Author Topic: Seeking Opinions - 850 LeMans Fairing ORANGE (Read 12123 times)

Cam3512 · « **on:** January 19, 2015, 07:34:03 PM »

My 1978 Ice Blue 850 LeMans is nearing completion of its restoration. I'm torn with deciding to add the day-glow orange panel to the fairing or leave it off. It's a US model with the protruding headlight. It will be totally stock.

My questions are - Did the factory ever delete the orange panel? And would you add the orange, or leave it off?

Looking for some opinions from the LeMans experts. It's been recently repainted, so I'm at a crossroad.

MotoGuzzi · « **Reply #1 on:** January 19, 2015, 07:50:34 PM »

I would absolutely go with the Orange, however i am not a LeMans expert.

fotoguzzi · « **Reply #2 on:** January 19, 2015, 08:03:28 PM »

Quote from: MotoGuzzi on January 19, 2015, 07:50:34 PM

I would absolutely go with the Orange, however i am not a LeMans expert.

WHAT HE SAID!

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #3 on:** January 19, 2015, 08:18:30 PM »

If it came with it, it should have it if you're doing a restoration.. <shrug>

Wildguzzi.com · « **Reply #3 on:** January 19, 2015, 08:18:30 PM »

canuck750 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 19, 2015, 09:04:20 PM »

I vote for finishing the fairing with the day glow orange panels. I suggest having a vinyl film applied to the painted fiberglass, a good detail shop should be able to handle it with ease. If it chips you can just re-apply new film and if you don't like the colour just remove it.

I am really looking forward to seeing pictures of your LeMans. The MKI Ice Blue is in my opinion the very best looking post war bike Guzzi made.

Cheers

Jim

Guzzistajohn · « **Reply #5 on:** January 19, 2015, 09:19:11 PM »

I'd go with it Cam, It'll make those that don't know look and wonder, What the @#$%?

guzzista · « **Reply #6 on:** January 19, 2015, 10:13:03 PM »

Not a Lemans " expert", but 25 years ago or so, I retrofitted my CX100 to the LM1 look in the front , with mini fairing, round light etc. My bike was red , so I cant say much how the Ice Blu bike would look. I did not initially go for the dayglow sections on the fairing . A few month later, after the usual rock chips were added due to wear and tear, I had a friend in the Auto Body Paint business add them on. The bike looked 'Right" to me ( and friends) after the dayglow swatches went on. As Jim suggested, maybe you can have your cake and eat it too by going the Vinyl film route ?

earemike · « **Reply #7 on:** January 19, 2015, 11:55:48 PM »

No expert but I'd go with the day glow :+1

The respray I saw without it looked like something was missing, hope it grows on you

Mark111 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 20, 2015, 05:34:52 AM »

It has to be Dayglo

http://www.vdcon.nl/

If you want it to look really good get rid of that poxy protruding headlight, the flush fitting light looks a million % better.

Cam3512 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 20, 2015, 06:46:16 AM »

Thanks guys, I was already pretty much committed to going with the orange but wanted to hear some other opinions. I hear ya on the headlight. US bikes went with the sealed headlight resulting in the protrusion.

What would I need to do to eliminate that?

Aldo · « **Reply #10 on:** January 20, 2015, 06:59:16 AM »

A friend and local Guzzi enthusiast has a nice blue Lemans 850, which was featured in the Bicilindrica magazine; Seeing the bike in person I personally like the stock day glow on the blue LeMans 850 bikini fairing.

Not his bike in the pics below, but just adding for context...

lrutt · « **Reply #11 on:** January 20, 2015, 07:47:17 AM »

I'd leave it off. You can always add it later if you REALLY want to.

I left it off my 77 and have not regretted it.

PeteS · « **Reply #12 on:** January 20, 2015, 08:38:36 AM »

My '76 look like this when new except the headlight rim is chrome. It was repainted red long ago. If you want it to appear original you will want to paint it dayglow orange.
I bought the bike because I thought it was the coolest looking bike of its time and wouldn't change the fairing even though its totally useless.
too bad no one ever made a replacement seat for the '76. It had a distinctive look lost on the later models. Mine cracked with less than 1000 miles on the odometer.

Pete

dsrdave · « **Reply #13 on:** January 20, 2015, 09:11:14 AM »

+1 on the original seat. I'm looking for one now.......
I always put the dayglo orange on. It just looks and is correct !!!

Cam3512 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 02, 2015, 01:19:35 PM »

For those of you that have added the day-glow orange panels to your 850 LeMans fairings...

Did you go with orange paint or vinyl? I like the idea of vinyl, and was wondering where I'd be able to source correct ones for this bike, or take a photo to some "shop" and have them replicated?

The guy doing the restoration can't source the decals anywhere.

dsrdave · « **Reply #15 on:** February 02, 2015, 02:13:17 PM »

It should be a vinyl. I was able to get some from Harpers to fit my CX100. It's a 3M product so I would look there.

Cam3512 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 02, 2015, 03:52:30 PM »

Quote from: dsrdave on February 02, 2015, 02:13:17 PM

It should be a vinyl. I was able to get some from Harpers to fit my CX100. It's a 3M product so I would look there.

I called Harper's. Apparently the orange on the 850 LeMans fairing was PAINTED on. They only had decals for the CX100 and LeMans III.

I'd still like a vinyl sticker that could be replaced when needed. The original paint eventually faded out . I need to do some research and hunting around...

Antietam Classic Cycle · « **Reply #17 on:** February 02, 2015, 04:04:06 PM »

I don't think it can be done in vinyl since the Le Mans fairing is a compound curve. Try putting a flat decal on a sphere - always puckers somewhere. Would be the same situation.

steven c · « **Reply #18 on:** February 02, 2015, 04:26:58 PM »

You could use Plastic Kote it's not permanent, lots of people use it on wheels and whole cars to change colors.
http://picclick.com/Plasti-Kote-Fluorescent-Paint-Orange-Item-FL-9-300370307293.html

blackcat · « **Reply #19 on:** February 02, 2015, 04:42:46 PM »

I missed this, when did you get a Lemans? And a blue one to boot.

dsrdave · « **Reply #20 on:** February 02, 2015, 04:43:36 PM »

It can still be done in vinyl. No different than a wrap, just needs to be stretched. Painting may be easier if thats the way they originally were delivered it would also be correct.

Cam3512 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 02, 2015, 05:36:53 PM »

Some very good points, and suggestions. Thanks to all.

Tom - Did some horse trading and selling to aquire the '78 Ice Blue 850 LeMans. Told myself if I ever got the opportunity, I'd do whatever it took to get one in my garage. I've only ever seen one other blue one in person. A full frame-off cosmetic/mechanical restoration was part of my "deal". Only 22K miles. FAC dampers up front, Ago timing gears, and sump spacer to boot.

I'll unveil it here with photos when I take it home later this month.

Cam

smdl · « **Reply #22 on:** February 02, 2015, 07:17:42 PM »

Quote from: Cam3512 on February 02, 2015, 05:36:53 PM

Some very good points, and suggestions. Thanks to all.

Tom - Did some horse trading and selling to aquire the '78 Ice Blue 850 LeMans. Told myself if I ever got the opportunity, I'd do whatever it took to get one in my garage. I've only ever seen one other blue one in person. A full frame-off cosmetic/mechanical restoration was part of my "deal". Only 22K miles. FAC dampers up front, Ago timing gears, and sump spacer to boot.

I'll unveil it here with photos when I take it home later this month.

Cam

:pop

jacksonracingcomau · « **Reply #23 on:** February 02, 2015, 07:49:03 PM »

Quote from: Cam3512 on January 19, 2015, 07:34:03 PM

My 1978 Ice Blue 850 LeMans is nearing completion of its restoration. I'm torn with deciding to add the day-glow orange panel to the fairing or leave it off. It's a US model with the protruding headlight. It will be totally stock.

My questions are - Did the factory ever delete the orange panel? And would you add the orange, or leave it off?

Looking for some opinions from the LeMans experts. It's been recently repainted, so I'm at a crossroad.

Mine didn't have it (UK new, 19/4/78). Was on sales brochure but not UK bikes.
I didn't feel diddled at time, think I would've been teased mercilessly by my brit bike mates if it had had it, was not cool in London in 1978 to have dayglo
Pic that day for ref

crc · « **Reply #24 on:** February 02, 2015, 11:11:33 PM »

had an exceptionly nice 850 lm here today, it didn't have it either, and its headlight was circumsized

cruzziguzzi · « **Reply #25 on:** February 03, 2015, 02:32:26 PM »

My advice is to look to this issue as I generally look to any aesthetic/style/appearance issue where Italians are concerned....

Defer to their judgement even if intent is not immediately clear.

I say go orange - I figure they did it to cope with that carbunclous headlight they were forced to use. Quite an effective diversion too... from most angles.

Todd.

blackcat · « **Reply #26 on:** February 03, 2015, 02:40:56 PM »

Quote from: Cam3512 on February 02, 2015, 05:36:53 PM

Tom - Did some horse trading and selling to aquire the '78 Ice Blue 850 LeMans.
Cam

Cool. Can't wait to see it.

My friend Tod just picked up a 76 Lemans in a box and he was balking at the asking price and while I don't want another project and because I knew he wanted a Lemans I told him that if he didn't buy it that I would. The seller dropped the price and he has himself a project.

Yours sounds like a much easier endeavor.

Antietam Classic Cycle · « **Reply #27 on:** February 03, 2015, 02:45:18 PM »

The dayglo orange is a safety feature - it screams: "look out, here I come!" so everyone will get out of the way. ;) Who needs loud pipes, when you can have "loud" colors! ;D

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Author Topic: Seeking Opinions - 850 LeMans Fairing ORANGE (Read 12123 times)

Wildguzzi.com

canuck750

crc