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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Lumpy Idle on September 28, 2018, 11:45:57 AM

Title: Le Mans Mk 2 - on Pipeburn (from KaffeeMaschine)
Post by: Lumpy Idle on September 28, 2018, 11:45:57 AM
submitted for your consideration:

https://www.pipeburn.com/home/2018/09/28/moto-guzzi-le-mans-3.html
Title: Re: Le Mans Mk 2 - on Pipeburn (from KaffeeMaschine)
Post by: Pancake on September 28, 2018, 03:29:39 PM
Very nice indeed. I do like those valve covers, they are his own castings I believe.
Title: Re: Le Mans Mk 2 - on Pipeburn (from KaffeeMaschine)
Post by: romanoaf on September 28, 2018, 03:40:03 PM
The KM19 he built is probably the most beautiful bike I've ever seen.
(http://kickstart.bikeexif.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/guzzi-custom-build.jpg)
Title: Re: Le Mans Mk 2 - on Pipeburn (from KaffeeMaschine)
Post by: Dave Swanson on September 28, 2018, 03:59:42 PM
I like the custom, but I can't wrap my mind around this comment. "For decades scribes in motorcycling publications around the globe have been consistently using one word to describes the machines of Moto Guzzi, and that's "beautiful". But for a brief period in the early 80s the company produced some real horrors, none worse than the fully faired wind brick that was the Le Mans Mk 2"

I would never call a Mk II Lemans a horror, or a fully faired wind brick.  Although I suppose just about anything is a wind brick when compared to this svelte machine. 

(https://i.postimg.cc/c1YzyVVF/KAFFEMASCHINE_MOTO_GUZZI_RACER_BIGS_01.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/V5fgXHst)
Title: Re: Le Mans Mk 2 - on Pipeburn (from KaffeeMaschine)
Post by: blackcat on September 28, 2018, 08:28:21 PM
That "wind brick" is capable of putting way more comfortable miles on the road in one day than what they are producing. Personally, I prefer double discs to a drum brake.
Title: Re: Le Mans Mk 2 - on Pipeburn (from KaffeeMaschine)
Post by: Turin on September 28, 2018, 09:30:18 PM
 :undecided: It looks just like every other stripped down cafĂ© Guzzi, except for the spiffy valve covers. Those are nice.
 I don't get going to drums from disk brakes. I like as much braking as I can get.

Overall, it's unremarkable when you consider the hype from the article.

What Guzzi horrors came out of the 80's ??? The Nevada is the only thing that comes to my mind. I think a stock LeMans II / CX100 is a damn pretty bike, and it's functional!
Title: Re: Le Mans Mk 2 - on Pipeburn (from KaffeeMaschine)
Post by: Dave Swanson on September 29, 2018, 06:25:11 AM
I admire the craftsmanship, but I would rather have the Lemans any day.
Title: Re: Le Mans Mk 2 - on Pipeburn (from KaffeeMaschine)
Post by: bigbikerrick on September 29, 2018, 12:16:28 PM
How do they attach the handlebar? Are there some  hidden triple clamps on the lower triple tree, behind the headlight bucket? Its an interesting detail.
Rick.
Title: Re: Le Mans Mk 2 - on Pipeburn (from KaffeeMaschine)
Post by: Lumpy Idle on September 29, 2018, 12:40:31 PM
How do they attach the handlebar? Are there some  hidden triple clamps on the lower triple tree, behind the headlight bucket? Its an interesting detail.
Rick.

rick,

yes - that's a great question. when i look at the closeup picture of the headlight it appears that the handlebars are fitted and welded into the tubes between the triple trees. this is more visible on the left side of the picture. so...he made his own handlebars and wrapped them underneath the headlight nacelle and then he shaped the two tubular surfaces to meet in such a way that he could weld them weld them together more readily. i've never seen anything like this before and although i respect the craft and design of it i wouldn't feel comfortable for very long with a riding position that put my chin on top of the tank.  my 1100 sporti is about as low on the tank as i want to go.

in general terms i have to say that i have always been in awe of the machines produced by kaffeemaschine.
Title: Re: Le Mans Mk 2 - on Pipeburn (from KaffeeMaschine)
Post by: pete roper on September 29, 2018, 07:10:04 PM
The fact that these drongos say the Mk II is horrid just goes to show they never actually ride. The Mk II along with the SP 1000 are a couple of the best fairinged touring bikes ever.

I pee in their hipster ears and laugh as it dribbles out of the ones on the other side of their heads!

Pete
Title: Re: Le Mans Mk 2 - on Pipeburn (from KaffeeMaschine)
Post by: Idontwantapickle on September 29, 2018, 07:41:41 PM

This wind tunnel engineered beauty called a horror? Pete's rebuttal was far too restrained!

https://images.craigslist.org/00505_fexbsXhd46u_1200x900.jpg
Title: Re: Le Mans Mk 2 - on Pipeburn (from KaffeeMaschine)
Post by: Lumpy Idle on September 29, 2018, 08:59:59 PM
...
I pee in their hipster ears and laugh as it dribbles out of the ones on the other side of their heads!

Pete

does it rotate clockwise or anti-clockwise in your part of the world?