1976 Moto Guzzi 850 LeMans

Sorry for the break from the blog, but I was busy. What can I say?

Up for auction right now on eBay is this really clean, pretty-but-not-truly-restored, Le Mans 850. It has almost 40K miles on it, but the odometer reads only 14K. The suspension is upgraded, and the engine has some upgraded electronics, so it should be a great ride once the carbs are gone through. Cosmetically, I like the bike overall, but I’m not a fan of Corbin seats (looks or sitting on them). The seller admits the bikes current issues and shortcomings in the listing, so if you are interested, click through and check them out.

There are 4 days left in the auction, with one bidder and the price currently at $5K. This seems like a decent bike that could use a good home, but the price seems like it might be a bit on the high side.

(From the seller’s listing)
– Body work repainted to original design pattern
– Stainless fasteners
– Stainless braided brake lines thru out
– Dyna III electronic ignition and dyna coils
– 38mm Marzocchi strada front end, make the bike very stable at high speed
– NOS Marzocchi rear shocks (wow!)
– Agostini rear sets
– Corbin seat is very comfortable on long rides
– BUB exhaust system
– ‘Square’ type front brake reservoir and lever makes it stop like a modern bike

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1983 Moto Guzzi LeMans III Cafe Racer – Form vs. Function

I think I’ve written previously of my belief that cafe racers need to combine form and function to create a functioning (i.e. fast) motorcycle that follows a certain aesthetic principal. Lots of bike go one way or the other, but very few actually find that nirvana. I believe that the bike pictured below is fairly close to balancing form and function into a workable whole.

Up for sale on eBay is this Moto Guzzi LeMans III that has been cafe’d in all the right ways. Clip-ons, aluminum gas tank, rear-sets, and a custom (albeit non-traditional) cafe seat create a visual package that really is set off in a good way by the cool fairing. All the bits that create the vision of the cafe racer are on this bike. But in addition to the visuals, the owner of this bike has done some things to make this twin-cylinder Italian beauty live up to it’s good looks. Carbs, headwork, and upgraded brakes and suspension will make the new owner of this bike happy with the performance, too. (Click through on the photos to eBay to check out more description and pictures)

Is there anything I would do to this bike. Hmmm. Maybe paint the fairing. Maybe. I wish I had a few grand sitting around so as I could make a bid for this beauty…

Custom 1975 Moto Guzzi 850 Cafe Racer

There’s several good cafe racers I found recently listed on eBay when I searched today. This one stood out as being an affordable example of one that could be ridden daily. The aluminum tank is sweet, even though it has a welded-in patch. I just really like the overall look the bike, and Guzzi’s aren’t a bike you see every day.