Front page of Moto ciclismo 1924 Sep. (ref. No. 16)
At the beginning of 1920's.
Technologies were not confined only to facility, but began to dress people's life, as you can see to Art Deco.
There was a young man who were dedicated to mechanical technology since before World War I.
Maybe the weapons inspired him as a "newest technology", he had an idea of a innovative motorcycle when he's come back from that War.
Big bore and large valve helps engine to breeze easily.All these originalities stood on certain reason.
Heavy flywheel makes its rotation smooth.
To keep the crankcase small and stiff, put that flywheel outside of the case.
To achieve good lubrication and super durability, crank shaft rotates reverse of the other typical direction.
Laying down the engine horizontally low below the body, gravity center were set low, and it could get good riding stability even on rough road.
He and his creative friends founded a motorcycle constructor to release this motorcycle.
They named it MOTO GUZZI.
It's very rare case to start with a big 4 cycle engine as a motorbike maker. It has been filled with originality from its beginning.
Normale 500 (1922, production type), C4V500 (1926, racer) (both from ref. No. 1)
MOTO GUZZI trained its toughness in the race.
But the race of this era was quite different from recent image.
There were no pavement. "Stone cobbles are torture in the rain, gravels would be better." Very few conditions contributed to the quality of riding.
And there were various type of race, short circuit, long rounding root like TT or Lario circuit, etc.
Especially public road long distance race was tough. No team support could be expected. The rider must do with all the jobs by himself.
"Well, how long I've run already... Can I eat sandwiches at the next gas stand ... Oh, strange sounds from engine, can I fix it alone... Ah, what's doing that dog laying on the road ! ... "
To arrive at destination, stand against all the problems alone. Safely, and faster.
All the riders were seeing the substantiality of their own hardness in his riding.
A view of race of this era. (ref. No.1)
The audience saw the famous riders running on their usual public road. They also saw the riders fixing bike on the roadside. They might could see a protection idea under the rider's leather wear. It showed his sufferings from cold and vibration, it was same of the audience.
They felt the rider, now running in front of them, was a man who's battling against the same hardness of their own. They had affinity and congeniality. Such situation added the real premium to the emblem on the wining bike. That was far impressive than we image now.
Italy G.P. Rome in 1934. (ref. No. 4)
In those days, first major object of the race was reliability, but it was not the only. Over the satisfaction of durability, they achieved higher performance, adding beauty and force, then made the motorbike as an artistic object. Only the promised ability like Carlo Guzzi could reach such a summit.
It was the real meaning of the golden eagle, namely, the mind of MOTO GUZZI.
A legendary rider, Omobono Tenni, with smile and confidence. (ref. No. 4)
Let's go to the beginning of 1950's.
The racers run on the circuit similar to these days. The road is paved, but the environment didn't achieve any care for safety compared to the recent.
You see the MOTO GUZZI eagle mark is still alive on the track.
It's the horizontal single architecture, a bit sophisticated but similar to the predecessor, though it has a big full fairing that covers over all the front wheel.
Gambalunghino 250 in 1951, 350cc racer in 1956 (both from ref. No. 1)
You may say, it's too unchanged and old-fashioned. Was it the only result that MOTO GUZZI could put out ?
No. It's absolutely wrong.
Till that era MOTO GUZZI has made various kind of engines, 2 to 4 multi cylinder arranged parallel or V, valve driving scheme of OHV to DOHC, even though supercharging, and more. It covered almost all the basic methodology and key technology of the reciprocating engine. MOTO GUZZI had experienced to test these engines over the race scene. They already established how to build bikes for racing track.
Then why MOTO GUZZI still adopts this horizontal single architecture ?
The answer is quite simple.
It can win.
The engine squeezed extreme power over the strict tuning, and the body was so light because the excess weight was dropped to the limit. It corners faster then dashes out enormously. Big fairing saves power loss to achieve high maximum speed.
That slim, light and honest bikes could be ridden smartly. It could run faster than that fishy big pregnant bikes with multi cylinder engines inside.
However, it gradually loses the advantages as the 4-cylinder rivals like Gilera or MV Agusta raise its ability after a long maturing time.
At that time, what did MOTO GUZZI think ?
The comment of Mr. Carcano, who is an on-the-time witness, is quoted below.
"It wasn't easy to make a new motorcycle with 4-cylinder beside the advantaged Gilera and MV. New challenge is needed to be ahead over the rivals. What can we do ? We've already understood that big 6-cylinder has some problems. What we wanted was an engine to get high horsepower reducing the size, not so complex then we can do with it. That was the V8. We've already estimated the size, and the power exceeded 4-cylinder rivals. That V8 motorcycle was really a natural selection for us."
Some people says that the development of V8 was too difficult so it failed. No, it's not truce. They made it in so short period, and the next comment should be referenced as a proof too.
"We've already dug up the problems of initial design and finished the action to counter them. V8 of 1958 would be a new model rather than an evolution type. For us, the withdraw from GP was really a bolt from the blue. "
V8-cylinder racer Ottocirindri 500cc. It shows an independent design. (from ref. No. 1)
Some commentaries say that MOTO GUZZI has worried bad handling of V8, but it should be wrong. They've seen nightmares of multi cylinder bikes for a long time by the side. They knew how was that. It must be under their intension.
Then, how was the truth of the withdraw from GP ? Should the responsibility be imposed on management rather than the technical team ?
I've described the situation of 10 years after the withdraw from GP. The answer could be read from that text.
Leaders of Italian motorcycle industry at prewar days, in 1935.
From the left, Giuseppe Gilera (Gilera initiator),
Count Bonmartini (An investor to the worlds first transverse inline 4 motorbike O.P.R.A. In other words, biggest benefactor to the Japanese motorbike makers.)
Edoardo Bianchi (father of Bianchi)
And, Giorgio Parodi (one of the founder of MOTO GUZZI).
Now in 21st century, we can see the only MOTO GUZZI as a remainder of these pioneers.
(from ref. No. 19)
Nowadays hard technological development on the race scene is fed back to the market bikes so soon. It's very profitable marketing way (, even though what fed back is not a real technological matter but just a image or color scheme). Why didn't MOTO GUZZI do similar marketing if they had such a progressive technology ?
Even if we could sell V8 as a market bike, it should be a very costly product. And at that time, super performance big bike was not a main stream of motorcycle market.
It was natural that the road bike and racers were different product.
The racers are expensive both for initial price and maintenance, not so durable, and requires difficult treatment to ride. It's not practical on a general road, even maybe danger. And beside, there are ordinary cheaper race bikes for whom wants to ride it on the track devoting all his energy.
MOTO GUZZI distinguished the technology for road bikes and racers.
You may say, well, it doesn't run faster than the rivals... what was it's purpose ?
It's to run. Joyful run.
Easy and safe even in a hard situation, durable and cheeper, reliable and enjoyable for everyone.
To arrive at destination, stand against all the problems alone. Safely, more pleasant.
On the road, motorbike can provide deeper pleasant. It's not limited just for speed or lap time. And it's not just for "buy" like everything of nowadays, but to use, for run.
MOTO GUZZI has been spend its long history to ripen that concept. They know how should be a road bike, and what to do to realize it.
In the past, road bike was expensive and it could not be changed so frequently. MOTO GUZZI knew also that era, so its bikes are durable, and last the enjoyment for long range. Therefore it can be a long-term partner even now.
With a MOTO GUZZI, you can usually start your bike life to see the road map filled with many notes, and to choose where to go. It's not to see the magazines filled with many dubious articles and ad, and to choose the next cool one to buy.
MOTO GUZZI's values are so practical, clear and sure, not vague nor nostalgic like the other snobbish examples. So it has been one of the best selection for motorcyclists who put a bike beside life and prefers to enjoy it usually. It's been evaluated by the realistic and independent riders, who knew to confront the risk of riding alone, adult and matured bikers. That's the real and brilliant aspect of MOTO GUZZI motorcycles.
The bikes of MOTO GUZZI can be said as best works that's realized by amazing ability. Only the selected talents like Carlo Guzzi, Carcano or Tonti could do with it.
So I think, it's a small, but precious piece of italian conscience. It may serve to you too.
I wish my article could serve the motorcyclist who loves to run on the road.
With a pray for their happiness of soul and safety of the body.
End.
2004 Apr. first edition.
2005 Dec. Retouch and correction.