Gregory Bender

Converting to left side shift/right side brake

Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

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The V700 and early Ambassador models came with the shifter on the right side and the rear brake on the left side...similar to many British bikes of the same era. With the standardization to left side shift and right side brake, some owners - for a variety of reasons - prefer to change the original set up to the now standard configuration. While I am not a proponent of such changes, here is how to do it.

Frame modification

You'll have to position the right side tube carefully so that the center of the 14 mm and 16 mm tubes are the same in all planes. For me, anyway, that would be the tricky part of this whole operation.

One thing I will mention. It appears that the later Ambassador and Eldorado brake tubes are positioned ever so slightly forward of the V700 and early Ambassador brake tube. Upon close scrutiny, I can find no reason to cut off the existing tube only to move it forward a wee bit. I believe everything will fit just fine, but I did want to mention this.

Parts needed

Now, on to the pieces and parts you'll need to find. Have a look at the Ambassador spare parts catalog I have posted on my website (2nd edition, the one that has 81 pages)