Moto Guzzi Le Mans
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| Manufacturer | Moto Guzzi |
|---|---|
| Production | 1976–1992 (2002–2004 new frame V11) |
| Predecessor | 750 S3 |
| Engine | 844 cc (51.5 cu in) OHV 2-valve per cyl. air cooled, four-stroke, V-twin, longitudinally mounted |
| Transmission | 5 speed, shaft drive |
| Suspension | Front: telescopic forks Rear: twin shocks adjustable for preload |
| Brakes | Front: 2x 300mm discs Rear: Single 242mm disc |
| Tires | Front: 4.10-18 Rear:4.25-18 |
| Fuel capacity | 22.5 l (4.9 imp gal; 5.9 US gal) |
The Moto Guzzi Le Mans is a sports motorcycle first manufactured in 1976 by Italian company Moto Guzzi. It was named after the 24-hour motorcycle endurance race at Le Mans in France.
The original 850 Le Mans was a café racer with clip-on handlebars and a bikini nose fairing, but later models were developed as sports tourers with a three-quarter fairing. A marketing success, the Le Mans competed against Italian superbikes from Ducati and Laverda. The Le Mans spawned several successor models, a final version appearing in the late 1990s.
The Le Mans 850 café racer, or Le Mans Mark I (never officially labelled Mark I), was first shown at the Milan motorcycle show in November 1975, and sales began in 1976. Like the 750S and the 750 S3, the Le Mans 850 was developed from the 53 hpV7 Sport model of 1971, but power was increased to 71 hp. The power output measured at the back wheel was 71 bhp, giving a top speed of 130 mph.Compared to its roadster sibling, the T3, the Le Mans had higher-compression domed pistons, larger engine valves, and Dell'Orto 36mm pumper carbs with filterless velocity stacks.
The Mark I had two production runs with slight modifications. The first run, Series 1, had a round CEV taillight and continued until at least September, 1976, but fewer than 2,000 of these were made. The Series 2 run totalled some 4,000 bikes and had these modifications: a De Tomaso-designed rectangular taillight, a modified rear mudguard, black fork sliders and a more generous dual seat. The seat was a one-piece item of injection-molded foam. Most Le Mans 850 bikes were red and black, but a few were metallic blue, and even fewer were white. Le Mans bikes gained a reputation for poor frame paint and rusting exhausts.
Le Mans bikes exported to the United States had yellow side reflectors on CEV indicators, and a sealed-beam headlight as the OEM Aprilia headlight did not meet Department of Transport approval. These US sealed-beam units protruded in an ungainly way, spoiling the profile of the bike.
The MarkII was similar to the MarkI, but the small 'bikini" fairing became a larger half-fairing incorporating indicators. The fairing had been tested in Moto Guzzi's wind tunnel (which had been used to test race bike fairings in the 1950s). The new fairing had a rectangular headlight, rather than the earlier round item. Cylinder bores were coated with Moto Guzzi's patented "Nikasil". Front suspension became air-assisted. The brake calipers on the front wheel, previously mounted on the front, were now mounted behind the forks. A new dualseat could now carry a pillion. Further changes included a revised instrument cluster derived from the 1000cc SP. Brakes were linked, with the handlebar lever operating the front right caliper and the footbrake operating both the front left and rear caliper.
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