Added a 1987 LeMans 1000SE to the Stable

[MedicAndy]

I sold my 1985 LeMans to a good friend of mine about two years ago. I didn't think too much about this bike anymore until we met up for a ride earlier this week. My buddy rode the LeMans, and I a Sport 1100. I took a couple of pictures of our bikes together, and I guess just looking at my old bike rekindled the lemans flame within! :)  And, almost like it was meant too be, I saw a 9.6k original miles 1987 Moto Guzzi LeMans 1000SE for sale in NH. I talked to the seller, and we both agreed on a selling / purchasing amount that worked for the both of us, and the rest is history. I'm driving up to NH in two weeks to take this LeMans to her new stable here in Raleigh, NC.

Here is a little history of the Moto Guzzi Lemans SE, which the seller of this bike send to me earlier today.

The 1987 Moto Guzzi Le Mans 1000 SE (Special Edition) was a limited run of motorcycles based on the Series II Le Mans 1000. Built in honor of the 20th anniversary of the release of the V7, it has evolved into a collector’s bike particularly desired by Guzzistas. Only 100 examples of the Moto Guzzi Le Mans 1000 SE made it to the United States. Of however many still remain, plenty are in museums and private collections, so a purchasing opportunity like this can be quite rare.

All of the Special Editions had the red and white paint scheme, with distinctive aspects including a red seat, and red wheels. Cosmetic differences were many, though the mechanical differences were few. Engines were untouched, though the acceleration was boosted as the transmissions were geared closer than the standard Le Mans.

The Le Mans 1000 (sometimes referred to as the Le Mans IV) entered production in 1984 and was made until 1993 in two series. This was a quite different looking motorcycle although still unmistakably a “Guzzi”. The seat was changed and flowed in an upward curve from the fuel tank. The half fairing grew a belly pan and the riding position was made a little more upright for touring.

The cockpit instrument panel was mounted in the fairing which had been developed in the Mandello del Lario wind tunnel. Engine capacity of the Le Mans 1000 was increased to 949cc with 40mm pumper Dell’Orto PHM 40 carburettors to ensure an adequate fuel air supply to that larger engine. This bike was also fitted as standard with the B10 camshaft originally used in the factory production racing model and had larger valves. The Le Mans 1000 was also fitted with a new Valeo starter. The frame of the bike remained much the same as the previous models but with a modified steering head and altered rear.

Here is the picture which rekindled the LeMans flame within me! :)




And this is the bike I bought today:




















I'm also getting the original red seat with this bike, so I'm pretty sure that I will replace the currently installed Corbin seat and replace it with the original seat. I kinda like the red seat.

[Scout63]

Very pretty bike.

[alanp]

That looks like a great example of a rare bike, really beautiful.  Enjoy!

[SmithSwede]

Wow.  That is stunning

[bigbikerrick]

 
Thats a lovely LeMans you got. I love the colors,and the 16" front wheel, and yes,it would look much prettier with the red seat! I really like my 85, although not nearly as pretty as yours.   
Rick

[Turin]

Switching things up ! All those sports has to get a little boring. The LeMans SE is a great bike and I'll never part with mine. I run a taller profile front tire and it works well.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Yeah, that's a beauty all right..

[Dave Swanson]

Fantastic condition.   Am amazing find!

[chuck peterson]

Your right! That red seat puts it puts it all back together color and design wise..awesome find! Congrats.

[Travlr]

How to the LM and the Sport compare when riding them back to back?

Mike

[Groover]

Funny, just the other day I was just thinking of that one photo of yours where the '85 is leading the pack of Sports when someone mentioned that the Euro '91 Le Mans 1000 ultima edizione had the same red as the Daytona (which may be the same as the sport?) - never got around to trying to find it to see what the difference was.

Congrats on the new SE. Looks to be in great shape and all original minus the seat and the fork tube covers. I also agree that the red stock seat looks best on that model. Good thing the previous owner still had it.

I have two of those (2% of them.. ). Both mine need work, one more that the other. In the end, they'll be all original as well. They mostly are already, but one was unfortunately poorly stored and the other was in an accident, so both need some TLC to get them back looking good.

Glad one is in your hands as you seems to be very good with details on models and such, so looking forward to more reports on the SE from you.

[Idontwantapickle]

As the owner of your previous LeMans I approve! And I can hardly wait to see it!
 

Hunter

[dxhall]

I’ve wanted one of the white/red SEs for years, but things never came together for me when one came up for sale.  My ‘90 LM V is still my favorite of the multiple Guzzis in my garage.

[Zoom Zoom]

Very nice!

The red seat is irreplaceable these days. Originals have the white pinstripe around the edges. Replacements do not. Keep the original for special occasions, use the corbin for everyday.

 

John Henry 

[Dave Swanson]

Very nice!

The read seat is irreplaceable these days. Originals have the white pinstripe around the edges. Replacements do not. Keep the original for special occasions, use the corbin for everyday.

 

John Henry

This SE must be one of a very few with the original seat and seat cover! 

[berniebee]

Nice Bike!  With the red piping on the Corbin seat, the bike also looks fabulous . Two seats, two great looks.

[booob]

I remember this bike new on the showroom floor at Harry's Motors downtown Denver.  It was the only new guzzi they had in stock and it took them 3 or 4 years to sell it.   No one wanted guzzis back then.

I had an 84' at the time with the full agostini fairing.

[Groover]

Here is a peek at one of mine, it would be in great condition if it weren't some oxidation from storage. The black oxide treated hardware on this bike is very unforgiving. My other one is mostly in boxes and covered by junk in my garage.

[guzziart]

Very nice SE, enjoy!

Art

[Tom]

I have one in Kona.  Same year and color.   

[MedicAndy]

Funny, just the other day I was just thinking of that one photo of yours where the '85 is leading the pack of Sports .......

Memories....... I took that picture in January 2017, and the others are from the summer of 2016. That 1985 LeMans was the first Guzzi that I have ever bought, or in other words, this was the one that started the madness! Something tells me that I will take a new "Leader of the Pack" picture with the new stable addition soon! :)













This bike didn't stay by herself for long.....




This picture was taken just before I loaded her up at her formers home in St. Luise

[Groover]

Yes that is the photo, I guess the LM was actually herding the sports. I remembered it being in front. You can fix that now, lol

Edit: What brand headers are those, and was there any difference in performance moving the crossover closer to the head?

[GeorgiaGuzzi]

 

Tells self “must not covet thy neighbors Guzzi”

Beautiful bike!

[MedicAndy]

Yes that is the photo, I guess the LM was actually herding the sports. I remembered it being in front. You can fix that now, lol

Edit: What brand headers are those, and was there any difference in performance moving the crossover closer to the head?

I can't tell you anything about those headers or exhaust pipes, since they were already installed on that bike when I bought her. I do know, if I would have known that I was going to end up with another LeMans, that I would have kept that bikes nice stainless steel exhaust and reinstalled the original black factory exhaust before I sold that bike to Hunter...... :)  Hunter was over at my home with the LeMans about two weeks ago, and that bike sounded so great as he left my home riding down the street........

[Turin]

Bub header/headpipe

[Cdn850T5NT]

Very nice SE, enjoy!

Art

GuzziArt, did you have trouble keeping the amber turn signal lenses on?  It appears you had to use narrow zap-straps on them.  I have a 1985 T5... with (I believe) the same turn signals as your Le Mans 1000 SE.

??

[Tom]

The inside push on locking tabs will break with age.

[Idontwantapickle]

Here is a peek at one of mine, it would be in great condition if it weren't some oxidation from storage. The black oxide treated hardware on this bike is very unforgiving. My other one is mostly in boxes and covered by junk in my garage.

Hey Groover,

Your SE with corroded fasteners could be one of the "damaged" bikes that came over at that time. There was an entire container of Guzzis that was exposed to moisture during transit. The bikes were sold at a discount. I could have bought all the SE LeMans I wanted for 2500 each in the crate.
But I was a poor Guzzi mechanic!

Hunter

[Tom]

IIRC the problems with the 16" wheels were not from the size of the front wheel but with the triple trees.   I still have the 16" wheel/tires on the front of my SE.

[flip]

Gorgeous bike!