850 LeMans 1 tires and other questions from a new owner

[wicks]

Hi there - still have my V7 Sport but haven't done any work on it in years, but just acquired a '78 850LM1 with 2,049 miles on it. It's been parked since 1982, so I have my work cut out to make her ready to ride. 

Would welcome any and all comments on what items I should add to my first draft list of work below. My first dumb question is, what are the correct tire sizes for originality / ideal handling? I would also like to go tubeless.

- New brake pads front and rear
- Replace spark plugs
- Rebuild carbs (kits)
- Replace intake manifold gaskets
- Lube cables, throttle
- Adjust valves, replace valve cover gaskets
- Change brake fluid (what type must I use)
- Any hoses or seals in brake system that I should guess are bad from non-use, age?
- Change engine oil (replace drain seal, is there a filter?)
- Add magnetic drain plug
- Change gearbox oil (replace drain seal)
- Change final drive oil (replace seal(s)
- New tires (which type - like older tread patterns)
- (replace cush drive rubber, grease bearings etc)
- (use valve stem for tubeless? http://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=218&products_id=4912)
- Kit to rebuild forks with new seals, dampers
- Replace all rubber grommets, tank mounts, side cover mounts, etc

Other service list:
- Grease head bearing, check torque
- Grease wheel bearings, or are they sealed?

Other parts wish-list:
- Euro turn signals: https://www.eurojamb.com/products/cev-copy-turn-signal-black-moto-guzzi-morini-benelli-laverda-lemans?variant=1197563314197&currency=USD&utm_campaign=gs-2019-09-17&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign
- Find euro headlight (Aprilia?) and mounts
- Find original mirrors: https://hmb-guzzi.de/Mirror-left-black-Le-Mans-1
- Lafranconi mufflers available? http://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=26&products_id=2350

[amamet]

Congratulations, Beautiful bike you picked up.  Think quite a few people on this forum were watching the auction

[RinkRat II]

 
  Welcome and congrats on the bike we've been drooling over on Ebay! Great list to start, Caig deoxit will be a very useful item for the electrics. Chuck did a great tutorial and can be seen here:https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=89034.0.
 Enjoy  and don't skimp on the pictures and your progress

      Paul B

[Turin]

Actually putting it on the road? Good for you! Bikes belong on the road, not sitting on tile next to a fern.

[wicks]

Wow, that is a magical thread which I shall be studying! Yes I have a can of Deoxit, wonder if I'll need another. ;)  Adding points and timing and such to the list.

Thanks all, yes was very happy to find this LM1. Been a few years waiting for the right one. I use all of my classics, which some P-car collectors think I'm nuts for doing.

Is anyone 100% certain of the tire size that matches the original 4.25x18 and 4.10x18 in modern size specs? Weird how google is failing to help very much with that.

[jwinwi]

Wow, that is a magical thread which I shall be studying! Yes I have a can of Deoxit, wonder if I'll need another. ;) 

Thanks all, yes was very happy to find this LM1. Been a few years waiting for the right one. I use all of my classics, which some P-car collectors think I'm nuts for doing.

Is anyone 100% certain of the tire size that matches the original 4.25x18 and 4.10x18 in modern size specs? Weird how google is failing to help very much with that.

4.25" x 25.4 mm = 107.95 mm
4.10" x 25.4 mm = 104.14 mm


Use 110/90/18 for the rear
and 100/90/18 for the front.
Many others use 120/90/18 and 110/90/18 but that combination will produce a heavier feel to the handling and it will take more effort to change direction.

[Gliderjohn]

My T-3 uses 100/90/18 front  and 110/90/18 rear. Think yours would be the same. Avon, Shinko and a few others still make them.
Would also suggest just replacing all the bearings as hard to tell if there has been some interior corrosion from sitting that long.
Probably anything rubber.
When lubing cables be sure to grease the little barrels at the bar end of the cables. Don't ask me how I know.
Upgrade brake lines to braided steel as your lines are probably too aged and the braided lines help brake performance and feel a bit.
Be sure to replace the oil feed lines to the heads as I am guessing those are rubber on yours.
Otherwise sounds like you have a good handle on it and others will be chiming in. Good luck.
GliderJohn

[canuck750]

Wildgoose Chase Moto Guzzi » General Category » Bike Builds, Rebuilds And Restorations Only  (Moderators: rocker59, Luaps Girl, oldbike54) » 1977 Le Mans running and on the road


Reading your post with interest as I sip a glass of local wine in Montenegro on the Adriatic coast.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Wildgoose Chase Moto Guzzi » General Category » Bike Builds, Rebuilds And Restorations Only  (Moderators: rocker59, Luaps Girl, oldbike54) » 1977 Le Mans running and on the road


Reading your post with interest as I sip a glass of local wine in Montenegro on the Adriatic coast.

https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=89764.0

[Stevex]

I fitted tubeless Pirelli Sport Demons in original sizing to my LM2 about 3 years back. I have to say they feel wooden and lack feedback.
Since then I've fitted Honda RC36 Showa cartridges to the Guzzi oem forks and I'm hoping this will improve how the bike feels when ridden.
At the next tyre change I intend to go tubeless radial with Conti Road/Classic Attacks as I've heard they are night and day when compared to the Pirelli cross plys.

[beard]

100/90 R18
120/90 R18

Older:
Bridgestone BT45

Newer:
Front: Conti RoadAttack2
Rear: Conti ClassicAttack
www.reifen-freigaben.de/pdf/786.pdf

[Tusayan]

Reading your post with interest as I sip a glass of local wine in Montenegro on the Adriatic coast.

I'm guessing you might head up the coast from there, and it is beautiful the whole way north through Croatia.   Should you want a change of scene further north, the D25 road from Karlobag is AWESOME.   

I tried the Sport Demons on my Le Mans II and find myself agreeing with Stevex -  they were OK but not my favorite tires on the bike.  The problem with tires is that just as you find something that works, they are discontinued and search starts again.

[wicks]

Reading your post with interest as I sip a glass of local wine in Montenegro on the Adriatic coast.

Can join soon - also shopping for a boat. ;) 

Has anyone run these: https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/continental-ultra-tkv11-tkv12-sport-classic-tires?rrec=true

I just found another reference that says original tire sizes were:
Front tyre   3.50x18
rear tyre   4.00x18

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Can join soon - also shopping for a boat. ;) 

Has anyone run these: https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/continental-ultra-tkv11-tkv12-sport-classic-tires?rrec=true

Those are my tires of choice on V7 Sport restorations. Apparently discontinued. Excellent traction and handling in the dry, never experienced them in the wet.

[wicks]

A little concerned about the straight center groove, it could hook into the freeway grooves commonplace here in California. Not that freeway time is the objective, just a necessary evil sometimes.

Have the same concern although I like the design of Metzeler Lasertec. At least that rear doesn't have the center groove on that set.

[cliffrod]

I haven't bought tires for my V7 Sport for a while, but try to keep the sizes equivalent to the original narrow 3.50 & 4.00 tires.  A contemporary road test reported slower track times when wider tires were fitted in a effort to improve performance.  The narrow tires produced the best results.  I would expect this is relevant to the early Lemans as well.

I am also happy to hear your new bike will be put to use, not just put on display.  That is great news and very, very cool.  Ride & enjoy!

[wicks]

Having hard time finding a pair of anything that does the 3.5 + 4.0 x 18 thing, nor the 110/90/18 + 100/90/18. Michelin, please step in and handle this like you do for classic sports cars!

[Dave Swanson]

Congrats on that winning that great bike!  The prepping for on the road thread will be one to watch! 

I am on the back leg of a 1000 mile drive to pick up my LM1

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Having hard time finding a pair of anything that does the 3.5 + 4.0 x 18 thing, nor the 110/90/18 + 100/90/18. Michelin, please step in and handle this like you do for classic sports cars!

Several choices in 100/90-18 front and 110/90-18 rear:
- Conti Go
- Shinko 712
- Bridgestone S11
- Pirelli Sport Demon
- Avon AM26 Roadrider

[wicks]

Dave! Congrats! What size tires are those on yours? Let me know if you want to part with one of your 1000s!

[wicks]

Thanks Charlie. Is it just me, or are these all some of the worst looking tires ever designed? Imagine they work great, but if that were the only measure we'd all be riding Hondas.

Several choices in 100/90-18 front and 110/90-18 rear:
- Conti Go
- Shinko 712
- Bridgestone S11
- Pirelli Sport Demon
- Avon AM26 Roadrider

[Gliderjohn]

From wicks:

Thanks Charlie. Is it just me, or are these all some of the worst looking tires ever designed? Imagine they work great, but if that were the only measure we'd all be riding Hondas.

Just curious, are you referring to the tread patterns, the high sidewall profile, or something  else.
GliderJohn

[wicks]

Tread patterns. Possible solution: Dunlop D404 comes in the 110 rear and 100 front 90/18 combination.

[Gliderjohn]

From wicks:

Tread patterns.

(shrug)
Most are kind of old school I guess but work better than they look. Last fall I was riding the T-3 (Avon in front and a Shinko on the rear) to Cedar Vale, KS and in SE Butler Co. the roads can almost approach being fun. On a straight I spotted a bike about a 1/2 mile ahead. Out of couriousity I wanted to catch it and see what it was as this is a sparsely populated area. It was being ridden fairly spirited and took me several miles to catch it. Turned out to be a local on a BMW GS that rides that route frequently. Those old tires with modern rubber compounds are sticker than you may think.
GliderJohn

[wicks]

Oh I'm with ya there. I feel those are all too modern swoopy/curvy designs for these boxy old italian mod machines. And I am super aware of how an old design and new rubber can work great. Run these (thanks Michelin for still producing them) on my 1973 911 and nobody gets away from me in the mountains.

https://www.carid.com/images/coker/tires/michelin-xwx-close-up.jpg

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

You can still buy the Metzeler Block-C.  https://tinyurl.com/Metzeler-Block-C

Maybe Heidenau has something to suit? https://www.heidenautires.com/tires/motorcycle/vintage/

[Dave Swanson]

The bike from the thread last week I bet. 

Yes it is.  It needs a bit of work, but it is a nice one. 

[canuck750]

I'm guessing you might head up the coast from there, and it is beautiful the whole way north through Croatia.   Should you want a change of scene further north, the D25 road from Karlobag is AWESOME.   

I am taking the Ferry from Bar to Bari tonight then up the Adriatic coast of Italy. Many years ago I drove the coast from Montenegro to Croatia, spectacular! S

[acguzzi]

manufacturers of tires are not accurate in their sizing so a 4.25 is not necessarily 4.25 so I wouldn't worry about getting an exact equivalent.

[wicks]

I love the old Block C. But it has that center groove and I've got to avoid that because a lot of freeway in CA is grooved concrete. I might go for the Dunlop 404s. That's what's on my V7 Sport right now and they work pretty well without looking period-incorrect.