbike, the Guzzi has no intention of being that at all. Spinning smoothly at around 2000 rpm this power source won’t be that much of an entertainer, but twisting the throttle will help you leave behind town cars at traffic lights.

Also contributing to that is the silent and short-shifting gearbox. In the early days Moto Guzzi gearboxes would have been a bit of a trouble, but now that they seem to have sorted this problem out there is simply nothing to stop the new naked from making a great impression. It helps doing fast take offs when the red light turns into green, but when wanting to get the best out of it a straight patch of road is virtually ideal. It shifts very positively and it inspires confidence at all time and the best thing is the sixth gearbox which further values the engine’s power and contributes to the decent top end rush and at the 130mph top speed.

Breva’s tachometer features and adjustable rev-limit light, something that can be quite functional for those who actually think they need it. I certainly didn’t and when accelerating strongly I usually shifted at around 9000 rpm.

2008 Moto Guzzi Breva 1100

On board, comfort reaches highest levels as the handlebars are wide and positioned towards the rider which by this time had a nice big smile on its face, something that was mostly due to the comfy seat. Your legs will also be relaxed due to the good position of the footpegs. High speed comfort isn’t that great though as vibrations manage to reach at your bottom when rushing towards the potent top-end of the engine. Wind protection isn’t the best thing to talk about when it comes to naked bikes and this one is a veritable one, if you catch my point.

Stable and secure, the Moto Guzzi Breva 1100 dues these qualities to the preload adjustable 45mm telescopic hydraulic fork and rebound and preload adjustable single arm rear suspension and shock absorber. High speed cornering isn’t a thing of the past and soaking up bumps on the new Breva is made without the rider even feeling it. Speed bumps are also taken care of with this equipment and my lower back didn’t suffer at all when didn’t reduce the speed as much as usually needed.

But speed reduction isn’t a problem as due to the front four piston calipers with 320mm stainless steel discs and rear 282mm steel disc with two piston calipers stopping power will be more than enough for any riding situation that the streets may reserve to you. The pretty heavy piece of machinery remains stable also when powerfully braking so you should be safe at all time as long as maneuvering it properly.

An impressive ride, the Moto Guzzi Breva 1100 will leave any rider with the best impression and not willing to go and buy anything else out there.

Price

And this takes us to this bike’s MSRP which is as high as $12,490. Compared to the Ducati Monster it proves knowing how to value its heritage, but people who buy it certainly know how to appreciate such a thing.

Conclusion

It is indeed considered a bit too heavy and pretty weak when it comes to power numbers. This, together with the spicy price could have contributed at the bike’s complete failure, but are we assisting to such thing? Certainly not! This makes the Moto Guzzi Breva 1100 worthy of confidence and respect for winning its faith.

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