Introduction new member Calagry Alberta Canada 1998 Centauro

[Laverda1200]

Hi all
just introducing myself. I am in Calgary Alberta Canada. New to Guzzi ownership other than 2013 V7 Special bought new for my wife. I am the originator of what has over the past 20+ years grown into the present form of the Laverda Forum, www.laverdaforum.co m

I have three Laverda triples (two signifcantly modified, one mostly stock, all rebuilt by me) a modified Kawasaki ZX14, a modified Kawasaki H2 SX SE, a 1978 Kawasaki 650 completely rebuilt by me, and a 1957 Gilera 150 Sport I built from bare engine cases and bare frame, which unfortunately in the recent September 2022 western Canadian Moto Giro won the hard luck trophy when the modern 12 volt charging system/digital ignition failed... The Moto Giro award presenter announced it was the prettiest bike to ever win the hard luck trophy, did not make me feel better.....

I am in my late 60's and have been selling off bikes, recently the 1979 Honda CBX I turbocharged with a built motor to handle a Rajay turbo and single Mikuni RS 36 carb, my heavily modified 1994 Harley Electra Glide Ultra Classic I bought new and kept for over 25 years, and have one of my Laverda triples offered for sale as part of my downsizing of my garage.

A couple of days ago I tripped over a 1998 Moto Guzzi V10 Centauro offered to me over the phone as a "ran when parked several years ago". Not sure why I bought it, as I have supposedly been downsizing my garage, but when I heard it has the 8 valve motor and Daytona frame, I bought it sight unseen even knowing nothing about Guzzi's in general and the Centauro in particular.

I am aware of Curtis at Harper's Moto Guzzi, as back in the day I bought a ton of bodywork and other parts from him for the repair and rebuild of my then 1980 Benelli 900 SEI, which after I rebuilt it I rode it for at least 20 years before it moved on to a friend of mine who badgered me for about a decade to sell it to him........ There was a significant amount of commonality in parts between the Benelli SEI and Guzzi's of the same era.

So, I went and got the Centauro and trailered it home. It shows roughly 21,000 ish miles, and looks pretty good, although apparently it has not been started or run for several years.





Clearly way more complicated than any of my Laverda triples and I am sure I will have questions..... A photo.

Any information, suggestions, recomendation gratefully received.

Best Regards
Paul LeClair

[Canuck750]

Welcome abroad Paul, plenty of Guzzi knowledge here.


Jim Carey in Edmonton

[Laverda1200]

I have started a "Refresh thread" for my 1998 Centauro here

https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=116783.msg1838312#msg1838312

[Scout63]

Welcome Paul. You have a great collection and will bring good energy and knowledge to this international band of misfits.

[chuck peterson]

Welcome! I see you are indeed obsessed like most here. Downsizing into Guzzi most likely won’t work. They reproduce freely in the garage after letting the first one in…

Loved Calgary, after bicycling south thru the amazing Rockies i had a single day over 80 miles, downhill, wind at my back, no pedaling into Calgary and landed smack dab in the middle of The Stampede

Canadian Rockies are a prime motorcycle destination indeed

[mr_pacman]

Nice to see another Calgarian on here. I've got a 2014 V7 racer that I try to ride when I have time (I've got young kids along with a busy job).

I've seen a few Centauro's riding around but not many.

James

[blackcat]

Welcome.

I would read about centauro's via this forum even though the site has slow traffic. The first thing you should consider doing is changing the belts if they have not been done or you don’t know the history of the bike. 

http://www.centauro-owners.com/phpBB2/index.php

[Chuck in Indiana]

Ahh, the fastest anthracite one.  I had one *just like it* except when Luigi assembled it to make sure I got all the parts  he put on the "luggage rack", sport chin fairing and fly screen. One of my favorite bikes of all time. Black Cat's response above is spot on. It is an interference engine, and you *don't* want the belt breaking and destroying the unobtainium heads.