Coffee Ride on a 1972 Moto Guzzi Eldorado

Coffee Ride on a 1972 Moto Guzzi Eldorado
Hello everyone,
I'm hoping to have some cul-de-sac visit videos soon, but thought you might like this little ride out on a fabulous 1972 Moto Guzzi Eldorado. Thank you so much Steve for allowing me to ride your bike for a coffee morning ride. It was tons of fun! I really enjoyed riding your bike. I've enjoyed these bikes for a number of years since watching KZbin videos of Ewan McGregor's motorcycle restoration.
The bike handled really well. It's a very smooth and comfortable ride. The writing position is different to what I'm used to, but very easy to ride. Similarly, the "heel/toe" gear shift change it was different, but very easy to use after some helpful hints from Steve.
Here's a link to the video of Steve's recent "Foggy" Monster visit to the cul-de-sac:
• 2002 Carl Fogarty Edit...
Here's a link to Dave's visit to the cul-de-sac on his 1970 Moto Guzzi Ambassador 750 in 2020 during the incredible Oregon wildfires:
• 1970 Moto Guzzi Ambass...
Here's a link to a couple of videos by a really cool company called Cycle Garden showing Ewan McGregor's motorcycle restoration:
Moto Guzzi V7 Ambassador tank restoration with Ewan McGregor in HD
• Moto Guzzi V7 Ambassad...
Restoring Ewan McGregors Moto Guzzi Ambassador in HD:
• Restoring Ewan McGrego...
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www.buymeacoff...
a huge thank YOU in advance 🙏
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[@TheMightyGarage]

Ciao a tutti, I have a few cul-de-sac videos still in the works, but in the meantime I hope you will enjoy this ride on another great classic bike... I'm expecting more comments about my pronunciation of Moto Guzzi than anything else 😉🇮🇹

[@ulisserossin1770]

Your pronunciation is perfect!

[@Jaysqualityparts]

Side shimmy is from the crankshaft rotation of the motor and it’s cool as hell.

[@williamharring5536]

Eldarodos a beautiful bike!!! A piece of history!!!!! Back in the day good touring bikes!!! Heavy !!!!! Enjoyed video!!!!! Take care Mike!!! Big D area!!!

[@TheMightyGarage]

Hi William, I hope all is well. It's very nice to hear from you. I'm glad you enjoyed this ride video. I thoroughly enjoyed the Moto Guzzi. It was a ton of fun. Best wishes, Mike

[@KymHammond]

Nice to see all the Moto Guzzi riders and owners past and present come out on this one, Mike. I knew you had a following. I hope you get another chance to ride it again through some nice long twisties, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that the faster it goes and the smoother it handles with just a simple twist more of the throttle all that bottom-end power is still just there. It’s like a high speed tractor. Honda managed to capture some of that Guzzi magic in their ST1100 & ST1300 Pan Europeans and then in the CX500 & Turbo CX650 - all great engineered bikes, but nothing beats a Guzzi at being a Guzzi, and I’m sure the Italians wouldn’t have it any other way.

[@basdebruin2355]

For what it is worth… I own two Guzzi’s. Both altered to what I like and what comforts me. Both with a Cali origine. For me, the Eldorado is the most beautiful bike there is. The maximum ‘zen’ of riding a bike. Wish I had one… but happy with what I own.

[@shedbuzzard2579]

There’s no hiding the enjoyment in your voice, it must be a fantastic bike to ride.

[@leonobrega1418]

The Eldorado is just a stunning bike. I got a v7 and love it but that might be the best Moto Guzzi ever.

[@agnosturaelwsr]

There's nothing like a Guzzi! I've had three Guzzi's and right now I have a BMW. The BMW is great, good ride but its not a Guzzi. So the BMW will be replaced. Eldorado is a nice one, if I can find an ok project it might be one of those. I've had the 1976 Le Mans, 1985 1000 Le Mans and the 1989 1100 Sport. Also the new V100 Mandello is tempting....hmmm

[@geneahart5607]

Your pronunciation is correct, unlike many English speaking people's. Great video!

[@havok531]

As a Moto Guzzi owner/rider I truly appreciated this video. Thanks much!

[@JRondeauYUL]

You made my day. I used to have a cycle world centerfold of the Eldorado on the wall of my bedroom, during my college and university years back in the ´70s. It was an iconic bike for me. Thanks guys ! 👋

[@metman3]

Great to see you on the Eldorado, Mike! One of my favorite bikes! The smile on your face when you stopped at See See says it all. I had those same grips on my 67 125 Guzzi. Wonderful to have mates that are willing to share their bikes with you. Cheers! 🏍👍

[@bokarlsson1027]

Nice video..and bike..remember them as popular touring bikes in the 70s. Even BMW....love italian bikes. Remember I saw and heard!!! a laverda jota back then😍..never forget that....🇸🇪

[@Guitarooster52]

Love the Guzzi! They have so much character.

[@benjib8663]

The “side shimmy” isn’t due to shaft drive; it’s due to the longitudinal crankshaft.

[@TheMightyGarage]

Thanks a lot. I didn’t realize that until Steve told me. Cheers, Mike

[@henryhawk978]

Enjoyed the video. Eldorado is a nice bike. Friend on another channel main ride is a 72 Eldo. He's ridden it all over Canada, paved, dirt ,gravel, it doesn't matter. Ride safe!

[@daviddavies5125]

Hi Mike, Always had a soft spot for Italian bikes.Sports Motorcycles in Manchester had all the exotica Le Mans,Jota and 900ss etc.Happy days.Your Moto Guzzi pronunciation is correct by the way!

[@michaelcase8574]

In the 70s I test drove a new Bonneville and a Commando but they were out of my budget so I "settled" for a used Motto Guzzi Ambasador. Stock bars right side gear and dry clutch. I loved that bike! I now ride a 2004 Guzzi Breva. Same basic engine and transmission and drive train and dry clutch. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Thanks for the video Mike.

[@Johan-vk5yd]

That Guzzi valve ticking was very similar on my small Stornello. Upshifting downwards felt very comfortable and natural, and quick. I had the 850 T on a poster in my teen-age room, but that upgrade remained a dream.

[@ianmills669]

Wonderful! I owned one exactly the same as that. A very comfortable mile eater! I've stuck with the marque,I own a 1988 le mans 1000 and a 2001 California Stone. Love your videos. Cheers from South Australia.

[@TheMightyGarage]

Thank you very much for sharing, Ian! Best wishes, Mike

[@johnmcclain3887]

Thanks for sharing this, Mike, it's always a pleasure taking a ride with you. I've always admired Moto Guzzi's, when I had my Ducati 250, I used to go to a little shop in Chicago, that was the only place for my parts, and there was a Guzzi and a Laverda in the shop for years, begging me to get on them. They are very much the Italian BMW for the road.

[@edwinthompson159]

Owned tons of different bikes, never had a Guzzi, always wanted to try one, never had a chance to ride one - seems like a different experience. Some pretty roads you were on.

[@tadpoles10]

Good morning Mike & Steve, sharing an early morning 'ride out' in similar weather here, can you believe it all be it from my desk chair. As you approached the bend on the outward trip I thought, 'this is where that' & you flagged it, the car spin wrong side of the road. Nice to experience a 'different' ride thanks to Steve. Have a great week, atvb t .. 👍.. 🏍

[@SPSteve]

Great video, Mike, thanks for the ride along! I bought a new 2022 Moto Guzzi V7 Special a couple months ago and I'm really enjoying the bike. I'm retired and it was the right bike for this time in my life. I'd love to get a vintage BMW in a year or two, like you mentioned about being nice to have a button, it'll need one of those.

[@Kevin-cy9cv]

That's a cool cruising bike, with a great name, it almost looks like it was made to have a screen fitted, like the police.

[@nsanemx72]

Generator light should go off once engine is brought above idle unless he has an alternator conversion or the light is wired wrong

[@Wedget]

Hey Mike, awesome video as usual mate, I own a 1971 Ambassador and without a doubt ( my opinion only) is the most comfortable and well behaved Guzzi I own, and the cool factor is unbelievable, a 1971 bike which can be ridden massive miles day after day in 2022 and still put a smile on my dial👍✌️

[@TheMightyGarage]

Many thanks for your great note. I really appreciate it. Yes, I know what you mean. I can see how you would fall in love with a bike like that. It was dead cool and really enjoyable to ride. I didn’t get up to very high speeds, but it seemed really comfortable at 70. Best wishes, Mike.

[@moozepatt7525]

my 72 ambassador is a joy(it occupies the “ old classic “ slot in my bikes. So reliable and easy to work on and very unique ( industrial 😂). great video

[@philrulon]

One of these surprised me by showing up for Friday afternoon beers at my shop in Fairbanks Alaska this week. Interestingly, it had a rider in his mid-twenties. He was still struggling with some mechanical gremlins, but I expect it to wind up a pretty nice ride.

[@daveco1270]

Those old Moto Guzzi's are really cool.

[@splodge5714]

Another nice ride on a classic bike. I've owned a couple of Guzzi's but none with handlebars or a gearshift like that. Wonderful bikes of the 70's and 80's.

[@irenehelsen7666]

Good morning, the sound reminds me off my 1980 850 t3 california. The bike had a heel toe shifter.

[@clausentumsoton]

I had quite a few Guzzis back in the seventies but the Eldorado was the dream that never materialised .. thanks for the video, very enjoyable.

[@hdevo80]

Great video! Nice motorcycle, nice sound, nice round cyliunder engine. Thank you Mike!

[@davidpettinger6350]

Greetings from New Zealand again Mike. Loved the Guzzi, many moons ago I had a brief flirt with a 1000 California that I rebuilt from a fire damaged insurance write off. Loved that bike. Will no doubt be in the market for something like this once the old back and knees make the CB1100 too much like hard work.

[@daintree2455]

Add to that developing Italian and German theme a penchant for ex police bikes. Very enjoyable thanks Mike. Impressed that your vid turns up at about beer o'clock on a Sunday arvo.

[@davidstein792]

Ciao, Mike, molto bella! Nice looking, nice sounding Eldo. Beautiful day for a ride. Thanks.

[@TheDavey333]

That was so relaxing, with those wide handlebars, you should of rode a lot further 😎 Great experience and what a beautiful bike to ride. Have good one Mike 🏍😃

[@podthewelder]

Beautiful bike!!!! 🏍🤙🍻

[@sf940477]

Imagine going to the see see coffee shop surprised you could find it Mike 😆 🤣. looked like it took a while to get the hang of those handlebars, different to your brit stuff..

[@georgemartin5481]

Congrats Mike on another fantastic video AND for pronouncing Gootsie correctly! What a challenge working that shifter as it was quite different for you. Wish you where here in Indiana and I'd force you to experience a very different Guzzi, my LeMans 1000 on my favorite back roads. Always great to expanding your motorcycle experience!

[@bobwampler3387]

I have a soft spot for Moto Guzzis.

[@bobstevens9040]

Love those old Guzzis Mike. I have a V9 Bobber. They shake and shimmy down the road but bags of character and I always get a crowd round when I stop

[@budlistar5312]

Waaaaayy back in the day I told my dad the local BSA/Suzuki dealer had a new Guzzi Ambassador in the show room. Two days later I got home from school and it was sitting in the garage. But I couldn’t find the key. It was several months before I got to ride it by myself. He road that bike for a long time.

[@wdhewson]

Great videography and commentary. I had a Police Amby for more than 20 y, but sold it to a guy in Mexico who had to have it. It had a top gear, 4th, whine inaudible to humans, but drove dogs to great distraction. And some dogs were faster in the chase than the Guzzi. I was never insulted by the Moto Goofy moniker, and I just called her "The Goofy".

[@larrys.3992]

Many years I owned a Moto Guzzi. Your ride brought back lots of good memories. Cheers Mike!

[@manfredmatzdorf4728]

Hey,Mike,another nice road video! Congratulations! Now I go on the road with my Ducati 900 SD! Have a nice Sunday greetings Manfred

[@frankboff8185]

Good interesting video, love early Guzzi V twins, in fact any early Italian bikes, any more lurking around ?

[@wilkins2490]

Thanks Mike. Another great video. I think the variation is only adding to your excellent channel. Thank you.

[@Dave-sw2dm]

The seat and handlebar set up looks so comfortable. Sure wish Moto Guzzi would build this on the new 850cc platform.

[@rafaelpelizza5757]

Mike..que lindas motos ..buen giro com amigos...saludos Rafa de mardel plata Argentina

[@jontg429]

Very cool bike! My buddy had a similar Guzzi, it was the I-Convert, with basically two speeds and no clutch. First gear was good for towing a plough, second was for everything else. As my buddy put it "It's my favorite bike to go slow on, so relaxing"

[@thelagmeister]

Great video. I like seeing driveshafts on bikes. I like the design. It looks like it would be easier to work on.

[@ianmills669]

You are right about that, I owned one exactly the same and you could take both heads and barrels off in 20 minutes, Wonderful bikes!

[@michaelhayward7572]

2.20 mins in, the little side shimmy at a stop has nothing to do with shaft drive, but the longditunal crank, like a Beemer. One of the Guzzi's ideosynchratic and wonderful character traits ...

[@thakery5720]

The handlebars on that remind me of the ones Harley used to put on everything - looks like they come from a wheel-barrow !

[@bokarlsson1027]

Yes. Harley used parts from italy in early 70s on their bikes..even in racing..Ireally like those parts. I have borranni rims on my panhead bobber..fits just perfect.👌🇸🇪

[@neilurquhart8622]

Always thought Harleys were ‘agrigcultural’! 🚜

[@thakery5720]

@@bokarlsson1027 H-D linked up with Aermacchi (excuse the spelling) in the '70's I think - weren't they Italian ?

[@thakery5720]

@@neilurquhart8622 That is part of the charm for me - I have two !

[@bokarlsson1027]

@@thakery5720 Yes it was italian.. I have an advertising information with photos from 1973..with all Harley modells..3 of them was a sportster. superglide and FLH. I think it was about 5 modells ammerachi..2-stroke, different engines.. some of them were "of road" bikes and even road racing bike...interesting..big different today...I own a 1979 FXS low rider 74". In America I think they has 80". I bought it 1980 and still useing it. Im a harley fan of older bikes, even had a panhead but I really like all other kind of all different motorcycles..Like these nice videos with excelent teaching tips for my commando.Learning english also👌 I was driveing my commando a lot this hot summer..I had chance to buy one 1975 when I was 18 years old but I wasnt good mecanic enough so I bought new Honda...But I Always loved English bikes..Reading Classic bike magazine...in the 70s..good schoolbooks for me..👍I like to study english need that now..I found a lot of cousins here in America..their ancestors emmigrated..from Sweden...thats another interesting hobby .got new friends..far away from Home..

[@PhilipBeresford]

Guzzi's are good fun, glad you finally got a go on one. As a contrarian I rather like that they are so different. I recently picked up a '76 850-T3 and it's been good fun. They have such a unique character. Interested to hear what you think about them compared to other similar big-twin bikes of the era, BMW's, Dukes, HD's, etch

[@raypusey8037]

Great camera work Mike 👍 lovely bike ! Being an ex - Italian police bike you could call yourself a “ patatine fritte “ or to me and you C.H. i. P. s 😉 Ray 🇬🇧

[@441rider]

Moto Guzzi trivia: You can see SFPD Guzzi police Ambassadors in Magnum Force with Clint Eastwood until they switch them to Triumphs in the end. First place I rode my BSA after moving west was that twisty road in San Francisco. LOL! A man's got to know his limitations words to live long by. Great review very Beemer bike. Wonder if the border takes drivers license and birth cert anymore be fun ride down again.

[@stewy62]

Very nice bike, it would be enjoyable to see you ride other cul-de-sac bikes but of course they are their owners pride and joy and you are probably too embarrassed to ask. If anyone else does offer and you fancy a go be sure to video the ride! 🇬🇧

[@thatmanstumototours2270]

The Eldorado is a good time waiting to happen...but you got to wind her to find her....

[@AAABBB-s3f]

7:20 Do I see correctly. Do you change gear to a higher one while pressing the lever down?

[@bigred8438]

Thanks for your Video I really enjoyed. It love the Eldorado 850's. I love the loop frames designs actually to the Tonti Framed bikes. I have a 1980 Tonti Framed SP 1000, and the engine is almost the same as this one you are on. Mine has had the timing chain up front replaced with gears, and I have converted it to electronic ignition. I am running 5 ohm coils. I rebuilt the bike from boxes. The engine was rebuilt, but everything else was completely dismantles and had been for 20 years. There is nothing quite like a Moto Guzzi 90 degree transverse twin. It has a character all its own. I also have an A65 thunderbolt and a 2000 R1150 GS BMW. The bloke at Cycle Garden Cali, sell these every now and then and posts them on youtube as he barrels up and down the road outside his factory. He certainly can get them moving. example: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3esaIF7dtV-g5Y Example 2. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXi5aaZ6dreeY5o

[@TheMightyGarage]

Many thanks as always for your great comments. I really enjoyed reading that. Yes, I have seen those videos. They are terrific. It made my writing look a little wimpy :-) thanks a lot for sharing and I hope you have a great holiday. Best wishes, Mike

[@bigred8438]

I don't believe that l would ride a bike the way he does, particularly if it wasn't mine, so l think you are doing the right thing treating it with kid gloves. After all the owner was was behind you ha ha ha.

[@vanveen8472]

I put on over 100,000 miles on one of those back in the day, terrible chrome, electrics and brakes, I noticed you started to talk about the brakes but then didn't, that said because of those brakes I never put mayself in a position where I needed them, if you stood on the back one you could get it to lock up, I had a harley batwing fairing and I could ride it all day, only bike which I rode for a 1000 miles in one day

[@garypeatling7927]

A Harley but with Italian style lovely

[@philwhitelaw3111]

I'm not normally a jealous man......but there are exceptions.

[@TheMightyGarage]

Hehe, that really was a lovely bike to ride Phil. Cheers, Mike

[@danweyant4909]

You want to just take your time shifting- just like an older BMW. I found my big Moto Guzzi excellent in the mountains- good agility and stability

[@swooshdave]

The bike moves to one side when you blip the throttle because of the crankshaft, not the driveshaft.

[@snapfinger1]

BarcaLounger cruiser. Fat City.

[@alzinn8231]

Gear shift lever is all wrong - obviously a right side lever from an Ambassador mounted on left side. Long section should be forward, angled short section at rear.

[@cota2472000]

The shifter is not wrong.If you look a little closer you'll notice the Pivot point is Behind the Footpeg making it longer in front than than the back,just like mine

[@MoeLarrycurly1]

🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️👍👍👍👍😊🖖