Description
Unless you are in your late fifties or older it may be difficult to understand just how important and significant the launch of the Moto Guzzi Le Mans was back in 1976. It had first seen the light of day the previous year at the Milan Show and caused something of a stir. Moto Guzzi had, in one fell swoop, totally changed the profile of their famous V-twin machines to something that looked like a true road burner. The abbreviated seat that climbed up the rear of the tank, the tank itself with what looked like arm rest pressings, a fairing for crying out loud, a matte black exhaust system and dropped handlebars. Almost overnight Moto Guzzi had suddenly ceased to be a quirky little Italian manufacturer and had morphed into a real threat to the status quo. Here was an Italian motorcycle capable of giving Japan’s best a run for their money. And when the bikes arrived at the dealers in the UK those lucky enough to blag a test ride came back burbling almost incoherently about the machine’s speed and handling. Already well known for its ‘on-rails’ road-holding the company now had a motor to exploit its very best capabilities. The Le Mans was said to deliver 81bhp and be capable of 134mph.
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