Riding the LeMans III

[Guzzistajohn]

Are you going by the 34 y/o Guido made speedo?

[leafman60]

Are you going by the 34 y/o Guido made speedo?

haha

GPS

But the speedo isn't too far off.

[Guzzistajohn]

haha

GPS

But the speedo isn't too far off.

Mine was 5 or 6 proud of reality at 80 to 85

[Guzzistajohn]

Does that mean its 10% fast rather than 15%?

GPS  I'll swan!

:-)

The position of that needle doesn't mean that much when you're flogging an old LeMans and grinning ear to ear does it Mr. Carmack?

[Guzzistajohn]

Yeah, but when your easing down the slab indicating 80 but being passed by smart cars!! its embarrassing!

:-)

Hate it when that happens!

[leafman60]

This thing is just loping along in 5th at 80.

.

[Trogladyte]

So what BHP should a standard Le Mans III make?

[JJ]

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.

I get the same BS from my all motorcycle buddies.   

I have owned / ridden 33 bikes in 50 years...but oh well! I like trying different brands / models / bikes etc. 

Now just down to two...the Yellow Horse (my '98 Centauro GT...and my /14 Victory Vision Tour) :1:  Both fun bikes..and keepers for now....especially the Guzzi...but I am planning on getting another one of these days.

[Guzzistajohn]

Yeah, but when your easing down the slab indicating 80 but being passed by smart cars!! its embarrassing!

:-)

I was running across Nebraska in about 1994 on the cx100 running 80 by the speedo and a Yugo blew my 🚪 doors 🚪 With three corn 🌽 fed Nebraska girls inside

[Matteo]

I had the pleasure of being passed by a maxiscooter once while I was cruising around 80.

[JJ]

Here is my old, restored 1983 850 LM-III, in its prime, which I rode in NORCAL for 5 1/2 years. 

It was a fun bike and sounded great!

I thought it was relatively fast for a vintage bike (about 70 HP), until my Guzzi friend "Frenchy" walked away from me on the San Mateo Bridge ...on a 70 mph top gear roll-on challenge...like I was standing still!!   

He was on his new 2007 Griso

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

The Le Mans III is my least favorite of the series. The riding position causes all sorts of aches and pains on any more than a 50 mile ride. The Le Mans 850 ("Mk 1") or 1000 ("Mk IV" or "V") - no problem - just something about the III that doesn't agree with me. <shrug>

[Chuck in Indiana]

The Le Mans III is my least favorite of the series. The riding position causes all sorts of aches and pains on any more than a 50 mile ride. The Le Mans 850 ("Mk 1") or 1000 ("Mk IV" or "V") - no problem - just something about the III that doesn't agree with me. <shrug>

Everyone's different. <shrug>  For instance, I can't ride a Ducati Monster any distance for whatever reason. Just something about the ergonomics makes my neck hurt.

[Guzzistajohn]

My III <shrug> has some real<shrug> handlebars. I would have a pain in the neck too with the original <shrug> bars. I just like to run that 850 motor. 

[Chuck in Indiana]

I just like to run that 850 motor. 

After all, that's what a motorcycle is all about..as far as I'm concerned. <trying hard not to shrug> 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

My III <shrug> has some real<shrug> handlebars. I would have a pain in the neck too with the original <shrug> bars. I just like to run that 850 motor. 

I remember "back in the day" (red suspenders snapping), both Mike Tiberio and Shelby Kenard put "real" handlebars on their LM IIIs. I would need to do the same, plus change the seat.

[guzzisteve]

The seat is like riding on a 4x4 but I put 50K mi on mine. When I moved to GA I rode mine twice to IL w/stock clip ons. The bike has always fit me just right. 
When I tore up the 1st stock rear drive at 15K I installed an 8/35 R&P w/lasted 35K and was the best kick to ride. The older case had to have the webbing cut out to make room for the bigger pinion gear.
What breaks is the splines on the shaft & pinion. Speed shifting tears them right off. I have 3 boxs w/different gearing in ea for the next go around. Still working on rear wheel now. Have to straiten the frame yet too. Been 10yrs sittin on the shelves waitin on cash.

[JJ]

The seat is like riding on a 4x4 but I put 50K mi on mine. When I moved to GA I rode mine twice to IL w/stock clip ons. The bike has always fit me just right.  r
When I tore up the 1st stock rear drive at 15K I installed an 8/35 R&P w/lasted 35K and was the best kick to ride. The older case had to have the webbing cut out to make room for the bigger pinion gear.
What breaks is the splines on the shaft & pinion. Speed shifting tears them right off. I have 3 boxs w/different gearing in ea for the next go around. Still working on rear wheel now. Have to straiten the frame yet too. Been 10yrs sittin the shelves waitin on cash.

The stock seat on the LM-III is without a doubt...one of the least comfortable seats in all of motorcycling! (LOL)  It truly is like a 4 x 4!!  Solution? The Stucchi-Luigi Comfort Seat...made for the LM-III - - LOOK at my photos again...best investment for that bike I ever made!! 

Also, I got rid of the stock clips-ons and added a set of straight, standard Superbike bars. Big improvement...and with the Agostini rear-sets...comfortable for long trips!

[Guzzistajohn]

After all, that's what a motorcycle is all about..as far as I'm concerned. <trying hard not to shrug> 

I'm more gearhead than Guzzi preservationist

[Matteo]

Lookin good John, but we do need more pictures

[steven c]

 When I had my III i put KN super bike bars on it and a Corbin Gunfighter made it all day rideable. I preferred the III over my 77 LeMans I have now. I have the parts to convert the 77 over to handle bars but haven't gotten around to it.

[Guzzistajohn]

Lookin good John, but we do need more pictures

All day yesterday : )

[Matteo]

John. If I may ask, what bars did you use, is the dash the original and I assume you had to use longer control cables?

[Guzzistajohn]

John. If I may ask, what bars did you use, is the dash the original and I assume you had to use longer control cables?

Bars? I don't know. just bars. Dash? just ditched the old POS (I think) dash and went Speedhut. Works really nice. Cables? yep longer, but no speedo or tach to deal with anymore! And I get elevation, direction, time, 0-60 and 1/4 mile speed and top speed overall.

Also gained a modern headlight that actually lights up the road at night, (strange concept I know)

John S

[Chuck in Indiana]

You know what would be really kool? Integrate that bad boy into the headlight shell..

[Guzzistajohn]

You know what would be really kool? Integrate that bad boy into the headlight shell..

That would be cool but I'm done wrenchin' on this one for awhile. Time to ride. I'm about to pull the 71 Bultaco out of the lawnmower shed and freshen her up for my next project.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I have a soft spot for Bultacos.. 

[JJ]

I have a soft spot for Bultacos.. 

THIS is the Bultaco I always wanted...the legendary 2-stroke 250cc Metralla!!  :1:

[Guzzistajohn]

THIS is the Bultaco I always wanted...the legendary 2-stroke 250cc Metralla!!  :1:

YES! the Metralla is one be-utiful machine, I still have a Sherpa I bought new in 1976 and the 71

[Chuck in Indiana]

You could have one, guys. There's a guy advertising a Mark2 Metralla for only 12 large as we type..