Another very pretty LMIV on the CL block

[brider]

https://providence.craigslist.org/mcy/d/portsmouth-1986-moto-guzzi-le-mans-1000/6884384520.html

I just really think this is model has the best combination of style, simplicity, and enduring appeal. They nailed it.

Others, of course, will disagree, but one day I hope to own one of this vintage and just park it in my living room as an objet d'art.

[Idontwantapickle]

That is very nice, and  a good price too!
I agree that the 85-86 LeMans 1000 is the best looking of the LeMans although the 850 III is a close second.
This one has been modified, has the "wrong" front wheel.

Hunter

[Lannis]

That is very nice, and  a good price too!
I agree that the 85-86 LeMans 1000 is the best looking of the LeMans although the 850 III is a close second.
This one has been modified, has the "wrong" front wheel.

Hunter

It does, and many of them were modified.

But my opinion is that it looks even better than new with a 17 or 18" wheel on the front instead of a 16".   More balanced, less "spindly" in the front end.

In any case, a really pretty bike that expect will sell at or near the asking price ....

Lannis

[T4halo]

I love this bike. As a private in the Army (85-86) many a night on fire guard was spent looking at pictures of this bike. At $630 a month I couldnt afford it. It’s 13 hours away now and still calls my name. I actually like the larger front wheel.

T4

[brider]

It's been discussed ad naseum here, but the 18" wheel was a factory option, wasn't it? I rode the same bike (painted a questionable grey color) all last summer, and it also had the "factory" 18" wheel. I got used to it's handling, and I agree with Lannis that the 16-incher, although maybe more correct for the frame geometry, DOES make the overall look "spindly" and forward-heavy, to me. I like the look of the 18" better, looks more balanced.

Remember, I initiated this discussion not considering the bike's handling, but the artistic appeal.

[fotoguzzi]

  I got used to it's handling, and I agree with Lannis that the 16-incher, although maybe more correct for the frame geometry, 

I doubt there was any frame geometry involved at the factory since they used the same Tonti frame as all there big blocks of that era.

[Groover]

In a nutshell, they put a 16" on the 85,86,87* Le Mans and didn't make any changes to anything, then people thought the bikes were too tweaky because it actually makes steering easier and lighter - magazines ripped it apart, the end. Anyway, then there was an "upgrade kit" which consisted of a triple/yoke set with a slightly different offset, an 18" wheel, and a longer side stand I believe to accommodated the now higher front end. The "kit" had iron triples and iron upper yoke plate giving it a coarse look, and are much heavier. I think maybe even better in iron because it helps the the sprung/up sprung ratio of the bike I think, but that's just my assumption. Then in '88-'91, those same yokes with the new offsets came in aluminum (smoother lookng), factory 18" but the tire sizes were thinner to adjust now for the too heavy steering. A factory mod revision kit to please the masses, but I'm sure someone in the design team was saying, whatever, here you go, but the 16" design is better.

Though during the transitional period, '87*, the bikes came with the new triples (in aluminum) but still with the 16" wheel. It would be interesting to compare all the variants of these configurations back to back. There is probably a big mix of configurations out there. I'm guessing only the 18" wheel was used out of a lot of the "kits" ordered, since I've seen a few of the iron triples pop up on eBay new from time to time, which technically should be installed on a bike somewhere along with the 18" wheel.

Disclaimer - Lots of theories and assumptions, though not total guesses. Take with a grain of salt 

[wirespokes]

fotoguzzi is right - there was no frame geometry change in the move to a 16". But then in an effort to slow down the steering, Guzzi modified the triple trees with an inch less offset. When the 18" was installed, the triples weren't changed, which then left us with slower steering.

And then, if the recommended tire sizes were used, the thing handles like a truck and doesn't want to lean over. Reverting to  tire sizes Tonti designed it for they handle extremely well.

From what I've heard, the 16" is pretty quick, but when the tire gets a little worn, handling goes to hell. I'm sure the low tire pressures specified at the time didn't help. And I agree - the bike looks much better with the 18" up front. Also, there was another part to the 'kit' and that was a different fender brace (fender too?) to accommodate the larger wheel.

That's a very nice bike but frankly, I think the LM1000 is pretty ugly. It helps removing that goofy belly scoop thingy. The tank spoiler bodywork interfered with the cables on my LM4 so I removed that too. That helped, but I wish there was a simple way to remove the duck tail swoop, but that involves a seat, straight frame rails, rear fender, tail light, and side covers.

I've had guys admire the bike at stop lites and give thumbs up, so I guess there are others with aesthetic tastes different from mine, but to me, it's not a pretty bike. I love it anyway.

[Groover]

Thank goodness for Leroy here on this forum. He's been a great help with literature, and information on the Le Mans.

Found the official bulletin from one of his posts. Looks like quite a few things came with the kit, including new fork seals, different fairing brackets, etc. Not seeing anything about the fender. Probably explains why some LM1000 bikes look "right" and some look a little off, probably little things like these brackets make subtle differences when all summed up.







https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=80870.0

[bigbikerrick]

forum photo hosting

My 85. The LeMans IV may not be the most beautiful of the series, but they sure perform very nicely. I never thought the big valve engine would make that much of a difference, but it sure is a beast! If you have never ridden a Tonti LeMans, you owe it to yourself to try one. The Mistral Pipes put out a sound like a cammed V8, and the way the bike pulls is addicting.
Nice ,clean examples are getting harder to find. The bike for sale is one of the nicer ones Ive seen.
Rick.

[Cam3512]

Definitely not the most aesthetically pleasing of the LeMans series, but it’s been growing on me.  Still, that’s a lot of cool bike for the money.  Would like one of each.

[wrbix]

forum photo hosting

My 85. The LeMans IV may not be the most beautiful of the series, but they sure perform very nicely. I never thought the big valve engine would make that much of a difference, but it sure is a beast! If you have never ridden a Tonti LeMans, you owe it to yourself to try one. The Mistral Pipes put out a sound like a cammed V8, and the way the bike pulls is addicting.
Nice ,clean examples are getting harder to find. The bike for sale is one of the nicer ones Ive seen.
Rick.

...and yours has the much more attractive, but unobtainium, pyramidal front indicators.   

[Idontwantapickle]

I love this bike. As a private in the Army (85-86) many a night on fire guard was spent looking at pictures of this bike. At $630 a month I couldnt afford it. It’s 13 hours away now and still calls my name. I actually like the larger front wheel.

T4

Go get it. Life is short. Tell whoever objects that I said so.

Hunter

[T4halo]

Go get it. Life is short. Tell whoever objects that I said so.

Hunter

Thanks Hunter

[brider]

If you have never ridden a Tonti LeMans, you owe it to yourself to try one. The Mistral Pipes put out a sound like a cammed V8, and the way the bike pulls is addicting.

This is why I bought the gray one last summer, rode it for the summer, then flipped it. I always wanted to ride one, and I'm glad I did! I ultimately decided my riding lifestyle right now did not fit with a sport bike very well, maybe later in life when I have more time to ride it, but I DID look forward to that pull above 5500 rpm, MAN, that was fun. Coming off a Cal 2 Auto, I've never felt what it was like to pull hard from 70 mph to 100.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Oh, look! A 5/4 scale Lario..  The Lario was designed first.. needless to say, I love the dated classic 80s sport bike styling.
A big valve LeMans is way kool, that veritable locomotive we've had threads about. Looks like a really nice one, too. Go get it, Mr. T4.. you'll be glad you did.

[Groover]

It's on eBay now... which sort of says to me he's willing to go a little lower than the 5K if you work with him/her through craigslist maybe, since he'd be paying eBay fees if it sells that way instead.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1986-Moto-Guzzi-Le-Mans/323808819485?hash=item4b6482791d:g:HnUAAOSw06hc3b4L

[T4halo]

I was texting him yesterday. Seems like a good guy and very receptive to questions. Says he has a White 86 LM4 also.

T4

[sdcr]

Just my personal taste, but I find most iterations of the Le Mans just fine, including the I,III, IV and V.

 It is the ultra rare, Le Mans II that appears a little ungainly IMHO, although I would never kick it out of my garage;).

[Dimples]

I agree this Le Mans design is an acquired taste. I think the front fairing is improved using the original "pyramid" shaped turn signals and decals. The stalked signals are a compromise. The white color is stronger than the red when considering its visual composition. Had the tank paint scheme continued the earlier LM black "band" it would have better integrated with the seat and dash.

I restored this one (on bike-urious) to a high standard and finally sold it in October last year. Even in that condition it fetched less than 6k.

    https://www.bike-urious.com/1985-moto-guzzi-le-mans-1000-mkiv-2/

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

This one is for sale on the Facebook Moto Guzzi Bikes & Parts group:

'89 LeMans 1000
Keene, NY
$4,500

35,000 miles mostly touring optional Hepco and Becker saddlebags.  Corbin seat. Very good condition.

Seller Information
Mac Dennis

[Chuck in Indiana]

Ooh, one of my favorites, a Marleboro Lemans. HBs, too. Mac's a good guy and Guzzi wrench. Tell him I sent you. 

[s1120]

Paint job on that one hides some of the bird's tail look of the style also. Nice looker.

[Groover]

Pretty sure Guzzi was following the "Rally" racing scene closely at the time with their color patterns (Rally racing is big sport in Italy). That Black/Red looks to me an homage to the Lancia Delta Integrale (in 1989) sponsored by Asti Martini, and the 1987 SE pattern looks to me to be a homage to Marlboro sponsor which I believe was 1986 (in Europe. the 87 SE colors were actually on 86 models, minus the black engine).

[guzziart]

Mine!