... a building box system works just as well as Lego blocks. At one point I was Guzzi-less for a moment. I refurbished an MZ 250 TS, and someone wanted to trade it for a Guzzi. A very neat V65 Policia in civilian costume. A white one. MZ two-strokes are a lot of fun, but Guzzi is my job. We traded.
If I had been an originality fundamentalist, I would have put Polizia stickers on the Guzzi again and the whole pack. But I just saw a cool V65 that needed to be stripped off.
With the fairing I could make someone happy in exchange for a handful of euros and a bottle of whiskey. This is how I combat the price frenzy for classics and their parts. And I like whiskey (and cigars).
Under all the plastic there was the typical Italian amount of electrical wires. The scissors went in – with policy. The Guzzi received a practical windshield and a new jacket. Gunmetal from the Hornbach with orange striping. I was happy with that. In the meantime, the mufflers turned out to be rare police copies. These were exchanged for a set of excellent NOS Jamas from someone who was really looking for rare police silencers. Two people happy again.
The single seat was bravely sprayed with Saphir, peinture Française, a double-black, highly impregnating water-thin paint for leather and PVC. Thanks to the local shoe repairman.
The intermediate phase was a neat Guzzi V65 with a set of enormous police suitcases from which I had cut out the holders for the UZI, fire extinguisher and first aid kit. They found their way. The other set had another Polizia souvenir. Also beautiful, but also too big. The slender V65 got the ass of a big-billed cow. But the mounting system is un-Italian solid. I'll have to find a new owner for that stuff. Large suitcases also take up a lot of space in the garage. Too much space.
A police motorcycle has a single seat. Without the panniers on the V65, that seat looked a bit bulky. A regular 2-person buddy was found. But mounting it requires some kind of auxiliary frame. That turns out to be rare, but was delivered at a friendly price by MW Motoren. Because I thought that Guzzi - long plagued by a lack of money - would be consistent in cutting costs by using the kit system in which as many identical parts as possible across the model line... Well, never mind. They're Italians. So the only thing they are consistent about is inconsistency. The new buddy seat layout didn't work because the Policia has 'chubbier' fenders.
The rounded back of the rear fender collided with the regular buddy mounting system. That was basically solved by some carpentry work with a good sheet metal worker's hammer and by flexing a hole in the back. Hoppa: a mudguard with an open back. Then enough 'height' had disappeared to mount the buddy and side assist frame. But that approach didn't sit well with me.
At Gekramotors I saw a V50 Nato including a buddy seat instead of a single seat. Bearing in mind the construction kit principle, I thought I saw the ideal solution there. Because in my limited brain the idea was: Moto Guzzi > interchangeability > identical frames > everything fits everything > Nato mudguard on > DONE! That the Nato's fenders have a more angular cross-section? Oh well, if that disharmonized too much, I could always install a NATO front fender. Teun Beuzel still had a somewhat damaged NATO rear fender. For little. I dented it and tightened it. With the leftover Gun Metal Hammerite, the army green piece of jewelry was given a civilian coat. Nice!
Long story short: apparently ex-Polizia V65s and Natos have different rear frames. That is the state of affairs for the time being. But I have already figured out how I am going to transplant the Nato rear fender. And the end result should even look pretty cool. By the way, I'm just thinking that the windshield is going to come off and that I definitely want a lower handlebar on the V65.
And I'm curious whether someone will spontaneously show up again who wants to exchange my Guzzi for… A Laverda SFC? A BMW R69S? A Ural solo?
Small-scale, pleasant messing around is wonderful. And not expensive.
Dreaming alone is cheaper. And just as much fun.
Or is all that ruining a 1984 classic? Not a clue. But I do know that these types of engines were often rebuilt with such an approach after about ten or twenty years because the owners at the time thought they looked better. And because it didn't cost much.
Let my V65 be a tribute to that time.
Creativity + dexterity + knowledge = pleasure in the end result
unfortunately...they were only holders for the Uzi, among others
Bingo!
That V65 is simply a good bike. You did well Dolf!! While others prefer a 'tear horse', others go for solidity, keyability and key fun. This is increased by manageable technology. For me, that is the intrinsic reason to hate CAN bus systems. Simply pulling a ground cable does not help. Even all that 'Tupperware' on motorcycles is not for me. Having to remove too much of that stuff to be able to do even the simplest maintenance or repair works on me like a red rag to a bull that just wants a crowbar. Simply put, I don't need that Tupperware. I tolerate the elements around me. My bicycles each have a suitcase set. A lot has already been transported with it. Even at -12 degrees C to the boss with parts that I had to pick up and transport 37km to the boss while I didn't even have heated grips (yet). That was sometime in 1997 or so. I still think the V65 is a beautiful bike. Too bad that replacing air filters is such a big job
To please you I bought a 1967's V7. With an E scheme that even I understand. Want to buy Guzzi V65?
I was almost going to make an offer on it👍
Beautiful thing! What do you pay extra for a Shadow750ACE? 😁
You have good taste. I have a bad back. A Shadow is a bit too relaxed for me. But bidding is allowed 🙂
“….UZI, fire extinguisher and first aid kit. They found their way.” I read here about trading in used goods, bravo! What moves a submachine gun like that these days, Dolf?
Just set it to MP under 'tools' and 'bid'. And wait. The thing was already out. But I knew what the supports were for