Chapter 4 – Now it gets expensive – will be of little to no interests to most “foreign” readers, as its about the Danish taxation on motor vehicles. Danish taxes does not make any sense to the Danish taxpayers, and will def. not make any sense to you J

In the following I use the local currency, Danish Kroner, DKK.
$1 USD = 7 DKK, $5 AUD = 5 DKK, £1 GBP = 11 DKK

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This is the story of a guy who wanted a Moto Guzzi.

When it all began, I only knew that Guzzis came from Italy and I was a complete novice when it came to engines.

All of this is written for the fun of writing – but if anyone can benefit from this, Id be pleased.

But remember – me writing about something doesnt make it a fact. And if you do something to your motorbike based on something I wrote – and it turns out wrong – Im not to blame. If you have any comments or input, you are more than welcome to write me at the e-mail address stated above.

Apart from my Guzzi I also have a Danish Nimbus motorcycle from approx. 1943.

The story begins in the late summer of 2002 when I realized that now was the time for me to get a Moto Guzzi.

I suppose there were several reasons – the most important one being the silent accept from my wife to buy a more modern bike. I had been talking about that for a long time.

As a young man I had had various Japanese bikes and I was sure that I was not going to have another. And a new MV Agusta F4 was completely out of reach unless I mortgaged the house. Then I remembered the guy next door from back when I was a young boy with a 3-gear Puch moped. That guy had a Moto Guzzi Le Mans. The coolest thing on two wheels in my opinion.

I looked into the price of such a vehicle in our time and day. I found several – in the price range from DKK 20.000,- to more than 100.000,- depending on condition and so on.

Then I ran into this one: A 1979 Le Mans II with 14.000 km on the clock.

I contacted the seller and he mailed me some pictures. It looked just right – it was even red! When the pictures had arrived I sat admiring them one weekend morning. The bike was completely original apart from another seat and rear set foot rests. The Italians are apparently built differently from Scandinavians. Apparently Italians must have short legs and long arms. Without this kit it would not have been possible for me with my 188 cm to sit comfortably. The kit moves footrests, brakes, and gear pedal some cms back.

It this what you want?, my wife asked. Ive considered it, was my answer. As she didnt protest too loudly I couldnt take it any other way than as an accept. We were on – ready to deal.

The price was DKK 27,000 before taxes.

We agreed that I should come visit the seller and have a look at the beast. I must confess that I was more than half ready after looking at the pictures - but when I saw the real thing I was sold. I had to have it. Newly painted. In short – I was in love. The seller wouldnt issue any guaranties – and especially not concerning the mileage.

It had an issue concerning engine idle – or rather, its lack of ability to idle, but the seller assured me that it just needed a good ride to warm it up.

The seller had bought it in Milan, had taken it apart for painting – but had done nothing apart from that. It had a pair of foam rubber handle grips that he thought I might want to change – but that was really a question of taste. The front fork legs were a bit flaked by rust after 25 years of thrown up pebbles. But all in all it was a great old bike. I had a trial run and had a pulse of about 280 when I came back – so I bought it.

Author on a test ride.

Luckily I had ordered a trial license plate and brought my helmet and leather gear. We started from Fredericia towards Helsingoer – me on the Guzzi and the wife following in the car. At the first gas station it was filled up and I wondered why I had tingling fingers – well, I suppose Id get used to it.

Passing the island of Fuenen went fine – we had a rest and a cup of coffee while the tingling slowly went away. Proceeding to Zealand – and just outside Hoersholm the Guzzi started to die. Shit! There was plenty of gasoline – so what was the problem?

Luckily I had my toolbox in the car; disconnected the fuel hose and found out that the drops were few and far between. Same thing when I switched the petrol cocks to reserve. I managed somehow to get it started again and coughed my way to the next gas station – had her filled up and the rest of the way went ok.