I had a '69 Ambasador in '76. My favorite bike that i have ever owned. Everybody raves about the El Dorado, but i always favord the Ambassador. I loved the right hand shift and the gear pattern.
These old skool Guzzi's are the Kings of cool, and yes I own a '71 ambo and am biased😅😅 , all bias aside they are a comfortable old bike and they love chewing up the miles, and will do it day after day , year after year, 11/10.!!
The early '70s ambassador 750 and eldorado 850 are my dream bikes. The pinnacle of biking in my eyes. No matter what other bikes I see I never seem to shake the guzzis. Thanks for sharing this, there's not enough content on these bikes (at least in my opinion). Stay safe during those horrible fires!
Love those old Moto Guzzi's. I had a 2017 V7ii but I recently sold it. I liked it a lot, but I wasn't in love with it. One of these days I'd like to get an old Ambassador or Eldorado, such cool looking bikes.
Hi Dave, what a beauteful Bike you got. I still driving my MOTO GUZZI CALIFORNIA III and it makes me happy. Keep going. Greetings from Lamspringe Germany from DANIEL.
Thanks Mike for hosting another fine cul-de-sac video and thanks to Dave for showing us his Moto Guzzi! A very noble endeavor keeping these old classics on the road. Ditto on the front brakes, an area newer machines are blessed even my '86 LeMans 1000 if get on them with gusto. Stay safe all you guys in the fire zones.
Yet another brilliant surprise for my Sunday morning cuppa ! Love the Goose and this one sure is easy on the eyes! Glade you are OK and we are sending prays to you and your neighbors that you stay safe.
Update, I found a 1972 850 GT one year ago now. Same Gilardoni cylinders/pistons as this one. So wonderful bike, as long as I live I will keep this one. I buyed another handlebars from Fehline, much lower. Fits much better to the low profile of the bike. So happy that I found a V7 to a affordable price. My BMW is collecting dust.
There is a certain level of coolness that old Guzzi's have, that I don't think most other bikes can match. Maybe it's something to do with that completely relaxed sort of gait the engine has - where it just chugs along at a nice easy pace, nothing frantic or urgent. Just keeps going. When I think "Vintage Moto Guzzi", that bike is pretty much the image I have in my head.
Greetings from England Mike. Thank you for another Sunday morning cul de sac treat, especially a lovely Moto Guzzi. Wer are planning on buying a Moto Guzzi V50 once 'Norbits' our Norton Dommie becomes a little heavy. It has always been our wish to continue riding after kick starting becomes difficult, and electric start and lighter weight seems to fit the bill nicely. We hope and pray the wild fires are soon brought under control. In the meantime, stay safe, and take care. God Bless, Peter and Jenny Snow
Many thanks Peter and Jenny for your kind note. Glad you enjoyed the video. I thought it was a really cool bike and a great presentation by Dave. Best wishes, Mike
Hi Mike, awesome bike, practically straight out of Dirty Harrys 1973 Magnum Force. Just watched it again for the umpteenth time, I can’t get enough of all those 70s bikes, Harleys, Triumphs, Guzzies, Laverdas etc. This is an amazing looking bike, I’d freaking love it. I liked these V Twins better than the Harleys, enjoyed looking at the engine , ever since I owned the Honda plastic maggot V Twin. Awesome video Mike. 😎👍👍👍🇬🇧🏍
Thank you Mike!! Really appreciate it. Yes, I haven't seen many if any other Ambassadors before so it was a great treat! Glad you liked the video. Ah yes, that was a really great movie. They don't make them like that anymore. I guess it was pretty violent now that we look back from 2020! Hope all is well. Best wishes, Mike
Nice bike, nice bloke, nice story! Thanks for continuing to make these videos, the "cup of cocoa on a Sunday night" is a sorely needed break form the rest of everything that's going on these days. I'm glad that you and your family are safe but sorry to hear that some friends haven't been so lucky.
Thank you Brendan. Much appreciated. I'm glad that you like the vids. I have a few more in the works and even more invitations sent out. Best wishes, Mike
Hi Mike, I've been watching news reports each night about the wild fires in Northern California, Oregon and Washington State, and I've been thinking about you and your friends. I hope you're keeping safe. You're going through what we in South-Eastern Australia went through last Christmas. Thanks for another installment from the cul-de-sac. I love the Guzzi. Cheers Peter
Imho, Moto Guzzi big block engined bikes in all their famous iterations, from 1967 to the last of the Grisos, are the greatest road/street motorcycles ever made. I may, however, be biased....
Great Bike, the round barrels guzzi’s are definitely the nicer looking. I have visited the guzzi factory, what a place, it is situated on the banks of lake Como in a small place called Mandello del lario which is as picturesque as lake Windermere with a motorcycle factory on the shore. Great place but surreal! As you know I’m a real Italian bike fan and I have a Moto Guzzi 250 Airone Sport, love it. Stay safe.
Thanks for continuing the vlogs, Mike, despite the difficulties you are all facing. Hopefully the skies will clear soon. Nice bike - looks like it could be ridden all day without breaking sweat. As I have found out, twin leading-shoe front brakes are not to be feared and are quite adequate, but leaving a good gap is always a good idea...👍🏻
Cool bike, I don’t know much about guzzis (I’m a British/American bike enthusiast) but I would be more than happy to have it in my garage 👍 love the Harley pannier bags too they really suit the bike. Thanks for sharing mate!
I agree! Thanks a lot for your note. Yes, that was a really cool bike! It was a pleasure to see Dave and the bike, even with the nasty air. Cheers, Mike
Hi Mike! I hope your family and friends are out of the reach of the fires. I was formerly also interested in a Guzzi V7, but in the end it was "just" a Royal Enfield Interceptor. Nice videos and nice motorcycles from your cul-de-sac. Thumbs up!
Hi, I love these old machines as well and I also settled for an Interceptor for now. There is definitely that vintage vibe to it. I am very satisfied as for now, they nailed it. My next dream bike would be a triumph Bobber. Will see when that yould be possible ahha. Regards
@@TheMightyGarage I wrote a little article about the Interceptor on my homepage,( www.joebiegert.homepage.t-online.de/home.html )with a little Google translator built into the top of the pages. Cheers, Joe
Lovely Guzzi! Great video...hope your air clears soon. Those fires are horrible. Our friends near Coeur d'Alene have only about 200 yards visibility. Keep your lungs safe Mike!
Awesome Ambassador! Always had a soft spot for Moto Guzzis. My first (road legal) bike was a 1967 125. It had the same hand grips as Dave's. Stay safe, Mike. Cheers!
You're so right James! Everything has a strange red/brown hue to it! And the smoke smell is pretty bad, especially in the morning. We're staying indoors for the next few days. Best wishes, Mike
Very nice Guzzi! Yeah, bike purchases on ebay can be interesting. When I bought my '78 BMW R100RS on ebay, it was the last day of the auction. I figured I'd better go for it (sight-unseen, except for photos), took a deep breath, and pushed the "BUY-IT-NOW" button. It turned out that another guy was very interested in buying it - and I had unknowingly bought it out from under him (literally) while he was out test riding it!
Thanks Dave, once again although not a lover of 'Moto Guzzi' the Ambassador 750 comes over as a 'nice' bike a bit like the nice owner .. As soon as I saw the first view I thought 'Police Bike'. I enjoyed the bikes history story so please you are keeping that alive. Hope 'fog' soon clears & folk stay safe Mike. atvb t ..
Too bad that Guzzie has a secret fault of chrome piston liners... surprised they goofed there. Nice ride and a skookum bike!! Nice touch rocking it on take off.. :) If Fiat made bikes I would run but guzzies are great!
FYI: The chrome on the tank is NOT just a patch. You have to electroplate the ENTIRE tank, tape off the patch to the correct shape and spray the body color. I have a '74 Eldorado and will eventually need to have this done. It makes restoration somewhat expensive. I'm glad Dave knows about the eagle facing forward. The best looking saddle bags for this bike are the Wixoms. Dave's has quite a bit of gear whine that mine doesn't seem to have, but I don't mind the gear whine. It sounds like a sturdy transmission. My disc brake model had the police handlebars, which I didn't like. The steering was too light and vague so I switched mine to civilian bars. (Yes, the master cylinder will fit on the civi bars.) :-)
I confess that I was pretty concerned if the fire was dangerously near to your house. Here in Brazil we got some information that make us have the impression that the situation in Oregon is something in between catastrophic to apocalyptic, with massive eviromental and material losses plus some human deaths. I'm happy to learn that as bad as it can be, the fire does not seems to be a menace to you, to your family and your bikes. It's great to know that you are safe enough to continue to have the Cul-de Sac mornings going on. The Guzzi depicted on the video is realy a beauty. I always got amazed how much great caracters and fantastic machines you're capable to congregrate. Best regards from Brazil.
Hi Felipe! Thank you very much for your kind words. Yes, we are really lucky in our area that the wildfires are not too close. But it has been terrible for so many people in Oregon. I did make sure that Dave was comfortable coming over and was fine riding to the cul-de-sac. I promise that I wouldn't put anyone in danger. We are very lucky and blessed to have such great friends in the motorcycle community. Best wishes, Mike
First time I can remember seeing the Ambassador, I only remember the Californian. Lovely original bike. The sky certainly is different to the beautiful blue of you previous videos, hope you stay safe.
I was fifteen in 1970 and even then I thought the Ambassador just exuded character. Even though I bought Japanese because I raced motocross, the euro bikes made a connection with you that can't be explained to most people. And that connection is stronger now in our reverence of the vintage years.
Interesting never noticed the idle is like a BMW Boxer not the V-twin rhythm. Super pretty bike! Hope you guys take care in Oregon! 💙🙏🏼 Just south of you in SoCal.
That smoke is concerning I bet. One a nice example of a Guzzi, very pleasing lines that go together very well and yes, those hardbags are Harley bags made for XLT Sportsters. They are smaller than the BigTwin versions. I have the same set on my Old Sportster and they are hard to find. You could get them as an option as well.
Love those old Guzzis Mike and Dave is a really nice guy. I hope you're nowhere near the danger zone of the wildfires , there's been a lot of coverage on TV here in the UK. It looks real bad.
Many thanks Bob, we are doing A-OK. It's very bad throughout Oregon, but fortunately our little town was not impacted by the wildfires. We are very grateful for that. Best wishes,
Wonderful old bike - they pull like a train. Lots where hitched up to small trailer, before Honda gold wings hit the touring scene. Haven’t seen that many with sidecars thou, I guess to preserve their good handling.
Sitting here in the UK I did wonder if you would be affected by the Oregon fires. We've been to Oregon a couple of times when our daughter was at OSU, Corvallis. Keep up the cul-de-dac series!
Beautiful Guzzi. I loved my 850 Eldo (1972) but the brakes or lack thereof made me eventually sell it. Wondering who would give this video thumbs down, lol- sad people everywhere.
love the appearance of the squirrel, does it make regular showings at the Cul de Sac episodes? A good friend back in the '70s bought a new Guzzi California........we all thought it was a very large 'American" mcycle.
I just bought a 74 Eldorado here in Australia. It’s currently stripped down and in remarkably good nick for a 50 year old bike. Many new parts are on order but the big decision is……….what colour scheme do I choose?
I have seldom seen a Moto Guzzi Ambassador 750 that is so well cared for - congratulations on this magnificent specimen! I would like to ask a question: Is it possible to add a second, individual spring-loaded seat behind the sprung seat? Klaus sends greetings from Germany.
wearing a mask now would make sense for 2 reasons....that's a very clean M G, the size of the front brake drum, very advanced for a 50 year old machine
I went to a small town college and these former police bikes were always around but at that age I didn’t understand them. I knew some older guys though who were smitten and as a result had several each. Great bike and love the subtle mods. BTW how many Daves are we going to meet? I lose track. 🙂
It's wonderful you found the proper exhaust system for it. I cringe when I see people modify their bikes exhaust system and end up losing performance in the process. You can change the jet's in the carburetor's but it's more complicated than that. You've got to change the camshaft too so valve timing overlap matches the new exhaust back pressure. It's best to keep everything stock because there was a lot of engineering and test stand work done to get the exhaust, carburetor's, and camshaft all matching to provide the best performance possible on a motorcycle before it's ready to be sold as a new motorcycle.
The Ambassador is a really nice bike,but i prefer the Eldorado.The Ambassador is 750 cc,4 speed while the Eldorado is an 850 cc 5 speed.I have a 72 Eldorado.a 73 Eldorado plus 6 other Guzzis.You might say it's an Addiction I'll always have a Guzzi.
Hi Stoyan! We're doing okay, thanks. We're very lucky where we live in the suburbs that the fires aren't close, but we have a few friends who have been evacuated. They are waiting to hear about their properties and so we're hopeful that they didn't get damaged. Hope you are doing okay. You have me looking much more closely at every Panther that pops up on the internet now and they are such a lovely bike 😜👍 Best wishes, Mike
The Mighty Garage That’s great to hear but I can see from the latest video the heavy smokey atmosphere behind you. We do hope that it’s brought under control soon for everybody’s safety. Funny you should mention thinking of Panthers As you know I am contemplating the Vincent purchase but watching your commando video clips has really made me think again as we both decided that the commando is such a great bike. In fact you’re description of it being your go to bike has stuck in my head and I couldn’t agree more. As I said previously, mine is now in Norvil production racer trim, fully restored but never ridden in 13 years ownership so I have decided that I shall sell the Norvil parts and buy a roadster tank and seat and most probably an electric start kit and just enjoy it. Thanks again Mike and stay safe, Stoyan.
We called them irreverently Moto Goofy because they were so different. I did own the 1970 Amby Police, but it sold to a chap in Mexico. The Police drive train is the same as the civilian but with shorter final drive gearing for parade service. I have an original parts book for the bike that Dave might like to have and a few spares.
I remember when this bike was as good as many and better than most; flash to 2020 and a buddy that recently bought a new Yamaha FJR can’t wrap his head around how poor the brakes are compared to his BMW R1000RR . . . you get the drift.
Paranoia over the lack of dealer support and unfamiliarity with the brand coupled with mystique for the Harley brand is my guess. As common as Harley's are my brother waited quite some time for a new drive belt for his 06 Night Train. Proving that American made only counts for so much as far as parts access goes.
I also did not know that and have been in and around Portland nearly all my life and an M.G. fan since the early 1990's. Acquired my first, a 1976 1000 i convert in 2013 and a 2003 Cali Stone last August for a smokin' deal on a low mileage bike (under 6K) for $2,800! Both Tonti frame and great handling rock steady. My Cali Stone has had no issues at all since purchase and given it's shape and mileage the experience of buying it 180 miles north of home in Lynwood, Wa. and riding it home i would equate it to almost identical to buying a new one at a dealership and riding it home. The main difference being the outlay of about $12 to $13 K less to get my 5,700 mile like new example. A real bargain when most seem to sell in the 5 K range. The sellers wife was battling cancer and i was only too happy to give him his asking price which he had just dropped from $3,500. The Cali Stone is the no frills bottom of the Cali model range and aside from chrome steel spoked rims rather than alloy Borrani's that suits me just fine to have no cruise, ABS, rider modes etc. Less complicated and more old school with F.I. being one of the few concessions to modern tech. It's still cable operated throttle and clutch and electronic ignition. It all operates just fine and handles great and is the most stable bike i have ever ridden. My i convert being a civilian version of a police bike has iron liners and at 55,000 miles the lack of wear is uncanny. Not sure how the Nikasil barrels of my Cali Stone will fare but one reason for my attraction to the brand ws a co workers 1980 T3 that had logged 180,000 miles by the late 90's. Doing a light resto/custom on the i convert and hoping to iron out a shifting issue on the 2 speed box in the process. All said Moto Guzzi V Twins are one of the few bikes i would attempt to rebuild the engine on myself and quite a few parts are available online thru midwest M.G. dealerships. Ciao.
I had a '69 Ambasador in '76. My favorite bike that i have ever owned.
Everybody raves about the El Dorado, but i always favord the Ambassador.
I loved the right hand shift and the gear pattern.
These old skool Guzzi's are the Kings of cool, and yes I own a '71 ambo and am biased😅😅 , all bias aside they are a comfortable old bike and they love chewing up the miles, and will do it day after day , year after year, 11/10.!!
Beautiful! Elegant details make it pop.
Brilliant.Dave is a great communicator. Love these stories
The style of 70s bike to me are just fab. And this bike just confirms it.
Thank you Michael! Best wishes, Mike
The early '70s ambassador 750 and eldorado 850 are my dream bikes. The pinnacle of biking in my eyes. No matter what other bikes I see I never seem to shake the guzzis. Thanks for sharing this, there's not enough content on these bikes (at least in my opinion). Stay safe during those horrible fires!
Thank you James! I think we might have to try and find more Moto Guzzis for visits! Best wishes, Mike
That's a gentleman's bike there. I've always had a soft spot for those '70s Guzzis.
Hehe, it really is a lovely bike, isn't it Bill. Hope you are doing okay. Cheers, Mike
Love those old Moto Guzzi's. I had a 2017 V7ii but I recently sold it. I liked it a lot, but I wasn't in love with it. One of these days I'd like to get an old Ambassador or Eldorado, such cool looking bikes.
Love to sit and have a cold drink and talk with Dave, seems really knowledgeable
Hi Dave, what a beauteful Bike you got. I still driving my MOTO GUZZI CALIFORNIA III and it makes me happy. Keep going.
Greetings from Lamspringe Germany from DANIEL.
Thank you Wolf! Best wishes, Mike
I've liked Moto Guzzis since I first saw one in the mid-60s. I have a V7 III Stone presently.
Very cool bike! Thanks a lot. Cheers, Mike
Magnificent motorcycle!
Those Guzzi's are trully beautiful.
Thanks Mike for hosting another fine cul-de-sac video and thanks to Dave for showing us his Moto Guzzi! A very noble endeavor keeping these old classics on the road. Ditto on the front brakes, an area newer machines are blessed even my '86 LeMans 1000 if get on them with gusto. Stay safe all you guys in the fire zones.
Thank you George. I thought you might like it 😜👍 Best wishes, Mike
Yet another brilliant surprise for my Sunday morning cuppa ! Love the Goose and this one sure is easy on the eyes! Glade you are OK and we are sending prays to you and your neighbors that you stay safe.
Haha, I thought you might like this one Eric 😜👍 Thanks for your kind words and best wishes, Mike
Wonderful bike, I really want one of those. My next bike for sure. I've had many Guzzi's, but now its time for an old V7
Update, I found a 1972 850 GT one year ago now. Same Gilardoni cylinders/pistons as this one. So wonderful bike, as long as I live I will keep this one. I buyed another handlebars from Fehline, much lower. Fits much better to the low profile of the bike. So happy that I found a V7 to a affordable price. My BMW is collecting dust.
There is a certain level of coolness that old Guzzi's have, that I don't think most other bikes can match.
Maybe it's something to do with that completely relaxed sort of gait the engine has - where it just chugs along at a nice easy pace, nothing frantic or urgent. Just keeps going.
When I think "Vintage Moto Guzzi", that bike is pretty much the image I have in my head.
The smoke haze really made this bike look amazing!
Absolutely beautiful like all Guzzis
Thank you Fabian! That is a lovely bike, isn’t it. Best wishes, Mike
Greetings from England Mike.
Thank you for another Sunday morning cul de sac treat, especially a lovely Moto Guzzi. Wer are planning on buying a Moto Guzzi V50 once 'Norbits' our Norton Dommie becomes a little heavy. It has always been our wish to continue riding after kick starting becomes difficult, and electric start and lighter weight seems to fit the bill nicely.
We hope and pray the wild fires are soon brought under control. In the meantime, stay safe, and take care.
God Bless, Peter and Jenny Snow
Many thanks Peter and Jenny for your kind note. Glad you enjoyed the video. I thought it was a really cool bike and a great presentation by Dave. Best wishes, Mike
Nice motorcycle!!!
I loved the gearbox "clunck" when Dave shifted from 1st to 2nd, classic Ambo noises 👍👍
😉
Hi Mike, awesome bike, practically straight out of Dirty Harrys 1973 Magnum Force. Just watched it again for the umpteenth time, I can’t get enough of all those 70s bikes, Harleys, Triumphs, Guzzies, Laverdas etc. This is an amazing looking bike, I’d freaking love it. I liked these V Twins better than the Harleys, enjoyed looking at the engine , ever since I owned the Honda plastic maggot V Twin. Awesome video Mike. 😎👍👍👍🇬🇧🏍
Thank you Mike!! Really appreciate it. Yes, I haven't seen many if any other Ambassadors before so it was a great treat! Glad you liked the video. Ah yes, that was a really great movie. They don't make them like that anymore. I guess it was pretty violent now that we look back from 2020! Hope all is well. Best wishes, Mike
Still has the original CEV switches. Really gorgeous.
Quite a rare beast nowadays that Guzzi. Hope you keep posting these for as long as possible Mike I really enjoy them. .. keep safe best wishes..
Thank you Stephen. I hope to continue to post the vids for a while longer and have a few in the works. Best wishes, Mike
Lovely bike, truly.
Nice bike, nice bloke, nice story! Thanks for continuing to make these videos, the "cup of cocoa on a Sunday night" is a sorely needed break form the rest of everything that's going on these days. I'm glad that you and your family are safe but sorry to hear that some friends haven't been so lucky.
Thank you Brendan. Much appreciated. I'm glad that you like the vids. I have a few more in the works and even more invitations sent out. Best wishes, Mike
Simply love ❤
Lovely bike!
Stay safe with the wild fire situation Mike. Great video as usual buddy.
Thank you very much! Really appreciate your note. Best wishes, Mike
Another wonderful presentation, thanks Mike. Thinking about you guys out there and hope it all clears up soon. All the best, Ian.
Thank you Ian. That was very kind of you to say. We're hoping for rain early in the week, so hopefully it will help dampen things. Best wishes, Mike
Hi Mike, I've been watching news reports each night about the wild fires in Northern California, Oregon and Washington State, and I've been thinking about you and your friends. I hope you're keeping safe. You're going through what we in South-Eastern Australia went through last Christmas. Thanks for another installment from the cul-de-sac. I love the Guzzi. Cheers Peter
Many thanks Peter for the well-wishes. Glad you liked the vid. Hope all is well. Best wishes, Mike
That is one lovely machine and a very proud Dave. I hope those fires soon stop.
Thank you very much. We're supposed to have rain late Monday/Tuesday so everyone is praying for a downpour. Best wishes, Mike
Thank you for posting this Mike. I wasn't sure we would see one from you this week. Stay safe. You are in our thoughts here in Vermont.
Thank you very much for your kind note. I really appreciate it. Best wishes, Mike
Imho, Moto Guzzi big block engined bikes in all their famous iterations, from 1967 to the last of the Grisos, are the greatest road/street motorcycles ever made.
I may, however, be biased....
Hehe, thank you Michael. Best wishes, Mike
Apart from the small blocks...
@@timgrace414 nope. Nowhere near to bottom end, nor gearbox longevity.
I’ve always admired Moto Guzzi. The only one I’ve actually ridden was a Norge, which was quite fun. Love the sound!
Thanks Bob! Hope you are doing okay and staying safe! Best wishes, Mike
Thank you for pressing on inspite of the circumstances..Great bike btw.
Thank you Charles! Best wishes, Mike
Old Guzzi are so cool.
Completely agree! This was a really great visit with Dave. Best wishes
Great Bike, the round barrels guzzi’s are definitely the nicer looking.
I have visited the guzzi factory, what a place, it is situated on the banks of lake Como in a small place called Mandello del lario which is as picturesque as lake Windermere with a motorcycle factory on the shore. Great place but surreal!
As you know I’m a real Italian bike fan and I have a Moto Guzzi 250 Airone Sport, love it.
Stay safe.
He's welcom to the new Harley, I'll take the Guzzi! looks great and they won't be making any more!!
Thanks for continuing the vlogs, Mike, despite the difficulties you are all facing. Hopefully the skies will clear soon. Nice bike - looks like it could be ridden all day without breaking sweat. As I have found out, twin leading-shoe front brakes are not to be feared and are quite adequate, but leaving a good gap is always a good idea...👍🏻
Thanks very much Steve for your note. I really appreciate it. Best wishes, Mike
Cool bike, I don’t know much about guzzis (I’m a British/American bike enthusiast) but I would be more than happy to have it in my garage 👍 love the Harley pannier bags too they really suit the bike. Thanks for sharing mate!
I agree! Thanks a lot for your note. Yes, that was a really cool bike! It was a pleasure to see Dave and the bike, even with the nasty air. Cheers, Mike
Beautiful bike
Hi Mike! I hope your family and friends are out of the reach of the fires. I was formerly also interested in a Guzzi V7, but in the end it was "just" a Royal Enfield Interceptor. Nice videos and nice motorcycles from your cul-de-sac. Thumbs up!
Hi Joe, thank very much for your nice note. I appreciate it. I LOVE the Inteceptors by the way. How do you like it? Best wishes, Mike
Hi, I love these old machines as well and I also settled for an Interceptor for now. There is definitely that vintage vibe to it. I am very satisfied as for now, they nailed it.
My next dream bike would be a triumph Bobber. Will see when that yould be possible ahha. Regards
@@TheMightyGarage I wrote a little article about the Interceptor on my homepage,( www.joebiegert.homepage.t-online.de/home.html )with a little Google translator built into the top of the pages. Cheers, Joe
Hi Joe, thanks very much for the link to your story. I enjoyed reading it (in English 😉) and seeing your bike. It looks terrific! Best wishes, Mike
The Italian's Legend! 🇮🇪👍
I live in the Ghostown, where there is the Factory 😂👍
I had a carbon copy of that bike for years. If l keep watching these videos l may have to find another one.
Lovely Guzzi! Great video...hope your air clears soon. Those fires are horrible. Our friends near Coeur d'Alene have only about 200 yards visibility. Keep your lungs safe Mike!
Thank you very much for your kind words and concern. We're staying indoors for the next few days as it's pretty rough outside! Best wishes, Mike
Thank you for showing this! (Now I will know what my big pile of parts is supposed to look like - when I get done.)
Ah ha! Good luck with your project Steve. Best wishes, Mike
Beautiful bike. Some neighbourhood wildlife making an appearance in the background at 4:48!
Haha, that's Cyril😜👍 Best wishes, Mike
Awesome Ambassador! Always had a soft spot for Moto Guzzis. My first (road legal) bike was a 1967 125. It had the same hand grips as Dave's. Stay safe, Mike. Cheers!
Thank you! Yes, I really liked those grips. I haven't seen those before. Best wishes, Mike
Thanks for showing the nice bike. The horizon in your neighborhood looks like that of Mars.
You're so right James! Everything has a strange red/brown hue to it! And the smoke smell is pretty bad, especially in the morning. We're staying indoors for the next few days. Best wishes, Mike
Very nice Guzzi! Yeah, bike purchases on ebay can be interesting. When I bought my '78 BMW R100RS on ebay, it was the last day of the auction. I figured I'd better go for it (sight-unseen, except for photos), took a deep breath, and pushed the "BUY-IT-NOW" button. It turned out that another guy was very interested in buying it - and I had unknowingly bought it out from under him (literally) while he was out test riding it!
hehe, that's great Jim. The other poor guy must have been gutted! Ah well, that's how it goes 😉 best wishes, Mike
What a beautiful machine! Sounds incredible. It's a pleasure to see the bikes from Mandello on this chanel. Regards
Thank you Thomas! Glad you enjoy it! Best wishes, Mike
Thanks Dave, once again although not a lover of 'Moto Guzzi' the Ambassador 750 comes over as a 'nice' bike a bit like the nice owner ..
As soon as I saw the first view I thought 'Police Bike'. I enjoyed the bikes history story so please you are keeping that alive.
Hope 'fog' soon clears & folk stay safe Mike. atvb t ..
Thank you Terry! It's bad again today but we are hoping for rain earlier in the week, so hopefully it will dampen the flames. Best wishes, Mike
Too bad that Guzzie has a secret fault of chrome piston liners... surprised they goofed there. Nice ride and a skookum bike!! Nice touch rocking it on take off.. :) If Fiat made bikes I would run but guzzies are great!
You can wrap the tank for a chrome effect.
developed the model CX. Thanks again for the cul de sac. Cheers 👍
FYI: The chrome on the tank is NOT just a patch. You have to electroplate the ENTIRE tank, tape off the patch to the correct shape and spray the body color. I have a '74 Eldorado and will eventually need to have this done. It makes restoration somewhat expensive.
I'm glad Dave knows about the eagle facing forward. The best looking saddle bags for this bike are the Wixoms. Dave's has quite a bit of gear whine that mine doesn't seem to have, but I don't mind the gear whine. It sounds like a sturdy transmission.
My disc brake model had the police handlebars, which I didn't like. The steering was too light and vague so I switched mine to civilian bars. (Yes, the master cylinder will fit on the civi bars.) :-)
Great bike.
Another great bike and very knowledgeable owner, hope the fires die down soon, Lenny, Leicestershire, UK
Thanks a lot Lenny! Really appreciate your note. Best wishes, Mike
Very pleasant on the eye is that.
I confess that I was pretty concerned if the fire was dangerously near to your house. Here in Brazil we got some information that make us have the impression that the situation in Oregon is something in between catastrophic to apocalyptic, with massive eviromental and material losses plus some human deaths.
I'm happy to learn that as bad as it can be, the fire does not seems to be a menace to you, to your family and your bikes.
It's great to know that you are safe enough to continue to have the Cul-de Sac mornings going on.
The Guzzi depicted on the video is realy a beauty. I always got amazed how much great caracters and fantastic machines you're capable to congregrate.
Best regards from Brazil.
Hi Felipe! Thank you very much for your kind words. Yes, we are really lucky in our area that the wildfires are not too close. But it has been terrible for so many people in Oregon. I did make sure that Dave was comfortable coming over and was fine riding to the cul-de-sac. I promise that I wouldn't put anyone in danger. We are very lucky and blessed to have such great friends in the motorcycle community. Best wishes, Mike
First time I can remember seeing the Ambassador, I only remember the Californian. Lovely original bike. The sky certainly is different to the beautiful blue of you previous videos, hope you stay safe.
Thank you Kevin. Best wishes, Mike
I was fifteen in 1970 and even then I thought the Ambassador just exuded character. Even though I bought Japanese because I raced motocross, the euro bikes made a connection with you that can't be explained to most people. And that connection is stronger now in our reverence of the vintage years.
Thank you Kyle! I totally agree. They seem to look so much better now don't they 😉 Best wishes, Mike
Another great bike. I was wondering if those fires were near to you. Now I know, scary! Hoping you are still safe.
Lovely Guzzi!
Mike, Hope your blue skies return soon!
Thank you Larry! It seems surreal outside at the moment. Almost like fall and all dark and gloomy after the beautiful sunshine. Best wishes, Mike
Interesting never noticed the idle is like a BMW Boxer not the V-twin rhythm. Super pretty bike! Hope you guys take care in Oregon! 💙🙏🏼 Just south of you in SoCal.
Thank you Dave! Much appreciated. Best wishes, Mike
I’m glad I watched this video so I could learn how to say the motorcycle brand name correctly.
🪿😉😉
That smoke is concerning I bet.
One a nice example of a Guzzi, very pleasing lines that go together very well and yes, those hardbags are Harley bags made for XLT Sportsters. They are smaller than the BigTwin versions. I have the same set on my Old Sportster and they are hard to find. You could get them as an option as well.
Ah, thank you Wooley for confirming about the bags. That's good to know. Cheers, Mike
Go careful keep safe..I like your pet squirrel 🐿...lovely bike 🏍..😎🇬🇧🇺🇸🏍
Hehe, you spotted Cyril 😜👍 Best wishes, Mike
Love those old Guzzis Mike and Dave is a really nice guy. I hope you're nowhere near the danger zone of the wildfires , there's been a lot of coverage on TV here in the UK. It looks real bad.
Many thanks Bob, we are doing A-OK. It's very bad throughout Oregon, but fortunately our little town was not impacted by the wildfires. We are very grateful for that. Best wishes,
"Magnum Force" 1973. Dirty Harry (Clint Eastwood) vs bad cops on Moto Guzzi's.
That's what I think when I see one of these, there was also a Triumph cop bike in the big chase scene.
Ah yes, that was it Trevor! Thanks for the reminder. Cheers, Mike
Hope you are doing okay Doug. Cheers, Mike
Motto Guzzi jumps building, turns into a Triumph when in the air, and lands a guzzi again
Wonderful old bike - they pull like a train. Lots where hitched up to small trailer, before Honda gold wings hit the touring scene. Haven’t seen that many with sidecars thou, I guess to preserve their good handling.
Thank you Kym! Best wishes, Mike
What a belter
Thanks Stephen! I agree. Cheers, Mike
The Mighty Garage Well, I learned a new word today. Now I know that “belter” is a compliment. Sounded liked it could go either way.
@@davidstein792 😆 it’s a great word Dave! I’d say it’s as good as a Bobby Dazzler 😉👍👍
Sitting here in the UK I did wonder if you would be affected by the Oregon fires. We've been to Oregon a couple of times when our daughter was at OSU, Corvallis. Keep up the cul-de-dac series!
Thanks a lot! Thankfully the fires haven't reached our little city. Yes, there are a few more videos in the works. Best wishes, Mike
Hope the fires abate soon. That bike was really one from left field!
Hehe, glad you liked the video 😜👍 Best wishes, Mike
Beautiful!
Whats lovely about Guzzi tourers, look at those mudguards, pretty much identical from 67/68 to the last of the 1100 Cali's this century!
magnificent
Beautiful Guzzi. I loved my 850 Eldo (1972) but the brakes or lack thereof made me eventually sell it. Wondering who would give this video thumbs down, lol- sad people everywhere.
Thank you John! I guess you can't please everyone 😜👍👍 Best wishes, Mike
One cool bike!
Thanks Matt! 😎👍 Best wishes, Mike
love the appearance of the squirrel, does it make regular showings at the Cul de Sac episodes? A good friend back in the '70s bought a new Guzzi California........we all thought it was a very large 'American" mcycle.
Hehe, that's Cyril! 😜 I do like the Eldorado's too. They are very cool. Best wishes, Mike
I just bought a 74 Eldorado here in Australia. It’s currently stripped down and in remarkably good nick for a 50 year old bike. Many new parts are on order but the big decision is……….what colour scheme do I choose?
Keep safe.
Thank you Ed! Best wishes, Mike
Struck a nerve with this one Mike. What a coincidence, I was just talking with a man yesterday who has a running to ride unrestore 72 Ambo. for sale.
Thanks Henry! Hope this video helped persuade you to get it 😜👍 Best wishes, Mike
Good to see a Guzzi. I recently decided to to trade in my 2016 T120 Bonneville for a new Moto Guzzi V111 Special as I have alway fancied one.
Very cool, thank you George. Cheers, Mike
I have seldom seen a Moto Guzzi Ambassador 750 that is so well cared for - congratulations on this magnificent specimen! I would like to ask a question: Is it possible to add a second, individual spring-loaded seat behind the sprung seat? Klaus sends greetings from Germany.
Many thanks Klaus! I will ask Dave about the separate passenger seat. Best wishes, Mike
Nice❤️
wearing a mask now would make sense for 2 reasons....that's a very clean M G, the size of the front brake drum, very advanced for a 50 year old machine
Thank you! Yes, I loved how neat and clean the bike is. Best wishes, Mike
I went to a small town college and these former police bikes were always around but at that age I didn’t understand them. I knew some older guys though who were smitten and as a result had several each. Great bike and love the subtle mods. BTW how many Daves are we going to meet? I lose track. 🙂
Yes, but they are all high quality so what’s to complain about? 😎
Hehe, there do seem to be a lot of Dave's around here 😜👍 Best wishes, Mike
Squirrel was up for a better view. The Guzz is a really nice machine.
Haha, I think he was thinking he could store his acorns in those saddle bags 😜👍 Best wishes William, Cheers, Mike
Pity about the fires, hope they are soon extinguished.
Great to see a Guzzi, looks so comfortable and smooth.
Stay safe Mike and have a good week 👍
Thank you David. Hope all is well and thanks for your well wishes. Cheers, Mike
It's wonderful you found the proper exhaust system for it. I cringe when I see people modify their bikes exhaust system and end up losing performance in the process. You can change the jet's in the carburetor's but it's more complicated than that. You've got to change the camshaft too so valve timing overlap matches the new exhaust back pressure. It's best to keep everything stock because there was a lot of engineering and test stand work done to get the exhaust, carburetor's, and camshaft all matching to provide the best performance possible on a motorcycle before it's ready to be sold as a new motorcycle.
The Ambassador is a really nice bike,but i prefer the Eldorado.The Ambassador is 750 cc,4 speed while the Eldorado is an 850 cc 5 speed.I have a 72 Eldorado.a 73 Eldorado plus 6 other Guzzis.You might say it's an Addiction I'll always have a Guzzi.
Hope you’re all alright Mike.
Hi Stoyan! We're doing okay, thanks. We're very lucky where we live in the suburbs that the fires aren't close, but we have a few friends who have been evacuated. They are waiting to hear about their properties and so we're hopeful that they didn't get damaged. Hope you are doing okay. You have me looking much more closely at every Panther that pops up on the internet now and they are such a lovely bike 😜👍 Best wishes, Mike
The Mighty Garage
That’s great to hear but I can see from the latest video the heavy smokey atmosphere behind you. We do hope that it’s brought under control soon for everybody’s safety.
Funny you should mention thinking of Panthers
As you know I am contemplating the Vincent purchase but watching your commando video clips has really made me think again as we both decided that the commando is such a great bike. In fact you’re description of it being your go to bike has stuck in my head and I couldn’t agree more.
As I said previously, mine is now in Norvil production racer trim, fully restored but never ridden in 13 years ownership so I have decided that I shall sell the Norvil parts and buy a roadster tank and seat and most probably an electric start kit and just enjoy it.
Thanks again Mike and stay safe, Stoyan.
Old iron the best.
Beautiful Moto Guzzi. I have a Honda CX500 and I can't help thinking that Honda must have been guilty of at least a bit of plagiarism when they
Thank you Dan. Yes, possibly! They do look a lot alike, don't they. Cheers, Mike
We called them irreverently Moto Goofy because they were so different.
I did own the 1970 Amby Police, but it sold to a chap in Mexico.
The Police drive train is the same as the civilian but with shorter final drive gearing for parade service.
I have an original parts book for the bike that Dave might like to have and a few spares.
Thank you very much for sharing and also for your note about the parts. I have passed it along to Dave. Best wishes, Mike
I remember when this bike was as good as many and better than most; flash to 2020 and a buddy that recently bought a new Yamaha FJR can’t wrap his head around how poor the brakes are compared to his BMW R1000RR . . . you get the drift.
Our sky in Vancouver BC looks much the same, How could the grandson have given that up for a harley!!
Ah ha, the youth of today 😜 Best wishes, Mike
Paranoia over the lack of dealer support and unfamiliarity with the brand coupled with mystique for the Harley brand is my guess. As common as Harley's are my brother waited quite some time for a new drive belt for his 06 Night Train. Proving that American made only counts for so much as far as parts access goes.
The Portand Police use to run Moto-Guzzi's . In fact, even up to the point when they had Kawasaki's
Thank you Scott for this info. I didn't know that. Cheers, Mike
I also did not know that and have been in and around Portland nearly all my life and an M.G. fan since the early 1990's. Acquired my first, a 1976 1000 i convert in 2013 and a 2003 Cali Stone last August for a smokin' deal on a low mileage bike (under 6K) for $2,800! Both Tonti frame and great handling rock steady. My Cali Stone has had no issues at all since purchase and given it's shape and mileage the experience of buying it 180 miles north of home in Lynwood, Wa. and riding it home i would equate it to almost identical to buying a new one at a dealership and riding it home. The main difference being the outlay of about $12 to $13 K less to get my 5,700 mile like new example. A real bargain when most seem to sell in the 5 K range. The sellers wife was battling cancer and i was only too happy to give him his asking price which he had just dropped from $3,500. The Cali Stone is the no frills bottom of the Cali model range and aside from chrome steel spoked rims rather than alloy Borrani's that suits me just fine to have no cruise, ABS, rider modes etc. Less complicated and more old school with F.I. being one of the few concessions to modern tech. It's still cable operated throttle and clutch and electronic ignition. It all operates just fine and handles great and is the most stable bike i have ever ridden. My i convert being a civilian version of a police bike has iron liners and at 55,000 miles the lack of wear is uncanny. Not sure how the Nikasil barrels of my Cali Stone will fare but one reason for my attraction to the brand ws a co workers 1980 T3 that had logged 180,000 miles by the late 90's. Doing a light resto/custom on the i convert and hoping to iron out a shifting issue on the 2 speed box in the process. All said Moto Guzzi V Twins are one of the few bikes i would attempt to rebuild the engine on myself and quite a few parts are available online thru midwest M.G. dealerships. Ciao.