1980 Moto Guzzi 850 T3 review from Taiwan

I have had very little trouble with this motorycycle. These Guzzis are built to last.

I have had a few electrical problems, but I replaced the whole wiring harness and things are fine now. The electrical system is the most likely area to have a problem in these, since the engine seems to be bulletproof (I think they spent so much money producing the engine and frame that they needed to scrimp on the electrics).

This is my all-time favorite motorcycle. I've had a Triumph, a Ducati, a Harley, a Yamaha and a Honda. But this one is the one I will keep forever.

It started life as an 850-T3 California Police model. I have transformed it into a 750-S3 lookalike. It has the S3 sport exhaust, S3 fenders, LeMans tank, S3 seat, V-7 sport swan-neck bars, and rear-sets. (but I kept the big police side stand) So now it's a lean and mean 70's Italian cafe racer. In my opinion, the borannis look way better than the alloys on the LeMans and later models.

It makes a fantastic sound with Lafranconi mufflers.

The handling is surely the best of its era. It feels like the frame is chiseled from a block of solid tool steel. It's utterly stable in high speed sweepers as well as tight turns.

The big torquey v-twin delivers power in perfect harmony with the chassis.

It's a joy on twisty mountain roads as well as the open road.

Everything about it is fantastic: the look, the feel, the sound. I love it!