Guzzi motor bike

Moto Guzzi is a Italian manufacturer of motor bikes.

Origins

The history of the Italian mark Motor bike-Guzzi starts rather sadly: three young people of extremely various origins, Giorgio Parodi, Giovanni Ravelli and Carlo Guzzi found themselves enlisted, at the time of the First World War, in same the Escadrille. It is there that they jointly projected to once launch out in the manufacture of motor bike S the finished hostilities.

But the destiny did not want that it is as follows: a few days before the end of the war, the Avion of Ravelli was cut down.

In remembering, Guzzi and Parodi adopted the eagle, symbol of their flotilla, as an emblem of the mark which bore the name of Guzzi. Parodi, which brought primarily the necessary financing to the starting of the business wanted, thus, to pay homage with the creative genius of his/her companion, without whom nothing had been possible.

Beginning of the production

It is on the edges of the Lac of Like, with Mandello del Lario, in 1921, which the day the first motor bike saw carrying the mark of “Motor bike-Guzzi”: one-cylinder horizontal at four times of 499 cm ³.

Although its provision marked the Guzzi production for a long time, the technical choices were extraordinarily modern since it was about a driving block and that he at the head had 4 Soupape S pulled by a Camshaft.

The first models of series, if they preserved the horizontal roll and the driving block, adopted a more traditional Distribution collapsed, which will establish the reputation of reliability of the mark.

This provision marked for a long time the production of Guzzi, which declined it in many cubic capacities. The innovations did not miss a side of the part cycles with, in particular, a motor bike entirely suspended as of 1928.

The competition

Whereas the motor bikes of production remained relatively traditional (except, in 1932, of a horizontal tricylindre of 500 cm ³), Motor bike-Guzzi showed an intense activity in competition, implementing, to this end, the first blower used for the motor bikes in 1950. The legend wants that this blower (always virtually operational but prohibited of use) could be used only the night under penalty of depriving all the town of current…

So the one-cylinder horizontal ones were also used, they were declined then into 250,350 or 500 cm ³, equipped with camshafts at the head simple or double, with 2 or 4 Valve S, possibly assisted compressing S volumetric.

Guzzi also adopted quite different solutions with one 4 transverse cylinder cooled by water (1931), a transverse tricylindre with 2 ACT (1932), a transverse twin-cylinder out of V with ACT (1933), a horizontal twin-cylinder parallel to 2 ACT (1947), one 4 longitudinal cylinder cooled by water (1952) and, not of organ, only the V8 really conceived for a motor bike in 1955. Right before the withdrawal of Motor bike-Guzzi of the competition. This technological vice makes it possible to classify Motor bike-Guzzi among the most prolific manufacturers who ever existed. It was not vain, since it made it possible the mark of Mandello to conquer many titles:

1949 : World champion 250 with Bruno Ruffo (7 Guzzi in the 10 first)
1950: Vice-champion of the World 250
1951: World champion 250 with Bruno Ruffo (8 Guzzi in the 10 first)
1952: World champion 250 with Lorenzetti (7 Guzzi in the 10 first)
1953: World champion 350 with Fergus Anderson and 21e with Lorenzetti
1954: World champion 350 with Fergus Anderson
1955: World champion 350 with Bill Lomas
1956: World champion 350 with Bill Lomas
1957: World champion 350 with Keith Campbell

… without forgetting many victories in GP 500 cm ³ and the 11 victories in Tourist Trophy over English ground, between 1935 and 1956 out of 250,350 and 500 cm ³!

The factory of Mandello adds up 3 thus; 329 victories over circuits, is almost 100 per annum between 1921 and 1957, and was 6 times world champion manufacturer.

2006 : Moto Guzzi returns victoriously in race thanks to MGS01-Corsa and Gianfranco Guareschi at the time of Battle Of Twins de Daytona of March, category Formula 1 and gains Super Italian Twin in October thanks to the same pilot and the same machine.
2007 : Gianfranco Guareschi renews its exploit of 2006 and gains again, in front of 40 000 spectators, the CLUB-FOOTED one of Daytona of category Formulated 1.

Personalities

Carlo Guzzi initiating of the mark with Giovani Ravelli and Giorgio Parodi. All 3 old of the Italian air force. It is the mechanic of the team. He dies in 1964 at the 75 years age.
Giovani Ravelli will not attend the birth of the mark because it was killed in an air crash shortly after the end of the First World War, but it was expected that he is the racing driver of the mark. The eagle Moto Guzzi is the emblem chosen with its memory.
Giorgio Parodi, pilot of the air, whose father will allow the financing of the project the end of the year 1920. He dies in 1955
Giulio Cesare Carcano, of 1936 to 1966, inventor of V8 and V2. Deceased in September 2005 after a new career of naval architect.
Umberto Todero entered in Moto Guzzi in 1939. Following the example Molière, it will leave it only with its death in February 2005.
Lino Tonti, entered in 1967 to replace Carcano, inventor of the framework of V7 Sport and small V50.
John Wittner, dentist American of his state, wizard be-Guzzi, highly skilled pilot-mechanic: he will be the craftsman of 1000 Daytona in company of Todero.

Difficulties and rebirth

In 1964, Carlo Guzzi dies and Enrico Parodi is with the head of the firm. Its choices will not be more judicious. Without counting the general stagnation whose the whole of the motorcylcist production was victim, victim of the competition of the small cars at low prices (FIAT 500, in Italy).

In 1966, Moto Guzzi is in bankruptcy and passes under the control of Istuto Mobiliare Italiano. Giulio Cesare Carcano is transfered: he will become naval architect then will die in September 2005 a few months after Umberto Todero.

So that in 1967, SEIMM, joint stock company, is created to save Motor bike-Guzzi. It is at that time that was born the V7, twin-cylinder out of V vis-a-vis the road, following a ministerial contest in order to equip the police force, and from which the engine resulted (according to the legend) from a kind of tractor with 3 wheels: the " mule mécanique" or " Tre-Tre". This model, whose descent is always produced currently, will be saving for the mark.

Meanwhile, in 1972, Alejandro De Tomaso acquire the mark, which will give the opportunity to see of Guzzi 400 and 250 to 4 cylinders. In fact of the Benelli recycled.

In 1986, the factory contacts John Wittner to ensure the development of the executives beam (spine standard) which will equip the future sporting ones with the mark: 1100 Sport, 1000 Daytona and V10 Centauro

In 1988, a reorganization of Guzzi Motor bike and Benelli leads to the creation of GBM Spa

1994 sees a new management in the person of Arnolfo Sacchi via Finprogetti Spa. It will rectify the accounts of Guzzi Motor bike. It is under its crook that arlésienne celebrates it was born: IP, equipped with engine 750 Tamper of the Israeli drones: engine with hemispherical combustion chamber and central camshaft, created by Umberto Todero and having passed of the infernal tests like turning 200 hours uninterrupted to 7000 trs/mn! This engine will be approved by the US Air Force and 650 will be sold with NATO between 1991 and 1995

In 1995, De Tomaso resigns. Group DTI (De Tomaso Industries) becomes the Trident Rowan Inc. dimensioned with New York Stock Exchange. Under bottom of reorganization (one moreover), Moto Guzzi France is created in 1997, making disappear the last independent French importer: the SDM. This year there, 360 Guzzi Motor bike are sold in France.

In 1999, Guzzi Motor bike held to 61% by the Trident Rowan Inc., amalgamates with Atlantic Acquisition Corp. to give rise to the Motor bike Guzzi Corporation.

In 2000, Aprilia (Ivano Beggio) repurchases Moto Guzzi after moultes advertisements. The reorganization (still one) will require the injection of 13 million Euros in 2003.

In 2004, Aprilia puts Moto Guzzi on sale. In May, the Italian banks inject 30 million Euros to make hold the Aprilia group vis-a-vis its creditors. There are nothing any more but 4.000 Guzzi which leaves the chains of Mandello…
The market " Publicche Administrazione" lost since 1998 returns thanks to Breva 750 Pa.

Piaggio takes again Moto Guzzi in September 2004.

In 2005, 7.000 machines will leave the chains of Mandello.

October 2006 sees the victory of Gianfranco Guareschi over the MGS in Super Italian Twin.

And on December 11th, 2006, the ten thousandths Moto Guzzi manufactured this year leaves the factories of Mandello. It is about one 1200 Sport.
The factory joins again with this number ever reached since 1998!

Marketed models

Moto Guzzi marketed many models of Cyclomoteur S and Motocyclette S. One counts to date nearly 240 models of engine machines (except planes and boats) of which civil and military tri-cars, protos, a motor bike equipped with skis (Cicognia), famous “the mule mécanique" and… 4 cultivators!

Among the most famous models, let us quote first V7 (700 cm ³), V7 Special (750), the 850 WP, the 850 California, with its airs of Harley Davidson, adopted by the American police force, V7 Sport, whose Mike Hailwood said that it had the best part cycles world, the 850 Mans, sporting, the 1 000 convert (with Torque converter), or V 50 of 1979, with oscillating Arm in Aluminum directly articulated with the Gear box which gave rise to all the range of the “ petites ” Guzzi, until current the 750.

Currently, the mark is completely concentrated on the derivative of V7 for the production of the " Large Blocs":

California 1100 : Classic, Touring, Vintage
Breva 850 and 1100
Griso 850 and 1100
Norge 1200
1200 Sport
MGS-01 Corsa

Except for the MGS-01 Corsa, block 4 valves 1200 resulting from the blocks Daytona, all the other blocks result from that of Breva 1100, dual ignition (except for the 850 - simple lighting)

In the series of the " Small Blocs" exit of a prototype containing V7 Sport, it does not remain any more but:

Breva 750
750 Nevada Classic

To come for mid 2007:

940 Custom renamed Bellagio for its effective exit (March 2007)
Norge 850
Griso 1200 8V

Small last presented on February 24th, 2007 to Berlin:

Stelvio 1200 : a trail placed concurrentiellement on the ground of the BMW R1200GS.

Thus, machines resulting from the era " pre-Piaggio" gradually disappeared, of which V11 which had seen reappearing the mark in 1999, causing quasi the stop of the production of mythical California to satisfy the request…

The list of the 1100 V11 is long: Sport, Rosso Mandello, Scura, Coffee Sport, Mans, Mans Rosso & Nero Corsa, Mans Tenni, Ballabio and Coppa Italia. As of the limited series as Scura R (was only born?), Special Sport TT and CF Edition, and V11 Playboy…

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