Yup that's original. Why do ya think MK Is are so desirable, its because Guzzi produced a cracking design out the box then proceeded to make the MK II through MK IV and 1000, uglier by stages. Changing a MK II to a MK I lookalike is easy and reversable As Fig says get a single seat made and store the original, more comfortable and you have summit to flog on a "rainy day"
I nearly bought a MK5 (or V1000 or whatever it was. The last really plastic-y one). I liked the way it rode and was seduced by the bigger engine. But even back then (about 1993) I struggled with the look. Ended up buying a 906 Paso. The Lemon would have been worth more today if I still had it.
Or alternatively you could fit a Stucchi or Agostini fairing.............If you can find one these days......
That does look better, especially the headlight fairing and round headlight but It wouldn't be difficult to make it more like that. I'm really not bothered about keeping a bike original (as anyone who's seen my Ducatis will know), I prefer to 'improve' them but keep all the original parts, just in case...
They certainly didn't get prettier as they progressed. And nor did the aftermarket fairings... The mirrors were from a Fiat Strada...
Funny mind about the LM IIIs through to the 1000's I found them not nearly so hideous to look at if they were in white for some strange reason.
The mk1 to mk3 models all looked good I reckon, bit brutish, like a fit Staffy bull terrier. The thou's were all mingers, but they're still lovely things to ride, the heavy industrial levers and switches add a sense of occasion to the ride. They've far more charm than any other bike I've ridden. I had a Griso and it was lovely, but when a guy offered me a mk4 plus cash for it I jumped at the deal, the Le Mans is much more interesting to ride. More of a challenge to get the best out of it.
Servicing and setting up is a doddle too............. After all, it is/was so easy to set the ignition timing without the need of a strobe........ ........and it could be adjusted without having to drain oil and dismantle half the damn engine......... The most difficult part of servicing in my opinion was changing the oil filter.......the sump has to be dropped........ ...........but thats only a few allen bolts..... Even balancing the carbs was a P of P............remove the side panels and watch the slides in the carbs move up as you ease the throttle open................without the engine running! Remove a carb in 30 seconds as well..............
Well its a T3 an LM is different beast altogether. I've seen that guy posting on Wild Goose, its a bit of a bitsa I think that tank's off a CB 350 or the like and the seat continuing up the tank is hideous IMHO The LM II is a better bike by a country mile and then some, T3 is a lower state of tune. Please don't take offence I just don't like it, maybe others will
They ain't that far apart, it's only minor changes that separate them. In 3 decades Guzzi went from a 2-valve transverse V engine in a Lino Tonti designed frame to... a 2-valve transverse V engine in the exact same Lino Tonti designed frame! It ain't the same difference between a 1980's ZX10 and a 2004 ZX10... And the tank is from a Honda CB200, and looks bloody ace to my eyes
I reckon that's a steal, to be honest. Looks-wise, it's only the tailpiece pointing at a jaunty angle that spoils the view, and the downpipes need pulling inwards - they probably just need swapping over. It'll never be worth as much as a mk1 lemon, but then it's not a mk1 lemon, and T3's don't command a great price.
I don't know anything about Guzzi's but all ways liked the style and look of this colour and i am sure it came in a lime green as well. MOTO GUZZI 1000S BLACK/ORANGE
Yep, here's where it originated, the 750 S3. This early '70's bike has exactly the same frame, forks, shocks, crankcases, etc as my late '80's Le Mans. I could take all that bodywork and plonk it straight onto my bike, and all the mountings would line up perfectly. That's why so many mk1 Le Mans copies appeared, because it was so easy to do.
That's lovely. I think I prefer green and black to orange and black. Who'd have thought that colour scheme would work? But it does. Especially with the black pipes and fork legs.
Always loved the S3 and even the square head retro version brought out later. I remember sitting on an S3 in Bill Fleming's showroom in Glasgow, then on the Guzzi 250 stroker, the 250 was a lot bigger than the S3 Marvelous bike, did the evolution not start earlier with the V7?
The fairing on the MkII in the pics isn't UK original........the UK version didn't have the orange low panels. The red MkI should have the orange panel around the headlight and the exhaust cans aren't right at the ends. The green and black S3 has Lanfranconi zorsts which were the immediate upgrade for any MkI or MkII LeMans.
OK, so having researched this more I'm ready to move with it. The bike is what I'm after and seems to be in top condition, I do need to go and see it to confirm everything is as I am told but if all is OK then it will be mine. :Smug: I now need to sort out the getting it home. Options are; rent/borrow a van, get a bike trailer (would need a towbar first), dismantle it and squeeze it into the Mrs' people carrier, pay a courier or ride it back. Now if I could sort the practicalities of riding it back, this would be my preferred option - the two problems I can see are; how to insure/be legal and whether it's a wise move to make my first ride on a 35yr old bike a solo 1000 mile trip across Europe? Any ideas?...
