MOTO GUZZI LE MANS
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| MOTO GUZZI LE MANS RED BODY PAINT |
Long,
lean and unmistakable, with its tiny headlamp fairing and muscular
transverse V-twin engine, the Le Mans was arguably the most stylish
superbike of the mid-l970s. Much more than that, it was fast, handled
superbly and had excellent brakes. Guzzi's flagship was a hard-
charging roadburner that could cruise effortlessly at 1 OOmph
(161km/h), carve through corners at a rapid pace, and generally keep
up with the best of its rivals from Italy or Japan.
Moto
Guzzi, based on the banks of Lake Como, had a long history of racing
success and innovative bikes including the exotic 500cc V8 racer of
the 1950s. Although still best known for its long- running singles,
Guzzi was having increasing success with its distinctive transverse
V-twins. But it was the Le Mans, introduced in 1976. that put the old
firm back in the spotlight.
The
Le Mans was based on the 750 S3. itself a striking and deceptively
rapid unfaired roadster that had been developed from the earlier V7
Sport, Guzzi's first high-performance V-twin. The new bike's most
obvious innovation was its striking styling, which combined the
headlamp fairing with a curvaceous fuel tank and angular seat.
In
search of more power, Guzzi enlarged the S3's 748cc engine to 844cc,
and increased compression ratio from 9.8:1 to 10.2:1. They also
fitted unfiltered 36mm Dell'Orto carburettors plus a new,
free-breathing exhaust system. The shaft-drive V-twin was still a
fairly old-fashioned device with pushrod valve operation and a
slow-shifting five- speed gearbox. But it now produced 80bhp at
7300rpm,
an increase of 8bhp, and had plenty of mid-range punch, which the
smaller S3 motor had rather disappointingly lacked.
That extra
power was enough for a top speed of 130mph (209km/h), impressive at
the time. The big motor was lumpy at low speed, but smoothed out as
the revs rose, and pulled hard through the mid- range.
Where the
Guzzi really scored was with its uniquely long-legged feel which, in
combination with the leant-forward riding position and protection
from the flyscreen, enabled the Le Mans' rider to keep up those
speeds for long periods without discomfort.
MOTO GUZZI LE MANS
Fine
handling
A
rigid steel frame gave fine handling despite the occasionally
unsettling effect of the shaft final drive. The Le Mans wasn't the
lightest or most manoeuvrable of bikes but its high-speed stability
was immense, thanks partly to typically stiff suspension. At speeds
that would have the riders of rival Japanese superbikes weaving, the
Guzzi rumbled on without a twitch, its rider tucked down at the
clip-ons behind that neat fly screen.
Guzzi's
brake set-up of three linked, cast iron Brembo discs was far
superior
to most rival systems, too, especially in the wet. The handlebar
lever operated one front disc; the foot pedal the other plus the
rear. By Italian standards the Guzzi was well built and reliable,
too, although it suffered from typically poor electrics.
The Le
Mans' high price ensured that it was never going to sell in huge
numbers, but it gained a cult following, opened many riders' eyes to
Guzzi's quirky V-twins, and remained in production for 19 years,
through a series of updates. Unfortunately its performance did not
improve with age.
On
the contrary, the Le Mans Mk2 version of 1979 was slightly slower,
though it at least gave its rider the benefit of an angular full
fairing.
The
1982 model Mk3 regained some power, but Guzzi made things worse in
1985 with the 949cc Le Mans Mk.4, whose 16-inch front wheel gave
unreliable handling. By this time, the stability and competitive
speed of the 1976 model were just a fond memory. In the case of the
Moto Guzzi Le Mans, original was definitely best.
MOTO GUZZI
LE MANS prices 2014
MINT $5,500 $6,500 £4,500 £6,000
GOOD $4,500 $3,700
FAIR $3,000 £2,500
PROJECT $1,000 £750
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