Cycle Mag. August 1977

[vintage53]

A nice write up from back in the day.  (photos)

  MG 850 Lemans Mark 1


https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/moto%20guzzi/moto_guzzi_850_le_mans_mark_77.html

[moto-uno]

  I still have that magazine and also the earlier July 1972 Cycle (Two Moto Guzzis) tests  . Peter

[Scout63]

I love Cycle road tests.  They were so thorough and well written.

[blu guzz]

amazing how the power numbers and weight are nearly identical to the current crop of MG 850s. 

[Dave Swanson]

Great article.  The 77 Lemans is still a very entertaining bike to ride.  For a mere mortal it still has all the performance and handling you need with room to spare. 

[blackcat]

What was the reasoning for the North American headlight vs. the European headlight?



I have the original version but prefer the Euro light.

[vintage53]

Dave and Tom's works of art are giving me the inspiration and drive to complete the resurrection of my Lemans.   


 

[blackcat]

Dave and Tom's works of art are giving me the inspiration and drive to complete the resurrection of my Lemans.   


 

What is the current condition of the bike?

[spmoto]

US required a different headlight and wouldn't fit without pushing it out through the fairing like that. Not a very pleasing solution, I agree.

[Tkelly]

Was the LeMans an improvement in handling,rideability,power over the Sport,other than brakes?Chrome cylinders?I always liked the looks of the Sport better and would rather have one of those,especially for the adjustable bars and stock seat.Deb had a CX 100 and during a very hot ride to the Duluth Guzzi rally told me to leave her at a shady rest stop rather than get back on,and ours had a good Corbin seat.She did eventually ride the rest of the way,but we had MG install adjustable bars when we got back.

[blackcat]

Was the LeMans an improvement in handling,rideability,power over the Sport,other than brakes?Chrome cylinders?

More power than the Sport, larger valves, larger carbs and iron bores but I believe they both shared the same crappy suspension. 

[Tkelly]

Cycle World testers liked the handling a lot,we put Koni shocks on our CX and it was very comfortable.

[Frenchfrog]

The US headlight had to be a sealed beam unit at the time....not a European requirement so they simply cobbled the US version up as an orphan I think.

[SmithSwede]

Cycle World reported a 13 second quarter mile time.  It makes my teeth hurt to think of doing that to a bike like this.

[Dave Swanson]

The US headlight had to be a sealed beam unit at the time....not a European requirement so they simply cobbled the US version up as an orphan I think.

I kinda like the look.   

[s1120]

I kinda like the look.   

Ya same here. I think of it as one of its styling cues. To my eye the Euro model looks like its missing something..  Granted that's because I did not KNOW if the euro model's different headlight, having not seen one till decades later.

[PeteS]

Cycle World reported a 13 second quarter mile time.  It makes my teeth hurt to think of doing that to a bike like this.

Not sure what that means. They were meant to be ridden and ridden hard and not blow up. I turned identical times and trap speeds on mine.

Pete