Motorbikes

For the Moto Guzzi enthusiast, a trip to Italy is bound to have some fleeting highlights when driving, as the distinctive across-the-frame V-engine of a Guzzi flashes past in the opposite direction, but I have to say they've been disappointingly few so far.  Imagine my delight then, to find this parked outside the Pit Stop cafe:

1951 Astore 500cc single

Nice eh?  But my delight grew to wonderous proportions when  I discovered this ancient gem nearer to the building:

‘Guzzino’

Its a ‘Guzzino’ (more properly a Motoleggera 65, made between 1945 and 1954) and despite using what look like the bicycle wheels and tyres of the day, it's a proper motorbike (not a moped) of 65cc capacity featuring hand gearchange, front and rear suspension, as well as a sprung seat and a sprung luggage rack!

Girder front forks

Rear swing arm

Sprung luggage rack!

But most amazingly, none of these springy elements have any damping AT ALL.  The whole effect must surely have been like riding a motorised pogo stick.  Probably just as well that the little engine with its three cylinder studs and 5.5:1 compression ratio can't have made a whole lot of power.  More like the electric bicycle of its day than the 500cc Astore, which made a massive 20bhp at full chat (4300rpm!).


Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, for the modern rider (with deep enough pockets - about 30 grand new, although you can get one for 11) there's this:

Ducati Panigale

which makes a much more impressive 172bhp at the back wheel, and only weighs 188kg (wet), which gives it a fearsome power-to-weight ration of more than 900 bhp/tonne (as long as the pilot doesn't weigh anything!).  Crucially, it does have dampers at both ends.  And you can adjust them electronically, while you're riding along.  The speed limits in Italy haven't changed much though, so there's nowhere to show off your 200mph top speed.  So much for progress!