Eagle's direction of 'Flight'?

General Discussion General Banter
1

Quick question about the Guzzi Eagle Decals/Transfers . . .

I was under the impression that any Eagle images on the sides of a Guzzi should always be facing forwards.

On the 1972 Nuovo Falcone I recently picked up, I mentioned this to the owner, as the Decals (Transfers actually) are facing rearwards, and he told me the guy that supplied the decals told him they should always face rearwards.

Sounds wrong to me, but is there actually an ‘Official Factory Ruling’ as such?
If so, is it a fairly ‘modern’ thing?

My first Guzzi was a ‘78 Le Mans II that I had in ‘82/3, don’t recall knowing/hearing anything about it then, nor when I had my ‘97 V1100 Sport in 2007/8 . . .

Thoughts?

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Nuovo Falcone restoration
2

My brand new Guzzi the head faces towards the front of the machine. I’ve also checked a photo of a 1970s V7 Sport and the head is in the same orientation.

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3

Any Mandellos I’ve seen deffo forwards which means there is a Left and Right specific set? Forward makes sense to me too. Club patches/stickers all show left to right orientation.

Betcha the tank maybe had been repainted or moulded originals lost? Curious too what everyone else reports.

4

Yes, but looking at photos of 30s - 70s Guzzis, there are many instances of both directions, so it’s impossible to get any idea of what’s ‘correct’.

Also, with any ‘modern’ photos of older Bikes, you can’t really tell if they’re original, or if they’ve been restored/repainted at some point.

I’ll have to look for original photos from the 20s onwards I guess . . .

5

Interesting… but hard to believe there is not some standard?? Makes one wonder if it is another quality control looseness? Might be worth an email query to MG central for a definitive answer?

6

Brand mythology? I always had it as “the eagle flies facing forward”. Decal purveyors such as ISayDingDong offer variants for the confused.

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7

My old bikes are as follows (checked from photos)

Mk3 Le Mans in original paint - one facing each way - forwards on the right bacwards on the left.

1962 Lodola also in original paint has both facing forwards.

1972 Stornello 125 Scrambler also in original paint had both facing rearwards

This has the potential to become a “which oil should I use” thread :rofl:

Russell

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8

Whatever the outcome or consensus.. every ‘bird’ I have had anything to do with, feathered or otherwise, always travelled looking at their direction of travel. Any who didn’t are likely extinct.:rofl:

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9

Damn good point!

It does seem the ‘Facing Forwards’ arrangement would be the most logical/sensible outlook.

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10

I’ve had many Guzzis

LeMans both faced forwards

G5 one each way, maybe luigi had a long day

Cali 3 both forwards

2nd Cali 3 one each way (both same year)

Cali 1100i both forwards

T3 both forwards (although was a repaint)

V100 Mandello both forwards

So in general forwards seems the right way just bought pair of transfers from Gutsibits and they are mirrors so could go forwards or backwards. I’ll be placing them forwards.

The small transfer on the LeMans front fairing faced left, just to add a little more confusion :grin:

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11

This is the winning answer for me. Compared with this explanation, factory or brand mythologies, decal shortages, and so on, all fall short.

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12

Haha! My avatar says it all for me! My tiny brain goes with Occam’s Razor. The simplest answer is always a fair bet. :winking_face_with_tongue:

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