This Hemi V8 Motorcycle Revved Up To 12,000 RPM

The objective was to replace an outdated 120° Bicilindrica as Moto Guzzi knew it was already the end for the 500cc singles and twins. Guzzi aimed for an advantage. The straight-six was too wide and a water-cooled V8 seemed doable. At least on paper.
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- Credits -
“MV Agusta, Moto Guzzi & TT Races 1956” by GP225WildCat
• MV Agusta, Moto Guzzi ...
“Bike Profiles: V8 Moto Guzzi and 1955 Wooler Flat Four” by Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum
• Bike Profiles: V8 Moto...
“Moto Guzzi V8 under the skirt (Part 2) - more details and more noise. Loud and proud.” by goran2003
• Moto Guzzi V8 under th...
“Moto Guzzi V8” by 48flathead
• Moto Guzzi V8
“Moto Guzzi Bicilindrica 500 (1951) ... vintage 120 degree V-Twin racer from Mandello del Lario” by goran2003
• Moto Guzzi Bicilindric...
“Moto Guzzi 500 bicilindrica” by Diego Bonini
• Moto Guzzi 500 bicilin...
“Benelli 900 Sei Racer” by KTR Master
• Benelli 900 Sei Racer
“V8 MOTO GUZZI” by PATRICK ptl
• V8 MOTO GUZZI
“Sammy Miller Moto Guzzi V8 East Kirkby 15/06/19” by IJ Greensmith
• Sammy Miller Moto Guzz...
“Monza - Duke Wins Grand Prix (1954)” by British Pathé
• Monza - Duke Wins Gran...
“Ken Kavanagh at the Dutch TT 1954 | 250cc Guzzi” by Duke Video
• Ken Kavanagh at the Du...
“Moto Guzzi V8 au Trofeo Rosso 2016” by ze1600
• Moto Guzzi V8 au Trofe...
“Moto Guzzi v8 500 sound” by Motor Journal
• Moto Guzzi v8 500 sound
“Moto Guzzi V8 tune up” by Ttezza Slider
• Moto Guzzi V8 tune up
“Moto Guzzi V8 Thundersprint 2012” by James H
• Moto Guzzi V8 Thunders...
“V8 Guzzi.mp4” by TheWirralBiker
• V8 Guzzi.mp4
“Moto Guzzi V8” by ANTIQUETRADITION
• Moto Guzzi V8
“Moto Guzzi 8 Cilindri - Starting and Sound” by CHRIMIC TV
• Moto Guzzi 8 Cilindri ...
“Moto Guzzi V8 at the Sammy Miller Museum” by Tom O'Shea
• Moto Guzzi V8 at the S...
“Bill Lomas and the stunning Moto Guzzi V8 | TT 1998” by iomtt
• Bill Lomas and the stu...
“16/06/1956 4th round italian championship 500cc race. masetti wins on MV” by Roberto Pistarino
• 16/06/1956 4th round ...
“06/05/1956 monza motor cycling italian championship 250cc and 500cc races. ubbiali and liberati win” by Roberto Pistarino
• 06/05/1956 monza motor...
“Moto Guzzi V8 under the skirt - quick service and engine start, with Giacomo Agostini as support :-)” by goran2003
• Moto Guzzi V8 under th...
“Moto Guzzi V8 500cc” by grosvenor4777
• Moto Guzzi V8 500cc
“Moto Guzzi V8” by Graham Glen
• Moto Guzzi V8
“moto guzzi v8 iom tt 96 bill lomas” by v4stroker
• moto guzzi v8 iom tt 9...

[@bobhill3941]

My grandad told me back in 57 he watched a race at Silverstone and he distinctly remembers one of these screaming down the straightaway. Keep up the great work, I love your videos.

[@bendeleted9155]

You often come up with something I was not aware of yet. Thank you for going the extra 1.60934 kilometers.

[@VisioRacer]

Glad you appreciate it, many thanks!

[@dukie1616]

These videos are a lot of fun👏 It only took Moto Guzzi 70 years to water cool another engine, but boy the V100 is a very nice motorcycle.

[@VisioRacer]

Thank you, I appreciate that!

[@tomtaylor6163]

Love seeing Sammy Miller on that thing

[@zosxavius]

Your research has gotten so much better over the years.

[@VisioRacer]

Thanks, Zos!

[@juicedvert]

You always come up with interesting videos. Never knew they had a V8 bike in the 50's.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

mechanics nightmare when they failed

[@keithmoore5224]

i think sammy miler has one in his museum

[@shafferjoe1962]

I was just about to say the same thing.

[@shafferjoe1962]

Once again you find a diamond of an engine. What got me was, when you said, they revved up to 13,000. That's unreal... Keep up the good work brother. God bless you

[@adel5637]

50s to late 60s are the golden era of world gp engineering

[@haraldpettersen3649]

Moto Guzzi V8, an unattainable dream. But luckily, dreams are free. If a Moto Guzzi V8 comes up for auction, you have to have two men to carry the money it will cost.

[@Iggy900ss]

Wow! I have been lucky enough to witness a replica being cold started and then ridden at an historical meeting many years ago, it's crazy how fast it revs (for 1950's tech) and how you feel the engine noise in your guts, I was in awe! It's a shame that Guzzi quit racing at the end of '57 (as many other italian factories did), because this bikes had a lot of development potential... Nonetheless it was also too ahead of it's time, better lubricants and electronic ignition may have helped solve some of its problem

[@SpionHefeGamingHD]

Awesome video mate! I love these old racing bikes they had like crazy and ridiculous engine layouts Thank u some much for your content I love it 👊🏼

[@michaeltb1358]

I lived alongside the TT course when this bike was in the TT. Full fairings were only used for a short time but looked fantastic. The sound was something else.

[@miniwattnetwork8204]

love this video, brother... Guzzi's are dream bikes no matter which model all are stunning awesome

[@stevelawrie9115]

Good they're in a museum. That's where this kind of old machinery belongs.

[@BanjoLuke1]

Another excellent video. Thanks. This bike has been a sort of legend all my life. The dustbin fairing makes it look unwieldy, but the power figures are remarkable. Clearly brakes, tyres and suspension were still decades behind the curve at that time. I do enjoy these trips down the evolutionary blind alleys of motorsport. How very impressive and... ultimately pointless. Excellent video.

[@VisioRacer]

Great to hear!

[@finlaymcdiarmid5832]

Finally.. What a incredible bike!

[@edilsonmartins6653]

Motor V8 para motocicletas nessa época, não conhecia.

[@battistazani8202]

I've been waiting since forever fo a such well made, well documented video on the Guzzi V8. Thanks!

[@VisioRacer]

Thanks!

[@quartusbuys6831]

This machine was WAY AHEAD OF ITS TIME!

[@nodrug2]

I always wanted one of these when i found out about the when i was young, maybe it was for the best. Another informative video, thanks.

[@rbwannasee]

6:32 - the red machine in the background is a thing of beauty.

[@kennethlowe6874]

I saw the bike in the 57tt and on the first lap it was the fastest bike through union mills this was the golden jubilee and if it wasn’t for a missfire it would have been a contender i

[@barryphillips7327]

Hmmm that early two stroke V8 looked interesting 🙂

[@rbwannasee]

0:48 - it's a stunning achievement in engineering for that monstrosity to only make 28hp!

[@davidlobaugh4490]

You find the coolest shit bro. A true Moto Man. 🤠😎

[@VisioRacer]

Thank you, David!

[@udxpierre]

Moto Guzzi was the Alfa Romeo of motorcycles. Don't know about today. My dad had two(it was more worked on than ridden), he then went to Bmw in the mid 80's and Harley's early 2000's.

[@timhicks2154]

I was lucky enough to see one circulating at Mallory Park Race Track on several occasions. What a sound!

[@patriciarodriguesrentes1702]

Congratulations, for another awesome video!

[@VisioRacer]

Glad you like it!

[@_..-.._..-.._]

Wish they had a cross-plane version Edit: *YES!!!!*

[@Dreamweaver94]

Old motorcycles with large aerodynamic farings are so cool.

[@littleshopofelectrons4014]

They called them "dustbin fairings" back then.

[@leonardarola]

Delicious dustbin fairings.

[@johnalees99]

Time for Allen Millyard to have a go at making a replica. A pair of CBR250RR blocks and a new crank. All powered by cups of tea and stolen cupcakes.

[@littleshopofelectrons4014]

He's already done a V8 based on two Kawasaki 1000s. I believe its currently in a museum. He's even done a V12 based on two Kawasaki 1300s.

[@keyboarddancers7751]

V interesting tech-heavy video. Thank goodness for subtitles!

[@VisioRacer]

Glad you like it!

[@stephenscholes4758]

Great precis of a great motorcycle that is often derided. If you study the results, the bike was reasonably reliable in 1957: it won three races in Italy including the Imola Gold Cup - which had the most factory representation of the year including the World championship races - was 4th at the IoM TT and 4th in the German GP. The valves running without seats? Common in Italian engines that were monoblocs (intergal head crank casting) - evidently they just couldn't machine them for inserts. The cost of the producing the engine was sky high; as an example, one Hirth crankshaft alone cost about 3 million Lira - as a reference, a new 1956 Alfa Giulietta Spyder car cost about 2.2 Million Lira!!

[@TIMEtoRIDE900]

I hope somebody can take the time to cut and install some valve seats on that "museum piece" that they occasionally run before the engine is ruined. But seriously - imagine tuning at 13,000 RPM adjusting the carbs to the glow of the pipes !

[@stephenscholes4758]

@@TIMEtoRIDE900 It is complicated because the heads are not detachable and the valves don't sit at 45 degrees but 29 degrees

[@robinsage1964]

Visioracer please do a video on the insane H2R Kawasaki engine!!!!!!

[@DashRendar308]

I wish there were transversally mounted V6 and V8 engines in motorcycles today.

[@fabiorsv2351]

Grazie VisioRacer per diffondere questi video dedicati alle moto italiane storiche. 🤗👋🔝

[@VisioRacer]

Piacere mio.

[@fabiorsv2351]

@@VisioRacer buongiorno, ma sei italiano? 🤔👋

[@VisioRacer]

No no, I just google translated, sorry 😅

[@fabiorsv2351]

@@VisioRacer 😁 thanks! 👋

[@chuckselvage3157]

Thanks for this Visio racer 👍

[@user-xo5tr4ib9q]

I remember the original Guzzi V8 in 1955 ridden by Bill Lomas and Australian Dicky Dale, however they were not very reliable. As stated the crankshaft was an engineering marvel with ball and roller bearings.

[@jimciancio9005]

Wow that's crazy Sh1t and definitely was taking A huge chance in doing this kind of off the cuff engineering for a race engine, they were evidently not made to last more than a single race before being considered junk and worn out and burned up inside! Wow! Impressive stuff bro!

[@Tom-wl9sx]

Everything was better before! More interesting engines 🙃 Great video as always 👍

[@VisioRacer]

Thanks, Tom!

[@michaelgibson4705]

Sammy Miller has one of these at his museum,worth a visit just for that .Sammy shown riding in this video

[@marinjeam]

Watched and heared the V8 at the MGM in september at Mandello.Unbelievable experience.

[@timhicks2154]

A remarkable bike, capable of around 175 mph in the late 1950’s. I currently have 4 of their ‘slower’ models….

[@MrKeys57]

Impressive bike! - i myself had a Norton Dominator from 1957! - customized by Dunstall! -

[@brianperry]

The 'Dommie' either 88 or 99 the best road bikes Norton ever produced.

[@hermandegroot1946]

Hello Visio Racer, interesting engine, right? Exellent research, well done. Giulio Carcano was a very smart engineer and ahead of his time. I was intrduced to him by my Italian friend, ing. Pierluigi Greppi, who studied with him on university. When did we meet? 1988.... The second time I met Carcano he could only remebered my dog. 😢( Saba Irish Setter) After his Moto Guzzi era Carcano became a racing yacht designer. These two engineers taught me a formula to calculate (in their times with a slide rule), the top speed of a car or bike. It is an INDICATION!!! You need the power in horsepower ( i.e.100) pull the cube root, makes here 4,6 ) multiply this with FACTOR 45 (naked bike), . Makes 207 km/u. Factor is about 50 for fairing, makes 230 km/u. Hayabusa :Horsepower about 200, cube root makes 5,8 multiply by 50 makes 290 km/u. Well what do you say? CAR: factor is about 40. Bugatti Veyron 1000 hp. Cube root is 10 x 40 makes 400 km/ u

[@VisioRacer]

Never heard about this calculation

[@hermandegroot1946]

@@VisioRacerbecause you are not 76 years old, I am. 😀

[@tacticlol]

Could you do subtitles? I like your videos but sometimes I don’t understand because my hearing isn’t great. The auto subtitles often fail.

[@themadscientest]

That looks like a screaming metal death-trap, I want one!

[@MrDannyzwo]

Always a pleasure to watch your videos !

[@VisioRacer]

Thank you, Dannyzwo!

[@yodasbff3395]

Thanks, interesting video, that thing looked like it was scary to ride. 👍

[@stup1299]

I've always loved Guzzis. I was secretly hoping the RNF Aprillia MotoGP team would be re-badged as Moto-Guzzi especially considering the history and the fact both factories are now owned by Piaggio.

[@philiptownsend4026]

Another excellent video about something I didn't know existed. Thank you.

[@VisioRacer]

My pleasure, Philip!

[@ronaldjohnson1474]

Imagine 158hp/liter with today's suspension and tires! Guzzi (pronounced like pizza)!

[@151nate8]

They should have took that masterpiece to the Bonneville salt flats!!!

[@G58]

Excellent. Beautiful bike. Thank you for sharing.

[@fastinradfordable]

The name has got to be maybe BEST NAMe ever?

[@AA-69]

Jesus... Imagine sitting up on the mountain with a beer and a pie and watching that hit 170 on the veranda in the 50s 😳.. Everyone else would have packed up and went home 🙉

[@pashakdescilly7517]

There are segments of the TT course which are downhill for long distances, so they would go faster than on level ground. The Guzzi V8 was good for 178 mph in 1956 on level ground, so the more powerful 1957 engine, downhill would be good for around 190mph on the TT course..... scary stuff

[@paulg3336]

7:40 this is Pukekohe race track in Auckland NZ

[@bertkilborne6464]

No valve seat inserts and roller bearing lower rod bearing with a bolt on cap. That seems like it's really pushing your luck .

[@fidelcatsro6948]

Hayabusas today should be built with such bubble fairings!! 😁👍🏿

[@maya00795]

Too good 👍🏻👍🏻 keep going 🤘🏻🤘🏻🆒🆒🆒🆒

[@ReisterJP]

Wish guzzi made a flat track racer.

[@RulgertGhostalker]

that design, in my previous comment, i conceptualized as an over square litter bike competitor. it's the natural balance of the 120 degree V6, and the lowness overall making up for the high crank. if one of the Japanese big 4 wants to do it, let them .... i think they would do a good job with it.....i will pick Suzuki.........i have to do that, so they don't argue among themselves.

[@nomyafiftyonefifty8081]

Imagine if there was no rules or regulations today, what could be achieved in MotoGp.

[@A.J.1656]

In 1907 Glenn Curtis became the fastest man in the world by setting the record for any type of vehicle on his V8 motorcycle. The overall speed record stood until 1911 and the motorcycle speed record stood until 1930.

[@joelaichner3025]

Quality

[@boycottjews]

sand filled to bend... nice tip

[@thomasheer825]

Actually, you forgot to mention that these engines at the time were far more powerful than anything else on the track. Followed these bikes' history for years and practically every learned individual about these bikes and their riders made it clear that the frame, tires, and brakes were about a decade behind the power plant. Remember that that measly 15 hp over the other bikes was a rather significant gain over the 50hp competition. Take a late 50's or early 60's street bike and push past the ton, and things get real interesting real fast. And these bikes were able to push 150mph+, in the late 50's.

[@Flies2FLL]

To this day I have NO idea why nobody has produced a compact cross-plane V8 for motorcycle use. I thought for sure Harley-Davidson would do this for a sports bike, even if it wasn't legal for competition. Can you imagine the sound of that thing at 13,000 rpm?

[@highpointsights]

After the war they decided to eliminate alcohol fuel components as the flame in an alcohol fuel can't be seen posing great danger to the rider!!. 8 cylinders was motoguzzis answer to regain the lost horse power. I read a lot about the motorcycle back in the early 70's as i was hanging out with an old guy that had some ultra rare equipment, In line Harleys and Henderson. Ariel square 4's, 500 cc vertical twin Indians and I believe he had a couple of Vincent Black Shadow My recollection was that they were getting 189 mph out of the V8!! During it's manufacturing run in the late 50's they were spending $50000 per copy!! So when they crashed one things changed. The fairing was referenced as a "Dolphin fairing"

[@brianperry]

I built a model of the V8 Guzzi from a plastic kit when I was on a ship ..( merchant navy).. cannot remember the makers name now. I bought it Rotterdam Holland in 1969/70...

[@stephenscholes4758]

Protar in 1:9 scale. Fetch about $250+ today.

[@brianperry]

@@stephenscholes4758 Ah , the benefit of hindsight….

[@RulgertGhostalker]

my first motorcycle concept sketch was an inverted, ( upside-down, crank up ) transverse mounted, ( longitudinal crank ) 707cc 120 degree DOHC 24 valve V6, with a front swing arm suspension bolted to the front of the engine.( i was in 10th grade back then )...i will leave design flexibility to whatever they think is best... there has never been an inverted V, or a 120 degree V, motorcycle......so it would be very unique.

[@RulgertGhostalker]

WELL WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH MOTO-GUZZI , You Might Ask ??? ....Moto-Guzzi has the patent Suzuki would need to run shaft drive with it....but Japan is good, and i want to see if the new engine layout could inspire a new drive line innovation .....if not, some extra income for Moto-Guzzi, or a shared layout..

[@RulgertGhostalker]

it could be a shaft driven 600cc class, overcoming the drive-line loss with the extra cylinders.....or they may choose to do the drive-line differently, and find it wanting to be something of it's own..

[@RulgertGhostalker]

thinking about it again now, i think 720cc would be good... if it can make the power at a lower RPM, then the valve train would be more efficient: and i think it would not need to be any more displacement than that... 12,000 RPM, 58mm bore 44mm stroke, call it a 700cc

[@RulgertGhostalker]

when i think of it, i envision a light weight naked sport, of sorts....the engine layout has a good structure, to add to the chassis.. as unique a layout, i think most would appreciate showcasing the engine in the overall design..

[@RulgertGhostalker]

and it could be a 12,000 RPM 750cc....i just like the idea of the engine helping it be light enough to be a lower displacement....but bore=60mm stoke=44mm for a 750cc would be good too.....somewhere from 600 to 750 is fine..

[@acme_tnt8741]

I wonder if Carcano had anything to do with the rifle cartridge and gun

[@phil955i]

Never knew they swapped from flat plane to cross plane crankshafts. Surprising, as flatplane V8s develop higher horsepower.

[@VisioRacer]

Me neither! I thought it was a crossplane all the time… interesting story to me as well

[@shakeydavesr]

This is the 1st time I’d heard this myself, and I’ve read and watched everything I’ve come across. Thank you for doing this one.

[@littleshopofelectrons4014]

A flat-plane develops the same power as the cross-plane. The difference is the power delivery and the speed of reving the engine due to the lower mass of the flat-plane crankshaft. The flat-plane has more vibration and a different sound.

[@phil955i]

@@littleshopofelectrons4014 yeah agreed they both make the same power. Maybe I should re-phrase that, the flat plane cranked V8 has the potential for more power than the cross plane due to it's lighter crankshaft & better exhaust scavenging. Personally I prefer the sound of the cross plane V8 though.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

How times have changed. Now we make 230 horsepower with 1L 4-stroke 4-cylinders.

[@alrecks619]

i think Ducati can make in excess of 280hp with its current Desmosedici.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

@@alrecks619 Years ago they were putting down 220 wheel HP with 800cc motoGP bikes, but I'm not referring to stuff the common person can't buy or afford.

[@ronaldjohnson1474]

But, this was 65 years ago. Long before you were born.

[@leeharris3061]

Todays v8 motorcycle is called the "BOSS HOG" made in Tennessee if i remember correctly..costs around $60k

[@TucsonDude]

I've been riding motos for decades and I still wouldn't ride one of those monsters.

[@stephenscholes4758]

American car engined rubbish can't be compared to this

[@patrickporter6536]

You seem to have missed the point.

[@netharad4235]

Une préparation mank, 🤔😂💕💕🤩

[@sofalugger]

"Dustbin" fairings!! Halcyon days

[@ruahinesrider]

179mph in 1957 is only 2mph slower than the Slightly modified Vincent Black Lightning ⚡ that set a land speed record near Christchurch New Zealand on a damp public road in 1955 but that was a production bike not a prototype.

[@stephenscholes4758]

And nearly twice the engine capacity.....

[@ruahinesrider]

@@stephenscholes4758 Twice the engine compacity but 6 cylinders less.

[@danielerickson4893]

I have never ridden a motorcycle, but for some reason Moto Guzzi is my favorite motorcycle manufacturer. I would like to get one some day, old or new (I really like how the Griso looks, but love the older bikes too). Hopefully next summer I'll get everything I need, then maybe I'll get a poor man's Guzzi: a Honda CX500- also a transverse V-twin, shaft-driven bike

[@caribman10]

There is no such thing as "too much power" from an engine. Ever.

[@trappenweisseguy27]

The now defunct Italian company “Protar” made a model kit of this bike in the relatively large scale of 1/9. Trolling eBay May be successful eventually.

[@ERICtheLATE]

Transmission in engine!!!

[@nickmartinez5644]

V8 but only 500 cc lol are the cylinders like 3 cm wide?

[@holeshotshane5692]

A 1950's GP motorcycle with transversely mounted 500cc 2-stroke V8 that revs to over 12,000rpm with a cross plain crankshaft and spaghetti noodle exhaust pipes..... I'm listening lol

[@patrickporter6536]

4 stroke

[@barrycarleton4326]

i have 70 hp in my old 2.5 D engine in our camping-car, so this engine would be a perfect replacment. probably cost about $1,000,000.00

[@wuseling]

Nice Job: adjust 8 carburators ...

[@bcpatterson012]

Spoiled by your over talking the Bike V8 Sound on the Track when the Engines running..should kept the two separate..otherwise interesting Video..

[@claudehubert7318]

Driven by Lomas.

[@GrahamGlen]

Here's a bit more footage of it running at Mandello - kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6XSd3yJqqdnqKc

[@SpiritintheSky.]

It showed Honda the way.

[@timhicks2154]

Ultimately, the power and speed was a bit too much for the chassis, tyres and suspension of the day!

[@mortensandmoen5208]

❤❤❤

[@spaceace1006]

This thing was 4-Stroke?? Sure whined like a 2-Stroke!!! High RPM, I guess!!

[@davidfrisken1617]

"Avoid complexity"? A bit late for that.

[@aquilaaudax6033]

✋🏼🇦🇺👍🏼

[@silverpairaducks]

How to build a v8 hand grenade....

[@rogertycholiz2218]

silverpairaducks ~ Only made to last one race then you can pull the pin!

[@nicolasbiette5573]

👍👍👍💪💪💪🏍🏍🏍🏍

[@fastinradfordable]

No valve seats…. Um hmmm Maybe was ok on leaded gas? Still…. Come on bro

[@rogertycholiz2218]

Nathan ~ The engine is made to last only one race then a complete rebuild.

[@patrickporter6536]

I think they ran on alcohol back then.

[@cnance1972]

The amount of money that would be lost to bring it to mass production....

[@patrickporter6536]

Wtf for?

[@RickarooCarew]

does anyone have one available for sale?... te amo Moto Guzzi... I have some new metallurgy that would help... make it lighter and stronger and... unlike magnesium... it doesn't burn... it might fly... ;;~} I'm an exotic car mechanic... Alfa and BMW.. Jaguar... computer engineer. . software engineer... for Raytheon and Boeing... and I rode a Guzzi for many years... I can actually use existing parts... I'm building a personal size dirigible at the moment... ✌️

[@RickarooCarew]

what a monster of a motorcycle... brakes are for sissies... for sure... but... discretion is the better part of valor... there are no old bold motorcycle riders... putting the engine in an airplane sounds like fun though

[@sepg5084]

Too advanced to win? What kind of statement is that?

[@VisioRacer]

The tech was too advanced for the time, as they could not tame the beast enough. Weak tires, weak suspension technology, such a complex engine that required a lot more development than just make it run. The engine would seize, crack, overheat, all kind of problems just because they could not make it reliable enough