85 LeMans trying to return to original

[bigbikerrick]

Hello Folks, I have slowly been working on going through my new to me Lemon, and I have it running great, jetting is spot on, etc. I have noticed some Le Mans have a black painted engine /trans and some have it in the natural aluminum finish.( I personally like the clean natural aluminum look) I am curious if my bike should have a black engine/trans /rear drive, or one of the previous owners painted them that way. Does anyone know?
I know the frame has been painted in parts, to make it look all red , and I plan to correct this. I also think the swingarm has been painted red, but should be black. what do you all think? I want this bike to be as original looking as possible, within reason.
Thanks alot,
Rick.

[Chuck in Indiana]

That's a LM4, right? I *think* that bike was red with a red frame. Drivetrain was aluminum.. I *think.* Someone that knows will be along shortly.

[bigbikerrick]

Thanks for the reply, Chuck,Yes, its a LeMans IV I have seen photos of them with both a black drivetrain, and aluminum colored also. The castings that the pegs mount to are black on my bike, I think those should be bare aluminum also, but not sure.
Rick

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

An '85 should have unpainted engine, trans. and rear drive. Peg brackets should be too. Main frame is black, lower rails red.

Greg Bender has a bunch of brochures on his website, including this one that should be helpful:
http://www.thisoldtractor.com/moto_guzzi_more_topics_brochure_-_moto_guzzi_le_mans_1000_-red_centerfold-_wind_tunnel_on_cover-_[italian].html

The rocker covers look black in the brochure, but they were actually sort of a navy blue.

[fotoguzzi]

Rick, that looks real nice as is.. maybe not the exhaust can but the colors work for me..

[Dimples]

An '85 should have unpainted engine, trans. and rear drive. Peg brackets should be too. Main frame is black, lower rails red.

Greg Bender has a bunch of brochures on his website, including this one that should be helpful:
http://www.thisoldtractor.com/moto_guzzi_more_topics_brochure_-_moto_guzzi_le_mans_1000_-red_centerfold-_wind_tunnel_on_cover-_[italian].html

The rocker covers look black in the brochure, but they were actually sort of a navy blue.

That's right!

Especially the Navy part.

[canuck750]

Nice bike!

I have been offered a Mk IV as well, debating if I risk the wrath of my long suffering wife and sneak it into the stable.

[fotoguzzi]

Nice bike!

I have been offered a Mk IV as well, debating if I risk the wrath of my long suffering wife and sneak it into the stable.

in that stable I bet she wouldn't even notice.. would you spot a new pair of shoes in her closet?

[canuck750]

in that stable I bet she wouldn't even notice.. would you spot a new pair of shoes in her closet?

Ha, ha , good point, but... she sure can count and last fall she made a very clear remark of the number of bikes I have stashed away and was going to notice if one more showed up!

[bigbikerrick]

Thanks guys, for the kind words, and paint color info. The mufflers on the bike, do look like Ducati cans, but are actually Mistrals, from MG cycle, made for the LM IV.
http://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=26_105&products_id=2532
 I also have the stock, black chrome/red end cap mufflers, and oem seat as well. I found out that some years ago, this bike belonged to Ron Komoroski, from VA., before being shipped to Arizo As far as I can tell it has original red paint on the tank, and plastics.The inner part of the fairings does have that very dark blue paint, that almost looks black.
 
Charlie, you are correct on the drive train originally being alloy color. Man, I bet that would be almost impossible to strip all the black paint, and get the aluminum looking good, with the engine/tranny in the frame! If at some time,in the future, I need to remove the engine that would be the opportunity to remove all the paint. 
The correct decals for the sidecovers I believe are still available from MG cycle. for being over 30 years old, the Guzzi is in fantastic shape, and I have really been enjoying riding it . I think this one is a "keeper" for sure.
Rick

[krglorioso]

What I think, Rick, is that it's great to have you back on board with a fun project, after a difficult "bump in the road".

Ralph

[dan_s]

Rick. Every guzzi is a good base for chages.
I have an original le mans v1000 brochure, if you want it pm me your address and I'll send it.

[Dukedesmo]

Look like cans of an air cooled 90's Ducati

I was thinking the same, SS or Monster - should have a ZDM part no. if so.

edited to add; I see they're a Mistral part but they do look Ducati-ish.

Nice bike BTW. 

[Old Jock]

What I see is a very nice, slightly non stock LM IV.

I'm no fan of these cans either but apart from that the bike looks great to me.

To get rid of the black paint would mean probably stripping back to the casings and bead blasting them.

Now I've done that twice now with a LM 1000 and a Sporti 1100 (still getting rebuilt) and its a helluva lot of work. I did it because of the condition of both of the bikes and I was refurbishing, so the frame was getting re coated all the parts cleaned fasteners replaced etc: If its purely to change the color back I wouldn't even think about it.

I think it looks pretty dammed sexy as it stands, go get some miles in instead............ ................... ..I'd kill for weather like your picture

Just Sayin

[lazlokovacs]

FWIW I'm a big fan of the mistrals on my LM1000... they flow great, look great, sound amazing and are pretty light too

corbin seat is excellent too, drops the rider a good bit lower than the stock seat for a start. Personally, I would certainly not go back to stock...

agree with Old Jock, your weather looks highly enviable

and its a great looking bike!

[Zoom Zoom]

Nice looking bike. Since you mention Ron K owned the bike, you ought to give him a call and find out what he knows about it.

Again

John Henry

[Tobit]

Hello Folks, I have slowly been working on going through my new to me Lemon, and I have it running great, jetting is spot on, etc. I have noticed some Le Mans have a black painted engine /trans and some have it in the natural aluminum finish.( I personally like the clean natural aluminum look) I am curious if my bike should have a black engine/trans /rear drive, or one of the previous owners painted them that way. Does anyone know?
I know the frame has been painted in parts, to make it look all red , and I plan to correct this. I also think the swingarm has been painted red, but should be black. what do you all think? I want this bike to be as original looking as possible, within reason.
Thanks alot,
Rick.

Black engine and trans were on the SE model.  Yours (and mine) came with raw castings for both with the dark navy blue rocker covers.  That navy blue powder coat was a bear to get off.  I wanted them plain too and carried them to a local blasting shop along with my wheels.  The guy said he'd run against some tough coatings but these were some of the hardest.

So, either someone painted your drivetrain or dropped in the SE.  IIRC, the SE had a higher 1st, maybe 2nd and some straight cut gears.  I don't recall the details.  Exhaust is a matter of taste.  Personally I don't like the look of cans on the LMIV, V or Lario.  Visually, these bikes call for a tapered exhaust, the cans are too modern and clash.

Gotta love Big Valve Tonti LeMans.   

Tobit

Frame should be black except the removable lower rails which are red, just like the fork sliders.

[bigbikerrick]

Nice looking bike. Since you mention Ron K owned the bike, you ought to give him a call and find out what he knows about it.

Again

John Henry

Hi John, when I found out Ron K. owned it, I sent him a PM, asking if he remembered it, he did, here is an interesting bit of history on the bike , Ron sent me....
Hi Rick, Remember? Oh yea, Wanted a LM from my first Guzzi in the 80's, the opportunity & available $$ never came together until (as it turned out) too late.  A partial history: The bike was traded to a gunsmith for the building of a custom match rifle, it sat in his shop unused for a decade or more. We had one of our monthly Guzzi lunches at a restaurant near the gunshop & the gunsmith's son happened to be there. We were having our usual after lunch tire-kicking session in the parking lot when he came up & said "I think my Dad has one of these sitting in the corner of his shop" Of course I bombarded him w/questions. He knew nothing about Guzzi's, only that the bike was red & "the motor looks like these" (pointing at the row of parked Guzzis). Long story short. I bought  & "revived" the bike. It wasn't what I call a restoration because it didn't need repainting etc. etc. I was able to rub out the factory paint, & had some new decals made, & did all the usual stuff that a long sitting bike needed. As I was building the bike for me, I did things like  eliminating  the 4way flasher switch. It was unobtanium and a wiring rats nest. After finishing the bike I took it on a loooong awaited first ride. About 20 miles from home I found I was rapidly loosing feeling in my hands. I pulled off the road & sat & worked my arms to get things working again. My old pals "Arthur & Itus" in my shoulder joints were pinching nerves. I turned around & headed for home, having to make another stop halfway there. Wider bars & a more upright seating position (to take weight off my shoulders) would (IMO) have destroyed the bike. So I reluctantly sold it. If you'd like to see pictures of how it looked when I finished reviving it send me an email addy.
Ron. 

[bigbikerrick]

What I think, Rick, is that it's great to have you back on board with a fun project, after a difficult "bump in the road".

Ralph

Thank you, Ralph!
Rick.

[bigbikerrick]

Old Jock, thanks for the advice, I think I will take it and leave the black paint on the drivetrain alone, just touching it up in a couple of spots . It sounds like removing all that paint would be more work than its worth, life is short, better to spend the time riding! 
I must admit, I take our weather here for granted, its been in the 80's all last week, but have been freezing my desert rat butt off, this week with highs in the low 60's!   

Tobit, I agree with you regarding the exhaust, I love the looks of the pipes on your bike, they just look" right" what brand are they?

Lazlokovaks, yes Sir, the Mistral cans have an intoxicatingly deep sound, that I really like. I have not tried the stock exhaust out yet. The Corbin is awesome! it fits me just right. I wish it were a solo Corbin, though as I never ride a passenger.

Thanks to all for the compliments and info on the bike, I appreciate it.
Rick.

[Tobit]

Emgo Dunstall-replica "wide-mouth" muffler.  Search that and you'll turn up a bunch on Ebay, Amazon, etc.  You will need a set of upswept Bub headers to mate them to.  The stock LMIV headers and crossover have a straight outlet, parallel with the ground.  The stock mufflers have an angled section to kick them up.

The Emgo Dunstall type are straight so you need either the angled Bub header or you'll need to make an adapter.  Otherwise, the mufflers will be low-mount, parallel to the ground.

Here's another option:  http://www.keihan.co.uk/catalogue.html#



Tobit

[bigbikerrick]

Thanks, Tobit, for the info. I see what you mean about needing an adapter to "kick up" the mufflers to get the look right. I remember somewhere a while back, seeing a pipe adapter like that made for a new generation Triumph bonnie to upswing aftermarket mufflers, like emgos. I will have to look around  .
Rick

[Zoom Zoom]

I might be very wrong, but I thought the black chrome factory exhaust and blacked out engine/trans was part of the LeMans SE, which had an different paint job. They very well may have come on other LM4's, don't know for sure. The SE also had a wide ratio gearbox, different from the LM4's more commonly available. (Less limited is probably a better way to put it.)

Here is an SE:

This is in Arts care (pictured), formerly cared for by Jack Arnold.

John Henry

[bigbikerrick]

I might be very wrong, but I thought the black chrome factory exhaust and blacked out engine/trans was part of the LeMans SE, which had an different paint job. They very well may have come on other LM4's, don't know for sure. The SE also had a wide ratio gearbox, different from the LM4's more commonly available. (Less limited is probably a better way to put it.)

Here is an SE:

This is in Arts care (pictured), formerly cared for by Jack Arnold.

John Henry

Great looking LeMans John. I think a previous owner must have painted my drivetrain to look like an SE.
Thanks Rick.

[bigbikerrick]

Rick. Every guzzi is a good base for chages.
I have an original le mans v1000 brochure, if you want it pm me your address and I'll send it.

PM Sent, Rick.