Footboards - V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, 850 California Police - Moto Guzzi

Footboard brake levers

Updated: 2010 Jan 11

Thanks to Craig Sheldrick for sending me this information via email.

It seems Moto Guzzi changed the style of the brake levers for the loop frames. Some are straight while others (perhaps later?) have a dog leg.

Two different version of loop frame brake levers. Note the dog leg in the top brake lever.

Photo courtesy of Craig Sheldrick.

Two different version of loop frame brake levers. Note the dog leg in the top brake lever.

Photo courtesy of Craig Sheldrick.

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A view of the brake linkage and the lack of a heel rest.

Photo courtesy of Craig Sheldrick.

A view of the brake linkage and the lack of a heel rest.

Photo courtesy of Craig Sheldrick.

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Footboard - bushings for brake and shift levers

Updated: 2011 Nov 15

The pivot bushings (MG# 91111520) for the brake and shift levers are a bit of an odd size: 16 mm ID × 19 mm OD × 20 mm long.

Bushings are “consumables” that wear out over time. Were I to need a replacement, I would likely purchase McMaster-Carr item number 6658K28 and then ream it to size.

Thanks to Dana Larson, who informed me that American Sleeve Bearing sells a bronze bushing of the required size, SKU ZMB 1619-20.

Footboard - bushings for rear shift pivot

Updated: 2011 Nov 15

2250K11

The pair of pivot bushings (MG# 91111417) for the rear shift pivot point are: 14 mm ID × 16 mm OD × 16 mm long.

Bushings are “consumables” that wear out over time. Were I to need a replacement, I would likely purchase McMaster-Carr item number 6679K18 and simply live with the reduced length.

Thanks to Dana Larson, who informed me that American Sleeve Bearing sells a bronze bushing of the required size, SKU ZMB 1416-20. The extra length would be easily removed after installation.

Footboard comparison - Bates vs DB

Updated: 2008 Nov 19

Thanks to John Ulrich for providing this information to me in a private email.

Bates footboards. Notice the “C” shaped bar to connect the front across the frame.

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DB footboards. They are larger than the Bates and notice the split in the mounting tabs where the brackets mount. Bates mount on one end of the tab or another but not through the middle. Again a “C” style front mounting bracket.

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Footboard comparison - early vs. late Moto Guzzi

Updated: 2008 Nov 19

My Dad brought these footboards to me, both sets.

Early set on the left, Later set on the right

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Here is what I *think* I know about them:

The set on the right is an original Moto Guzzi footboard set as was commonly fitted to the Eldorado police versions. It is complete except:
- It is missing a couple clevis pins (easily sourced)
- It is missing one of the longer engine/transmission mounting bolts (it only has one - easy to replace with an appropriate length of rod properly threaded on both ends.)
- It has a later model brake lever that has the added heel rest nub. A great improvement, but not original.
The set on the left is an original Moto Guzzi footboard set as was fitted to the very early V700 and Ambassador police versions. Perhaps is was a prototype? It is complete except:
- It is missing a couple clevis pins (easily sourced)
- It is missing one of the two footboards (a set from a Harley could easily be made to work)
- It is missing the pivoting mechanism for the shifter (I'll bet it was as simple as adapting the original shift shaft)
- The brake pedal is obviously missing the heel rest nub and has been generally *altered*.
- It is missing both of the longer engine/transmission mounting bolts/threaded rods
- It is missing the fasteners that secure the footboards to the rails

In looking at the Police Supplement to the 850 Spare Parts Catalog (no date on the one I have), I discovered that the Eldorado spare parts catalog shows the shape of the footboard and rails to be very similar to the earlier version shown here. It has holes in the footboard and shows fasteners for securing the mat to the footboard. It also clearly shows the cut-out in the left side frame rail.

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In looking at the Police Supplement to the 750 Spare Parts Catalog (dated October 1970), I discovered that the Eldorado spare parts catalog shows the shape of the footboard to be very similar to the earlier version shown here. But, the rails are clearly the shape of the later footboards (thanks to Charley Cole for pointing this difference out).

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A closer look at the later, Eldorado set.

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A closer look at the earlier, V700/Ambassador set.

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Yet another closer look at the earlier, V700/Ambassador set.

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A side-by-side comparison of the brake side. The earlier set is nearer the camera. Notice the overall shape of the rail is a bit different. Note also the brake pedals are different. I think the original pedal on the earlier set was cut off and this replacement welded in place. The heal rest on the earlier set was also cut off and the pivot welded on lower. In other words, the early brake pedal has been butchered pretty severely…for reasons unknown. While I don't think the early and later brake pedals were 100% identical, this early version is in poor shape.

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A side-by-side comparison of the rear end of the brake side. The earlier set is on the left. The earlier set has a nicer finish to it than the later set, what with the angled cut, etc.

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A side-by-side comparison of the shift side. The earlier set is nearer the camera. Notice the overall shape of the rail is a bit different. The shift pedals appear slightly different, but I think this is due to someone heating up the early version and bending it somewhat (as the chrome is discolored). The shift pivoting mechanisms are also different. The earlier side also has a nice cut away in the rail.

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A better look at the shift levers.

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A better view of the cut-away in the earlier version.

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This is what I think the cut-away is for.

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Not much difference in the brake rods…

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…though the later brake rod has a dog-leg in the bracket and the earlier brake rod does not. Notice some empty-headed numb-skull took a bloody hammer and mushroomed the end of the splines on the earlier version (bending the arm in the process). I'll have to champer that end and straighten the arm to make things work properly. Not the end of the world by any stretch of the imagination. But still!

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A look at the earlier footboard.

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A close-up of the mounting point for the earlier footboard.

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Kind of hard to see in this photo, but this is very nicely curved piece on the earlier footboard that prevents the footboard from pivoting down too far.

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A view of the other curved piece.

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A later footboard held up to the earlier rail. Notice that mounts are not even close to being in the same position.

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A view of the underside of the later footboards. Note the simple bars that prevent the boards from pivoting down too far.

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A side-by-side comparison of the two boards. The later set is nearer the camera. In addition to the shape difference, notice the holes in the earlier version. I believe the rubber mat was held in place with screws as opposed to adhesive.

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A view of the underside of each footboard. The later set is nearer the camera.

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Another view of the underside of each footboard. The later set is nearer the camera. You can see the nice curved pivot stop pretty well on the earlier footboard.

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A final view of both footboards. The later set is nearer the camera.

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Footboard - custom castings by Howard Bass and nice homemade mounts

Updated: 2010 Jun 10

Thanks to ratbastard_us for posting this information on the Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group as well as sending me some additional information via email.

The previous owner didn't complete the mounts, but did do a nice job of welding a tab with a hole on the frame. From my understanding he was going to have the front of the mount go behind the front crash loop, next to the frame. The back of the mount needs to have a spacer made, then is supposed to bolt to the welded tab. Not sure what the plan was for the exhaust.

You'll notice on the back of the boards, he started grinding off some of the cast stops. I wish I could have seen what the original creator had in mind.

I've got some ideas for mounts, but haven't made anything yet.

I'm going to try my ideas out with some junk metal to avoid experimenting on the aluminium. I let you know when I come up with something good.

Custom footboards cast by Howard Bass for the Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, 850 California Police.

Photo courtesy of ratbastard_us.

Custom footboards cast by Howard Bass for the Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, 850 California Police.

Photo courtesy of ratbastard_us.

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Custom footboards cast by Howard Bass for the Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, 850 California Police.

Photo courtesy of ratbastard_us.

Custom footboards cast by Howard Bass for the Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, 850 California Police.

Photo courtesy of ratbastard_us.

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Custom footboards cast by Howard Bass for the Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, 850 California Police.

Photo courtesy of ratbastard_us.

Custom footboards cast by Howard Bass for the Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, 850 California Police.

Photo courtesy of ratbastard_us.

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Custom footboards cast by Howard Bass for the Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, 850 California Police.

Photo courtesy of ratbastard_us.

Custom footboards cast by Howard Bass for the Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, 850 California Police.

Photo courtesy of ratbastard_us.

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Custom footboards cast by Howard Bass for the Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, 850 California Police.

Photo courtesy of ratbastard_us.

Custom footboards cast by Howard Bass for the Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, 850 California Police.

Photo courtesy of ratbastard_us.

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Custom footboards cast by Howard Bass for the Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, 850 California Police.

Photo courtesy of ratbastard_us.

Custom footboards cast by Howard Bass for the Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, 850 California Police.

Photo courtesy of ratbastard_us.

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Footboard engine and transmission mounting bolt length

Updated: 2008 Dec 22

The transmission mounting bolt length is the same as is used with foot pegs. This is because the width gained from the removal of the foot pegs provides adequate space to mount the footboards. The engine mounting bolt length, however, must be longer when footboards are fitted to accommodate the additional thickness of the footboard rails. Furthermore, there were two styles of mounting bolts. One style was a hex bolt. The other style was a rod threaded on each end.

Hex bolt dimensions

Front

Diameter: 12 mm
Thread pitch: 1.5 mm
Overall length (measured from under the head to the tip): 348 mm
Length of threads: 20 mm

Rear (same as bolt for foot pegs)

Diameter: 12 mm
Thread pitch: 1.5 mm
Overall length (measured from under the head to the tip): not yet measured mm
Length of threads: not yet measured mm

Threaded rod dimensions

Thanks to Robert Janka for providing these measurements to me.

Front

Diameter: 12 mm
Thread pitch: 1.5 mm
Overall length (measured from tip to tip): 360 mm
Length of threads (equal on both ends): 19 mm

Rear

Diameter: 12 mm
Thread pitch: 1.5 mm
Overall length (measured from tip to tip): 343 mm
Length of threads (equal on both ends): 16 mm

Footboard - grease zerks for brake and shift levers

Updated: 2011 Feb 17

The grease zerk (MG# 94020060) for the brake and shift levers have a thread size of: 6 mm × 1 mm.

These seem to be commonly lost. Were I to need a replacement, I would likely purchase McMaster-Carr item number 2250K11.

Footboard or foot board vs floorboard or floor board

Updated: 2008 Nov 19

There seems to be some confusion about what to call these things upon which you rest your feet:

footboard or foot board
floorboard or floor board

I don't pretend to know what is “correct” . But, I do know what they are called in the official Moto Guzzi Spare Parts Catalogs: “footboards” . Hence, I will refer to them as such.

Footboard replacement rubber mat

Updated: 2009 Jan 03

Thanks to John Ulrich and Greg Barratt of Stainless Cycle for providing some of this information on the Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group.

Moto Guzzi footboards - The original Moto Guzzi footboards accept a fairly generic sized rubber piece that can be sourced from any of a number of sources such as Drag Specialities Part Number DS254411.
Triple A, Bates, and Dan Brown (DB) footboards - These footboards have unique shapes that prevent the use of readily available replacements. Instead, a generic rubber mat can be cut to fit. Stair tread rubber from a local hardware store works well. Alternatively, McMaster-Carr sells a V-Rib Anti-slip rubber mat that works very well. Search for item number 6895T711.

McMaster-Carr item number 6895T711 on John Ulrich's Bates footboards

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Footboard rubber mat glue

Updated: 2011 Oct 10

Thanks to George Dockray and Mark Etheridge of Moto Guzzi Classics for providing this information on the Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group. In their own words…

George Dockray:

For this kind of stuff I use 3M 1300L contact adhesive. It's what you use for bonding de-ice boots onto the leading edges of airplanes as well as the heated boots onto the leading edges of propellers. You need to follow the application instructions carefully.

3M 1300L, stock number: 62140365305; UPC: 0 00 21200 19927 1
Photo courtesy of 3M.

Mark Etheridge of Moto Guzzi Classics:

Best to buy the metal reinforced rubber ones from me and use 3M weatherstrip adhesive (08011), no more lifting or curling even if gas gets on them. The plain rubber ones are a constant pain, no matter what kind of boogers ya put on them.

3M 08011, stock number: 60455044044; UPC: 00 051135 08011 5
Photo courtesy of 3M.

Footboard set up - Bates

Updated: 2008 Nov 19

Thanks to John Ulrich for providing this information to me in a private email.

My Boards are actually by Bates not DB. Here's a pair I purchased to get the shift arm. Notice the “C” shaped bar to connect the front across the frame.

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You can see on mine the “cam” type of mounting where I can turn the round “offset hole” cam to lift or lower the boards.

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Solid mounting tab of a Bates.

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Mounting bracket detail.

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Here's a picture of the mounting brackets before chroming if it helps. PS: Those are rear footrest on the top.

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This is the factory shifter that I cut off the back arm and reattached the “heel” lower so you did not have to lift your so foot so high to shift. This was before I found the Bates shifter.

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Here's my extended brake arm that moves the pedal forward and out of the way so you can stretch out when riding. I was more concerned to maintain the nice slope/arc when the local muffler shop re-welded it. What I found out later is that it hit the footboard when stepped on because the longer arc also lowered the pad when it's extended. I raised it one notch on the spine and all well except it looks high. When I feel like “wasting” a nice chrome job I'll heat it and bend it down a little.

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I cannot find a better close-up of the Bates shifter. Greg knows it's a bugger to “heel” but after a few months it's second nature. You do need to have all slop out of the shift linkage or the front “toe” will hit the board when you downshift. You can raise it but then you are also lowering the “heel” when takes more ankle to push it to upshift.

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Footboard shift levers and linkage

Updated: 2010 Jan 11

Thanks to Joe Jump for encouraging me to go into more detail with the differences in the shift levers. Also thanks to Craig Sheldrick for sending me information about the dog leg differences via email.

For the loop frames, Moto Guzzi used footboard shift levers which attached to the associated linkage via bent rod held in place with a cotter pin. Later models (V1000 I-Convert, V1000 G5, etc) had a solid 6 mm shaft welded to the shift pedal and the associated linkage was held in place with a circlip. Within the shift levers, it seems there were at least a couple of different varieties. Some were straight while others had dog leg bends in them.

Inside view of both shift lever styles. Top shift lever is a later Tonti framed model. Bottom shift lever is from a loop frame.