Tagged: T3

Moto Guzzi

1977 Moto Guzzi T3 V7/LeMans Clone for Sale

1977 Moto Guzzi LeMans Clone L Front

Well, here’s another Moto Guzzi T3 someone’s converted into a V7/LeMans clone. For the uninitiated: Guzzi’s famous v-twin started out powering a very strange Italian military tractor and that durable, slightly clunky durability translated strangely well into its new role as a sporty motorcycle powerplant. And stuffed into a lower, lighter frame, it made a pretty good motivator for a few genuine sportbikes as well.

1977 Moto Guzzi LeMans Clone L Rear

As I’ve stated and restated ad nauseam, Guzzi’s vanilla-looking and relatively common 850T used the same basic engine and Lino Tonti-designed frame as the very sporting and practical V7 Sport and LeMans. All of the stuff to create one of these is available online, from V7 and LeMans pattern tanks and side panels, clip on bars, rearsets, and exhausts. And there are plenty of engine builders who can build you a fire-breathing Guzzi motor that will make that bum-stop saddle earn its keep.

1977 Moto Guzzi LeMans Clone Dash

From the original eBay listing: 1977 Moto Guzzi T3 V7/LeMans Clone for Sale

BASED ON A 1977 MOTO GUZZI 850 T3 THIS 850 SPORT/LEMANS CLONE. IS SUPER FUN BIKE TO RIDE. PULLS LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN GREAT EARLY PRODUCTION MATCHING #s 103002

  A  COSMETIC MAKE OVER STOCK ENGINE

  • CORBIN SEAT  (ugly came that way $170 to change the  cover they said)  
  • TANK FENDERS & SIDE COVERS ALL HAVE FRESH PAINT
  • FRAME PAINT IN A MATTE BLACK
  • REBUILT DELLORTO 30MM VHB
  • REBUILT TRANSMISSION (CHARLIE COLE)
  • NEWER TIRES
  • ALLOY  BORRANI WHEELS 
  • STAINLESS SPOKES
  • LOW MILES
  • NEW BATTERY
  • REBUILT FRONT 850 LEMANS 1 FORKS
  • NEW PROGRESSIVE SHOCKS
  • SCOTTS STEERING DAMPNER
  • HIGH PERFORMANCE LAFRANCONIA EXHAUST SYSTEM
  • TAROZZI REARS SETS  right  side  has  a  small  bend
  • TAROZZI CLIP-ONS
  • POLISHED V7 SPORT TREES
  • REBUILT BREMBO BRAKE SYSTEM
  • STAINLESS STEEL BRAKE LINES (UNLINKED)

 

1977 Moto Guzzi LeMans Clone R Rear

This one is also done pretty nicely and features an upswept LaFranconi exhaust system that should give a bit more cornering-clearance than the classic “shark gill” mufflers from the V7, and the wire wheels are a great look.

There may be little too much red on this bike, though: I think maybe that rear-fender/taillight assembly could be easily be blacked-out or revised/removed. And the large red panels on the seat are not my taste. Black maybe with red stitching might be better and would be something easily fixed by the buyer, as mentioned in the listing. And those reflectors, while aiding safety, are also pretty clunky-looking. I think I’d probably add some mirrors and remove the reflectors creating a sort of “net safety wash…” Aside from the [probably very comfortable] Corbin seat and the aforementioned bits, I really like this bike.

1977 Moto Guzzi LeMans Clone Seat

While the T bikes are still pretty affordable, they’re starting to get rarer and prices are increasing… I really should scoop one up sooner rather than later I guess, before all the good ones are V7-ed or LeMans-ed…

Not much time left on this one, and with a starting bid of $5,900 it seems appropriately priced. Someone jump on it quick!

-tad

1977 Moto Guzzi LeMans Clone L Side

Moto Guzzi

1977 Moto Guzzi 850 T3 Le Mans Replica for Sale

1977 Moto Guzzi T3 Le Mans R Front

Oh look! A shiny Moto Guzzi Le…  Hmmmm…  What’s this?  It’s really a T3?  Moto Guzzi’s line of Lino Tonti-framed sports motorcycle stretches back to the original V7 Sport and includes the iconic LeMans models.  Less well-remembered are the T-models, with their slightly bland looks and very 70’s color palette.  But these bread-and-butter bikes, aside from their cheaper suspension components and slightly detuned engines, are basically built on the bones of their more exciting brothers.

1977 Moto Guzzi T3 Le Mans L Rear

I’ve mentioned before the interchangeability of parts for these bikes, how easy it is to recreate one of the more collectible Guzzis from a more pedestrian model, if one were so inclined and felt like hunting down the requisite parts. Replica fuel tanks, side panels, exhaust systems: everything is easily found online and relatively affordable.  A big-bore kit and a good mechanical freshening and you could have yourself a very authentic looking and performing classic without the “numbers matching” expense.

1977 Moto Guzzi T3 Le Mans Dash

I’ve been planning to do this myself, have the T3 all picked out and everything, and this one looks pretty much like what I’d…  Wow.  $8,000 Buy It Now?  That’s pretty steep.

From the original eBay listing: 1977 Moto Guzzi 850 T3 Le Mans for Sale

BASED ON A 1977 MOTO GUZZI 850  T3 THIS  850 SPORT/LEMANS CLONE .IS SUPER FUN BIKE TO  RIDE.  PULLS LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN GREAT EARLY PRODUCTION MATCHING #s 103002

  • CORBIN SEAT
  • TANK FENDERS & SIDE COVERS  ALL HAVE  FRESH PAINT
  • FRAME PAINT IN A MATTE BLACK
  • REBUILT  DELLORTO 30MM VHB
  • REBUILT TRANSMISSION (CHARLIE COLE)
  • NEWER TIRES
  • ALLOY WHEELS 
  • STAINLESS SPOKES 
  • LOW MILES
  • NEW BATTERY
  • REBUILT FRONT FORKS
  • NEW PROGRESSIVE  SHOCKS 
  • SCOTTS STEERING DAMPNER
  • HIGH PERFORMANCE LAFRANCONIA EXHAUST SYSTEM 
  • TAROZZI REARS SETS
  • TAROZZI CLIP-ONS
  • POLISHED TREES
  • REBUILT BREMBO BRAKE SYSTEM
  • STAINLESS STEEL BRAKE LINES (UNLINKED)
  • READY TO RIDE

1977 Moto Guzzi T3 Le Mans R Rear

I think his buy it now price is pretty optimistic, given the parts involved. It’s a really great-looking bike but I think the seller might have his/her sights set a bit too high. There are some pretty fire-breathing, hot-rod Guzzi’s out there with high-compression, big-valve 1000cc engines. One of those might be worth the nearly $8,000 “Buy It Now” price, but it feels a bit high for a “Le Mans Mock I.” Pricing for nice T’s is on the rise though, so I’ll be interested to see how the bidding goes on this one.

-tad

1977 Moto Guzzi T3 Le Mans L Engine

Moto Guzzi

Moto Guzzi T3 dressed like a S3

For those of you that liked the Heidi Klum reference and photo I used to describe my feelings for the Ducai, you might have already been drawn to this Moto Guzzi 850 T3 offered on eBay now. Sellers from Antwep, Belgium use a technique that has been around for hundreds of years to help sell motorcycles.

The words that the seller uses are kind of confusing

All original and unrestored Guzzi S3 parts build on a 850 T3 base

Holland NL Registration – European Homologation

This piece of History is in very clean condition

Original painted S3 tank and covers with patina –

Original aluminium S3 Rims –

Original S3 fender –

New 750 S-3 logo’s on the sidecovers (replaced) –

(the original 850 T-3 come with the bike) –

Very good and strong runner for a fair price –

NL registration, imported in Belgium

All documents come with the bike -P.S. The girl on the picture is not included

I am going to assume that this is an un-restored 850 T3 that has some 750 S3 parts. So going with that I found that the 850 T3 was offered from 1975-1982 and build as a tourer and not a sports bike. Low end torque from the 844cc still peaked at 53hp at 6000rpm. With a wide windshield and side bags the 451 lb bike appears to be the preferred tour for Europeans.

What it is trying to look like is the sportier 750 S3 witch had 90hp out to 7000 rpm. Like sport bikes of the day, it was naked (hence the model?) and was set up for speed not comfort. There is no mention of engine modifications so I suspect that this is a badge engineered sport bike, based on the touring model. Not unusual to find, and not difficult to un-do. I only added pictures of the motorcycle here, so if you would like to see the complete listing you can see her with the bike on eBay now.

BB