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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: brider on June 26, 2018, 01:27:36 PM

Title: Anything special about the 850GT except the tank and fenders?
Post by: brider on June 26, 2018, 01:27:36 PM
I found what is purported to be an 850GT, with the only distinguishing features being the gas cap (flip-up) and chrome fenders. Has round tail light. The cool 2-tone seat is not there. Neither is any dash or gauges.

Was there anything else desirable or special about this model?
Title: Re: Anything special about the 850GT except the tank and fenders?
Post by: Chuck in Indiana on June 26, 2018, 01:32:59 PM
Didn't that have the 4 shoe front end?
Title: Re: Anything special about the 850GT except the tank and fenders?
Post by: Antietam Classic Cycle on June 26, 2018, 03:36:12 PM
Cool colors!


(https://thumb.ibb.co/jkjDqT/Ralph_s_850_GT.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jkjDqT)
Title: Re: Anything special about the 850GT except the tank and fenders?
Post by: rodekyll on June 26, 2018, 04:09:28 PM
Sidecover art.  I think the badge is unique to the model. :evil:
Title: Re: Anything special about the 850GT except the tank and fenders?
Post by: Mike Harper on June 26, 2018, 04:32:14 PM
The name Eldorado is a USA model name given to the European model 850GT which came to this country only when Chromed panel tanks were not available for a short while. The names Eldorado and Ambassador came from Michael Berliner who was the sole Importer of Guzzi's for the US market.

Same thing happened when Eldorado came with AMAL carbs for a short while. 

Nothing mysterious about the name or the bike itself.

Title: Re: Anything special about the 850GT except the tank and fenders?
Post by: leafman60 on June 26, 2018, 09:47:36 PM
Didn't that have the 4 shoe front end?

Yes on the 4LS brakes.

Foot pegs, no boards.

Wish I had kept mine.

(http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc462/leafman60/Old%20Guzzi/IMG_2408.jpg) (http://s1213.photobucket.com/user/leafman60/media/Old%20Guzzi/IMG_2408.jpg.html)

.
Title: Re: Anything special about the 850GT except the tank and fenders?
Post by: brider on June 26, 2018, 09:48:05 PM
This rascal has a Convert motor, G5 5-speed, EV rear end. Seat is from a Harley. Note the lack of analog speedo or any instruments, looks like there's a small digital speedo. Alternator (on a Convert? Something seems fishy...). Note the position of the footpegs, they look like they're just forward of the passenger position, and the brake and shifter pivot on the footpeg spindles:


(https://thumb.ibb.co/kzRruo/850GT3.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kzRruo)



(https://thumb.ibb.co/ii17Zo/850GT2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ii17Zo)



(https://thumb.ibb.co/e6GVn8/850GT1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/e6GVn8)


Looks like '74 Disc Eldo front end with a dual disc, and some other compatible disc rear.

I am oddly attracted to it. Despite the Frankenstien-y aspect, it looks fairly straight and thought-out.
Title: Re: Anything special about the 850GT except the tank and fenders?
Post by: Turin on June 27, 2018, 12:57:17 AM
That looks like a T-3 / Convert front end with the forks flipped around. Might not even be a GT not that it matters... lotsa people have painted over chrome panels when the chrome goes bad.
As long as you like it, go for it!
Title: Re: Anything special about the 850GT except the tank and fenders?
Post by: brider on June 27, 2018, 08:08:40 AM
Might not even be a GT not that it matters...

True that. But it DOES have the gas cap and fenders characteristic of an 850GT, hence my original question.

Past that, I am curious now on the foot controls and how they pivot on the footpegs. I'm not aware of a Guzzi model that does this, especially the Loops. Look at the brake pedal: there are (2) anchor points for the M/C actuation rod...I have definitely never seen that on a Guzzi, but I am not as learned as many. Possibly an adaptation of some other brand. Looks perfectly functional, though.
Title: Re: Anything special about the 850GT except the tank and fenders?
Post by: Tkelly on June 27, 2018, 02:16:37 PM
my old bike was modified by Rod Revis to have better brakes ,handling ,and power than original.
Title: Re: Anything special about the 850GT except the tank and fenders?
Post by: Tom on June 28, 2018, 01:51:52 PM
Looks more like someone put the Eldo parts on a Convert/G5. 
Title: Re: Anything special about the 850GT except the tank and fenders?
Post by: brider on June 29, 2018, 07:08:39 AM
Looks more like someone put the Eldo parts on a Convert/G5.

Except that it's definitely a Loop frame. I looked closer at some stock Loops, and the pegs on this one have been moved back to the stock shifter/brake pivot points, not sure how they did that. The owner said the shifter IS in kind of an awkward position, and he didn't know the pegs were back too far until I mentioned it, but he said they feel comfortable.

I have a pic I'll post later of the brake pedal; it's either home-made or modified with some welding done.

But one other oddity I'll have to corner the owner on: He said it was a Convert engine, but the Convert had a dual-points dizzy, where this one has a single-points. I think it's an Eldo motor.
Title: Re: Anything special about the 850GT except the tank and fenders?
Post by: Antietam Classic Cycle on June 29, 2018, 08:24:42 AM
But one other oddity I'll have to corner the owner on: He said it was a Convert engine, but the Convert had a dual-points dizzy, where this one has a single-points. I think it's an Eldo motor.

I've "converted" several Convert engines for use in Loops. Change the timing cover, add a crank adapter, drill and tap a few holes on top of the case, swap to the Loop distributor. To use the Loop single-point distributor in place of the dual-point timer, all one needs to do is swap the drive gear from the latter to the former. No biggie.
Title: Re: Anything special about the 850GT except the tank and fenders?
Post by: brider on July 01, 2018, 02:53:48 PM
...swap to the Loop distributor. To use the Loop single-point distributor in place of the dual-point timer, all one needs to do is swap the drive gear from the latter to the former. No biggie.

And the reason to utilize the Loop dizzy instead of the dual-point Convert dizzy is the ease of integrating the ignition back into the Loop system??
Title: Re: Anything special about the 850GT except the tank and fenders?
Post by: Antietam Classic Cycle on July 01, 2018, 10:07:28 PM
And the reason to utilize the Loop dizzy instead of the dual-point Convert dizzy is the ease of integrating the ignition back into the Loop system??

That, and only a single set of points to adjust, easier to time, looks cooler.  :azn:
Title: Re: Anything special about the 850GT except the tank and fenders?
Post by: EldoMike on July 02, 2018, 07:20:24 AM
I've "converted" several Convert engines for use in Loops. Change the timing cover, add a crank adapter, drill and tap a few holes on top of the case, swap to the Loop distributor. To use the Loop single-point distributor in place of the dual-point timer, all one needs to do is swap the drive gear from the latter to the former. No biggie.

Hey Charlie, where do you get the crank adapters?
Title: Re: Anything special about the 850GT except the tank and fenders?
Post by: Antietam Classic Cycle on July 02, 2018, 08:33:43 AM
Hey Charlie, where do you get the crank adapters?

From Teo Lamers: http://shop.tlm.nl/en/adapter-crankshaft-t3-to-v7-130740601010-moto-guzzi