c1961 Motto Guzzi Lodola Gran Turismo 250cc Motorcycle

Description

One of Italy's oldest and most successful motorcycle manufacturers, Moto Guzzi was established in 1921 and proved the dominant force in Grand Prix motorcycle racing in the 1930s and again in the 1950s. By the mid-1950s the company had won numerous titles and its racing machines were at the cutting edge, but the production models had begun to fall behind in terms of technological development, particularly the ageing Astore and Falcone models. Although Moto Guzzi's smaller scooters were doing well it was clear the company lacked a sporting, lightweight motorcycle, a situation remedied by Carlo Guzzi in what proved to be his final design before retiring. Introduced in 1956, the Lodola (meaning skylark in Italian) was initially offered in 175cc Normale guise, being of modern overhead camshaft design with some innovative features, including a self-adjusting tensioner acting on the timing chain. The gearbox was a four-speed unit, lateral drum brakes were employed and the bike had an 18-inch front wheel and 17-inch diameter rear wheel, while the frame was a duplex cradle-type with a telescopic front fork and rear swingarm using twin shock absorbers. Initial criticism of the Lodola's rather sedate performance saw a Sport version offered from 1958, with the compression lifted to 9:1, bigger brakes and a dual passenger seat. In 1959 the Lodola range was further expanded to include a 235cc push-rod version known as the Gran Turismo, developing 11 horsepower at 6500 rpm and detuned with 7.5:1 compression for greater reliability. Moto Guzzi campaigned both 175 and 235 versions of the Lodola in trials events, while the production models, marketed as the ?bike designed by the wind? sold strongly until 1965. Today the few surviving Lodolas make perfect display or club bikes, perfect for the thriving Italian motorcycle scene in this country.