Anything special about the 850GT except the tank and fenders?

[brider]

I found what is purported to be an 850GT, with the only distinguishing features being the gas cap (flip-up) and chrome fenders. Has round tail light. The cool 2-tone seat is not there. Neither is any dash or gauges.

Was there anything else desirable or special about this model?

[Chuck in Indiana]

Didn't that have the 4 shoe front end?

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Cool colors!

[rodekyll]

Sidecover art.  I think the badge is unique to the model.

[Mike Harper]

The name Eldorado is a USA model name given to the European model 850GT which came to this country only when Chromed panel tanks were not available for a short while. The names Eldorado and Ambassador came from Michael Berliner who was the sole Importer of Guzzi's for the US market.

Same thing happened when Eldorado came with AMAL carbs for a short while. 

Nothing mysterious about the name or the bike itself.

[leafman60]

Didn't that have the 4 shoe front end?

Yes on the 4LS brakes.

Foot pegs, no boards.

Wish I had kept mine.



.

[brider]

This rascal has a Convert motor, G5 5-speed, EV rear end. Seat is from a Harley. Note the lack of analog speedo or any instruments, looks like there's a small digital speedo. Alternator (on a Convert? Something seems fishy...). Note the position of the footpegs, they look like they're just forward of the passenger position, and the brake and shifter pivot on the footpeg spindles:













Looks like '74 Disc Eldo front end with a dual disc, and some other compatible disc rear.

I am oddly attracted to it. Despite the Frankenstien-y aspect, it looks fairly straight and thought-out.

[Turin]

That looks like a T-3 / Convert front end with the forks flipped around. Might not even be a GT not that it matters... lotsa people have painted over chrome panels when the chrome goes bad.
As long as you like it, go for it!

[brider]

Might not even be a GT not that it matters...

True that. But it DOES have the gas cap and fenders characteristic of an 850GT, hence my original question.

Past that, I am curious now on the foot controls and how they pivot on the footpegs. I'm not aware of a Guzzi model that does this, especially the Loops. Look at the brake pedal: there are (2) anchor points for the M/C actuation rod...I have definitely never seen that on a Guzzi, but I am not as learned as many. Possibly an adaptation of some other brand. Looks perfectly functional, though.

[Tkelly]

my old bike was modified by Rod Revis to have better brakes ,handling ,and power than original.

[Tom]

Looks more like someone put the Eldo parts on a Convert/G5. 

[brider]

Looks more like someone put the Eldo parts on a Convert/G5.

Except that it's definitely a Loop frame. I looked closer at some stock Loops, and the pegs on this one have been moved back to the stock shifter/brake pivot points, not sure how they did that. The owner said the shifter IS in kind of an awkward position, and he didn't know the pegs were back too far until I mentioned it, but he said they feel comfortable.

I have a pic I'll post later of the brake pedal; it's either home-made or modified with some welding done.

But one other oddity I'll have to corner the owner on: He said it was a Convert engine, but the Convert had a dual-points dizzy, where this one has a single-points. I think it's an Eldo motor.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

But one other oddity I'll have to corner the owner on: He said it was a Convert engine, but the Convert had a dual-points dizzy, where this one has a single-points. I think it's an Eldo motor.

I've "converted" several Convert engines for use in Loops. Change the timing cover, add a crank adapter, drill and tap a few holes on top of the case, swap to the Loop distributor. To use the Loop single-point distributor in place of the dual-point timer, all one needs to do is swap the drive gear from the latter to the former. No biggie.

[brider]

...swap to the Loop distributor. To use the Loop single-point distributor in place of the dual-point timer, all one needs to do is swap the drive gear from the latter to the former. No biggie.

And the reason to utilize the Loop dizzy instead of the dual-point Convert dizzy is the ease of integrating the ignition back into the Loop system??

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

And the reason to utilize the Loop dizzy instead of the dual-point Convert dizzy is the ease of integrating the ignition back into the Loop system??

That, and only a single set of points to adjust, easier to time, looks cooler. 

[EldoMike]

I've "converted" several Convert engines for use in Loops. Change the timing cover, add a crank adapter, drill and tap a few holes on top of the case, swap to the Loop distributor. To use the Loop single-point distributor in place of the dual-point timer, all one needs to do is swap the drive gear from the latter to the former. No biggie.

Hey Charlie, where do you get the crank adapters?

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Hey Charlie, where do you get the crank adapters?

From Teo Lamers: http://shop.tlm.nl/en/adapter-crankshaft-t3-to-v7-130740601010-moto-guzzi