Just because it's provocative.....

[pebra]

Haven't ridden that many Guzzis.
I do like the Le Mans IV and the 1000S (same bike?)

[John Croucher]

I rolled my own with a little of each model. 

[pebra]

I rolled my own with a little of each model. 

I can vote on my own Tonti? 🤔

[Aaron D.]

I owned the Tontis that I liked best.

The LeMans 1 was the best mix of sport and tour for me. Exceptionally pretty-but it inherited a lot of that from..

My V7 Sport. Bought new, and at the time it wasn't slow. In fact by empirical test it was faster than CB750s, Coommandos etc. No air filter, but nothing bad happened in the 40,000 miles I put on it. No oil filter-changed the oil every 1500-2000 miles. Picking it up at the dealer remains my most memorable motorcycle purchase.

850T-had one foot in the original Tonti days, looked ahead to the deTomaso future.

[cliffrod]

I've spent little time on other Guzzis, but have kept my V7 Sport through it all.  It's not the fastest, nicest, $$$,  most original, whatever bike I've ever had or even have right now.  It's right for me and it always has been, so that's all that matters.   

In defense of the tepid stats of the V7 Sport- When the V7 Sport came out, that was around the time when things really started changing in terms of disc brakes, pumper carbs, sporting bike displacement going beyond 750,  etc.  it was the start of more serious performance stats, so is destined to be the loser if compared on those things alone.  That's what often happens when you go first.  It's easier for the rest to be better.   To me, the V7 Sport is more of a sports bike like our Triumph TR3 is a sports car.   

And I'm betting my V700 Corsa-Record project will ultimately be my favorite Loop....

[pete roper]

While you can pretty much assemble any batch of componentry into a Tonti my main enquiry related to stock or 'Near stock' models.

FWIW my three favourites in no particular order would be the MkIII LeMans, SP 1000NT and the Hydro Cali 1100. Despite my deep affection for the Convert it didn't make it in simply because it's a bit too weird to be considered 'Mainstream'.

Pete

[bad Chad]

My Vote would be mark 3 Lemans, but I really liked my Bassa high quality components and the best looking of all the Cals.

[jas67]

Strictly cosmetics:
#1 V7 Sport
#2 750S / 750S3
#3 1000S

I do like the LM1 and LM3 as well, but prefer the above 3 when strictly talking cosmetics.

for balanced looks and performance
#1 1000S
#2 mk1 Le Mans 850
#3 mk3 Le Mans 850

[John Croucher]

I have owed an Sp, 850T, Convert, Sport 1100 and  Hydro California Special Sport. I bought the SpecialSport with the intentions of bringing what I liked in the various 45 year of Guzzi.  Old style, modern hardware, Sport touring seating and performance. I never had any intentions of duplicating a specific model. 

[Turin]

1 - LeMans 1000 se with 16" front wheel
2 - 850 T3 ( first bike )
3 - I really like my 850 T but it's far from stock and I haven't fired up my convert project yet.

[Fnq1000]

Hello everyone
My three top best Tonti picks picks are backed up by outlying my cash:
1. 1000SP NT still own it (and after 30 years it's staying)
2. 850 Lemans 3 have owned one, sold it, bought it back, sold again (sob)
3. Hmmmm.......gets hard

I lust after a 750S3 - style, looks, linked brakes
I still want a Lemans Mk4, almost laid down the cash for a new one but bought the SP with 20,000km for only $1,800. No regrets as the SP is still my every day ride. Bit tragic that I have accumulated a heap of Mk4 parts over the years without every having owned one. Inevitable that one will find a way into the shed.
I also have a weird attraction towards a Cali III Full Fairing model.

But the final best Tonti spot.

Thought on this on the ride to work and home again and applied Italian motorcycle ownership logic.

Think back to the mid 80's. Did the Mk4 hit your ultimate Guzzi mark? Thought not.

Pre-Internet days Australian Motorcycle News magazine featured hotrod specials with 1100cc big bore kits, sinuous bodywork, special cam grind, big valves, mono shock rear suspension, Marzocchi forks, fully floating Brembos. Does that sound familiar?

Using irrefutable logic, the BEST Standard Tonti Guzzi is the 1100 Sport.

Provocative? Nah, you know it makes sense.

Cheers
Jason

[Aaron D.]

I kinda buy the argument-that was the last Guzzi for me so far-especially for performance.

Bu it lost out for general purpose sporty riding.

[s1120]

This is a real tough one... and really I have not ridden them all, so I have to compair what people say about them, looks, and how they compair to others ive ridden.. 

1] 1000S...  its the bike that turned me on to Guzzis when it came out. It was perfect..well despite all the flaws. :)   Throttle so stiff it was like unscrewing lagbolts by hand...  rock hard seat...  etc..  But I loved riding it!!!   Looked amazing!.. sounded great, I loved the seat/peg/bar layount.. Did I say the sound?...  I never got to buy one...  I could not afford it then, and its value has kept climbing with my amount of free cash...  that being said...  Its the bike for me... or at least is was for 30 year old me... 

2] lemans I, II, or III....  I like the looks of the first gen the best..  but also like the II, and III... dont care for the later style even though I believe the later ones are better bikes... 

3]... a tough one...  I love the 750 sport, and 750S...  but really I think the 1000S fills that, and gives better performance to boot...  next I was thinking 1000SP ..for a sport tourer...  but im a big guy, and while ive not riden one...  I hear they can be pretty tight..  That leaves me to the T3, and the California platform...  The T3 was the bread and butter that supported all the fancy ones we all love...  it carried the brand, and more often then not, is the bike that came home when the glassy eyed shopper went to look at the new wizbang model.. It was the foundation...    then we had the California models....  Im mainly talking the III, and EV family...  Looks wise... OK not for everyone.. a little quarky.. but really, the later EV family are amazing bikes!!!  Motors are great..frame and extras pretty well sorted [for a Guzzi. ] Truly a jump on and go for 100K miles..  ..That being said, I gotta go with the Cali models...  They just got so many people into the brand, and they are still out there racking up the miles on at all parts of the world!  they really do it all, and with a few mods can fit, and do whatever you want them to do... 

[larrys]

Nothing says "sex on wheels" like a Whale Dork!  Another vote for the '02 CalStone!   

1. What he said! But my opinion is prejudiced...
2. LeMans I
3. SP I red and white.

Larry

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Using irrefutable logic, the BEST Standard Tonti Guzzi is the 1100 Sport.

1100 Sport is a Spine-frame, not a Tonti...

[Murray]

Well seemingly we are been procative I'll ignore some rules mainly around 5 speed gearboxes the Bellagio 940 is by far the best, the other examples I've ever ridden stop and turn like the 1970's bikes they are with wooden brakes and heavy handling not to mention the untamed shaft drive just waiting to introduce some extra handling wierdness mid corner. A v7 telliao rosso sp? whould be nice to have however the 4LS front brake I doubt enhances the riding experince.

[yellowheader]

My first Guzzi... 2004 California Titanium. Third year living with her, and she's still as exciting as ever.

Someday she may be retired, but she will never be replaced.

Nothing says "sex on wheels" like a Whale Dork!  Another vote for the '02 CalStone!   

Another "Stoner" here. Even better if it's a Hydro! My only Guzzi so far, but I love it.

[rocker59]

Well seemingly we are been procative I'll ignore some rules mainly around 5 speed gearboxes the Bellagio 940 is by far the best, the other examples I've ever ridden stop and turn like the 1970's bikes they are with wooden brakes and heavy handling not to mention the untamed shaft drive just waiting to introduce some extra handling wierdness mid corner. A v7 telliao rosso sp? whould be nice to have however the 4LS front brake I doubt enhances the riding experince.

The Bellagio was really neat.  I really hoped we would get it in The USA, but we didn't.

Seemed like a great bike to continue developing, but alas, Piaggio killed it...

[Fnq1000]

Posted by: Antietam Classic Cycle
« on: Today at 09:04:57 AM » Insert Quote
Quote from: Fnq1000 on Today at 05:30:19 AM
Using irrefutable logic, the BEST Standard Tonti Guzzi is the 1100 Sport.

1100 Sport is a Spine-frame, not a Tonti...

= Irony

All in good fun and in keeping with the thread title.

Cheers
Jason

[frozengoose]

Quote:  And it's winter here
Just looking at Tonti framed big blocks, (Essentially from V7 Sport to the last of the Cali 1100's) with the five speed gearbox. Which ones in an order of 1,2,3 would you list as the exemplars?

Well I don't know exemplars from a hole in the ground, but the '72 V7 Sport certainly changed my view of Guzzi's when I saw one in the late '70s. The earlier Guzzi's looked like old man's bikes to me, of course that's not so true now, so I began to look around for one and wound up with the 850T when a friend decided to sell it to buy a Harley. Never have ridden a V7 Sport, they're probably quite uncomfortable, especially now that I'm forty years older. But to me that bike will always be the one that sticks out as the #1 exemplar!
Oh and your complaint about evil winter, I suspect your current weather's more like our spring and fall, it's not so bad after six months of forty below, so just get over it and get out there!

[Murray]

The Bellagio was really neat.  I really hoped we would get it in The USA, but we didn't.

Seemed like a great bike to continue developing, but alas, Piaggio killed it...

I think it was created to simply soak up some left over parts from things like the 850 two valvers once they'd been used and the two valve not meeting emissions its job was done.

[redrider90]

I agree that the "sporting" models look the best. I cannot ride them, so that leaves out even the SP. Of the upright seating Tontis,

2)  Mille GT. Lovely, nice bike with the "world" engine. Too bad about the iggy system.







Does anybody out there have a Mille with the original stock Moto Plat ignition system?  I'd bet the farm that there are no Mille's left with that ignition system on it unless it has less than 10K miles. They all died. Although you can still by new parts for them in the Netherlands= $$$$$

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I agree that the "sporting" models look the best. I cannot ride them, so that leaves out even the SP. Of the upright seating Tontis,

2)  Mille GT. Lovely, nice bike with the "world" engine. Too bad about the iggy system.

Does anybody out there have a Mille with the original stock Moto Plat ignition system?  I'd bet the farm that there are no Mille's left with that ignition system on it unless it has less than 10K miles. They all died. Although you can still by new parts for them in the Netherlands= $$$$$

My '89 had points from the factory.

[jwinwi]

 A v7 telliao rosso sp? whould be nice to have however the 4LS front brake I doubt enhances the riding experince.
[/quote]

While I will never own or even ride a TR, properly adjusted and arced  4LS front brakes work far better than the people who've never ridden with them say they do. Thing is, the response is exactly the opposite of discs: Absolutely no initial bite but they keep getting stronger as they heat up and can produce acceptable stopping distances.

[Idontwantapickle]

Whew, that's like picking a favorite child!
But:

1- V7 Sport, it is the original and met the criteria Tonti set out to achieve. "He was a jolly old elf, lively and quick." A beautiful bike to look at and a joy to ride. The 750 engine is just so sweet!
2- 1000 LeMans. Not some frame mounted fairing thing with that candy-ass 18 inch front wheel but a real 1000 LeMans. Keep your arguments to yourself cause this was the first successor to the V7 Sport that had the combination of performance and comfort that the Sport had. Only better!
3- Chuck is right. The 850 T3 is just about all a man needs. Handles great, stops on a dime and the 850 engine is and always will be great.

There are many lists of three I could make but these are the ones I would (and do) own and never give up.

Hunter

[marcdavo]

green 1000S
lemans 850
lemans 5
V7 S
red 1000S 

[Huzo]

I wouldn’t know the difference..