Subject: RE: 4 shoe Front end Eldo/Ambo
Author: Greg Field
Date: Feb 1, 2002, 3:26 PM
Post ID: 1709544049
Gary:
I propose a little experiment online to find out whether there really
were 73 1/2 Eldos.
Everyone who has a 4LS Eldo, please write in with the build date and
the model year listed on the data plate.
Here's what I have noticed: many have May, June, or July 1973 build
dates. These bikes would be late-1973 models. I have seen at least
four of them.
Why did they exist? Because Guzzi discontinued production of the 2LS
front end, which by them was used only on the US models because the
850 GTs had the 4LS.
The ebay idiot may not have been so stupid. I was told by some
Berliner folks that Berliner sometimes had the leftover bikes
refitted with new data plates that listed the current model year,
rather than the old. Also, when they had shortages of Eldos, they
brought in a bunch of leftover 850 GTs, some outfitted with Eldo
sheetmetal, some not. Most of these had the 4LS and were sold as 1974
models
Whether there were legit (as in not rebadged and not originally built
as an 850 GT) 74 Eldos with the 4LS, I'm not sure, but I know there
were 1973 Eldos with the 4LS front end.
Let's see what the experiment reveals. . .
GF
John, The early 1974 model Eldo had a 4LS brake, the later 1974 Eldo came with the disc brake . There is no such thing as a 1973 1/2 Eldo . As you may suspect it is one of those terms erroneously applied that after years of use becomes a "REAL TRUTH" . They are titled as 74s because they are 74s. My Chevy truck was built in October of 1997 , it IS a 1998 truck . My Eldo Civilian was built in Oct 1973 it IS a 1974 and is plainly marked on the Federal ID tag 1974 MODEL YEAR as well as the title. I actually had some Ebay idiot try to tell me all 1974 Eldos had disc brakes and only late 1973 bikes had 4LS brakes ,and that if I knew a certain Guzzi dealer on the West coast I too would be as enlightened. Never mind the fact I helped a local dealer prep a brand new 4LS brake AMAL NEW 1974 model Eldo late in 1973. Yes ,when set up properly they are excellent stoppers . I prefer them over the disc front for effectiveness AND they look better too (IMHO) . I do have a set here that are going on my 1971 Police model Eldo . At the same time I will be putting a 2LS rear and cush drive from a Guzzi "T" on the bike. Rich Zink wrote:
http://community.webshots.com/album/24267127XGTxWVBjCs 1972 Eldo Police Model 1974 Eldo Civvy Amal ------------------------------------------------------------ DayTips.com - Sign Up Today and Receive FREE GIFTS SIGN UP TODAY --->>http://www.daytips.com <a href="http://www.daytips.com">AOL USERS</a> |