Blue and Zed went through MOT today with no probs.
Blue is an '81 though as a grey import got registered as an '82 - so will need one more ticket next year I guess. I’ll not try and get it redated, in my book the less chance you give DVLA the chance to screw you over the better.
Might put some tax on Blue this month. Zed can wait until May at least.
Took the Airone out for its first ride after fitting the Jikov carb. I was optimistic as the bike now starts easily and ticks over nicely.
Fortunately it is quite hilly where I live, so I figured I would be able to test it through all throttle openings without going too far. Unfortunately, the bike gave up the ghost when trying to climb a long hillwith the throttle wide open. I had to push it up the hill for about 100 yards before I found somewhere flat to park up. I could see nothing had fallen off, so I kicked it over again and it fired up again. I then rode it to the top of the hill by giving it lots of revs in second gear. Naturally, it pegged out again as I crested the hill, but I was able to freewheel all the way home from there.
I took the spark plug out hoping to get some clue as to what was wrong from its colour. Weirdly, it is exactly the same colour as a Fresian cow. It is simultaneously very black and very white.
Has it run very hot and burnt clean?
That is what I am thinking. Too lean at full throttle. However, I put in a new plug and let it idle for five minutes and the plug came out looking good ( just lightly toasted ) so I don’t know where all the soot came from.
Hey ho. I guess it’s all part of the fun of owning a geriatric bike.
Well I now have both halves on the drive - still attached to each other which is good. First impressions seem good, for what it is. Bought some insurance so might go out and try it later. Been a few years since I rode (drove?) an outfit so there will be some fear and trepidation for sure. Then I’ll need to get it over to the other shareholder where there is secure parking space.
So try a bigger main jet? You’ve had this bike running well previously though?
Well . . . it ran ok with its original Dellorto, but starting was hit and miss, and the tickover was erratic. This was the first time out with the Jikov.
Made a new sidestand bracket for the Stornello Scrambler as the Mk1 version hung down a bit low. Had to pop over to a local blacksmith to get a bit of 8mm steel twisted to give me the angle I needed. I did have a try with my plumbers blowlamp and got nowhere. 5 minutes with a forge and it soon got those molecules flowing and twisted to perfection. All for a tenner.
Now working on the gear and brake linkages. Strangely the 5 speed bikes have a gear lever spline on both sides of the engine so I am converting it from one up 4 down on the right to one down 4 up on the left.
All good fun!
Not much Guzzi action for me this weekend apart from pushing Blue around the plot whilst i was doing other stuff.
Friday evening I rode Jaws the Jawa outfit around the town and scared myself half to death. Most of Saturday I was out green laning on my SP(370) with a couple of pals. Saturday evening I rode Jaws down to my pal’s Ma’s where we will be keeping it in her garage. The plot was starting to feel more controllable already. My pal then gave me a lift back on his Griso - definitely not a bicycle made for two. Sunday morning I pulled Brown the Kawa H1 out from under cover and after a few issue got that one running. It has been standing for a couple of years. Took that for a smoky spin around the block - hilarious. Yesterday evening I balanced Hardley the XLH1200 on blocks on the table and got the wheels out. That’s going for ne rubber this week.
Today Air One and I decided to have a dress rehearsal prior to our jaunt to Blackmore on Sunday and undertook a brief tour of some of Essex’s finest potholes and gravel traps, ending up with a satisfying takeaway tea and bacon roll at Norton Heath Cafe. Air One was suitably equipped for the task on his R100GS while I only having Humble Henry Honda at my disposal took that. Conditions were “bracing” and I’m nicely set up for Sunday and looking forward to it immensely.
Fixed the carb problem on the Airone. The carb problem wasn’t in the carb but in the fuel tap which was blocked. Cleared this and normal service is now resumed. Play was curtailed by the demise of my clutch cable, fortunately close to home.
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Hi Don, I have found what I think is a Stornello 125 Sport America. The owner is asking the equivalent of 380 Pounds and I reckon the restoration will take my total spend to about 2000 Pounds. I am just wondering if I am potentially throwing money away. I know I’ll enjoy the project so it is not critical that the bike is worth a lot at the end of the day.
Your comments would be appreciated.
Cheers
Phil
Hiya Phil. I have seen a few pictures of models like this. I suspect it is a later version of the 4 speed and could well be a 160cc.
It has the earlier frame and round case engine, but has the later squarer shaped battery box that I normally associate with the later 5 speed models.
Here is a very similar one for sale
https://www.catawiki.com/l/32072953-moto-guzzi-stornello-160-cc-1970
And one on youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Eg-z5Bqpjw
I would guess the tank has been swapped on the one you are looking at, as the square box one is pretty ugly. I also suspect this one will have the slightly unusual electrical system. There was a recent discussion in the forum about this recently
https://www.motoguzziclub.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=29876&p=328300&hilit=stornello&sid=ee26546d5126ad91681d3df72e596e8f#p328300
Projects like this rarely are financially viable and if you do a decent restoration they can cost quite a bit. It depends on how nice you want the end result to be. This one looks to be mostly there, the only bits that look to be missing is the air box covers and rear light / number plate. It could be put back on the road fairly economically.
This is the one on Catawiki for sale. Note it has a bulge at the front of the engine for the different electrical magneto.
Thanks for the reply Don, much appreciated. I think you could be correct about it being a 160cc with the incorrect tank. it is in fact one of a pair that were found in the back of a garage back in 1995. the other one has been rebuilt and it has the square tank! Maybe they have been mixed up. I’ll have a close look at the one for sale and check out the magneto side of the motor as well as try and establish how many gears it has got. Maybe it is a 5 speed 160, if so I’ll be well pleased. I may even persuade the owner to swap the tanks! I’ll also get hold of the engine and frame numbers and what they reveal. Again, thanks for your input.
Cheers
Phil
Hi Phil.
It won’t be a 5 speed as they redesigned the engine and frame quite a bit to fit the extra gear in and went from a round shape to being much squarer.
This is the 5 speed one I am working on. You see it has the same shape battery / air box as the one you are looking at, but the shock mounting point has moved and the engine is much squarer. A bit like the change on the big block engines from round barrel to square. These ones came out in 70 or 71.
The frame has been simplified, presumably to make production easier. I have read it was the first bike with a robot welded frame.
22 April 21 by Don West, on Flickr
Thanks again for your comments Don.
The bike I am interested in has frame number T97II (Stornello 125cc sport from 1961 to 68) and engine number 0893.
The second bike at the same location has been restored and has frame number SA38AR (160cc four speed from 1968 to 70) and engine number T0911. It is fitted with the square shaped tank.
It seems a little odd to me that the second bike has an engine number beginning with T.
From your experience with these bikes, is there any way of identifying the differences between the 125 and 160 four speed round case motors?
I’ll visit the property again next week and take a load of photos and glean as much as I can. Your information has certainly helped spotting some of the changes made to these models over the years. Some of them are quite subtle (Rear shock mounting position).
Cheers
Phil
Well, What did I do with my Guzzi yesterday, to be exact … Kevin, ( Cabernet), had mentioned many times that we should both seize the earliest opportunity to get out and blow away the “lockdown - cobwebs”, and lingering remains of “cabin-fever” , by getting out there, and … just ride…!
The only problem was, a great many other people would probably be wanting to do the same … He had been given instructions by his lovely, “other half”… to come home with some of their favourite cheese, and "Seeing as you are already there … Bring back some of MY FAVOURITE cake as well …!! "
This obviously set the parameters of our ride-out … We were going to The Courtyard Dairy … A rather bijou and artisan couple of stone buildings, purveying quite “select” ( and bloody tasty !!) wines and delicatessen fare … The added bonus of this destination, was the fact that we were just moments away from a popular refreshment stop … Elaine’s Tea Rooms … This is in Feizor, just outside Settle, and we had decided that we didn’t want to join the aforementioned crowds, enjoying the sunshine, and filling up the A roads in the process … We intended to take the roads less-travelled, and sit at a more comfortable / sedate pace … I am pleased that we did … At the earliest chance, we entered the lovely Trough of Bowland, and I noticed that during these long periods of lockdown, somebody has been out, distributing an awful lot of pot-holes…!! Either that, or they are breeding…!!
So, with my back-box laden with wine and “goodies”, we both seemed to be “in tune” with our new found riding mode, and headed back to the narrow, slow twisty roads… back towards Slaidburn … where we found it was time for coffee and cake …
Duly refreshed, we carried on, as we had started, in slow-mode … and it proved to be a most satisfying and pleasant last leg of the journey … I had chance to see far more scenery, etc … All in all, a good ride out … Even if was only for “shopping” !!
I am looking forward to the next opportunity… to press the “slow” button … Regards, Tony
All sorted now
If the one you are looking has T prefix, then that would suggest it is a normal Stornello Sport 61 to 68, they can be Sport, Sport Italia or Sport America. The differences are subtle, mudguards & tank shape is all I can think of. I was assuming the one you were looking at to be a 160 by the mudguard colour and that it has the later squarer shaped air box. I have generally seen that on the later 60’s 160 models. Here is another one that has come up for sale in the last day or so.
https://www.subito.it/moto-e-scooter/moto-guzzi-altro-modello-1967-piacenza-382713937.htm
The frame and engine numbers match on earlier bikes (presumably pre 68) and not on the later 5 speed models. My 2 earlier bikes have a slightly different format. They have number, number, letter, letter From the frame number list, it seems they changed the format in 68. I would assume the prefix to follow through, ie a 160 engine would have a SA engine number and a Sport model would have a T prefix to the engine number.
Friday night I bolted the newly rubbered wheels back into Hardley the XLH.
Saturday morning I scrubbed up the SP(370) after last week’s off roading foray.
In the afternoon I pulled Brown the Kawa H1out and washed it down, then took it down the road for fuelling (it uses a lot – c. 22 mpg).
Sunday lunch time I lit up Brown and headed down to the garage (lockup) to meet up with my pal.
He then took over Brown and I piloted Jaws the Jawa combo. Headed over to the Essex Branch spaced out gathering.
Got a good full body work out on Jaws.
Back on Brown for the ride home after dropping off Jaws it was so good to be back on a solo. Really lit it up – warp drive from some 6k onwards.
Guzzi action – Blue is parked on the table, but ready to roll.
