| Project: 1986 Moto Guzzi V65 |
The finished product...in 2010
The starting point...
This one started out as a relatively
intact example of an '86 Guzzi V65. It
said "Lario" on the side, but has 2
valve heads, not the original Lario's 4
valve heads. It did not run when we
brought it in, due largely to a weak
battery and improper carburetor
adjustments.
I never cared much for '80's
motorcycle styling, especially the
"spoiler" rear end and the visual
angularity of the whole package. The
bodywork had to go.
intact example of an '86 Guzzi V65. It
said "Lario" on the side, but has 2
valve heads, not the original Lario's 4
valve heads. It did not run when we
brought it in, due largely to a weak
battery and improper carburetor
adjustments.
I never cared much for '80's
motorcycle styling, especially the
"spoiler" rear end and the visual
angularity of the whole package. The
bodywork had to go.
I had a vision for this one, so
we tore into it. These are
very simply constructed
bikes (don'cha just love 'em
that way?) and we were able
to lift the top of the bike off
the engine and drive train
largely intact. We referred
to the bottom end as our
"Italian Wheelbarrow."
we tore into it. These are
very simply constructed
bikes (don'cha just love 'em
that way?) and we were able
to lift the top of the bike off
the engine and drive train
largely intact. We referred
to the bottom end as our
"Italian Wheelbarrow."
The engine and swinging arm paint were stripped and those
parts refinished in "faster" black. The lower frame was
removed and powder coated. The headers were refinished
in high heat paint (very effective in both cost and
appearance). The front end was dis-assembled and rebuilt
and the lower forks were finished in "faster" black.
parts refinished in "faster" black. The lower frame was
removed and powder coated. The headers were refinished
in high heat paint (very effective in both cost and
appearance). The front end was dis-assembled and rebuilt
and the lower forks were finished in "faster" black.
After screwing around with the Del Lorto cabs for a while, we decided to modernize with a new pair of
Keihin PWKs. We replaced the throttle cables, grips, rebuilt the front master cylinder, replaced the
rear master cylinder, replaced the brake lines and retained the stock linked rear to front brake
system. The lighting was all replaced, new clip-on bars and bar end mirrors were fitted.
Keihin PWKs. We replaced the throttle cables, grips, rebuilt the front master cylinder, replaced the
rear master cylinder, replaced the brake lines and retained the stock linked rear to front brake
system. The lighting was all replaced, new clip-on bars and bar end mirrors were fitted.
Emgo slash cut mufflers finished out the exhaust system (very
cost effective) but not without some modification to the baffles. As
stated above, the bodywork had to go. We liked the tank, so that
stayed, but was refinished in black with red pinstripe and new
Moto Guzzi tank lettering. New bodywork was custom made for
this project. The bug screen started out as a tail section, but
found its way to the front of the bike ("no matter how many times I
cut it, it's still too small...). We fabricated a new front fender,
aluminum mesh side cover panels, and tail section.
It all came together quite nicely, hmmm?!
cost effective) but not without some modification to the baffles. As
stated above, the bodywork had to go. We liked the tank, so that
stayed, but was refinished in black with red pinstripe and new
Moto Guzzi tank lettering. New bodywork was custom made for
this project. The bug screen started out as a tail section, but
found its way to the front of the bike ("no matter how many times I
cut it, it's still too small...). We fabricated a new front fender,
aluminum mesh side cover panels, and tail section.
It all came together quite nicely, hmmm?!
... and now in 2011!
... and now, the rest of the story!
June 2010, not long after we completed the
modifications to this lovely little Guzzi, I had a run
in with the rear quarter of an SUV crossing my
path. Operator of the cage was on the phone,
had a dog in her lap, and left the scene of the
accident; I don't think she even knew there was an
accident... Had speeds been greater, there may
have been greater personal injury, but the bike
was busted. Bent forks, dented tank, bent rim, flat
tire and several other little injuries needed to be
healed.
June 2010, not long after we completed the
modifications to this lovely little Guzzi, I had a run
in with the rear quarter of an SUV crossing my
path. Operator of the cage was on the phone,
had a dog in her lap, and left the scene of the
accident; I don't think she even knew there was an
accident... Had speeds been greater, there may
have been greater personal injury, but the bike
was busted. Bent forks, dented tank, bent rim, flat
tire and several other little injuries needed to be
healed.
First, what to do about the bent bits... Original forks were just too
expensive, so with a little machine work, we fitted a pair of air
charged forks from an '80s Suzuki. In order to use the stock
Brembo calipers we had to make adaptor mounting plates.
The front wheel was repaired very nicely by Frame Straight.
(www.framestraightsystem.com)
The wheels were then wet blasted and repainted and we
mounted a new pair of Pirelli Sport Demon tires.
expensive, so with a little machine work, we fitted a pair of air
charged forks from an '80s Suzuki. In order to use the stock
Brembo calipers we had to make adaptor mounting plates.
The front wheel was repaired very nicely by Frame Straight.
(www.framestraightsystem.com)
The wheels were then wet blasted and repainted and we
mounted a new pair of Pirelli Sport Demon tires.
Next the tank was repaired and repainted (yeah, I know, I have the eagles flying backward, OOOPS). That gave
us a chance to refinish the rear seat body work, make a new front fender and mount, and fit a Coventry half
fairing. The paint scheme leaves broad areas of the carbon weave exposed and set off by red stripes.
us a chance to refinish the rear seat body work, make a new front fender and mount, and fit a Coventry half
fairing. The paint scheme leaves broad areas of the carbon weave exposed and set off by red stripes.
The old stock dash was replaced by an integrated
carbon dash fabricated for the Coventry fairing. We
changed the clip on bars (bent) to flat bars and made
clamps for the top yoke. A friction damper was fitted.
In the rear, we moved the signal lights and fabricated
grab handles that also help mount touring bags.
NOS Redwing shocks refined the suspension.
carbon dash fabricated for the Coventry fairing. We
changed the clip on bars (bent) to flat bars and made
clamps for the top yoke. A friction damper was fitted.
In the rear, we moved the signal lights and fabricated
grab handles that also help mount touring bags.
NOS Redwing shocks refined the suspension.
| We replaced the stock steel foot controls and passenger pegs with custom made (by us) aluminum and carbon parts. |
