MOTO GUZZI LE MANS 850 REVIEW - We put the Turbo Tractor through it's paces at Pembrey

Charlie & Owen take the Moto Guzzi Le Mans back to its spiritual home, the racetrack, to see how it fares against more modern machinery.
The bike featured is a MK II Le Mans, mechanically the same as the original MK I with a few small cosmetic differences.
CORRECTION: Thank's to Ion for noticing I mislabelled the tyres as Michelins, they're actually Continental Classic Attack on the rear and on the front I'm actually using Conti Road Attack CR's
00:00 Introducing a legend
01:03 Travelling to Pembrey, meet the wife
02:23 Beautiful Pembrey racetrack!
03:01 Charlie's out first
04:03 Red flag!
04:20 Owen's track bike review of the Le Mans
07:00 Modifications for the racetrack
07:14 Outro

[@alanhynd7886]

Back in the late 70's production races were fought out using Guzzi Le Mans, Ducati 900 ss, and Laverda Jotas. The sound alone has not been beaten since.

[@mikefarnden2893]

Absolutely, I went to a few endurance races in the early eighties, as you say Guzzi's, Dukes and Laverda's plus some BMW''s roaring around Paul Ricard topped off with a bit of howling four cylinder Kawasaki , unforgettable!

[@Mark5mith]

The Jotas had a lovely sound, there's something about a triple that sets it apart.

[@Yorkshiremadmick]

Yep remember them. I always lusted after the Laverda Jota and Motto Guzzi, but ended up buying a Suzuki GS1000S with Blue n White colours, in 1980.

[@Mark5mith]

@@Yorkshiremadmick it was a good bike and lovely in that colour scheme so I can't disagree with your choice.

[@davidforsdike4343]

People forget how bad Japanese frames were.

[@TheBezaleel]

Timeless motorcycle, more beautiful than most of the machines available today. It's a keeper, as well as your fast lass, appreciate both.

[@hermandegroot1946]

I am a 78 yo Dutch male.I owned a V7 750 and a 850 GT. I often made holiday in the North of Italy and met Sgr Luciano Gazzola who was a test driver for Moto Guzzi and did Le Mans racing , together with Luciano Piazzalunga. I even met ingegnere Giulio Carcano. He had left Guzzi and designed sailing yachts. He circled around in Mandello on a trotter moped. He and his wife were cat lovers and they had about 15 cats. When I met Carcano for the second time he remembered only my dog, a beautiful Irish Setter.😢

[@petesharpe4120]

The best bike I've ridden! Been riding 50 years. Ticks all the boxes!!

[@mvd944l]

the first bike I rode in a "practice day" before track days was a Mk1 Guzzi LeMans, my road bike at the time. It was quick enough to make me realise I could race. Traded it to a local dealer for a CB900F and started racing...... now I have a Le Mans 1 (and several other Guzzi's) great things

[@paulcannell7188]

❤ Love my Guzzis, but a favour the Tonti Tourers and Loop Frame Tourers. It is both impressive and a testament to Guzzi that it took a track day flogging and remained tractor like in it’s reliability. Bravo.

[@arnoldmiga5689]

This is beautiful cinematography, fantastic execution, what a tribute to the Guzzi !!!

[@bigberthaontour]

Thank you. Glad it’s been enjoyed. After 15 years of photography I’m still learning how video works but we’re slowly getting there!

[@paulevo511]

I bought a LeMans 1000 in 1987. Quirky and full of character.

[@paulthew2]

I drooled over these when they came out. Read every test, and have loved them ever since.

[@Bung1963]

Thanks for the memories. I took my guzzi on a track day in the late 90's and was probably the best day I've had on a bike ever (been riding 50 years). I rode it to the track and lucky I had new tyres and my girlfriend brought extra fuel cause I used it all, with just enough to get home afterwards. It really surprised a few people how fast it was (I had a race specced engine)

[@reinmansmith]

Great filming as ever and great to see the old girl (the Guzzi that is 😆) performing so well 👍 ….. your young lady looks good as well of course!

[@bigberthaontour]

Thanks, glad our vid is being enjoyed.

[@sparx550]

Really enjoyed the vlog. Gorgeous Guzzi.

[@lorenzwiedemar1837]

Simply gorgeous! Thanks for the video.

[@matthiashauptmann9423]

Riding a slow bike fast is so much more fun than riding a fast bike slowly! Let´s see how many japanese supersport bikes will still be running at that age. I am considering bringing my Griso 1100 to a trackday, knowing that it will be the heaviest bike out there.

[@jeremyrigden9200]

Hi I had its predecessor the Centuro Raceco remap and Termignonis, yellow, bloody brilliant

[@dgordon130]

She is a very fine dame your LeMans! Beautiful in every way. Class, timeless design and a sound to savour. Wow.

[@thethirdman225]

Wow. So quick in the twisty bits. Absolute payback. Real thoroughbred.

[@jiltedjohn9294]

They're brilliant riding machines, i'd happily ride my 8v 1200 all day every day if work and other things didn't get in the way.

[@alexanderbarth8320]

This is soo great to watch. Thank you so much.

[@bigberthaontour]

That’s great to hear, really glad it’s being enjoyed

[@lauriebloggs8391]

I almost wept as you came around the OUTside of something......wonderful and sounded beautiful.......

[@petergrundy8081]

Beautiful I owned one of these forty years ago in Australia for a year or so loved it

[@brianperry]

l owned a brand new LeMans, in my opinion the most iconic...certainly looks... Moto Guzzi ever..When these bikes were on sale you had a choice of Ducati 900SS, the Lemans and the Laverda Jota. It handle in true Italian style,. like it was on a railway line on long sweeping bends. It was just such a beautiful motorcycle. I'm very glad l can say l owned one in 78

[@bigberthaontour]

I've not ridden the Ducati but had a Jota for a while...was an awesome machine but found it very cumbersome in comparison...Jota out, Guzzi in!

[@poopadoopalis]

Funny how the Ducati 900 is now a $100k motorcycle 🥵

[@MAHGlie]

I’ve had my hot-rodded Guzzi LeMans IV for over 36 years. Fantastic bike.

[@gabrieldelucca8360]

Hermoso video mis felicitaciones a los dos por compartir esa misma pasión por las motos y mas aun en una Clásica Moto Guzzi . Un saludo a la distancia !!

[@ianbonnick7640]

Lovely to see her being used for what she was built

[@PaydayGabeBCNV]

🤩 the last clip/scene was inspiring. 👍👍

[@pastorbobncc365]

Enjoyed the ride along, have a blessed week my friends, my current bike is a 1974 XLH

[@rickparkinmoto]

Very impressive that it still holds it's own in today's competition. There's huge satisfaction to be had in running rings round faster bikes with slower pilots. I rode a friend's Le Mans back in the day. It was my dream bike at the time. I recently bought a V100 Mandello (in red, obviously) which for me is like a futuristic version of the Le Mans.

[@maxflight777]

Great video, fab couple !

[@mark-lj5dc]

great video - enjoyed it at lot - thanks for going to the trouble of making it.

[@sburns2421]

Fantastic intro to the video

[@grayfool]

I only rode a Le Mans once. It belonged to a good friend in the early eighties. A hell of a bike in it's day. My friend used it on a daily basis and racked up a fairly considerable mileage in the few years he owned it. I bet he wishes he hadn't sold it now.

[@davidbrayshaw3529]

My neighbour's mate offered me his Le Mans for a grand total of $7k Aud, about 15 years ago. It was in beautiful condition and I had the money. I sat on the thing, put my feet up on the pegs, reached over the tank to the low bars and declared that the seat was too hard, the bars were too low and the pegs were too high. I didn't even take it for a test ride! And they say that a fool and their money are soon parted. This fool still has his money. That bike's fetching the best part of $30k now, here.

[@kingofthejungle6402]

Most interesting video for me so far! You are definitely improving your videos I see a lot of potential in you owen❤ :)

[@Guitarooster52]

My favourite historic Guzzi! I’d love to see it racing its contemporaries.

[@Deetroiter]

The guzzis always sounded like a built small block muscle car. No silly games, all business.

[@guzzijoerg]

super Video... I own a Guzzi since 1981

[@moto_good]

That's a nice video. Go Lemans!👍

[@OldManArmyJonno]

Really good video, lovely bike.

[@richardsimpson3792]

Some memories there...my first 'proper' job was at Three Cross Motorcycles in 1978-9. Built loads of those up from the crate. Good bike then, and a good bike now!

[@user-yn5zi7lu2n]

Lovely bike. Been looking at one of these. Great looking bike.

[@WindOnMyWings]

My compliments both for the bike and the wife

[@digitalimager4946]

Fantastic! A bike I always wanted back in the day. Unfortunately, as we were a couple and doing a lot of touring, we opted for a MkllA Commando and, later, a BMW R100, which was more comfortable but like a shed on two wheels. I managed to acquire a Guzzi Mille recently which allowed me to experience that wonderful engine and handling. Great.

[@MyRestoration1]

Nice video guys. Good luck with your channel.

[@robertjames6640]

I owned a 76 Le Mans in the blue color, a cheap kind of silver. It was replaced by the later Mk2, a tad more sophisticated but with the same heart. The Mr I models now attract big bucks as the “collector” merchants keep up their practice of forcing the oldsters up every year. The word “classic” destroyed a fine hobby and put the most mundane of old motorcycles out of the reach of many. This one went on down the road: your wife, ( not THE wife), rode it very well.

[@jimmillington4652]

Fantastic! 👍

[@hansabass]

Le Mans and Le Mans II are in my view the most beautiful bikes ever made. I had a Laverda 750SF myself and loved it, but would have traded it immediately for a 850 Le Mans 😀

[@bigberthaontour]

They are a very unique looking bike, feel lucky to own one

[@malcolmwhite6588]

@@bigberthaontour beautifully filmed ,fantastic narration -by the way both look great on the bike : correction your wife look stunning on and off the bike. You just look great on the bike :me being a heterosexual bloke 🎉😂LOL

[@stogmot1]

Lovely to see in action . Owned my mk2 for (Blimey) 35 years ! . Keeping up with some modern stuff ,impresive . Iv always likened it to riding henry the 5th,s war horse .

[@haradiso]

Just Beautiful.

[@grahamhill6616]

Slick enjoyable watch. Well done on punting the Le Man on track so impressively. As an ex-owner (yes, mistake of my life) of the later day incarnation 1000S I can concur. Tonti's flat out handle, despite the telegraphic nature of gear changes. As a racer back then first thing I did to my 1000S was ditch the linked brakes for the reasons you state. Big twins and rear pedals do not work well together. Love the mess you made of those pegs. The side stand was always the road grinder for me.

[@jorgemercatali9319]

Beatifull bike Indeed !!

[@thewoodster8607]

Cracking video, thank you. I have my fingers crossed that Moto Guzzi will reinvigorated the Le Mans marque with the new 1000cc engine.

[@bigberthaontour]

We can only dream, I feel everything coming out of the factory is a bit lukewarm and running on nostalgia these days. A proper fire breathing v-twin sportsbike with Guzzi style would be ideal!

[@tomedgar4375]

My 2007 Griso 1100 sees several track dazys a year. It’s an absolute hoot and does very good on shorter twisty courses. It has a soul not found on Japanese bikes. Always lusted after a LeMans. Beautiful machine. Thank you for sharing your day.

[@bigberthaontour]

Wow that’s a rare one to see on a track day…but definitely capable too. Probs sounds the best out there too!

[@bmp72]

I used to have a LM3, still miss that bike. You guys are brave… parking that thing on the side stand

[@stevephillips8719]

Nice, I have a Guzzi Le Mans Mk4 (Coke colours) close ratio box. It's a beast! And the sound, oh the sound, gives me goosebumps.

[@STORNELLOMAN]

Excellent !!!

[@fabiorsv2351]

Wonderful light Blue Eyes! 😍 Moto Guzzi 👍

[@konaguzzi1]

A stunner being ridden by a stunner, you're a very lucky man

[@bigberthaontour]

Couldn't agree more!

[@carlandersson4982]

Miss my 1100 sport really much by seeing this.

[@cota2472000]

Luckily I still have my 96

[@carlandersson4982]

@@cota2472000 Nice. That is with injection?

[@cota2472000]

No.Mine has the Carburetorsand Conentional forks@@carlandersson4982

[@dennissmith224]

I love Moto Gazzi's They handle and sound great .

[@martiniv8924]

I loved my 1000S 👌🏻😎 the Le Mans Mk1 was my poster bike as a teenager 🙌🏻😎

[@bigberthaontour]

My mate Rich has the 1000s and it’s so nice to ride. Tad more comfy and refined than the Lemans but still very much a proper Guzzi!!!

[@Mark5mith]

Good job by both of you on the Guzzi, it held its own out there and probably surprised a few with its cornering abilities👍

[@dullbrass]

Beautiful

[@HayrideHillbilly]

Guzzi rules!

[@BN1960]

Brilliant

[@jimmarshall807]

Beautiful bike

[@ianross225]

Great to see the old beast on the truck. I have a 76 T3 Cali and was staggered by its handling. The geometry is pretty much that of the Le Mans, stable yet flickable. I love the linked brakes by the way if not the massively heavy throttle. Look forward to the next video.

[@bigberthaontour]

Thanks. Linked brakes are awesome on the road. I used to have a T3 and loved the almost laziness of using them.

[@ianross225]

@@bigberthaontour I think that’s it really. A relaxed ride. Mine did a trip to Spain and back with no bother.

[@michaelohman4980]

If you swap the heavy carburettor springs for ducati 900 springs, it makes it easier to open the throttle fully and hold it there.

[@krtt750]

I have raced an 850T based machine here in the states for 22 years now. Much of what Charlie and Owen describe is correct. And at 64 years of age with two artificial hips, and numerous torn rotator cuffs, the old girl takes all of my effort for an eight lap sprint on short circuits! Lol! One tip kids, take those silly "screens" off those open bell mouths! You gain five HP instantly! Really!

[@bigberthaontour]

Still thrashing it mate, great to hear! Not that I'll understand the physics but how come there is such a big gain from removing the screens?

[@krtt750]

@@bigberthaontour Simply improves air flow into the carburetor. The velocity stack's are well designed and they really do what they were designed to do. Remember, the more air you suck in and blow out as efficiently as possible, well that makes HP! Especially in two valve pushrod motors. Oh, and bolt an open mega system on that thing!

[@bigberthaontour]

@@krtt750 will definitely be trying that later! Maybe not the megaphones, don’t think it’ll get by trackday noise testing in the UK like that!

[@tritonmanx1]

I have to admit that a girl on a moto guzzi is top but the girl on Le mans on a racetrack it georgeous and a holly gral to the classic moto racing sport. Congrets and big salute to the guzzi enthusiast on the island....

[@hansh8071]

I had a le mans 2 and loved it, my girl with her long legs didn,t 😁 and because we liked to ride duo and she was not going to get her own licence i had to trade the lovely italian for a comfortable german. But seeing you two have so much fun brings back some great memories 👍

[@alfredwilson3915]

I own a 76' first series 850 Le Mans and you are correct, they handle spectacularly even for today's standards. Very torquay as well and a splendid motorcycle over all. As they say, they don't make em like they used to😁

[@lozt6032]

I had a Mk2 LM, it went very well on sweeping A roads. I used to use the link brakes mostly, the gear change was pretty slow, everything had to be done in advance and then come out of corners on a rising throttle. Great memories and I wish I still had it. My 1100 Stone has to satisfy my MG urges nowadays.

[@bigberthaontour]

The linked brakes work lovely for road riding, makes for a very controlled and relaxed feel to riding fast roads, I just find at track pace they’re not ideal. The Guzzi spends most its time on the road though so the link brakes are staying put! 1100 stone is defo the nicest Cali! 🤘

[@guylewis6150]

Nice video Owen- she sounds awesome. A friend’s healthy LM2 made 58bhp at the wheel on the dyno, so as usual Guzzi’s power claim was wildly optimistic. All the best, Guy (ex-Gutsibits)

[@bigberthaontour]

Of course “Italian horsepower”! Nice to hear from you, thanks for all the help over the years.

[@splodge5714]

An 850 twin, shaft drive and amazingly still good for 123mph.

[@user-br4zr1eg2u]

Thanks for another great video, I had to check my garage though...phew my "Gina" is still there!! very similar to yours and always draws attention when out and about. On the plus side also, I can get around 250miles to a tankful...that's what a real classic sports tourer can do...all day long! Brilliant

[@peterlaws1653]

that is so beautiful good on you both

[@kimhorton6109]

Gorgeous motorcycle. I’ve never lived near enough to a Guzzi shop to want to buy one but I’ve always admired them. Anyway, it’s like the automotive motto for po folks; It’s always more fun to drive a slow bike fast than drive fast bike slowly.

[@TwoHemiViewer]

I owned for 7 year's and lived basically because I never had a car a 1983 850 Mach 3 le Mann , absolutely thrashed this bike put over 130,000 kms on it only doing basic maintenance. I've owned 36 bike's and the Guzzi was my favourite.

[@rodenheap68]

My '86 Le Mans arrives on Friday, so I'm digesting everything Guzzi and this video, along with your other track day video on your 850, are the best I've seen. Very cool, nice work both of you!

[@bigberthaontour]

Thanks mate. Enjoy your new purchase, very special machines to own, feel lucky to have one myself!

[@paulqueripel3493]

my dad picked up a 86 mk3 a couple of years ago. It had been sitting covered in a garden since 1989, needed work but he only paid £200. A cousin has it now and is doing it up. That wasn't a typo. £200. Has about 18,000km on the clock.

[@richards3192]

Nicely done, you two. 'Rear of the Year' at 3.16m. I have a 1980 Le Mans (lafranconi Organ on youtube). Good to see yours getting some gas

[@snakeplissken5480]

wonderful 😁

[@richardsears5297]

Wow! Goosebumps and tingles. Fucking marvellous!

[@voornaam3191]

About shifting gear, do read that famous book of Bernt Spiegel. Many bikers have never learnt how to switch gears, they developed dangerous bad habbits themselves. Thing is your foot. But a bit of pressure to the pedal before you switch. That helps a lot. And, only remove that foot pressure after the clutch was released, or, in case you do not use the clutch, only remove the foot pressure when you feel the gearswitch is ready. That means, never do a short kick to the pedal. That may work with most gearboxes, but one day you'll end up switching to neutral, and result is no traction and leaving the tarmac or worse. Just because nobody has taught you how to shift gear the way the pro's do it. That is, the German pro's who NEVER have a gearshift going wrong. All you need to do is practise that, until it is second nature. And practise such details every time you ride. Gearswitch to neutral? Than you are doing it wrong. Keep pushing your foot longer, push until you are in the next gear, never let go earlier or you'll regret it.

[@svenbibus1358]

You are the winner of the race with the old "cement mixer" :-) #Guzzisoundisthebest#

[@splodge5714]

I had a mkl and mklll back in the 80s. Great bikes but they were along way behind the GSXR 750 srad of the 90s. But still bikes full of character and fun to ride. ( many of the mkll were converted to mkl looks.) 😊

[@bigberthaontour]

Guzzi aren't famous for rapidly updating with the times beyond the MK I! But as a road bike I'd always take character over performance!

[@Yorkshiremadmick]

Great video and your wife is to be commended Charlie bossed the 850 LeMan

[@bigberthaontour]

She gets on with it really well…not the simplest things to ride if you’re not used to them either!

[@quasimodo8215]

Wow!👍👍

[@paulcooper5610]

Can't imagine many Guzzi fan's taking their LeMans to a trackday. But nice to see it going round the corners so well. Certainly had a lot more character than those sole less newer sports bikes.

[@bigberthaontour]

Probably wouldn’t be my first choice but we wanted to go on a track day and it’s all that’s in the garage that is remotely suitable! But on that performance I think it might do a few more :-)

[@motolab.EuropeanMotorcycles]

Well, are you sure? They did very well in the BOTT etc. Guzzi’s are still a regular sight at clubraces on the european mainland for sure. It is also rather easy to find a 20 till 30bph extra… on a 2 valve… and some weight “shaving” is also rather easy 😊. Nice video!

[@pmcg7823]

Truly inspirational 😊 Now I need to fix that leaky main seal on mine😂

[@bigberthaontour]

@@motolab.EuropeanMotorcycles I'm clearly underestimating the beast! What's the main upgrades to get the horsepower? I always thought they came quite aggressively tuned from the factory

[@bigberthaontour]

​@@pmcg7823 funny you should mention that we had just done it before the trackday. Been weeping for about a year but wasn't enough to bother me, but then I didn't think they'd appreciate it at scrutineering!

[@johndowell1801]

I've never seen one at that lean angle before, I will have to try it on mine.

[@bigberthaontour]

Sticky tyres, a couple of laps to warm them up and a grippy race track make a world of difference!

[@stefan9945]

Grüße 🖖 von einem Guzzi Fahrer. Danke für diesen schönen Beitrag.

[@bigberthaontour]

Gern geschehen 🇩🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 grüße von wales

[@banmadabon]

Grazie from Italia

[@howardtowler6146]

She might be fifty years old but she sounds amazing and definitely deserves her place on the track

[@jean-marcpoirier9340]

Guzzi won the 'Bol d'Argent' in 1980 on the Paul Ricard circuit ahead of Kawasaki. The 'Bol d'Argent' was a 6 hours race preceding the 'Bol d'Or' organized over 24 hours.

[@agchvjjv]

I bought a brand new mark 2 in 1981, still my fav bike of all time. Wish I had never sold it, but you don't know at the time. I noticed your bike is a mark 2 but has a mark 1 fairing, I always much preferred the mark 1 look but never got around to swapping the fairings.

[@cpuuk]

I had the 500 (V50), what a great handling bike. Nothing wrong with the bike that a can of WD40 couldn't fix ;-) The 850 was the stuff of dreams.

[@Wild.Schaap]

I booked my V7 special edition with the arrow exhausts looking forward to it :) maybe drive it to Italy if comfortable. Like a 10 hours drive for me so I do not know :) what u as a couple do looks very fun and inspiring to do.

[@therealrobertbirchall]

Sweeeet❤

[@NoName-ds5uq]

I loved my old Guzzi Sport 1100 carb! It was so rewarding to ride hard! Total pig of a bike to ride around town with its 40mm Dellortos , but it’s one of my two favourites in my 36 years of motorcycling.

[@bigberthaontour]

Easiest bike doesn’t win the fun category! Would love to try one of those

[@NoName-ds5uq]

@@bigberthaontour you would not be disappointed! Lumpy cam, huge valves, brilliant handling and brakes. The carb had Marzocchi M1R forks that could be adjusted on the fly and WP rear. Keep the revs up and it was a gem! It was tuned like an endurance racer.

[@bigberthaontour]

@@NoName-ds5uq sounds good, been added to my list of “bikes I need to try!”

[@NoName-ds5uq]

@@bigberthaontour I think only hundreds of the ‘95 carb Sport were built, but several thousand of the injected model in the years after. They had different rear wheel sizes(17 as opposed to 18 on the carb) and different forks(WP upside down forks on the injected). It took me a while to learn how to ride it, despite having quite a few years of experience by that stage.

[@jamesmacpherson1182]

I have a 1100 California 1997 its bye far the best bike I've ever had

[@rabcspaniel5679]

I fancied a Guzzi 750 S3 that a local bike shop had - it was tiny but was the abs. business looks wise. I think the mark 1 L Man was the best.

[@stevenbrown5237]

Good video that I had one and regret selling it.

[@Happy-wb8gi]

Italians are amazing, they are an amazing engineering nation from air to ground to sea. No nation like them. They cover the complete engineering world, incredible. Tbh, understandable, the invented the first N/A engine with Matteuci and Barsanti in 1851.

[@nickrider5220]

Sounded really good too !