NEW 1985 LeMans IV 1000...

[radguzzi]

So I brought this home yesterday...  1985 LeMans 1000 with 1006 miles on the clock.  I cannot yet verify that it is accurate as the history is lacking and since it is not running, I cannot test the odometer.  My guess is that the speedo cable is inop but we'll see.  The tires are original and look new.

It sat in a shed in the Northeast for many years, last registered in 1987.  It is tatty to say the least, canisters are pitted, some rubber bits are hard and cracked, the battery tray is missing... Missing...?!?

At first I figured that it had been apart at some point and the tray was omitted however, further examination shows paint gone from the area around the battery tray so I bet that the battery leaked and corroded the tray badly enough to remove it... maybe.

When I went to have a look at it, I brought a plug wrench to pull the plugs and roll the LeMans in gear to ensure that the engine was not stuck.  But, the seller hooked jumper cables to the Miata in the garage and turned the engine over, spins right up and sounds good, I'll do a compression check directly.
All lights work, Fiamm horns will blast a driver off their phone. 

All in all, it is a bit of a turd but I'll go through the carbs which are off already, change fluids and think about touching it off.  The body work is intact and not too bad, a couple of scratches, no cracks.  Gauges are perfect, two copies of all keys except the seat plunger key.  The tank is going to need a vinegar flush, a bit rusty in there.
All Brembo calipers are still mounted and in good condition.  Oh, and that pesky 16" front wheel...!

Progress will be slow, I have plenty to do but this is not a priority. 

I only brought it home because of the very reasonable cost and the fact that I had an '89 LeMans V from new in 1990.

Cheers,
rad

[Gino]

Very nice

[guzziart]

Nice, I like it, great find!

Oh, yeah, the horns mean business not like the crap thats on most everything today. 

[Turin]

Congrats! It looks pretty nice to me. I love my LeMans 1000. A taller profile front tire will slow handling a bit.

[brider]

I am so jealous. Sooooo jealous. But good for you, we know it will be treated with the respect it deserves (but LMK if you can't find room for it...).

[radguzzi]

Nice, I like it, great find!

Oh, yeah, the horns mean business not like the crap thats on most everything today.

Man, made me jump when we blasted it...!   

Congrats! It looks pretty nice to me. I love my LeMans 1000. A taller profile front tire will slow handling a bit.

I really dug the '89 too.   So, 16" front tires are not a problem to find...?  Good to know.

Thanks,
Rob

[Turin]

Bridgestone Battlax 110/90-16 is what I ran before I changed to a 17" front. there may be others.

I do not care for shinkos.

[radguzzi]

Bridgestone Battlax 110/90-16 is what I ran before I changed to a 17" front. there may be others.

I do not care for shinkos.

Copy all...  I was going to ask about swapping to a 17" front.

Although I would probably Never find a wheel.  If I happen to find one, do I need to
Do anything else...?  Change the fender mount or fork legs...? 

Thanks, Turin,
Rob

[guzzisteve]

Sweet find, nice.

[kidsmoke]

I really dug the '89 too.   So, 16" front tires are not a problem to find...?  Good to know.

Battlax BT46's were available for me in a 18"/16" set when I bought new for this honey last year. American Moto Tire.



Look, you have other bikes to actually do whatever moto job you need done. Leave the 16" wheel on there. It's original, was good enough for Dr. John, makes it unique, handles quite well (I thought) and as you more than most can appreciate, unmolested machines from yesteryear don't fall from trees. Don't be a molester!!

Beautiful bike. So glad it found it's way to you!
 

[radguzzi]

Battlax BT46's were available for me in a 18"/16" set when I bought new for this honey last year. American Moto Tire.



Look, you have other bikes to actually do whatever moto job you need done. Leave the 16" wheel on there. It's original, was good enough for Dr. John, makes it unique, handles quite well (I thought) and as you more than most can appreciate, unmolested machines from yesteryear don't fall from trees. Don't be a molester!!

Beautiful bike. So glad it found it's way to you!

Copy all. I do not need to mess around with changing the front 16", I have not even ridden the LeMans yet and I am not a molester...!  I am a believer in originality. 

Your LeMans is stunning. 

Thanks,
rad

[Cal3Me]

I just put a new set of the Metzler Lazertec tires on my Lemans. No trouble finding the 16" front tire. RevZilla had them both.

[Groover]

It's nice to see these LM4s get the respect they deserve, each time I see a member here pick one up it makes me happy 

[Turin]

If need be, raising the fender is easy enough. You can shim the fork brace with washer/spacers.

[guzziart]

I agree w/kidsmoke and went with BT46's on my 16/18 LMIVSE wheels, far better than the GT501's I had on previously.
Art

[wicks]

Reminds me when I found my LM 1 in a barn in florida with 2K miles on the clock. Which was legit. Agreed on leaving the wheels original - also BT46 range keeps getting more sizes so have them on all my old Guzzis now.

The gas tank - use this it works wonders: https://www.amazon.com/Evapo-Rust-EVAER004-Remover-EVAPO-RUST%C3%A2-Bottles/dp/B01HCZYR0O/ref=sr_1_30?crid=1D9ZN80VWBB9A&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jmWAE9wAvZNiufizkLUS--0kMGzfnWW6QSANYCexBr-Cc_4cPKxBFes41t62SxrVpRJe4xAR1g04PhG4rpkJvM9xjPeRdqfWNeqPzM8kNnXG8tpgWdh1tcqpOx4wLMXMnbMiUQzI4w2Wgk7X-ZjjSqvmVld0VNDCIr22ZDciRbE7hQ58YCkRObQ4AJiFwTC9czlyHMene7xaWzqrN2BbQebXcH7AcvE1tfItXEiXg_Cmcx_f7YdWnLUaAUrob1A8ORQczBpdY1DEI0O6fyUTEd28h7nvWPUXGVql7b5NASY.awWQd5AEygCqSwVBI3DLVCj9_Sq7DshALblgmDqPi3c&dib_tag=se&keywords=gas+tank+rust&qid=1731088011&sprefix=gas+tank+rus%2Caps%2C233&sr=8-30

I tried rebuilding the old calipers but they were still a bit leaky here and there, ended up just replacing them as new aren't too expensive and it's a PIA to rebuild em. Might want to refresh the brake hoses as well. Fresh oil, gearbox and final drive...

[Turin]

I have a '91 LeMans 1000 with an 18" front. I prefer the 16" wheel. Speigler makes braided stainless brake line kits that match the factory routing.

I switched wheels because I scored a set of astralites on E-bay, and my 1000 could never be an original bike with out lots of $$$.

[radguzzi]

Reminds me when I found my LM 1 in a barn in florida with 2K miles on the clock. Which was legit.
Agreed on leaving the wheels original - also BT46 range keeps getting more sizes so have them on all my old Guzzis now.

I tried rebuilding the old calipers but they were still a bit leaky here and there,
ended up just replacing them as new aren't too expensive and it's a PIA to rebuild em.
Might want to refresh the brake hoses as well. Fresh oil, gearbox and final drive...

Good news on the BT-46s.

Of course, changing all fluids, always the first thing to do.  I have thought about heating the engine, trans and final drive
from the outside to change those fluids.

I like rebuilding calipers, these probably do not have the later anodized aluminum pistons so, all new of those and seal kits.  Boom. 

I'll wait until I get the apart and judge if they're too far gone or not.  I'm betting not, the only corrosion I see is on the canister surface, they are pitted
so they'll get painted.

Thanks,
Rob

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I like rebuilding calipers, these probably do not have the later anodized aluminum pistons so, all new of those and seal kits.  Boom. 

If they have a single bleeder, then most likely they have anodized alloy pistons. Easy to double check - pull the pads and fish a magnet down past the disk.

[guzziart]

Speigler makes braided stainless brake line kits that match the factory routing.

 
Back in 2010 I sent the oem set off my '87 to Speigler.  They sent back my originals along with newly fabricated ss lines, the lines fit perfect, the poly coat is black and looks good on the bike.....still... after 14 years.
Art

[egschade]

My LM 1000 is still a work in progress. Refinished exhaust, Pirelli Sport Demon tires (kept 16" front), new brake lines, new cables, all the rubber bits. Hope to have it back together in the next week or so.

[radguzzi]

My LM 1000 is still a work in progress. Refinished exhaust, Pirelli Sport Demon tires

Nice. What did you do for the exhaust refinishing...? BBQ black heat paint...?

My Son likes Sport Demons on his '81 CX 100.

Thanks,
rad

[egschade]

Nice. What did you do for the exhaust refinishing...? BBQ black heat paint...?

My Son likes Sport Demons on his '81 CX 100.

Thanks,
rad

I used semi-gloss high temp spray paint. The BBQ stuff is flat black and it looks terrible (to me) on an exhaust.

[Stretch]

That's a beauty! 

Give it a full service, some new tires, and go out and thrash
it to within an inch of it's life!    

                          -Stretch

[HPRifleman]

It's nice to see these LM4s get the respect they deserve, each time I see a member here pick one up it makes me happy 

Agreed.

I've had my '87 since 1989. I think they're underrated because they existed at a time when Moto Guzzi was having a hard time as a company.

[Turin]

for exhaust finish, I like Cerakote.I just had this Rennsport pipe done.

[spmoto]

Well, there you go young fella. You're going to look fabulous on this! I would stick with the 16" front. All the negative pub came from a couple of moto-journalists way back when and somehow it is stuck in the ether.