Topica Loopframe_Guzzi Archive


Subject: RE: 4 shoe Front end Eldo/Ambo

Author: Gary Cheek

Date: Feb 1, 2002, 4:15 PM

Post ID: 1709544347


Greg,
You may be correct ,but the main point I was making is the non existent
1/2 year thing. There MAY have been some 73s with 4LS ,but the EBay
idiot insisted there were NO 1974 4LS . There were NO 1973 1/2 in any
event.
My first "Big Twin" motorcycle was a 1962 BSA 500cc Royal Star Unit
construction. The BSA unit twins were for the 1963 model year. My 500
was serial number A50B0000068 ,#68 in the model run built and sold in
1962 . Back then most states titled bikes in the year sold.
By the early 1970s Model Year designations for safety and emission
regulations were by application to the Federal Government.
I have yet to see a title with 1973 1/2 for the year.

Greg Field wrote:
 
Gary:

I propose a little experiment online to find out whether there really
were 73 1/2 Eldos.

Everyone who has a 4LS Eldo, please write in with the build date and
the model year listed on the data plate.

Here's what I have noticed: many have May, June, or July 1973 build
dates. These bikes would be late-1973 models. I have seen at least
four of them.

Why did they exist? Because Guzzi discontinued production of the 2LS
front end, which by them was used only on the US models because the
850 GTs had the 4LS.

The ebay idiot may not have been so stupid. I was told by some
Berliner folks that Berliner sometimes had the leftover bikes
refitted with new data plates that listed the current model year,
rather than the old. Also, when they had shortages of Eldos, they
brought in a bunch of leftover 850 GTs, some outfitted with Eldo
sheetmetal, some not. Most of these had the 4LS and were sold as 1974
models

Whether there were legit (as in not rebadged and not originally built
as an 850 GT) 74 Eldos with the 4LS, I'm not sure, but I know there
were 1973 Eldos with the 4LS front end.

Let's see what the experiment reveals. . .

GF

 
John,
The early 1974 model Eldo had a 4LS brake, the later 1974 Eldo came
with the disc brake . There is no such thing as a 1973 1/2 Eldo .
As you may suspect it is one of those terms erroneously applied that
after years of use becomes a "REAL TRUTH" . They are titled as 74s
because they are 74s. My Chevy truck was built in October of 1997 , it
IS a 1998 truck . My Eldo Civilian was built in Oct 1973 it IS a 1974
and is plainly marked on the Federal ID tag 1974 MODEL YEAR as well as
the title.
I actually had some Ebay idiot try to tell me all 1974 Eldos had disc
brakes and only late 1973 bikes had 4LS brakes ,and that if I knew a
certain Guzzi dealer on the West coast I too would be as enlightened.
Never mind the fact I helped a local dealer prep a brand new 4LS brake
AMAL NEW 1974 model Eldo late in 1973.

Yes ,when set up properly they are excellent stoppers . I prefer them
over the disc front for effectiveness AND they look better too (IMHO) .
I do have a set here that are going on my 1971 Police model Eldo . At
the same time I will be putting a 2LS rear and cush drive from a Guzzi
"T" on the bike.
Rich Zink wrote:
 I'm curious, Do those 4LS frontends actually stop? That would be
different.
I spend a lot of money on my 'flintstone' brakes that I use on my Ambo
;-)

Rich

----------
From: John Sutton [SMTP:jsutt-@hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2002 12:59 PM
To: Loopfram-@topica.com
Subject: Re: 4 shoe Front end Eldo/Ambo

Yes, mine is a 4 shoe which origionally was outfitted with Amal
carbs. This
is why I refer to it as a 73.5 and call the disc brake version a
true 74. I
don't think Guzzi made changes based on a specific time of year.
Also, I
have noticed that these 4-shoe/Amal equipped bikes were usually
titled as
74's.
John S.
73.5 Eldo Civ.



http://community.webshots.com/album/24267127XGTxWVBjCs
1972 Eldo Police Model
1974 Eldo Civvy Amal

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http://community.webshots.com/album/24267127XGTxWVBjCs
1972 Eldo Police Model
1974 Eldo Civvy Amal

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