Author Topic: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?  (Read 1551 times)

Online moto

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Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« on: June 28, 2022, 07:06:27 PM »
Given that we have a good number of meticulous, and admirable, restorers of Guzzis here, I wonder how this T3 paint inspired by the early 70's V7 Sport goes over.









Thanks for voting, and commenting if you like!

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Offline Pescatore

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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #1 on: June 28, 2022, 08:13:12 PM »
I like the paint color.
The panniers is what ruins the scheme.
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Offline fotoguzzi

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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #2 on: June 28, 2022, 09:26:06 PM »
I like the paint color.
The panniers is what ruins the scheme.
what he said. Nice work!
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Offline Scout63

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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #3 on: June 28, 2022, 09:46:05 PM »
I really like the color scheme, and also the driving lights.  Not so much the bags, tail light and windscreen.
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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #3 on: June 28, 2022, 09:46:05 PM »

Offline Canuck750

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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #4 on: June 28, 2022, 09:46:54 PM »
I have seen many different shades of this green

This is the V7 Sport in the Moto Guzzi museum in Mandello, original paint









Also in the museum is this prototype small block engine in a Tonti frame, V7 Sport seat and tank, 850T tool boxes

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Offline Kiwi_Roy

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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #5 on: June 28, 2022, 10:19:18 PM »
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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #6 on: June 28, 2022, 10:25:23 PM »
 I will reserve any specific comments until I see this in person at the Iowa or Wisconsin rally. But generally speaking, I like this total package. Early Tonti's, and T3s' in particular. really speak to me.  Very nice!




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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #7 on: June 29, 2022, 12:54:53 AM »
That T-3 looks great. I love the paint. I'd ditch the wixoms for a set of krauser bags to complete the look.
« Last Edit: June 29, 2022, 12:56:14 AM by Turin »
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Offline lazlokovacs

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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #8 on: June 29, 2022, 05:45:12 AM »
looks great, including the bags

 :thumb:

Offline Old Jock

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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #9 on: June 29, 2022, 06:27:36 AM »
 :thumb:

Offline aklawok

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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #10 on: June 29, 2022, 06:30:44 AM »
 I particularly find the color pleasing, would love to see it in person. can anyone tell me if the MG decal on side is original to the t3? especially the white stripe and badge, cuz they compliment the paint very well too.
and yes the bags are uggo! although would look better mounted lower maybee in white? matching green would be too much.
« Last Edit: June 29, 2022, 06:33:59 AM by aklawok »
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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #11 on: June 29, 2022, 06:41:27 AM »
 Like the decal on the tank. Breaks up the color field nicely. Better than some of the original pin striping that came on someT3's. The bags could use some prep and fresh paint. Overall, very nice and unique. The old T / T3's "personalize" quite nicely.

Offline Tkelly

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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #12 on: June 29, 2022, 06:51:31 AM »
Beats the brown one I had.Nice!

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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #13 on: June 29, 2022, 07:04:49 AM »
I like it.  Looks more gold to me.
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Offline JohninPA

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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #14 on: June 29, 2022, 07:47:14 AM »
BELLISSMO! Love the color.
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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #15 on: June 29, 2022, 08:14:04 AM »
Dig the color.

Is it close to the V7 sport green in real life?

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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #16 on: June 29, 2022, 08:48:41 AM »
I really like those Wixom bags. Anyone know where I might find a pair?
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Offline fotoguzzi

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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #17 on: June 29, 2022, 09:03:16 AM »
Would DB bags look better? There’s a pair for sale in Mpls on FB.
I don’t know how to tell if they are for loop or Tonti.

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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #18 on: June 29, 2022, 11:54:01 AM »
Responses to selected comments (except the question of the color of the paint):

...
The panniers is what ruins the scheme.

When I first saw this bike rolling up to be purchased by me twenty years ago I was immediately taken by how the Wixom bags follow the curve of the rear fender:





I wouldn't want a set of boxy Krauser or DB bags. Those are for upright tourers, preferably with a Windjammer, not my taste.

By the way, the seat is a repro from MG Cycle and the chromed mufflers are made by Feked, in England.

I really like the color scheme, and also the driving lights.  Not so much the bags, tail light and windscreen.

The tail light is from a BMW. I put it on because I couldn't stand the way the T3 original points upward, as though it were aimed at low flying aircraft. I haven't found the BMW item to be all that bright, and will look around for the original T3 one now, and maybe shim it so it is level. The windscreen is a Givi that works very well for my kind of riding, namely, highish speeds through the Driftless Region of Wisconsin. I like it so much I patched it when it cracked somehow, since it was no longer available new. I'll post about the driving lights some time soon.

... can anyone tell me if the MG decal on side is original to the t3? especially the white stripe and badge, cuz they compliment the paint very well too.
....

The black/white/red striping is paint, not a decal, applied by a pro. The badge is the metal type used on the T3 and others, a repop from from MG Cycle. The eagle at the front of the black stripe mimics a smaller one that is part of the V7 Sport's decal. It was sold to me as a vintage item, by the "RealDomiRacer," who used to run the original DomiRacer store, I believe.

I really like those Wixom bags. Anyone know where I might find a pair?
Steve M

I have a beat-up extra pair. PM me.

--------

I'll respond to the color comments later. Thanks to all for your comments, most of them quite complimentary!  :shocked:

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« Last Edit: June 29, 2022, 11:56:07 AM by moto »
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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #19 on: June 29, 2022, 12:07:30 PM »
I agree with you regarding the bags. I think they suite the lines and the purpose of the bike perfectly.

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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #20 on: June 29, 2022, 01:40:43 PM »
As the owner of a red t3 with Wixom saddlebags, and a green v7 Sport, I think that it looks great!

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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #21 on: June 29, 2022, 02:03:44 PM »
Re comments about the color:

I have seen many different shades of this green

This is the V7 Sport in the Moto Guzzi museum in Mandello, original paint
...



Also in the museum is this prototype small block engine in a Tonti frame, V7 Sport seat and tank, 850T tool boxes



I've seen that V7 Sport in person too. I don't think it is an original paint job, even though it looks like the paint was applied over bare metal. The badges are metal, the same model as applied to the later 850-T and T3, while original V7 Sports only had decals on the tank, not metal badges. The decals are listed in the V7 Sport parts book, numbers 14 91 62 01 and 14 91 63 01. Also in the parts book is the "Use Shell Oil" decal at the back of the tank, number 12 91 92 00, so that decal could have been purchased and applied by whoever added the metal badges, presumably as part of a repaint. Even if Guzzi represents this bike as original, I'm dubious because of the badges.

That said, the paint could have come from a genuine can of Legnano Green, for sure. The second bike you show is very similar in color.

I like it.  Looks more gold to me.

Dig the color.

Is it close to the V7 sport green in real life?

I don't really know what the original V7 Sport Legnano Green looked like. I've seen many shades on the internet, where unknown lighting and camera settings make everything dubious. This bike is one that I settled on as probably an old original (as was claimed for it, and others):





It looks greener than mine looks, though mine is distinctly green in certain light, as the side cover shows here:





The original Legnano Green was the signature color of the Legnano bicycle company in Legnano, Italy, who fielded very successful racing teams with that color on the frames, from the 1920's to the 70's I think. Among bicycle aficionados the ability to reproduce the old color is regarded as either a lost art or a closely held secret of painting wizards. There are plenty of photos of Legnano Green bicycle frames, claimed to be original, on the net. They have more of a yellowish cast. Here's an original example, on a site praising the ability of a painter to recreate the color:




Legnano green is yellow enough that it is called "lizard yellow" or "weird metallic lizard yellow" by bicyclists.

I prepared a digital mockup of my paint job with my chosen paint and placed it alongside the putative original V7 Sport I posted above. Looked right. Depending on the light my bike looks distinctly green at times, but I think it misses the mark in the end, though I like it.



« Last Edit: June 29, 2022, 02:13:08 PM by moto »
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Offline Canuck750

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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #22 on: June 29, 2022, 02:39:16 PM »
I have had two V7 sports, both 1973 and they had the metal pin secured badges, not decals. I M pretty sure the V7 Sport I. Mandello has original paint.
Very early 2972 bikes had decals.
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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #23 on: June 29, 2022, 03:04:44 PM »
That T-3 looks great. I love the paint. I'd ditch the wixoms for a set of krauser bags to complete the look.

I agree with Turin...the paint looks fine...Krauser bags would look nice...but that is a minor detail. :wink:
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Offline Tom

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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #24 on: June 29, 2022, 03:07:30 PM »
I like the color not so much the bags.  Not because of the color but because they're hard bags.  I prefer removable soft bags so that the whole bike is visible but then again, I have California's for the touring role with hard bags.
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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #25 on: June 29, 2022, 03:07:56 PM »
I have had two V7 sports, both 1973 and they had the metal pin secured badges, not decals. I M pretty sure the V7 Sport I. Mandello has original paint.
Very early 2972 bikes had decals.

I suspected you'd have more information about this! Thanks.
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Offline kidsmoke

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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #26 on: June 29, 2022, 03:08:36 PM »
Beautiful. Really places it in time. Nicely done.

I've got two smaller than typical Givi screens as well and really like them (not as old or small as what you have there)
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Offline Don G

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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #27 on: June 29, 2022, 09:18:01 PM »
It will look just fine @ 70MPH.  DonG

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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #28 on: June 29, 2022, 10:02:44 PM »
It will look just fine @ 70MPH.  DonG

Had it up to an indicated 100 mph on a back road yesterday. Looked fine. (Don't tell.) It's a sweet running machine.

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« Last Edit: June 29, 2022, 10:35:43 PM by moto »
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Offline ray bear

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Re: Legnano green T3 -- heresy or travesty?
« Reply #29 on: June 29, 2022, 11:17:57 PM »
I have a 73 that has the steel tank badges and according to the V7 sport bible by Ian Falloon the second series 73 from VK13205 - VK13840 all had the steel badge.
my 73 with steel badges.


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