Four stroke,
V twin, longitudinally mounted, 4 valve per cylinder.
Capacity
992 cc / 60.5 cu-in
Bore x Stroke
90 X 78 mm
Cooling System
Air cooled,
Compression Ratio
10.5:1
Induction
Weber-Marelli EFI
Ignition
Electronic injection
Starting
Electric
Max Power
95 hp / 70.8 kW @ 8400 rpm
Max Torque
98 Nm / 72.2 lb-ft @ 6600 rpm
Transmission
5 Speed
Final Drive
Shaft
Front Suspension
Marzocchi 3-way adjustable
Rear Suspension
WP mono cantilever
Front Brakes
2x 320mm discs
Rear Brakes
Single 260mm disc
Front Tyre
120/70 VR17
Rear Tyre
160/60 VR17
Wheelbase
1460.5 mm / 57.5 in
Seat Height
785 mm / 30.9 in
Dry Weight
205 kg / 451.2 lbs
Wet Weight
227 kg / 502 lbs
Fuel Capacity
19 Litres / 5.0 US gal
Consumption Average
17.5 km/lit
Braking 60 - 0 / 100 - 0
13.0 m / 37.37m
Standing
¼ Mile
12.0 sec / 181.1 km/h
Top Speed
231.2 km/h
In the mid-1970s Moto Guzzis were
exotic Italian superbikes par excellence. The Le Mans was considered one of
the finest superbikes on the road, and although the price was considerably
higher than the Japanese equivalent, there was no shortage of customers for
these Italian thoroughbreds.
But time and technological
innovation wait for no one, and they certainly didn't wait for Moto Guzzi
who were content to rest on their laurels rather than try to compete with
the increasingly innovative Japanese manufacturers. By the mid-1980s Moto
Guzzi were still expensive compared to Oriental competitors, but they were
no longer a match for the modern Japanese superbike. The slow-revving
push-rod four-valve twins could no longer compete on equal terms with the
new generation of high-revving DOHC 16-valve fours.
But by the early 1990s the
Italians were back on top, or at least competing with the Japanese on equal
terms for performance and price. And Moto Guzzi's contribution to the
renaissance of the Italian motorcycle industry was the Daytona 1000. For
several years Moto Guzzi were rumoured to have a new
four-valve 1000cc V-twin
superbike ready to go into production, and it finally appeared on the
streets in 1993.
The Daytona 1000 is a true Moto
Guzzi in that it is long, low and stable, yet it has a very modern and
powerful engine. The 1000cc V-twin motor has four valves per cylinder and is
fuel-injected, giving it an output of 95bhp at 8000rpm and producing a
healthy 721b/ft of torque at 6000rpm. Okay, so that's not going to give
GSX-R1100 owners too many sleepless nights, but for a Moto Guzzi that's
pretty impressive and is capable of taking the Daytona 1000 to a genuine top
speed of 145mph -not bad for an air-cooled twin.
Interestingly, the 1000 Daytona
still has the traditional Moto Guzzi shaft drive, which is unusual for a
sportsbike. But Moto Guzzi also employed a clever parallelogram rear
swingarm arrangement to counteract the shaft's torque effect. With a
multi-adjustable Koni monoshock at the rear (compressed
by cantilever linkage rather than
a rising-rate arrangement), and a pair of Marzocchi telescopic front forks
with rebound damping adjustment, the handling of the Daytona is sure-footed
if rather ponderous compared to the latest-generation superbikes from Japan.
Riding the Daytona is a curious
experience. It's incredibly fast for a Moto Guzzi, it handles surprisingly
well for a Moto Guzzi and yet compared to most modern superbikes it still
feels quaintly old-fashioned, an endearing mixture of old and new.
But it is the styling and
traditional feel, combined with modern performance and handling, that makes
the Daytona such an exceptional machine. When everyone thought that Moto
Guzzi had had their day, they managed to produce a bike that was both
beautiful, stylish, totally individual, and yet which retained all that was
special and desirable about the marque.
Source of overview: Super Bikes by Mac McDiarmid
888SPO vs Daytona 1000
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN EASY TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THEbikes of Italy.
They're all about excitement and emotion. Unfortunately, too many times in the
past enthusiasm for Italian motorcycles has needed excuses. Excuses for
inadequate reliability, paltry performance, inferior build quality, crude
carburation, evil electrics, shoddy suspension. Those days have been over for
some time, and Italy's two top-line sportbikes-the Ducati 888 SPO Superbike and
the Moto Guzzi Daytona 1000-are further proof of that. Both bikes have hefty
doses of racing heritage. The new 888 SPO (the initials stand for Sport
Production Omologato) is a diredt descendant of the company's 851 Superbike,
a machine with a trio of World Superbike titles to its credit in the capable
hands of Frenchman Raymond Roche and American Doug Polen.
Because it is mostly an all-new machine, the Moto Guzzi hasn't yet had a
chance to prove its on-track mettle, though many of its design and engineering
elements were pioneered and developed successfully on the racetrack by American
Dr. John Wittner and rider Doug Brauneck, who together won the 1987 AMA
Pro-Twins championship aboard a specially modified LeMans-based Guzzi. Wittner
went on to become heavily involved in the new Daytona streetbike's development,
and is currently at work in Italy on a racing version.
Though they're both red, both Italian and both V-Twin-powered, the 888 and
Daytona 1000 are very different motorcycles, a fact that becomes clear the
instant you climb into their solo-saddle cockpits. The 888 has the short, light
and cramped feel of a racer, which, in reality, is exactly what it is. The front
wheel seems as if it's wired directly to the clip-ons. There's no extra fat on
the bike-just enough hardware to get the job done, a job that entails sucking up
long straightaways and straightening bends as quickly and effortlessly as
possible.
The Guzzi, on the other hand, is a bit less hard-edged than the
track-oriented Duck, a bit more traditional in terms of design and layout. Like
past Guzzis, the Daytona is (and feels like) a long motorcycle, with a wheelbase
measuring 57.5 inches, 2 inches longer than that of the Ducati. Though its
fairing and body are newly designed, reaching for the Daytona's clip-ons,
lifting your feet onto its footpegs and gazing down at the cylinders jutting
from either side of the bike is not unlike settling into the saddle of a lOOOcc
LeMans. As Wittner himself explained, "The Daytona is a long-legged sportbike in
the tradition of the LeMans, but much more powerful."
Thumb the "choke" lever of each bike, jab the starter buttons, and both start
quickly, their Weber-Marelli fuel-injection systems delivering the precise
amount of fuel/air mixture to each combustion chamber. The Daytona requires a
few seconds of cranking before it lights; the 888 fires almost instantly. Both
are ready to ride within seconds without any surge or stalling; not advisable,
yet a tribute to the fuel injection just the same. Both also offer excellent
throttle response, and the muffled bark emanating from each bike's exhaust
system is as soul-stirring as anything this side of the Daytona paddock during
Cycle Week. .
The Daytona is like Guzzis of old in more ways than simply its long
wheelbase; there's also the characteristic pull to the right whenever the
throttle is blipped, the result of its longitudinally mounted engine and its
spinning flywheel mass. Control feel on both bikes is crisp, the Daytona getting
the nod here due to switchgear that works almost as nicely as that of, say, a
Honda CBR600. Clutch engagement, especially on the Ducati, is smooth and free of
squeals and slippage, a surprise to those of us used to the grabby clutches
fitted to previous Ducatis.
Once underway, the Daytona feels roomier and more comfortable. Compared to
the 888, the Daytona has an inch more seat-to-peg distance, and considerably
more space between the rear of the fuel tank and the solo seat's back pad. The
888 offers more seat-to-bar room, though its high-mounted footpegs and limited
seat area are truly cramped for those of larger-than-average size.
Around town, the Guzzi is a bit easier to get along with than the 888, which
offers a taut ride, frustratingly little steering lock and next-to-useless
mirrors. In addition to its slightly higher level of comfort, the Daytona makes
more low-end power, offers an easier-to-fmd neutral, and has mirrors that
provide a nice-if sometimes buzzy-view to the rear. There's also plenty of
steering lock, and its suspension offers a more compliant ride than the 888's.
Wind protection is a toss-up, as is engine vibration, at least in the lower end
of the rev range; on top, the 888 is buzzier.
Obviously, neither bike is ideal for commuting or freeway droning. These are
serious sportbikes, after all, and as such, they need room to stretch their
legs. At higher speeds on open backroads, the 888 begins to feel at home, its
unkind riding position a little less painful, its taut suspension beginning to
work, its powerful engine finally able to breathe deeply. t
That engine, a 90-degree, dohc, liquid-cooled V-Twin with desmodromic valve
actuation, eight valves and six speeds, produced 94 horsepower and 59.4
foot-pounds of torque at the rear wheel on the Cycle World dynamometer.
Those numbers don't make the 888 a horsepower king, though they're good enough
to propel the 449-pound bike to a top speed of 152 mph-some 7 mph slower than
the CBR900RR Honda, but 1 mph quicker than the '93 Suzuki GSX-R750. At the
dragstrip, the 888 was hampered by its short, wheelie-prone wheelbase, though it
still posted a respectable quarter-mile performance of 11.25 seconds at 123.4
mph. Again, that's 750-class territory.
The Daytona engine, which shares only a crankshaft and crankcases with the
old-style Guzzi V-Twin, displaces 992cc through a smaller bore and a longer
stroke than the 888 powerplant's. Like the Ducati motor, the Guzzi engine uses
four valves per cylinder, though rather than the 888's dohc arrangement, the
Daytona engine uses a "cam-in-head" design that places each belt-driven cam
inboard of the intake ports, and connects the rocker arms and cams with short
pushrods. Air-not water-is the engine's cooling medium.
The rest of the five-speed engine is straightforward in design. Compression
is 10.0:1, the valves have threaded adjusters, and ignition is provided by
Weber-Marelli.
As expected, the Daytona's performance numbers weren't up to those of the
hell-strong 888, though they were much better than those developed by previous
Guzzis. The Daytona pumped out 84 rear-wheel horsepower, 11 more than the
modified Rennsport LeMans we tested back in January, and significantly more than
a stocker. The Daytona posted a top speed of 136 mph, and ran a best
quarter-mile of 12.19 seconds at 113.6 mph. Those numbers put the Daytona just
behind current 600-class sport-bikes, though there's more to the Guzzi engine
than meets the stopwatch.
It may make 10 fewer ponies than the 888, but the Daytona pumps out almost 3
foot-pounds more torque, and at lower rpm to boot. The result is excellent
ridability, with big-time low-end and midrange power available whenever you open
the throttle. The Ducati 888 also makes solid power in the lower portion of its
rev band, but you've got to spin it to achieve serious velocity.
Just as their engines and power outputs are different, so too are the
handling characteristics of each machine. The 888 is clearly the racebike of the
duo, with its short wheelbase, racer-width wheels, taut, highly damped
suspension components and birdcage chrome-moly frame. The Daytona is less
track-ready, more of a traditionalist's GT-class machine, a bike that operates
on the same level of sporting intent as a ZX-11 Kawasaki or a Honda CBR1000F,
its low clip-ons notwithstanding. The Guzzi's frame is especially trick, the
same basic design found on Winner's championship bike. "The Daytona's frame and
swingarm are 1.5mm chrome-moly tubing," Wittner says, "just like the racebike."
For backroad use, especially when higher speeds are involved, the 888 is an
awesome tool, one that slices and dices in a manner few motorcycles can match.
Smooth roads are the bike's favorite playground, where its rocksteady high-speed
stability, stiff suspension, massive cornering clearance and
confidence-inspiring steering make the rider feel like he can do no wrong. There
are no wobbles, shakes or shimmies, just monster motor and a chassis that seems
to dare you to turn up the heat even more.
As good as it is on smooth roads, the 888 has some trouble with bumpier
sections of tarmac, trouble that can be traced directly to the bike's suspension
settings. Pavement dips that would normally be sucked up by a softer suspension
are transmitted to the chassis, causing a degree of instability. This never
feeds on itself or threatens to throw a rider off, but it takes some getting
used to. We minimized the trait somewhat by softening the shock's preload
setting. Braking from the trio of Brembo discs is superb, with progressive power
and good lever feel. The same brake system is also found on the Daytona, which,
due to its longer, more stable wheelbase, braided-steel lines and slightly
better lever feel, posted better stopping numbers. Grip on the Ducati is
supplied by Michelin Hi-Sport radials in 120/70 and 180/55 widths. They stick
superbly, but don't expect them to last too long if you ride the bike the way it
likes to be ridden. The Daytona uses the same skins, with a narrower, 160/60
example in back.
The 888 is one of those rare motorcycles whose limits are so high that you'd
be foolish to try to get near them on the street. What else would you expect
from a bike with three world titles? The Guzzi is an altogether different
animal. Its limits are lower than those of the 888, but it's easier to jump
aboard and immediately ride quickly. The 888 can be tough to figure out and
demanding to ride at speed due to its cramped riding position and taut
suspension. The Daytona shines by excelling everywhere and not doing anything
wrong. Its suspension offers a good balance of compliance and control. Steering
effort is relatively light, a bit better than that of the 888, though the bike
does turn more readily to the right at slower speeds thanks to the engine's
pull-to-the-right flywheel effect.
At serious velocities, the Daytona proved unflappable, with well-damped
suspension, plenty of cornering clearance, premium tires and, a relatively
flickable, yet very stable nature despite its 502-pound dry weight. Due to the
bike's floating rear gearcase, the effects of the Daytona's shaft drive are
almost nil, and mid-corner throttle changes have almost no consequence
whatsoever on the chassis. If anything whacking open the throttle while leaned
over make the rear end squat slightly, just like a chain-drive bike.
What we've got here, then, are two very different motorcycles with a lot in
common. One, the Ducati, is a Superbike racer traveling incognito, with a
headlight and turnsignals included to keep the Department of Transportation
happy. It is among the very best sportbikes in the world, regardless of engine
type, regardless of country of origin. The other, the Guzzi, is a polished and
thoroughly updated version of a machine many had left for dead. It probably
won't ever win a world roadracing championship, but there is no more charismatic
motorcycle on the market today.
Both the 888 and the Daytona are expensive. Both are exclusive. Both are
exciting. Both speak to the emotions. And both are very easy to fall in love
with.