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Driving report: GG-Moto Guzzi Spartaco
fire and Ice
In the snowy northern Switzerland, MOTORRAD was allowed to move a very special kind of fire chair: the GG Spartaco based on Guzzi – a composition of fiery Italian passion and cool Swiss precision.
Ever since chocolate bars in purple paper have been around, everyone has known that the Swiss want to be cool. So does Walter Gruter, motorcycle dealer and trailer manufacturer in Ballwil near Hochdorf, who stays really relaxed when two MOTORRAD employees literally snow into his showroom and conjure up brown puddles on the sparkling white tiled floor.
But already in the basement of the showroom it’s over with the cool Swiss: In addition to the ultra-modern CNC milling machines, which he feeds with his design drawings and in which the chassis components for the GG- (Gruter & Good combinations and the GG retrofit brake systems are created, his eyes begin to shine, and he can no longer hide his enthusiasm for machining.
From this passion and the memory of an intense and impetuous relationship with a Moto Guzzi at a young age, the plan arose at some point to build a Guzzi according to your own taste – milled from the full, so to speak. In October last year, the plan was put into practice, the first prototype of the GG Spartaco was exhibited at IFMA, where even the Moto Guzzi superiors were impressed by the result.
The drive unit, the main frame and the swing arm of a 1100 Sport serve as the basis. In series trim – around 30 Spartacos are to be built in 1997, around half of which have already been pre-ordered – the two-valve engine is fed by an injection system instead of carburettors as in the more powerful prototype. Around this base, noble chassis components, perfectly shaped milled parts and subtle fittings and instruments come together to form a complete work of art for which not even the artist himself has found a suitable name. “Coffee racer” said a GG employee, albeit without his boss being present.
Only at second glance do the many well-thought-out details become apparent, for example the pressure level adjustment integrated into the left side plate, the quick-release fasteners for lifting the seat bench or the multifunctional buttons on the handlebars.
Two of the four buttons pressed at the same time, and the rough V2 pounds his breath through the two Lafranconi bags. As usual with Guzzis, the idle display works completely independently of the gearbox, but the thud in the gearbox housing and the subsequent jolt through the machine are sure signs that the first pair of gearwheels is now engaged. As soon as you open the throttle a little, your hands and feet begin to vibrate out of phase with the rest of the body and in sync with the ignition. The arms are stretched far over the tank, the legs are also supported forward. For shorter limbs than the author’s (overall length 1.86 meters), GG wants to offer two more ergonomic variants, each with a stronger cranked handlebar and recessed footrests. The suede-covered bench is more comfortable than it looks. Overall, the sitting position has nothing in common with slavery, as the name Spartaco (Spartacus led a slave revolt in ancient Rome) or the visual impression suggests. If desired, a pillion seat cushion can even be padded.
The changed steering geometry and the resulting shortened caster from the original 90 to 65 millimeters are already noticeable in the first slow meters: the GG-Guzzi circles around tight corners much lighter than its series counterpart. On the other hand, at speeds over 100 km / h it is no longer as satiated on the asphalt, but reacts spontaneously to the smallest steering movement. The Spartaco does not become unstable and begins to commute, it just becomes nervous, aggressive and hungry for curves. This aggressiveness paired with the mounted Pirelli MTR 03/04 superbike tires in the dimensions 120/70 and 180/55 results in a coffee racer that can be expected in the rearview mirror of sports motorcycles at any time, even outside built-up areas. Because of the damp and little grip promising weather and not least because of the lack of opposition in the middle of winter, the Spartaco had to fail to provide this proof.
At least the fully adjustable spring elements from Showa at the front and White Power at the rear were unimpressed by the sub-zero temperatures and, despite their relatively hard springs (the spring travel is only 80 millimeters at the rear), ironed down all the patches and waves with a correspondingly soft damper setting. The effect of the two GG brake systems is also mild, the deceleration increases linearly with the force of the hand and the pedal, and so the six-piston calipers are not terrifying even with cold tires.
D.he few weaknesses of the prototype, such as the small steering angle and the stiff clutch, Gruter wants to eliminate before the Spartaco goes into series production. He also wants to lend a hand on the design: The rear mudguard should be shortened, the mirrors and the throttle grip milled from the full and a smaller battery used. So that the Spartaco is really cool even in summer.
Technical data – GG-Moto Guzzi Spartaco (FB)
34; 35; 36; 37 GG-GUZZI Spartaco engine Air-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke 90-degree V-engine, crankshaft lengthways, a chain-driven camshaft below, two valves per cylinder operated via bumpers and rocker arms, wet sump lubrication, electronic intake manifold injection *, contactless transistor ignition , no exhaust gas purification, electric starter, three-phase alternator 350 W, battery 12 V / 15 Ah.Bore x stroke 92 x 80 mm, displacement 1064 cm³, compression ratio 9.5: 1, rated output 90 PS (66 kW) at 7800 rpm, max. Torque 9.7 kpm (95 Nm) at 6000 / minPiston speed 21.3 m / sec at 8000 / minPower transmissionPrimary drive via gears, mechanically operated two-disc dry clutch, five-speed gearbox, cardan. Primary ratio 1.35Secondary ratio 4.13Gear ratio 1.81 / 1.25 / 1.00 / 0.83 / 0.73 Chassis Central tube frame made of square steel profiles, load-bearing motor-gearbox, upside-down fork, guide tube diameter 41 mm, with adjustable rebound and compression damping, triangular swing arm made of steel tubes, central spring strut, directly hinged, with adjustable Spring base, rebound and compression damping, double disc brake at the front with six-piston calipers and floating brake discs, Ø 300 mm, rear disc brake with six-piston caliper, Ø 242 mm, spoked wheels. Front suspension 120 mm, rear 80 mm, rim size front 3.50 x 17 rear 5.50 x 17, tire size front 120/70 ZR 17 rear 180/55 ZR 17 dimensions and weights ** wheelbase 1510 mm caster 65 mm seat height 680 mm dry weight 212 kg tank capacity 16.5 Li The type of fuel Super unleadedMaximum speed Solo 200 km / hEquipment / PriceAvailable colors as desiredPrice approx. 41,000 MarkAccessories available for pillion seat cushions and rests, windshield, panniers, various handlebar and footrest versions ManufacturerGG-Motorradtechnik GmbH, Hochdorfstrasse 9, 6275 Ballwil, Switzerland, Tel. 448 3341/41 63, Fax 0041/41 448 33 73 * Prototype driven by MOTORRAD with Dellorto round slide carburetors, O 40 mm ** Manufacturer’s information
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