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The Moto Guzzi Sport & Le Mans Bible |  | Author: Ian Falloon
Publisher: Veloce
Category: Book
New (11) Used (9) from $32.42
Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 554772
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 160
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.9
Dimensions (in): 9.9 x 8.4 x 0.8
ISBN: 184584064X
Dewey Decimal Number: 629.2275
EAN: 9781845840648
ASIN: 184584064X
Publication Date: June 30, 2007
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Product Description
The Moto Guzzi V7 Sport and Le Mans are iconic sporting motorcycles of the 1970s and 1980s. They were amongst the first Superbikes to combine Italian style, handling and performance. After struggling to survive during the 1960s, Lino Tonti was given the opportunity to create the V7 Sport Telaio Rosso, in 1971. This was so successful that Moto Guzzi again began to concentrate on building sporting motorcycles. When Alessandro de Tomaso acquired the company the future for Moto Guzzi twins looked bleak until the 850 Le Mans was released in 1975. Like the V7 Sport, the Le Mans was a class leading sporting motorcycle and continued into production throughout the 1980s. After the Le Mans II of 1978, Le Mans III of 1980, the Le Mans IV of 1984, and the Le Mans V of 1988, although no longer a cutting edge sports bike, the final Le Mans successfully managed to combine traditional attributes with modern conveniences. Covering the period 1971-1993 and all models (V7 Sport, 750S, 750S3, 850 Le Mans, 850 Le Mans II, 850 Le Mans III, 1000 Le Mans IV, 1000 Le Mans V) and with description of model development year by year, full production data and 150 photos this is a highly informative book and an essential Bible for enthusiasts. |
| Customer Reviews:
 Tonti-ism January 17, 2008
Thomas C. Poff
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I rode a Moto Guzzi Ambassador for 20 years. I had always wanted a Lemans III. So I bought one. Then I bought a Lemans 1000. And then a Lemans I. I miss the Lemans III the most when I'm not on it. Anyway-
So when this book came out this year I had to have it. It is a good read. I enjoyed the information about Lino Tonti the most, coupled with the Aermacchi book by Mick Walker. Together they rounded out a larger part of the Italian bike story than I anticipated. It is great that so much attention is being paid to these bikes again.
The information on the Demaso bikes is interesting. Having most of the Lemans bikes to ride I'm always interested to hear people slander the Lemans 1000. This book does it's share of that. I enjoy riding the Lemans III a lot, but ironically consider the Lemans 1000 to be a better bike! So go figure. The author of the book "Guzziology" also seems to agree with me. I suppose I will look for a Lemans IV/SE after reading this book just to understand the power/handling of a Lemans 1000 with the 18" front rim.
In a nutshell the Lemans I has a wild feel [while riding] and a wild look to it. It's uncomfortable, but in a very very charming way. Basically you probably don't want to ride a Lemans I on a busy freeway.
The Lemans III rides like a Lemans I with more comfort and [perhaps psychological] stability. The Lemans IV has considerably more power with the bigger engine and 40 mm carbs, etc. They Lemans bikes are all easily 110-130 mph bikes with a measure of reliability that is unparalleled. There. That's what I think Falloon might have left out of the book.
 Essential Reading for Guzzi Fans December 21, 2007
Bjorn A. Stumer (San Rafael, ca USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Great book with tons of history and loads of pictures. Not too technical, but essential reading for the enthusiast and for the lucky ones, such as myself, who own one of these fabulous machines.
For lovers of the vintage Guzzi sporters! September 1, 2007
Bruce Brodnax (Lost Angeles, somewhere out in the smog)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This work is a well-written, fairly comprehensive overview of the classic Moto Guzzi big-block sport models. As such, it can seem a little dry & technical at times, due to its focus on only specific models within the range of Guzzi models offered over a 20 year span of time. For the reader searching for a broader coverage of Moto Guzzi's model history, author Ian Falloon's other title The Moto Guzzi Story: Racing and Production Models From 1921 to the Present Day tho' becoming dated by virtue of its late '90s copyright, would be a better choice.
However, for aficionados of the Tonti-framed sporting Guzzi, this book is a must! Despite the sort of occasional typos that are common to any 1st printing, the overall quality of the book and the obviously extensive research behind it are evident. I strongly recommend it as an addition to Greg Field's Moto Guzzi Big Twins for any Moto Guzzi fan's bookshelf. The nature of the two books is complementary: Greg's book truly spends most of its time focusing on the later 80s & 90s developments by Dr. John Wittner & others leading to the Guzzi big blocks of today, while most of the focus of Ian's book is in the early development period at the end of the 60s & thru the 70s, w/ just model change details for the later 80s & end-of-line 90s models. And of course, there is duplicate material shared by both, since they must perforce cover the same history where the periods & models overlap. For any real Guzzi fan, neither alone will be enough, while both together are enough that anything else, esp. the Mick Walker books plagued by their factual faults, may prove unnecessary. [NB: Mick's books do have some great historical photographs, many of which I haven't seen anywhere else; but I have found his factual data is often not to be trusted.]
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