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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: 73eldorado on January 07, 2018, 01:10:26 PM

Title: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: 73eldorado on January 07, 2018, 01:10:26 PM
Hi, my first post. Pics of my eldo and 1 pic of my much modified Lemans, I’m a mechanic / machinist/ welder and a life long motorcyclist. They are my life and will be until the end.





(http://thumb.ibb.co/ndsEZw/ED3_F0_C9_B_A40_A_4_EF4_A4_DA_ADC9597165_E0.jpg) (http://ibb.co/ndsEZw) (http://thumb.ibb.co/ipPduw/061418_F9_4_AA9_4_A41_9779_69_D1_B3_BCE073.jpg) (http://ibb.co/ipPduw) (http://thumb.ibb.co/ij9p1b/49_B668_E3_C7_D6_407_C_8_F31_6_D8_FD9_F23_FE0.jpg) (http://ibb.co/ij9p1b) (http://thumb.ibb.co/btoGgb/96844241_9_B03_44_F5_B61_B_7_D1_CB764_B6_B1.jpg) (http://ibb.co/btoGgb) (http://thumb.ibb.co/dxBDSG/BB032074_4_A0_B_4_B86_A54_D_61_C89407_B835.jpg) (http://ibb.co/dxBDSG) (http://thumb.ibb.co/ffytSG/F827913_B_97_F6_437_E_9282_06_FB8_B6204_F6.jpg) (http://ibb.co/ffytSG) (http://thumb.ibb.co/fMwDSG/6_C36_FC88_4_D3_B_4_EDE_8671_F8_FAA3_F6_B3_F5.jpg) (http://ibb.co/fMwDSG)
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: BikeMike on January 07, 2018, 01:18:21 PM
Hi Neighbor! Welcome.

Mike
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: 73eldorado on January 07, 2018, 01:24:09 PM
Hi, your living in the land of wine and dine!! I’m in the cold igloo village :grin:
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: twowings on January 07, 2018, 01:27:37 PM
Welcome! Nice pics... :thumb:
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: Peter949 on January 08, 2018, 07:27:11 AM
Your Eldorado with the red paint on the frame looks wonderful. :thumb:
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: canuck750 on January 08, 2018, 08:50:36 AM
Nice Eldo!

Mine was parked next to yours at the Oregon rally a couple years ago, If you at ever passing through Edmonton look me up,

and welcome to WildGuzzi, best source of all things Guzzi bar none.

(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg217/canuck750/1972%20Moto%20Guzzi%20850%20Eldorado/IMG_0596_zpscjeb8ypg.jpg) (http://s249.photobucket.com/user/canuck750/media/1972%20Moto%20Guzzi%20850%20Eldorado/IMG_0596_zpscjeb8ypg.jpg.html)

Cheers

Jim

Keeping warm in Edmonton
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: 73eldorado on January 08, 2018, 10:21:56 AM
Hi Jim, I remember that sweet ride! same to you if your ever going through Golden look me up, I work out of my shop at home so I’m usually at home. I’m a rookie at this forum stuff so if you see anything that’s a little off give me the heads! Thanks Al
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: oldbike54 on January 08, 2018, 02:32:51 PM
 Nice bikes  :thumb:

 Dusty
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: JJ on January 08, 2018, 02:43:26 PM
Nice bikes  :thumb:

 Dusty

Agreed!!  Both nice bikes, especially the Eldo...and welcome! :thumb: :1: :cool:
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: Chuck in Indiana on January 08, 2018, 02:45:33 PM
Nice work.. attaboy.. and Welcome to WG..
(I don't give out attaboys lightly)  :smiley:
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: Matteo on January 08, 2018, 03:34:02 PM
Hi 73, I was one of the wise guys giving you a hard time for the Harley parts on your Eldo. I voted for it anyway :boozing: Glad your here.
Cheers
Matt
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: Guzzi Gal on January 08, 2018, 03:40:29 PM
Glad to have you at WG!  Beautiful bikes btw. :thumb:
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: Markcarovilli on January 08, 2018, 05:50:35 PM
Welcome & nice looking bikes....

Mark
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: smdl on January 08, 2018, 06:02:08 PM
Welcome, Al.  Beautiful bikes!

If you ever plan a trip to the Island, look me up!

Cheers,
Shaun
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: LowRyter on January 08, 2018, 06:41:34 PM
welcome and thanks for the bikes and photos of the bikes. 
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: toolittletime on January 08, 2018, 07:42:39 PM
I too remember the red frame Eldo at the Oregon Rally.......nice.  Finally got mine finished too.
I live just a little south of you at Kingsgate.  Stop in if in the area.

Tim
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: Denis on January 09, 2018, 07:09:28 AM
Hi, my first post. Pics of my eldo and 1 pic of my much modified Lemans, I�m a mechanic / machinist/ welder and a life long motorcyclist. They are my life and will be until the end.

(http://thumb.ibb.co/ndsEZw/ED3_F0_C9_B_A40_A_4_EF4_A4_DA_ADC9597165_E0.jpg) (http://ibb.co/ndsEZw) (http://thumb.ibb.co/ipPduw/061418_F9_4_AA9_4_A41_9779_69_D1_B3_BCE073.jpg) (http://ibb.co/ipPduw)
 (http://ibb.co/ij9p1b)

That looks great!
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: 73eldorado on January 09, 2018, 10:01:51 AM
Thanks for the warm reception, I had no idea that there was so many Guzzi freaks so close to me and best of all they own loop frame bikes. I saw my first Eldorado in 1973, I was 16 years old and had no idea of what it was or where it came from. I got my first guzzi in 1986 and I still have it, a 1981 Lemans II, up here in Canada we got the 850 version and the states got the 1000cc model. I was repairing motorcycles for a living and worked on all brands, one of my customers named Bill was getting his logging truck repaired in Cranbrook and got in a conversation with the service manager about motorcycles. Bill found out he had a Eldorado and gave the him my number, he phoned me for info and we had a hour long conversation that ended with me telling him that if he was ever going to sell it to let me know. He said he was never going to sell it, I told him that I can respect and understand that.
It was a couple of years later I got a call and he said I�m getting a divorce are you still interested in the Eldo. As you can imagine I leaped at the opportunity, closed the shop and drove 3 hours to buy the bike. It was torn apart and in boxes, everything I looked at needed repairing or replacing. He wanted $500, since I had seen a Eldo since 1973 I decided to buy it, when I got home my wife Linda, looked over the side of the deck down at my prize and said �what are you going to do with that piece of s#it. I said I have a vision to which Linda said �more like a f##ing nightmare� slammed the door and went in the house.
In her defence we did have 3 kids, I was road racing and drag racing, mortgage etc. We weren�t starving but I may have had a few to many bikes or projects!! It took me 12 years to get it on the road, sometimes I didn�t do anything to the eldo for a year or more, I wasn�t going to do any short cuts so it would turn out perfect.
Since then it has got 25000 trouble free miles and runs like a old tractor chugging along, its at its best on secondary roads at 60 MPH. I took my 12 year old son to San Diego on it and ridden over a lot of the western states. I bug Linda about the so called piece of s#it comment and we have a few laughs about that!!
I look forward to going for some rides to seeing some of these old bikes and their owners in the future, if your coming through Golden give me a call as I would love to see you.
 
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: Lesman on January 09, 2018, 10:30:05 AM
What color is your tank. Is it pearlesque type paint?


Best Regards,
Les
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: 73eldorado on January 09, 2018, 10:36:54 AM
Hi Les, yes it’s pearl. In the sun it looks fantastic, when I took my parts in for painting I was torn between the pearl white and a jaguar green ( can’t remember the exact name ). I think that I made the right choice as it goes real well with the red frame and chrome.
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: Shorty on January 09, 2018, 10:59:01 AM
THAT is purdy!
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: Old Jock on January 09, 2018, 12:22:46 PM
Both are fantastic

Really cool bikes bet you're proud

Welcome

John
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: Antietam Classic Cycle on January 09, 2018, 12:27:31 PM
I do like Guzzis with red frames...

(http://thumb.ibb.co/fQDR1m/Sophia_and_the_Sport_004.jpg) (http://ibb.co/fQDR1m)


The V7 Sport lives in NJ now and the Ambassador/V7 Special in Oregon.
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: 73eldorado on January 09, 2018, 01:54:02 PM
Hi Charlie, Amen to that.
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: Bucky on January 09, 2018, 02:02:49 PM
Welcome Al.....and to repeat, those red framed bikes are gorgeous. You did a fabulous job! :thumb:

I have a 1973 Eldorado also, original patina.

This is a great site with great people.
I resurrected mine after sitting for 35 years. Could not have done it without the Guzzi community.
Sounds like your expertise will be a great addition....especia lly for noobs like me
Again, welcome.
 
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: nick949 on January 09, 2018, 03:50:36 PM
Welcome 73. Great looking bike. They're common as muck up here north of the border. With Shaun's on Vancouver Island, Jim's in Alberta, mine in Ontario and, oh, one or two more, they're almost like Hondas  :boozing:

Nick


(http://thumb.ibb.co/iJ9fSR/june12_2017_4.jpg) (http://ibb.co/iJ9fSR)
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: 73eldorado on January 09, 2018, 05:50:59 PM
Hi Nick, LMAO!! In my neck of the woods most people look at my Eldo and say what is that? Do they still make them?  Our area is full of HD�S which are more common than Honda�s. I am lucky that a fellow who bought a Eldo in Invermere brought his bike to me to make it mechanically sound. Usually I get everything but Guzzi�s. I will post more photos in the rebuild section, oh by the way if you make it out this way give me a shout out.
(http://thumb.ibb.co/nbsvBm/7853420_E_65_FA_4_F30_8567_729291_CDEBF9.jpg) (http://ibb.co/nbsvBm)
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: Matteo on January 09, 2018, 06:44:15 PM
Just looked up your location. Near one of my favorite roads in North America (Ice field Parkway)
I may have to stop by next time I swing through. That is gorgeous country!
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: Guzzistajohn on January 09, 2018, 06:48:54 PM
Red frames go faster!
(http://thumb.ibb.co/jhgfBm/CX100eureka.jpg) (http://ibb.co/jhgfBm)
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: Turin on January 09, 2018, 07:31:41 PM
Love the paintjob on the loop, could you share a bit more about that LeMans racer?
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: 73eldorado on January 09, 2018, 08:29:14 PM
Hi Turin, the racer started life as a 1981 Lemans II, after riding it for 80000 km (50000 miles) I decided to turn it into a track bike. In stock form it was awful, our track was so rough it would tank slappers and the forks were way to flexible. I had a bunch of parts off of GSXR 750 race bikes and parts from a TLR 1000 race bike. First thing I did was graft on a complete front end by fabricating a new steering head but it looked stupid raked out like a chopper. So I jigged up the frame and cut off the steering head and set it at 25 degrees. Now it looked modern, it needed modern suspension in the rear and I had a donor Ohlins shock from th e TLR. So I cut the rear section off frame off and modified the swing arm for a single shock. The fairing is from the original 750 Ducati, tail section from a RC 30. I wanted radial tires so the meant that the engine had to be moved over so that the swing arm could be moved over and then notched for more clearance. Engine makes 85 hp and it�s a 950 with a big cam, sorry I can�t remember the specs it�s been a while. The valves had to be sunk quite deep into the heads to prevent hitting each other on overlap, it�s preety stout and required a new exhaust because the lafranconi exhaust was ground right through because of ground clearance issues. I built a 2 into 1 exhaust that everyone says doesn�t work and the first couple had huge flat spots in the fueling but my last try had perfect fueling and sounds awesome. LOUD! It starts on a roller system I build which uses my truck to power it, I butchered the crap out of the flywheel so that when you let of the gas it actually slows down, the stock setup would feel like it sped up when you let off the gas. I�m actually going to turn it back into a street legal bike and make it preety, race bikes get a little ugly but chrome don�t get you home. It goes on and on, the amount of stuff you have to change and figure out when you get in this deep, but it was good fun and didnt head shake any more and never dragged parts on the track. Best of all it was unique!
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: Bucky on January 09, 2018, 08:36:41 PM
 I gots one word for you, Al......Craftsman!
Awesome build!!!
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: Turin on January 10, 2018, 08:45:57 PM
Good stuff! My ex-racer is running a X-7 (norriss 382) cam and a 2-1 exhaust. If and when I get it finished it'll have to go on a dyno just to satisfy my curiosity.
( I did not build the engine)
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: 73eldorado on January 10, 2018, 10:32:45 PM
Hi Turin, mine is a megacycle cam, it required different springs. The springs were from a Toyota race engine, probably a supra. I need to dig through my stuff and find the specs, I set up spring installed height etc. I think the sellers name was rich, he was into Guzzi race stuff I believe. This was probably 15 to 20 years ago. What size of a motor do you have?
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: chuck peterson on January 11, 2018, 05:30:07 AM
Beautiful work with an even better story!  :bike-037:
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: Turin on January 11, 2018, 09:27:06 AM
My engine is a big valve 1082 (78mm stroke 94mm bore. There are pics in the build section.
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: 73eldorado on January 11, 2018, 10:41:39 AM
Looks like a fun project, sounds like it will have a monster engine! I’m hoping to start working on Franken Guzzi in the near future, I will post it in the build section, just looking at yours gets me revved up. I’m 60 years old and my wife says when are you going to grow up! My response is “ Never, it’s overrated and no fun!!
Title: Re: 73 Eldorado and Franken Guzzi LeMans
Post by: twowings on January 11, 2018, 12:06:07 PM
Stay cleverly disguised as a responsible adult!  :cool: