750S The Build is Done

[blackcat]

 Beautiful work.

[mgmark]

I have not seen the solenoid cover on pictures of the 750S, was it a stock item?

Hi Jim,
Thanks for saving another deserving motorcycle. Beautiful!

The plastic solenoid cover came original on my '85 Lemans, and I'm sure other models of the era. It just snaps on over the solenoid. I bought a replacement for my bike from MG Cycle.

Mark

[Rick4003]

Hi Jim,

beautiful work as always!

-Ulrik

[wirespokes]

I'm impressed with your build quality. Stunning!

And thanks for the tip on powder coating - I had no idea it was that easy and cheap to do.

I may be able to find you the correct tachometer needle if you're interested.

[mikebr]

Very nice job and excellent write up.

[canuck750]

I'm impressed with your build quality. Stunning!

And thanks for the tip on powder coating - I had no idea it was that easy and cheap to do.

I may be able to find you the correct tachometer needle if you're interested.

I would sure appreciate it if you can find a correct tachometer, I 'made' the tach by painting out the 'Electronic' words on an Eldorado tach and fitting the face plate to a 850T mechanical tach body, also 'raised' the red line with some black paint and fine brush.

DIY Powder coating is so easy and quick plus there is no mess and the reside powder just sweeps up. A big toaster oven works great for small parts and Harbour Freight sells a decent DIY powder spray gun + you only need about 5 psi to blow the powder on, which the cheapest little air compressor can provide. Eastwood Automotive's powders are pretty low cost and there is a lot of selection.

PS, thanks for the kind words fellas, the 1977 850 Le Mans goes up on the lift next.

[Sheepdog]

A sensational restoration. Well done...

[ritratto]

Fantastic!
Now tell us how it runs!
Would love to hear it too.
 

[Markcarovilli]

Super nice work ..... Waiting on the run report.

Mark

[dan_s]

Great bike and thanks for sharing the photos

dan

[pressureangle]

Awesome!

[canuck750]

I took some outdoor pictures today, I ain't much of a photographer though!

these may be helpful though to anyone one wanting to rebuild one or assemble a clone. It's about 97% correct except it would have come from the factory with the small non solenoid starter and the tachometer should have the fat needle.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

 

[balvenie]

Curses I'm hopping Mad. This is a very bad time for my computer screen to stretch the images so I can't see Jim's bike
But apart from that
Have a very good ride

[jbell]

Quite beautimos.  Fantastico!  Maybe send pics to Aprilia to remind them of what they (MG)were once capable of building.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Quite beautimos.  Fantastico!  Maybe send pics to Aprilia Piaggio to remind them of what they (MG) were once capable of building.

Fixed it for you.  I doubt Aprilia gives a flying fig about Guzzi since they're no longer the owner.

[nick949]

Very nice Jim.  Now do mine 

Nick

[Cam3512]

Truly spectacular!

[swooshdave]

What is that boss just below the brake rod? Left over from when there was a cable?

[tris]

I took some outdoor pictures today, I ain't much of a photographer though!

these may be helpful though to anyone one wanting to rebuild one or assemble a clone. It's about 97% correct except it would have come from the factory with the small non solenoid starter and the tachometer should have the fat needle.

If anyone gets that critical about such a fine build I suggest that you treat them to "a punch up the bracket" to use some old Anglo Saxon saying 

[v7john]

What is that boss just below the brake rod? Left over from when there was a cable?

Yes. that's right. Cable operated brake was on the left side.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Yes. that's right. Cable operated brake was on the left side.

That backing plate was originally the Loopframe 2LS front with an added stud sticking out the bottom for the torque rod attachment. 

[v7john]

That backing plate was originally the Loopframe 2LS front with an added stud sticking out the bottom for the torque rod attachment.

Yep. The same brake is fitted to the front of my old V7 700. The V7Sport/750S one still has the groove cut to anchor the brake to the loopframe LH fork.

[canuck750]

The V7 Sport was a bit of a parts bin bike in some ways, sure the frame was brand new but the engine, transmission and rear drive were all carry overs from the Eldorado.

As Charlie stated even the rear brake plate is from the front brake of the 2LS Eldorado.

Guzzi still deserves a lot of credit for being able to work with very limited resources to create something so very different with their first foray from the venerable Loop.  Going forward from the V7 Sport each years iteration of a sporting Guzzi was a slow progression of the last, evolution and not revolution.

That brand from Germany with the boxer motor has followed a similar approach to development, as a sporting machine I  think Guzzi got it better from the start. For all the acclaim the R90S gets, I feel Guzzi was years ahead of the Germans with the original 750 Series of sporting bikes, and then came the Le Mans, no contest in my mind that Guzzi beat BMW hands down with the 850's.

[swooshdave]

The V7 Sport was a bit of a parts bin bike in some ways, sure the frame was brand new but the engine, transmission and rear drive were all carry overs from the Eldorado.

As Charlie stated even the rear brake plate is from the front brake of the 2LS Eldorado.

Guzzi still deserves a lot of credit for being able to work with very limited resources to create something so very different with their first foray from the venerable Loop.  Going forward from the V7 Sport each years iteration of a sporting Guzzi was a slow progression of the last, evolution and not revolution.

That brand from Germany with the boxer motor has followed a similar approach to development, as a sporting machine I  think Guzzi got it better from the start. For all the acclaim the R90S gets, I feel Guzzi was years ahead of the Germans with the original 750 Series of sporting bikes, and then came the Le Mans, no contest in my mind that Guzzi beat BMW hands down with the 850's.

I explained to my wife about the sagging cylinders on a BMW compared to the Guzzi.



She chortled. Then the 10 yr old daughter wanted an explanation and then I got the glare from the wife. 

[swooshdave]

I would have thought the 750S would have got the 850T rear brake.

[canuck750]

I would have thought the 750S would have got the 850T rear brake.

Ian Falloon talks about this in his description of the 750S, the 74 S was a carry over of the V7 Sport, it uses most all of the V7 Sport components and incorporates the front forks and disc brake(s) that would be seen on the 850T. The tool box / side covers are the same as the 850T but do not have the punched louvres. My guess is that as the Eldorado was being phased out the parts bins were being emptied and the rear brake plate of the V7 Sport (front brake plate from the Eldorado) were used up. There were under 1000 of the 750S made, reportedly a handful imported into the USA by Berliner and likely manufactured prior to the 850T being ramped up into production.

The 750 S3 is basically a 850 T3 with the V7 Sport heads,  exhaust similar to the 750S, the handlebars and controls of the upcoming 1976 Le Mans and the headlight, signal lights and seat from the 750S.

All of the early 750 Sport bikes are interesting but I feel the 1974 750S incorporates the best of the V7 Sport and the improvements of the 850T (without the better rear drum brake of the T).

[swooshdave]

Was the 850T rear brake really for that model only? That would be a shame.

[canuck750]

Was the 850T rear brake really for that model only? That would be a shame.

Yes, pretty rare setup.

Common to see the 850T rear 2LS brake with cush drive swapped onto an Eldorado.

[Cam3512]

That backing plate was originally the Loopframe 2LS front with an added stud sticking out the bottom for the torque rod attachment.

Funny this should come up.  I had two people ask about the unused cable boss on my '74 V7 Sport's rear during last Sunday's ride.   Told 'em it was leftover on the shelf.  I didn't know it was the same as a loop's front plate.  Still learning!