Picos on the old bus....

[xsgraham]

Just back from a week away with mates to the Picos in northern Spain. They of course are all sensible chaps, so riding things like a GS1250, the new GSXR1000 GT and a Transalp. I took my 1980 Le Mans 2 but it's OldRat's ex-bike, a real beaut and lovingly restored a little before covid so I had a great starting point.

Some Guzzi groups have branded me a heretic for putting modern luggage on the old beastie. It did help me get a few tools, extra bike kit and such there though, as well as a few fresh pairs of pants .

The roads are just mind blowing.... no potholes, twisties all day and beautiful scenery, although only to look at when you stop as the roads are too involving if you know what I mean !

Great holiday with an enforced day off due to a burnt out coil.... they were old originals so were doing pretty well. My exuberant riding may have generated a little extra heat for them to deal with ! Luckily riding a low tech bike paid off and I was on the road again in about 24 hrs.

The Le Mans was an incredible bike to take - ran on rails, fantastic power out of the corners making me smile for hours on end. Get out there on an old Guzzi if you've not been .

 

[Wrinkly]

Glad you had a great time on that gorgeous looking Guzzi.

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

That's a beautiful looking bike, Guzzi or not.

 

[Wrigsby1]

Great pics... Went to the picos 20 odd years ago on a GS and to date no roads come close... Out of one town I think the were probably 30 bends in the first mile or so... We rode one piece and turned round to do it again and again...Great surface and it's like a bends OD... We've been in Shetland for 20 years so most tours have been Scotland which is a great 2nd best but are now off so will have to revisit some day ..

 

[ChasF]

We were in the Picos back in 2016 on our old airhead GS. I’ve got a 1980 LeMans 2 tucked up in my barn which I’ve had from new which is semi retired now as wifey doesn’t like it and, to be honest, I’m not sure I could fold myself up well enough for more than a few miles - I seize up badly enough on the GS. Anyway, great to see your’s being used in anger.

 

[The Other PaulG]

Brilliant to see the old girl being used in anger Graham, and if adding the luggage means you can do trips like that, then why on earth wouldn't you???

I'd imagine that once in the bends, she more than held her own, even giving away 45 years to her travel mates.

Cracking.

 

[Oldrat]

Aw fabulous Graham, I’m chuffed to bits that you’ve had so much fun on the old girl. Brilliant.

First dibs if you ever consider selling it please

 

[xsgraham]

Brilliant to see the old girl being used in anger Graham, and if adding the luggage means you can do trips like that, then why on earth wouldn't you???

I'd imagine that once in the bends, she more than held her own, even giving away 45 years to her travel mates.

Cracking.

Indeed Paul - had some very surprised mates, 2 who couldn't keep up with the dear old thing

 

[xsgraham]

First dibs if you ever consider selling it please

Will keep that in mind when the time comes

 

[theoneandonly]

a Guzzi will teach you how to ride ( cos they ain't that fast)

back wheel needs a clean .

 

[ChasF]

a Guzzi will teach you how to ride ( cos they ain't that fast)

back wheel needs a clean .

Mine was ‘fast’ back in the day - I had mates with a Ducati MHR and a Laverda 1200 Mirage who were continually cheesed off with the LeMans being in front! The long gearing on the Guzzi, I would have thought, would make it a challenging ride in the Picos although never really taken mine on those sort of roads.

 

[theoneandonly]

Mine was ‘fast’ back in the day - I had mates with a Ducati MHR and a Laverda 1200 Mirage who were continually cheesed off with the LeMans being in front! The long gearing on the Guzzi, I would have thought, would make it a challenging ride in the Pico's although never really taken mine on those sort of roads.

the LM is ultimately faster than the Lav .
i've chased a friend , him on my Jota , me on his LM he was clocking 135 i was clocking 140 as i crept past him. ( private personal race track nowhere near the A6. )

 

[The Other PaulG]

Indeed Paul - had some very surprised mates, 2 who couldn't keep up with the dear old thing

And to add insult to injury, as they trailed behind the museum piece, they would be forced to compare the Guzzi's glorious booming exhaust note with their own Euro-strangled whimperings.

Ha, love it!

 

[timeandtide]

Lovely bike, and being ex Oldrat’s I’m not surprised.
Great to see these being used!

 

[Oldrat]

Just in case you wondered what it looked like when it was clean..


The bike, not Balders!

 

[ChasF]

Just in case you wondered what it looked like when it was clean..


The bike, not Balders!




View attachment 330599

Always a bit of a trade off. Mine is no where near as clean as that but even so reluctant to get it all mucky - but then I’m inspired by this thread.

 

[Oldrat]

Always a bit of a trade off. Mine is no where near as clean as that but even so reluctant to get it all mucky - but then I’m inspired by this thread.

As my old boss used to say, JFDI.

You know it makes sense

 

[richardbd]

Some Guzzi groups have branded me a heretic for putting modern luggage on the old beastie.

View attachment 330309

Burn the heretic

 

[Wrinkly]

One that definitely slipped through my fingers. I just didn't have enough cash at the time.

 

[landmarkjohn]

A guy two up on an old Guzzi gave a twenty something me on a GPZ600R a lesson in torque that I will never forget.

On the A5 with a bunch of roundabouts, I can still hear the soundtrack, him dropping 1 cog to my 3