Riding the LeMans III

[leafman60]

Well, I received my new-to-me LeMans III (1983) yesterday. 

It's an interesting bike and is here mostly because it was an object of my intense desire back in 1983.  At the time, I succumbed to another one of those desires in the form of a 1981 Ducati 900SS instead. However, I would always sit on the red and the white LM III at my dealer and admire that big white Veglia tach.

This one is a nice example but I have a lot of R&R work ahead of me to get everything cleaned up and presentable in the condition I want.  It is pretty much 100 percent stock and I plan to keep it that way.

After checking all the fluids and adjustments, I took it out for a ride late in the afternoon.  As with other motorcycles of that era, riding it reminds you about how much smaller machines were made back then.

This is an 850 and, thinking about it, feels a lot like one of the current V7 series that have a similar sized engine. Power output of the LMIII seems to be about the same as the current V7 based on my seat of the pants dyno. It is no rocket ship but does okay.  The frame and steering geometry provide a steady ride that retains that stability in sharp curves.

I am satisfied. It is still an attractive machine to me and I still like that big white tach atop the instrument cluster.

[huub]

nice bike!
but either your seat of the pants dyno needs calibrating, or there is a lot of power in the le mans engine waiting to be unleashed.
a good modern V7 will reach 40 HP on a dyno, a le mans should reach 52 HP

i remember the original handbook saying "this motorcycle should be ridden in a sportsmanlike way"
wich means , anything below 6000 rpm is not really trying.   

[Northern Bill]

The first Le Mans I saw was in 1977 and I thought it was the most beautiful bike I had ever seen.  My opinion hasn't changed much, if at all,  since then. This last year or so when I decided to get a Le Mans I started looking at all the years.  I had never seen a Le Mans 3 until I bought the book Sport and Le Mans Bible.  That is when I started to really like the white Le Mans 3. From what I have read it seems that the 3 is the best of the bunch.  I hope to see one in the flesh one day and maybe even have a ride on one.  It looks like you have a beauty there.

[leafman60]

nice bike!
but either your seat of the pants dyno needs calibrating, or there is a lot of power in the le mans engine waiting to be unleashed.
a good modern V7 will reach 40 HP on a dyno, a le mans should reach 52 HP

i remember the original handbook saying "this motorcycle should be ridden in a sportsmanlike way"
wich means , anything below 6000 rpm is not really trying.   

Yes, I kept the tach mostly between 6k and redline. 

Also, this bike is completely stock- stock quiet mufflers and airbox. I am sure I could get more from it but that is not why I bought it.

My assessment of power, again, was subjective and based on how the new V7 felt to me.  This bike is a good handler but is not going to give anyone whiplash from intense acceleration.   

 

[leafman60]

The first Le Mans I saw was in 1977 and I thought it was the most beautiful bike I had ever seen.  My opinion hasn't changed much, if at all,  since then. This last year or so when I decided to get a Le Mans I started looking at all the years.  I had never seen a Le Mans 3 until I bought the book Sport and Le Mans Bible.  That is when I started to really like the white Le Mans 3. From what I have read it seems that the 3 is the best of the bunch.  I hope to see one in the flesh one day and maybe even have a ride on one.  It looks like you have a beauty there.

Yes, it is a very attractive machine.

I LIKE THE LE MANS.

[swooshdave]

Nice bike! Looks... familiar... 

Can you tell if it's been resprayed?

[harrytief]

Just Gorgeous!
Congratulations!
Harry

[guzzisteve]

How do you like that nice soft seat? I lost a passenger off the back of mine from downshifting then WFO, saw his feet go up past my head. Showing an Airhead guy the reason I ride Guzzi's.  One of these years it'll be back on the road.

[leafman60]

Nice bike! Looks... familiar... 

Can you tell if it's been resprayed?

At first glance it all looks legit, Dave.

[leafman60]

How do you like that nice soft seat? I lost a passenger off the back of mine from downshifting then WFO, saw his feet go up past my head. Showing an Airhead guy the reason I ride Guzzi's.  One of these years it'll be back on the road.

haha

Yes, the seat is certainly - sporty.

And, yes, it will outrun my BMW airheads of the era.

I am impressed at how compact the bike is.  It is about a narrow as my N Falcone.  Very tight design.

[Groover]

Very classy, congrats!

[Chuck in Indiana]

Mmmmm, a 5/4 scale Monza..  I like all the LeMans series, but the white LM3 is my favorite. <looking over shoulder to make sure the Scura doesn't see this..>

[Trogladyte]

Stunning.

I love the Le Mans III. I had one for about 15 years, and loved it intensely. I had assumed we would grow old together, but an unfortunate meeting in a Brixton bus lane killed it. The engine went on to power a three wheeled car. It looked like yours except it was red, missing the wings, and had a matt black Lafranconi system. I also had a high compression 950 kit, 40mm Del Orto pumpers, gear timing and an extended sump. It had a fair bit of grunt, and was loveable beyond reason.

Enjoy yours. its a true Gentleman hooligan's ride.

oh, and surely these are good for 70 BHP, aren't they?

[lucian]

It's beautiful, congrats. Love the white ones.

[Kev m]

Gorgeous

[alanp]

Beautiful bike.  My first Guzzi was a white Lemans III just like that.  Great machine!

[canuck750]

Congratulations!

I think the white Le Mans bikes are the best looking, even better than the ice blue first generations Le Mans.

[twowings]

What a sweetheart! You done good...

[Guzzistajohn]

What a lucky man. I'd like to ride one of those old Le- man's someday

[leafman60]

Ok, guys.  Guess what.  Today I discovered a problem apparently with the throttle cables that explains the performance assessment I had from yesterday's first ride!

Looks like maybe the shipper got a hook on the cables and crimped one or both of them. Seems like there was a catch in the throttle pull yesterday.  Well, today there was a snap and everything broke loose and seems like I have 30% more throttle pull! I will have to check it out more closely.

Feels like I picked up about 20 HP!

That thing is a different machine now.  I did about 100 miles on it and several times had it up into triple digits.

I am impressed.

[swooshdave]

Nice. Cheapest 30hp in the history of hp.

[Matteo]

Sounds more like it. Mine outperforms any  V7 I have ridden, including on the track.

[AH Fan]

Yup........... that's pretty.
Congrats.   

[Chuck in Indiana]

Sounds more like it. Mine outperforms any  V7 I have ridden, including on the track.

Uh.. yeah. A LeMans should smoke a V7..

[JJ]

Fabulous bike!  CONGRATS!  You will enjoy riding and doting over it!  :1:

[leafman60]

My friends all make fun of me.  I regularly say that I am SELLIN not BUYING.

I do have more motorcycles than I (sometimes) think I want.

Then, something like this LeMans comes up and here I am buying another. 

I am very satisfied with it and it is doing a good job of scratching a 34-year-old itch that I've had.

[steven c]

 I am not big on white bikes but the III just works in white. I had the red one with a Corbin seat and super bike bars which made it all day rider.

[bigbikerrick]

Well, Its re assuring to hear that you got the throttle sorted. I was going to say, that Le Mans should be way faster and torquier than a  smallblock V7.... I know my LM IV  has a displacement advantage, but it is a hairy chested beast in every way !
Rick

[kevdog3019]

Beautiful bike. Good to hear it's running right now. No way a big block is going to feel like a SB V7... especially in grunt factor. You're going to have some fun on that beast.

[leafman60]

Getting to know it.

Pegged throttle in second gear will slide you back on the seat, third will take you up to 100 at redline, fourth puts you at 120 when the red matches up and fifth carries you on home.  Duck your head and hold on.