Tuesday 18 June 2013

1300cc water-cooled Moto Guzzi Le Mans for 2015?



Though the pic above is from the Terreblanche/Galluzzi concepts built a couple of years back, could it represent what a future Moto Guzzi Le Mans 1300 could look like?

It's always entertaining when a bit of news comes out from somewhere and then all the rumours start. It's already common knowledge that Moto Guzzi are now working on a 1300cc motor for next year which will be - shock horror - water cooled! OK, so the pic above is from the set of the concept bikes

Now, according to automotoscooter.it, (and there's no way we can check if this is true or not), this motor will also be used in a version of the legendary Le Mans model, or name at least. It'll still be the Guzzi V twin, but with twin cams and four valves per cylinder, and water cooling, allowing the motor to produce around 140bhp. Guzzi fans are always clamouring for a fast sports model, having had a glimpse of what might have been, or could still be, with the beautiful MGS-01. The same source also reckons that this would be the end of the line of the 8V motor, currently found in the Griso, Stelvio and Norge models.

The motor is apparently being worked on by Federico Martini, who is Piaggio's (remember, Piaggio own Moto Guzzi..) Head Technical Manager.

People talk about the end of the classic air-cooled V twin Guzzi, but this is unlikely, at least for some time - don't think they would just drop the V7 retro range after flogging so many of them. So does this mean that the 1400cc motor will be scrapped after just a year? Also unlikely, as sales of the Calfornia 1400 are going well in the USA.

We'll keep our ears to the ground and report any more we come across.


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