As the old saying goes: “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”. The Breva need not worry as it makes a very memorable and positive one. After my first glance I thought “Wow, this motorcycle’s like a piece of moving art work”. The lines of the bike are sculptured perfectly and the way all of the components flow into one another has to be seen in person so one can admire all of it. From the single front headlamp nestled under the slim wind screen to the beautifully arched gas tank to the rounded rear and single sided swing arm, care was taken by the engineers and designers to get every angle just right. A testament to the values that Carlo Guzzi set nearly 90 years ago.

Moto Guzzi has a long history of producing high quality motorcycles. The company dates back to 1919 when the first prototype was built (known as the G.P. which was named after founders Emanuele Vittorio Parodi and Carlo Guzzi [Guzzi-Parodi]) in the Mandello del Lario workshop. In 1921 the "Società Anonima Moto Guzzi" was created, to "Fabricate and sell motorcycles and other activities relevant to or associated with the metal and mechanical industries". This core principal from years ago still holds true today with the introduction of the Breva 1200 Sport.

Hop aboard the Breva and you’re presented with instrumentation that’s extremely clear and concise. Insert and turn the key and you’ll notice the Moto Guzzi logo appears in the digital dashboard which is embedded in three large analog gauges. One for the tachometer, speedometer and gas gauge. On top of the gauges are the standard warning lights to show the status of the turn signals, high beams, neutral indicator, hazards, oil and ABS (if so equipped [Europe models only]). Each light is color coded so if a potential problem arises that calls for your attention, you’re made aware of it; otherwise the lights are unobtrusive and fit nicely with the whole theme of the motorcycle.

One item you won’t find is a redline indicator on the tachometer as a red light will flash once you approach the rev limiter. I came across the red light a few times (what? I had to test it) which made me conscious that it was time to shift so the desired effect (capturing your attention) was achieved.

While the logo is still displayed, watch the needle indicators sweep from 0 to 180 degrees and back to 0 again. Push the starter button and the 90° V-Twin, air cooled 4 stroke motor comes alive. The rumble the 1,151cc engine creates is a symphony of sound and with a compression ratio of 9.8:1 it will extract every pony it can from its displacement. Most manufacturers use a high compression ratio in today’s engines because it allows an engine to produce more power; although this may lead to engine knocking. With the volume of the fuel/air mixture being compressed to approximately 1/10th of its normal volume when the piston reaches the top of its travel the Breva creates good usable power without any complications. Bore and stroke is 95 x 81.2 mm which gives a bore/stroke value of 1.16. Thus the engine is slightly over square or considered a short-stroke engine which is a positive trait, since a shorter stroke means less friction and less stress on the crankshaft.