So after deciding to swap my V11 for a small block, I have recently purchased a V75. It’s an interesting bike but I need to know whether it’s idiosyncrasies (to me !) are just that or faults.
The two main issues are a very heavy clutch and it seems very undergeared compared to my 750 Targa.
I would appreciate any advice on this and any other tips on this model and to share knowledge with any other owners out there.
I am aware of the issues with 4 Valve heads, but this one has had a Raceco modification with Japanese valves.
I remember riding one when they first came out. The clutch felt a bit heavier than a v50iii but lighter than the big blocks.
At the time I was very impressed it felt like a modern Guzzi. The engine response, gear change and controls were all much livelier and lighter than the big blocks. But boy it needed to rev. I was so impressed I bought a Lario and used advice from Pip Higham to sort the valve problem. It was a lovely bike but a porous head casting and leaky rear drive seal were too expensive to fix back then so I sold it on 
From another forum I belong to. Written by someone else. I will be trying this in both of my Breva 750s.
“As I have mentioned elsewhere, I have a V35 Imola. About the only thing that annoyed me about it was that the clutch was so heavy.
In the German forum that I am active in, a couple of bright sparks figured out that the clutch from a V85 will fit in any of the small block models. The only restriction is that the V35 and V50 have a different input shaft on the gearbox to the V65 and later models, including the V85. This means that the clutch plate for the V85 clutch wont fit on those early models. However, the V85 produces close to 80 PS, the V50 only 49, and the V35 a bit more than 30, maybe. So it is a safe bet to just use the smaller clutch plate in the newer clutch.
Long story short: I bought a brand new clutch in e-Bay for about 150 Euros (price for a new V85 clutch from a dealer about 250 Euro). It turned out to be a V9 clutch, but is obviously effectively the same as the one in the V85. The original clutch in the V35 required a full hand, and a lot of effort. Now I can operate it with one finger. Need I say more?
So…if anyone has a small-block Guzzi and a bit of spare cash, and a bit of time, think seriously about doing the mod. It is worth the effort.” The author goes by “audio Mick” maybe he’s here as well?
Brian
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Thanks for info, might be swapping engine into Targa in bid to create ultimate small black so will have opportunity then to update clutchz
A friend of mine has made a V75 with a V9 engine in it.
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Oooh, interesting for the future….
Hi just saw this post. I have just bought a 4v Imola, please could you tell me the head /valve mods to prevent broken valves etc.
Thanks
I am sorry i do not have the answer and there is a better thread for this question with more people trying to sort this out on the 4 valve head small blocks.
As i said on that thread i had a Lario (650) in the 1990s… I had advice from Pip Higham (was a well known drag-racer and tuner). From the Lario dimensions Pip sent me part numbers for GSX1100 (i think) valves and GPz 900 springs and spring caps. But it was long ago and i do not have the details.
Incidentally Pip said he thought that the major design flaw was the single valve spring as the point of two springs is that they interact and stop either spring resonating and surging. The spring surging causes valve bounce and increased loads on a weak valve design
Thank you , I’m gradually building up information that will help me prevent problems.
Really appreciate you taking time to reply!
