1 comments about Moto Guzzi Le Mans: Performance Portfolio 1976-1989 (Performance Portfolio).

1. very heavy on Round case Lemans
   needs more on Square case and customs
   but it is what it is clippings from magazines and I would never have found them on my own

No comments about Illustrated Moto Guzzi Buyer's Guide (Illustrated Buyer's Guide).

No comments about Heels & Wheels Model & Motorcycle Calendar 2008.

No comments about Moto Guzzi: Gold Portfolio 1949-1973 (Gold Portfolio).

5 comments about Moto Guzzi Big Twins (Motorcycle Color History).

1. Greg Field has given us another well-researched, beautiful book, which tells the story of motorcycles with their roots in farm implements, and their souls in the clouds. He brings Moto Guzzi motorcycles to life with stories from people such as Dr. John, little known historical facts, and photos which have never before been publicly shown. This is a book that any motorcyclist will enjoy. It reads like a novel, brought tears to my eyes, and I was hardly able to put it down.



2. This book is great, rare pictures, a little bit too short. The beginning of this book is fantastic a lot of details, amazing stuff the american motorcycles market. In one word, Great



3. Nice book about Guzzi's Twin models.
   A little American based though, but that gives me a different view to the Guzzi development in the US than you get from other books. Still the Italian point of view could have completed the otherwise very nice historical information.
   Pictures could have been a little better (more colours and detail).
   Don't expect in depth detail about each model, but general stories.
   Last version is dated 1998, so getting outdated.
   A nice book to have and to read.



4. I am researching older Guzzis (in order to buy one) and the book is a great resource. It mentions each model and what changes were made from year to year. It's been a great help figuring out what options are on each bike I'm considering buying.
   
   It answers most of the "what year did this model go from drum to disk brakes" type questions. In addition to technical parts, it's well written and tells a good story about the history of big twin Guzzis in the US. It pretty much ends with the newer OHC bikes, so it won't help much if you're looking for a 1999 model.



5. I've been into Italian bikes for 20 years, and Guzzi's for most of that time. I've got most of what's been written on them, and can quote you whole passages. Most of the histories are full of errors.
   
   Mr Field adopts a clever approach. Instead of letting his ego run wild making absolute statements he simply offers period photo's and quotes from key people. So instead of "this is how it as and if you disagree with me your an idiot" it's: "this is what I found this is where it came from, make up your own mind". Ironically, despite covering himself, he actually makes fewer errors than anyone else. In fact I can't think of a single thing that's actually wrong in the book.
   
   Loop frames are covered more completely than later models, but that's to be expected. Non us bikes are not covered well, also expected. You can't put everything into one book, it'd be 4" thick, and the work. It'd never be finished.
   
   Otherwise a superb book and fully recommended. 10/10.

No comments about Moto Guzzi Story: Racing and production models from 1921 to the present.

No comments about Moto-Guzzi 750, 850 and 1000 V-Twins Owners Workshop Manual, No. M339: '74-'78 (Owners Workshop Manual).

2 comments about Moto Guzzi Twins Restoration (Motorbooks Workshop).

1. This book is well done and has useful informantion but covers too many models to be helpful on specific models. It provides a good overview and outline procedure. I bought it to aid in the restoration of a 1973 850 Eldorado but there is little specific data on the early models. Most information seems to be on the T style Guzzis '74 to '85. Good book if you have or like Moto Guzzis but get a shop manual if you plan on doing an serious work. I have also ordered Guzziology which I've heard is excellent.



2. ...unfortunately, I own a small block Lario & there wasn't heaps in this volume for me.
   I was rather concerned at the antiquated system described for painting Guzzis. The days of using a brush & enamel are (hopefully) gone. There are suitable colour codes available for the older bikes & any good car painter should be able to match your paint. Also, the method of applying transfers as outlined, scared...me! In fact, it's easy & the newer paints don't hurt them at all.
   As the paint job is (arguably) the most important part of a restoration, I think more effort could hve gone into this aspect.

   I must admit, colour wiring diagrams would have been useful & worth a few extra sheckels to obtain.
   Hard to get it perfect, but still some useful detail between the covers.

3 comments about The Moto Guzzi Sport & Le Mans Bible.

1. 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.]



2. 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.



3. 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.

No comments about Moto Guzzi: The Complete History from 1921.