1000 SP Spada

[Pandamonium]

Looking at adding a 1979 1000 SP into the stable beside the V11 Café Sport. Does anyone have one, or had one and can point out some known issues/things to look out for?

Cheers

[pete roper]

My first big block was an SP1000, I’ve owned a couple more over the years.

They are yer basic, small valve, short head Tonti from the late seventies/early eighties and have one of the best and most effective fairings ever put on a motorbike. They are a mile muncher par excellence and will sit all day at 85-90mph.

Most important thing to remember is that they are now all 40-45 years old and, unless they have been loved and refurbished, will invariably need work. Most likely things are frame bearings, all of them and a UJ support bearing and possibly a UJ. Fork dampers and shocks will need replacing if they haven’t been already. A camchain and tensioner for the motor at a bare minimum and the carburettors will be shagged out. Expect to buy a wiring loom from Greg Bender and replace the original that will likely crumble to dust when you touch it!

My last one I built a mid valve 950 motor with a K cam in it and ran 36mm PHF carbs. It had an 8/33 bevelbox and an Eldorado flywheel. It was an absolute hoot! My mate Steve from Moruya owns it now. It’s a peach!

[Chuck]

What Pete said, of course. I rode one out to SoCal several years ago to leave out there and ride in the canyons. It needed rewired, and that was maybe 20 years ago. (!) It's a great traveling machine, and the old Tonti frame was awesome for the day.

[docc]

If I recall the lore correctly, that faring was the last outcome from the iconic Mandello wind tunnel.

[pete roper]

Oh, one other thing. Unless the rings are bedded perfectly or the bores have been changed to Nicasil it will need a sump extension and the oil moved away from the crank otherwise it will pressurise the case too much and fill the airbox with oil. After a few miles at higher speed it will suddenly go B-l-a-a-a-a-hhhhhhhhh! and slow down while producing a cloud of smoke like a WWII destroyer laying a smokescreen! It’s very disconcerting when it happens.

First time it happened to me was on a motorway in blighty! I thought it had blown up! I pulled over, waited a few minutes and it fired right up, the smoke cleared and it was like nothing had happened! I rode off and a few miles later it did it again! I had no idea what was happening, I was only about 22 at the time and new to Guzzi but luckily someone showed me the breather system and explained it and it all made sense! After fitting the sump extension it never did it again.

Crankcase pressurisation has long been a Guzzi bugbear. It effects the 1200-8V’s as well and they too will pump oil out if you try to keep it at the ‘Full’ mark on the stick.

[Pandamonium]

Thanks for the replies. Im told it had has 'Extensive revamp last winter by MG UK club member including new head bearings, brakes/forks re-sealed and electrics sorted. Koni Dial-a-Ride rear shocks. Mods include PHF36 Dell'Orto carbs with K&N filters, Sache electronic ignition, full stainless exhaust system, stainless brake lines, centre-mount propstand'. The electrics do look to have been upgraded but the fairing has been removed. It is there but needs work. There is only 33000 miles on it. I have asked about the sump extension.

Thanks

Mark

[pete roper]

It’ll still need a decent camchain tensioner and you’d be mad not to throw a chain at it at the same time. The fork dampers will be #@$&@#@ if they are the original sebacs, they used to blow as they rolled the bike off the end of the production line. Throw a set of FAC’s into it.

[audiomick]

3 hours ago, Pandamonium said:

... Sache electronic ignition...

That would be "Sachse", I think. Has a good reputation in Germany. 

https://www.elektronik-sachse.de/shopsystem-3/en/Digital-Ignition-Systems/

 

EDIT: just so it doesn't look like I'm advertising, I have a Silent Hektik ignition and alternator in my V35 Imola, and am absolutely happy with it. Sachse has its fans, but I'm not converting. 

https://www.silent-hektik.de/

Edited September 14 by audiomick

[Pandamonium]

Well its in the back of the van so I guess well know more in the coming days. Will give it a good once over and get a few miles on it and see how it goes.

Thanks