Oddly alluring!
Every month we take a look at the classic motorcycle market with a range of industry experts. This month, Paul Jayson from The Motorcycle Broker and our very own Scott Redmond look at the quirky but attractive bikes we often fall in love with.
The Moto Guzzi Le Mans (or lemon) Mk II is not the one to own, but it’s still a great bike and weirdly arousing.
Of course, the one to own is the Mk I and even the very early red framed rare pre-mk I at around £17,000. But if you haven’t got around £12,500 to spend, you can settle for the Mk II and have some change from £10,000. It’s all about the motor, Italian quirks and exotica. It will surprise you every time you ride it. Will it start? Will it spit you off in a corner because you failed to match the engine revs with the gear as you pitch into a corner? Will the clutch be in the ‘on’ or ‘off’ position and will you want it in whichever position it has decided to be in at that moment? It is like a quirky-looking woman who is mercurial and fiery: the sex can be phenomenal, but you could be thrown off and see a blade crashing into your heart at any moment! Having said all of that, why would you want one? The motor looks incredible and the bike is built around that motor. It has bags of torque and can take a bit of a thrashing, once warmed up. The shaft drive on these does cause quirky handling and the clutch has no slip factor, just on or off. The electrics are, well, 1970s Italian. Need we say any more? But the same is true of the pre Mk I and Mk I also. So it’s really just all down to the styling, oh and a linked braking system. The Mk II has a linked rear brake, so when you press the rear brake lever, the rear brake operates and the front right disc operates at 75/25% in favour of the front brake. The front left disc is operated from the front brake lever. It also has a rectangular headlight (just like Yamaha’s XS1100, or the Austin Allegro steering wheel, how very 1978). The handlebar fairing messes up the lines and the mirrors are a very cheap after-thought (again, how very 1978). But, it has great character, charm and charisma in spite of all of its faults: just (in fact) like the Mk I. Now if you were to remove the headlight and replace it with a round one and remove the fairing (and replace it with a Mk I item, or no fairing at all) then this machine would look stunning. The late 1970s and early 80s weren’t very kind to motorcycle design, or any other design for that matter and, to be honest, the Guzzi Le Mans got off lightly. So this quirky motorcycle can deliver great fun, draw attention and is a rideable classic. With a little bit of gentle, low-cost tweaking it can look incredible. But whatever you decide to take off, it’s always advisable to keep it in a box, so you can put it back to original when the time comes to sell it on, if you so choose. These machines are quirky, take quite a bit of getting used to and can be temperamental. Will they increase in value and are they a great place to park your hard earned cash? Yes, I think they will increase in value, especially as people temporarily re-style them without drastic surgery. They sound fantastic and, once you get to know them, they handle very well. Due to the riding position, they are not great for long journeys as the cylinders get in the way of your knees and the low ace bars create quite a stretch to the handlebars. But once you understand where its limitations lie, I think this motorcycle is a blast and great fun: just like your mercurial, fiery lover…