GENTLEMAN TOURER: FOUNDRY’S MOTO GUZZI V1000 RESTOMOD

[weeksy]

https://www.bikeexif.com/moto-guzzi-v1000-restomod

[Ditchfinder]

Really nice, not 100% convinced the shade of green is OK, maybe if they had 'tricoloré' d' it.....?

[Count Steer]

Not my cup of tea, but I wasn't keen on the original either. Dunno why but that style of Guzzi never appealed which is a bit odd as they tick a number of personal preference boxes, eg shaft drive, engine config etc. They always seemed to be built for someone challenged in the inside leg department, sort of low and squitty.

[Ditchfinder]

They always seemed to be built for someone challenged in the inside leg department, sort of low and squitty.

Oi! I resemble that description

[Count Steer]

They always seemed to be built for someone challenged in the inside leg department, sort of low and squitty.

Oi! I resemble that description

Soz! I think it's because, with the transverse V they could lower the tank just a tad and it made them look smaller than they actually were and slightly oddly proportioned.

Edit: Just had an ebay browse. Anyone know what the Le Mans Mk1 and/or Mk2 were like to own/ride?

[Ditchfinder]

I may be small but I'm perfectly...... oh hold on.....never mind, as you were

[DefTrap]

Always wanted a go on a nice one, that'd do but the green would have to go.
But as they appear to suit midgets, probably not.

[Hairybiker84]

That seat, just looks - awful, you'd have thought they'd have at least made it sculptured or thick enough to cover up the bollock hanger

[Count Steer]

Always wanted a go on a nice one, that'd do but the green would have to go.
But as they appear to suit midgets, probably not.

I'm not exactly Hulk height (I'm ~70cm) and even that's OK on something tallish like a BMW GS, but looking at that penultimate picture, how much higher is the seat at the front than the rear wheel? About 6"? That is quite low innit? It must make the riding position a bit odd for the 'taller touring gentleman'.

[Hairybiker84]

Edit: Just had an ebay browse. Anyone know what the Le Mans Mk1 and/or Mk2 were like to own/ride?

I rode one back in the early 80's and it just felt heavy, like a Jota for midgets but without the character or padding in the seat. Or the level of fit, finish and components.
Was interested in either one of those or a 900ss and went over to I think it was Pride & Clarke to have a butchers. No salesman to be seen (very unusual in those days, they'd normally have your arm off) but got talking to one of the guys who worked in the workshop. He showed me some of the chamber of horrors that included barrels like Swiss cheese, holey castings and other rubbish that they had removed from Ducati's and Guzzi's on a warranty basis, decided that I wasn't so keen after all.

[The Spin Doctor]

Have the linked brakes been removed? I remember braking for a red light with the front brake, and nothing much happening. Just as I was about to sail over the line and t-bone an emerging car, I remembered the linked brakes and hit the rear - that stopped the bugger in short order, which was just as well - the driver had seen me not slowing down so had stopped too - right across the junction, of course.

The gearbox on the one I rode was interesting too... 1st, neutral, 2nd, neutral, 3rd, neutral, 4th, neutral, 5th. Then the same the other way. Handled well for the time, and was pretty powerful too by early 80s standards. Whenever I see a Lemon or similar from that era I'm struck by how tiny they were.

A mate of mine's had one since the early 80s on and off - bought it s/h, broke down, fixed it, converted it from Mk2 to Mk1, broke down, fixed it, bored it out to 1000cc, broke down, fixed it, sold it to a mutual friend to ran it into the ground, bought it back and restored it. Not sure he's ridden it enough since for it to break down again

[Ditchfinder]

A mate of mine's had one since the early 80s on and off - bought it s/h, broke down, fixed it, converted it from Mk2 to Mk1, broke down, fixed it, bored it out to 1000cc, broke down, fixed it, sold it to a mutual friend to ran it into the ground, bought it back and restored it. Not sure he's ridden it enough since for it to break down again

Guzzi's never die but they can kill the economy of a small country in maintenance costs.

[Rockburner]

I kinda like it, (I like Guzzis generally), but I can't help but feel a proper Gentleman Tourer would have a more pragmatic approach to things like mud-guards.... (and side-stands)

[Beancounter]

I like that a lot. The only thing I would change is to remove those gaiters on the fork legs.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

It looks unfinished and like it has lots of cheap parts

[Cousin Jack]

I like that. Bit too much black but otherwise better than the average.

[crust]

Sort of like.

Some bits good, some not so good.

[Skub]

Yeah,it'll do.

[demographic]

That seat looks fucking gash and the rear mudguards a bit challenged as well.

I guess the rest looks ok though and at least its not been hacked to bits or it's airbox chucked in a skip so I guess the bits that look shite might be an easy enough fix.

[GuzziPaul]

Edit: Just had an ebay browse. Anyone know what the Le Mans Mk1 and/or Mk2 were like to own/ride?

I've got a Mk1. And yes for those short of leg they are ideal. With the Tuono I can only get one foot down on tip toes. With the Le Mans I can get both feet flat on the ground.Spares arn't bad and as they have been around for so long there a plenty of alternet bits (stuff from italian cars of the era)

Le Mans start around £10K a Mk II £4-7K