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This 106-HP Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans II Flexes 1,064cc of Aftermarket Muscle

The Madrid-based enterprise we’re visiting today has been founded in 1994.
Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans II 6 photos
Photo: Classic Co.
Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans IIMoto Guzzi 850 Le Mans IIMoto Guzzi 850 Le Mans IIMoto Guzzi 850 Le Mans IIMoto Guzzi 850 Le Mans II
Ever since the company’s birth, the Classic Co. crew stacked up on as many as 200 two-wheeled undertakings, including flawless restorations and full-blown custom ventures that’ll leave you truly lost for words. Additionally, the Spanish moto experts took part in countless racing events since the company was founded, and that comes across as a clear indication of their passion for mechanical predators.

Without going into any other details, it seems perfectly reasonable to assume these folks know what they’re doing. Take, for instance, this heavily modified (and barely recognizable) 1981 Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans II, a majestic display of bespoke artwork that looks prepared to devour the racetrack. Mandello del Lario’s classic superstar packs an 844cc longitudinally mounted 90-degree V-twin mill within its duplex cradle frame in stock form.

Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans II
Photo: Classic Co.
The air-cooled warrior prides itself with a respectable compression ratio of 10.2:1 and two valves per cylinder head. At about 7,700 rpm, this nasty animal develops 73 ponies and a solid torque output of 56 pound-feet (76 Nm) at 6,500 rpm. The Italian beast feeds its oomph to a shaft final drive by means of a five-speed transmission, allowing the Guzzi to accelerate from zero to 62 mph (100 kph) in 5.2 seconds. Finally, the 1981 Le Mans boasts a top speed of 125 mph (201 kph).

Sure enough, this bad boy was a genuine wonder of its time, but transforming an ordinary Le Mans into a modernized race-ready predator is no walk in the park, mind you. To achieve this glorious feat, Spain’s gurus kicked things off by honoring the V-twin powerplant with a downright dazzling makeover. For starters, they fiddled with its construction to bring about a four-digit displacement figure: 1,064cc, to be precise.

For optimal performance, the engine received a tasty selection of fresh internals, such as an aftermarket camshaft, Porsche valve springs, and a high-compression piston kit from Asso. CC disposed of the stock Dell’Orto carburetors to make room for 44-mm (1.73-in) Lectron alternatives, topped with premium velocity stacks. By rounding things out with a top-shelf exhaust system from Lafranconi’s catalog, the crew managed to extract a whopping 106 horses at the rear wheel, which is rather staggering.

Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans II
Photo: Classic Co.
Next, the factory frame was discarded in favor of a unique chromoly structure that uses the engine as a stressed member. For a modest yet track-efficient increase of the machine’s wheelbase, the same material was used to manufacture a one-off swingarm module. The creature rolls on a pair of lightweight EPM magnesium hoops, with a diameter of 18 inches on both ends. Suspension duties are handled by high-grade Marzocchi forks up front and fully adjustable shock absorbers at the rear.

As for cosmetics, the stallion was blessed with a complete fiberglass outfit that looks seriously rad. It consists of a muscular tail section and one sexy gas tank sitting atop the custom frame, as well as a new front fender and a gorgeous belly pan. The finishing touch is a retro-style front fairing that wraps around the bike’s handlebars and Marzocchi fork legs. As a result of this whole ordeal, the Le Mans experienced a draconian weight reduction of almost 80 lbs (36 kg). Thus, it’ll now tip the scales at a mere 353 lbs (160 kg).
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About the author: Silvian Secara
Silvian Secara profile photo

A bit of an artist himself, Silvian sees two- and four-wheeled machines as a form of art, especially restomods and custom rides. Oh, and if you come across a cafe racer article on our website, it’s most likely his doing.
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