98 pound weakling Eldo?

[BrianK]

I have a '72 Eldo that runs like a top.  Probably the most reliable motorcycle in my garage.  I keep up the maintenance and last time I checked, compression was 140 psi left, 150 right

My concern is top speed.  I don't take the bike on highways often, but sometimes it's necessary.  And there I find top speed is maybe, on a good day with a slight decline and tailwind, after a goodly chance to build up steam, maybe 90 MPH. And let me tell you, I'm wringing its neck to get there.  Anything above maybe 75-80, the bike is struggling.

Seems like it should be capable of more.  No?

Appreciate your thoughts.

Tx - BrianK

[AJ Huff]

I have an Ambo not an Eldo but that sounds about right to me.

-AJ

[Tom H]

FWIW: Don't know what my compression was back then 40years ago. My '72 Eldo got up to about 85 in 4th then in 5th slowly made it to 115 with an accurate (to this day per GPS) police spedo. It was police rigged and I did it two up.

Don't know what your bike is set up like. could be part of the issue.

Tom

[Turin]

I think it's a 50 year old motorcycle that wasn't built for Top speed. You could boost peformance with a cam, bigger carbs, and a little port work. After you get past 100mph... I sure hope you don't have to slow down in a hurry!

[BrianK]

Thanks AJ.

Tom, mine is a pretty standard setup, Calafia bags, generally not much weight in them, otherwise stock.  Cylinders Nicasil-ed a while ago.  Valves adjusted, fuel/air mixture seems good (I do need to check float bowl levels, have had some issues with those but they don't seem super relevant to this issue - plugs look good).  No fairing, one up. I weigh about 200# (some work to be done there, too....)

Just saw Turin's post.  Yes, I know I could hot it up, but I'm really just trying to figure out if it's living up to its stock potential.  And yeah, I would (already do) need to plan my stops.  I run Mark Etheridge's brake shoes which are a good improvement over stock, but they are, as you say, 50 year old single leading shoe drums....

[John A]

How does top speed in third or fourth do?

[BrianK]

Good question John.  I've not considered whether it's simply over-geared.   I'll have to experiment.  My strong sense, uninformed by empirical evidence of course, is that this is not the problem.  And the bikes were never marketed as having an overdrive ("it's a feature, not a bug....").  But it is definitely a hypothesis to be tested and I shall do so, thank you.  I'll endeavor to report back but I'm in Boston so that may be a while....!

(Is that a Tull reference in your avatar block?) 

[spmoto]

Might be a good time to service the distributer to be sure everything is lubed and moving freely. You may not be getting full advance. Just a thought. If you haven't owned the bike for long you might want to be sure you have the correct springs in there as well. I once bought a T3 and had a fit trying to get it to pull like it should. Turns out that the PO's "mechanic" had replaced the springs with Le Mans springs which severely retarded advance.

[BrianK]

Thanks spmoto.  Things are lubed/in order in the distributor as far as I can see.  No idea whether (or how to determine that) the advance weights or springs are stock. The bike appears to run well from idle to... well not redline as it won't/I won't ask it to get there.  Again, that just doesn't FEEL like the issue although who knows?   This is the only bike I have that still has points!

[John A]

Good question John.  I've not considered whether it's simply over-geared.   I'll have to experiment.  My strong sense, uninformed by empirical evidence of course, is that this is not the problem.  And the bikes were never marketed as having an overdrive ("it's a feature, not a bug....").  But it is definitely a hypothesis to be tested and I shall do so, thank you.  I'll endeavor to report back but I'm in Boston so that may be a while....!

(Is that a Tull reference in your avatar block?)

I think of fourth as overdrive and fith as double over with third as passing gear. They are geared tall.
Yep, been in my head for a long time. I only got to see them once, they did Thick as a Brick. I guess it was unforgettable.

[BrianK]

Really don't mind if you sit this one out....

[DodgeBoy]

I bought my 72 Eldo last year and had to drive it home about 370 miles on the german autobahn. I went with about 65 mph for many hours till i gained some trust in the old machine. The very last miles from my home I revved it up to 100 mph easily. I dont wanna do that long because it became very loud and the breather started puking on my exhaust after about 3 minutes but it worked. I think this season with new breather, tires and heads now redone 80 - 90 mph will be a standard traveling speed for me for short cuts on the autobahn.

A well known German Guzzi shop offers an 88 mm bore for the 850 modells and I am thinking about it just for the small extra tweak.

I forgot: Previous owner installed T3 cylinders with nigusil pistons but I just found that out 2 month ago whilst working on the Eldo   

[bigbikerrick]

A good running 850 Eldorado should hit 100 mph easily. Ive had mine for over 15years,and it always "does the ton" when requested. It does not feel all that great at 100, and I only do it for short periods of time, but its able to. y bike has wixom bags and a "buffalo" or polizia fairing. It gets up to 100 faster without the fairing, but the bags seem to make no difference at all.
I think the "sweet spot" for these bikes is around 55-65 mph. We have to keep in mind these bikes are over 50 years old ,and have drum brakes!
Rick.

[Dave Swanson]

My Eldo will do 100, but that's about all it has in it.  I've only done this on those occasions when trying to keep riding buds in sight who are on high power modern bikes.   

Doing the ton on my Eldo brings this picture to mind.   

[Canuck750]

I have had my 1972 Eldorado for over ten years, fully rebuilt with stock cam and carbs, running points. I can cruise at 80 all day, I suppose it could get to 100 but it’s not happy at 90 so I don’t push it. It’s a lovely bike to ride all day but it’s not fast, I have faster bikes to ride if the urge for speed occurs.

[TOMB]

Just a side note have you considered the aerodynamic drag of fairing saddlebags with or without your weight probably almost laying on the tank my Eldorado with a Big Bore Kit would probably indicate 105 the vetter fairing and saddlebags and my 160 lb weight granted the El Dorado with the Vetter fairing might have had a slightly Improvement in aerodynamics but not much however I found it I'm most enjoyed my Eldorado somewhere between 45 and 75 I still left me a margin of acceleration if needed passing on Highway Etc enjoy your ride I have over 350,000 plus miles on my Eldorado When I sold it and it is still on the road
The white and black Eldorado is what I referenced in my post the black El Dorado is a three-year project at this point getting it back on the road right now it's just a rolling chassis enjoy

TOMB

[John A]

Both my Ambassadors could run an indicated hunnerd all day long crossing the plains loaded heavy. It’s where I fell in love with Guzzis. Oil breathers could usually keep up and sometimes have to be opened and have new internals made. Generator mounts would crack but that seemed like the main troubles I had after replacing the chrome cylinders. One got an 850 kit and Eldo trans and bevel box and was not slow unless compared to Japanese bikes. They are not faster but could be ridden faster than the competitors in a lot of circumstances

[Tkelly]

I had mine up to 100 per the stock Speedo.Maybe actual speed was 90 .If yours runs good up to 90 leave it alone.

[Tom H]

As others have mentioned. You do not need to be running an Eldo at 100 all the time. At least for me, I only did it once to see if it would do it.

Most of the time it's doing 70-75 on the freeway. Plenty fast for me.

Tom

[MattP]

My eldo would go over a 100 all day long It is a very under stresed engine. Oh and mine had .062 in shimes under the clinders because of shit gass in the late 70s or early 80s ran like a top. How ever  after I rebuilt it it would miss and brakeup  85 -90  I changed everthing in ignition  even shimed uo the distrubutor  two sets uf new plugs, champion. zero change then I recaled somewere franks news letter     put in ngk,s no more problems It still ? but That was the cure for that one Also eldo cams go flat and that could probley be your problm eazy to check with diel indicator.on rocker. I had replaced cam in mine. Alsi I ground the gear off a t3 cam and shrunk fit the eldo gear on to use stock ig,. Any the thinging for this was the t3 has oil holes to oil the lifters also If I recall a few more horsepower Should have instaled it. Gave itto that cool old fellow from north cal Deniss I think at a nat rally Oragon? I think Your cam is flat.

[BrianK]

I have no desire to go a hundred miles per hour - and if I did, I have other bikes more suitable.  My point is simply that I'm sure my Eldo wouldn't do it, which bothers me.  It runs great, it just doesn't have that much ummph.

[Kiwi_Roy]

My 72 Eldorado is closer to 100 miles per Hour however you need to be looking for an escape route, the brakes leave a lot to be desired

[MattP]

All thees sugestions of how fast you should go, for christs sake ? What dos that have to do with the fact that there is something wrong with your eldo. It should go over 100 ass long ass you if not fix it    a engine needs 3 things to run compreshen fuel spark. That is to run but to run well there is tuening involved just get it to factory specs it will run great i might be rong but i am ove the thinking the factory probley a little bite of time on the tune of that engine. Beare in mind ofcorse powerband hp tourk fuel econamy valve guide life piston speed ect are a compromize         mabe benny and the jets

[nick949]

Stick to the slow lane. No need to rush or thrash a 50 year old bike. I often take my 72 Eldo on major highways. People pass me. Who cares? I still get there. 60-70 all day is fine.

Nick

[John A]

Nicks right. It’s not making rated power, no big deal. Not only some wear on the engine, everything else should be serviced to ensure safe operation at elevated speeds if you run that fast. A package deal, but you already knew that.

[moto-uno]

  I'm of the belief that you may be suffering from soft compression numbers . That'll pretty much guarantee a lower top speed .
  Any idea how long it's been since a valve job ? Peter

[BrianK]

  I'm of the belief that you may be suffering from soft compression numbers . That'll pretty much guarantee a lower top speed .
  Any idea how long it's been since a valve job ? Peter

I don't know.  It was supposedly rebuilt just before I bought it (I haven't put on many miles) although I will say I pulled the gearbox and sent to Charley Cole (I'll spare you why) and it needed close to a thousand bucks worth of (used) parts and labor (and Charley did not overcharge).  Still, 140/150 pounds compression doesn't sound that bad to me.