Amazonas

[John A]

I wanted one of these back when I saw that Cycle World piece on it. There were only a handful in the states and when I finally saw one in the flesh, it was too rough for the money and I passed. You could get parts for VW’s anywhere in the world is what attracted me for it is ugly. I met a guy on the road who put a VW engine in a BMW, he rode that thing all over and I figured if I wanted one , I’d have to build it myself. Easier to stick to Guzzi’s. https://youtu.be/ZsMI3YsxI2Q?si=-RuaO2YmpfgFdwGu

[Huzo]

I loved the statement by the narrator…
…’the new one was slightly less disgusting..” 
High praise indeed. 

[Guzzistajohn]

never knew there was such a critter 

[Huzo]

never knew there was such a critter 

You’ve been lucky up to here.

[faffi]

PeeWee Gleason set the best 1/4-mile time with a launch in 2nd gear after they fitted a tuned 2.2 liter VW engine into the bulky frame, if memory serves. Apparently, the gearbox could not be shifted quickly enough from 1st to 2nd that it paid off to start in 1st gear. Regardless, not my cup of tea.

[jhem68]

 Not the same thing, but I have a VW/BMW conversion (quite modified) sitting in my garage. It was my good friends main ride from 1977 to 1988 when he passed away unexpectedly. He would drive two up from Washington state and meet up in Sturgis one year and the Rocky Mountain Park the next.

There used to be a Yahoo group dedicated to these conversions and I do see one pop up on CL or Facebook Marketplace.



John H

[sdcr]

They can make decent sidecar tug, so I have heard,

[jhem68]

cvrc fresno

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

"The Amazonas’ sophisticated French cousin" https://www.odd-bike.com/2020/04/bfg-mbk-1300-boxeur-francais.html

[Moparnut72]

I met a guy at the BMW Top of the Rockies Rally many years ago. If I remember correctly his name was Bob Burns. He was the editor for bike mag IIRC.
kk

Edit: Further thoughts I believe the name was Bob Brown. But what do I know I am not getting old, I am old as in dirt.

[AJ Huff]

That's pretty cool! It looks huge and unwieldy, but I rather like the blue one.

-AJ

[Huzo]

PeeWee Gleason set the best 1/4-mile time with a launch in 2nd gear after they fitted a tuned 2.2 liter VW engine into the bulky frame, if memory serves. Apparently, the gearbox could not be shifted quickly enough from 1st to 2nd that it paid off to start in 1st gear. Regardless, not my cup of tea.

Looks like more of a fit for Pee Wee Herman than Pee Wee Gleason…

[BigDuke6]

Great video, thanks for sharing.  A couple of the bikes on there had a sidecar mounted.  I think that would be a pretty intriguing combination for where I live - Long straight roads in the middle of nowhere with no one on them...

[larrys]

I remember seeing the Amazonas road test article in Cycle World. It was pretty fast with the hotrod motor in it.
I used to see in the parking lot at the old Loudon track many years ago, a loop frame Guzzi with a Subaru motor and a fully enclosed sidecar on it. Wonder what ever happened to it.
Larry

[s1120]

I remember seeing the Amazonas road test article in Cycle World. It was pretty fast with the hotrod motor in it.
I used to see in the parking lot at the old Loudon track many years ago, a loop frame Guzzi with a Subaru motor and a fully enclosed sidecar on it. Wonder what ever happened to it.
Larry

That bike with the Subaru engine has been at the IMOC rally the last times ive been there. Its a cool ride!! 

[mechanicsavant]

Yup , the “Suba-Guzzi” . I can’t recall the builders name @ this moment . But he’s also responsible for some of the best sidecar rigs I’ve ever seen , works of art they are . Dave , something ?he’s in the CT area .

[FarmallA]

The “Suba-Guzzi".

At IMOC in Sturbridge MA: 2022.  I knew I had a picture of this somewhere.

FarmallA
Steve

[nortryder]

I always want one of those BMW/2 VW conversions. Or maybe Rotohack? I think that was a K100 with a sidecar and Mazda rotary conversion I saw years ago.