Identifying the original donor of a Tonti motor (1000S content)

[kidsmoke]

IS there a directory or resource to drop in an engine number and know what bike a motor came in originally? IS this a dealer only task?

[guzzisteve]

I thought that is the prefex letters before numbers, gives you the basic model but not year.

[fotoguzzi]

Here’s the closest thing I’ve ever seen. Maybe the engine number has a prefix that relates to the frame #?

[rocker59]

The two letter prefix on the engine number will tell you what the engine came out of.

Thanks fotoguzzi for searching up the list!

[kidsmoke]

Here’s the closest thing I’ve ever seen. Maybe the engine number has a prefix that relates to the frame #?

That's definately helpful. Thank you!
1000S/LMIV&V don't make the cut. Of this list at least

@dave swanson
@blackcat

What prefix do your 1000S bikes have? I occurs to me the Big valve may borrow LeMans nomenclature and the the 93 mids ---the Strada?

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

In "80 Year of Moto Guzzi Motorcycles" the Le Mans 1000 and 1000S are listed as having a VV prefix.

[kidsmoke]

In "80 Year of Moto Guzzi Motorcycles" the Le Mans 1000 and 1000S are listed as having a VV prefix.

Nice! Thanks Charlie.

[blackcat]

“I occurs to me the Big valve may borrow LeMans nomenclature and the the 93 mids ---the Strada?“

And the SPIII.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

“I occurs to me the Big valve may borrow LeMans nomenclature and the the 93 mids ---the Strada?“

And the SPIII.

Strada and SP III are both listed as "VN".

[Groover]

Some transmissions have markings as well, not sure if you are also looking at that part or not. For example the LM1000 SE have on the left marking that start with ZD then 5 digits after that, then I think the newer EV types also have some sort of markings, but not 100% sure and also not sure about the other older Tontis.

[blackcat]

Strada and SP III are both listed as "VN".

My 93-1000S begins with VN:

[kidsmoke]

My 93-1000S begins with VN:

on the engine....

I'm thinking the VIN on the headtube tag may read VV?

Beginning to think this may have been a Guzzi issue on the 93's. They went to the Mid valve for emissions was my understanding. Maybe they just allocated production mid valve motors from the other models to the models shipping to North America. There were only 19 bikes. Seems possible.

[kidsmoke]

my bike is VV 25XXXX
engine is VN *XXXXXX*

 

[blackcat]

on the engine....

I'm thinking the VIN on the headtube tag may read VV?

Beginning to think this may have been a Guzzi issue on the 93's. They went to the Mid valve for emissions was my understanding. Maybe they just allocated production mid valve motors from the other models to the models shipping to North America. There were only 19 bikes. Seems possible.

Yes, the tag starts with VV.

[kidsmoke]

[frozengoose]

Here’s the closest thing I’ve ever seen. Maybe the engine number has a prefix that relates to the frame #?

This came off Greg Benders site. Not sure if it's the same thing or not...

[Turin]

there are two sets of V numbers on the frame tag.  The second set tells you the motor. My 1991 big valve cali has two VV numbers/

Attached is for a 1993 1000S
https://www.classic.com/veh/1993-moto-guzzi-1000s-zguvvdvn3pm250030-W9yDoeW/

[kidsmoke]

there are two sets of V numbers on the frame tag.  The second set tells you the motor. My 1991 big valve cali has two VV numbers/

Attached is for a 1993 1000S
https://www.classic.com/veh/1993-moto-guzzi-1000s-zguvvdvn3pm250030-W9yDoeW/

Good stuff. Thank you.

Would love to see the engine number on that auction piece.

[Turin]

As a 1993 with the medium valve world engine the engine # would start with VN.

[rocker59]

That's definately helpful. Thank you!
1000S/LMIV&V don't make the cut. Of this list at least

@dave swanson
@blackcat

What prefix do your 1000S bikes have? I occurs to me the Big valve may borrow LeMans nomenclature and the the 93 mids ---the Strada?

LeMans 4, 5, and 1000 S have the prefix "VV"

https://www.thisoldtractor.com/guzzitech.dk/gb_en_technical_moto-guzzi-frame-numbers.htm

[kidsmoke]

As a 1993 with the medium valve world engine the engine # would start with VN.

Thanks Turin! As our sample set of 2 thus far corroborates...

hoping @Dave Swanson can chime in and expand on that sample.

[rocker59]

Thanks Turin! As our sample set of 2 thus far corroborates...

hoping @Dave Swanson can chime in and expand on that sample.

My 1991 LeMans was "VV".

[blackcat]

Attached is for a 1993 1000S
https://www.classic.com/veh/1993-moto-guzzi-1000s-zguvvdvn3pm250030-W9yDoeW/

My 1000S is 5 numbers before the above bike.

[kidsmoke]

My 1000S is 5 numbers before the above bike.

I'm 18 before yours, then. And the 25XXXX doesn't appear in Benders reference, but it does in Falloons. 

Should be noted, that auction bike shows in it's photos the engine VIN, which matches what we have Tom, VV headstock/VN Engine Block.

3/3

When we build a concensus, I'll reach out to Bender, he add's owner edits to his list.

[blackcat]

This website has a large collection of owner numbers:

https://www.1000s.nl/register.html

[Dave Swanson]

My 1000S is 5 numbers before the above bike.

Mine is 15 after.

[kidsmoke]

Mine is 15 after.

Hey Dave. So, yours also share the VV headstock/VN engine block pattern?

[Dave Swanson]

Hey Dave. So, yours also share the VV headstock/VN engine block pattern?

Yes

[kidsmoke]

As a 1993 with the medium valve world engine the engine # would start with VN.

Hey Dave. So, yours also share the VV headstock/VN engine block pattern?

Yes

I appreciate everyone's feedback.

over the course of the day we've confirmed 6 93's that meet this convention. I feel much better, as I was believing I'd landed a bitsa. I'm now much more confident in it's legitimacy.

 

[Turin]

My 1991 big valve Cali III is ZGUVVDVV5MMXXXXXX with engine # VV*018066*.