1983 Moto Guzzi Le Mans Mk 111.
After owning many ‘ordinary’ bikes over the years, I was inspired to buy my Guzzi having been seduced by the beauty, sound and charisma of my brother’s Mk 11 (and by the way he would thunder off into the distance despite being out-powered by what ever I was riding!).
I was lucky to find my bike for sale locally, and bought it in 1986 off the original owner, it having covered only 4000 miles. My wife and I used it a lot, including one big Italian trip, until we started a family, after which it languished in our garage until 2017 when I had it recommissioned for the road. I used it regularly after that, followed by another big service which was carried out last year. Now standing at 40,000 miles I use it only warm dry days, in off peak hours but it is, I’m happy to say, going as well as ever and, a joy to ride.