Details: Moto Guzzi V12 Le Mans concept
Here’s the first studio photos of the Moto Guzzi V12 Le Mans concept
ever published. There’s an awful lot going on here, so we had Pierre
Terblanche talk us through all the details.
Frame . made from rotational moulding nylon polymer, it’s more resilient than steel and easier to produce, while weighing in about the same. It’s a monocoque design that incorporates the airbox at the rear.
Tank/Seat Unit . this hinges at the front and opens via remote control. Underneath is storage space and access to common maintenance parts. “You know, you can stop at the bar and if you want to get your pack of cigarettes or sunglasses it just pops up and lifts up and really cool,” says Pierre.
There’s two layers of access to mechanicals here. The first contains the common stuff you’d want to access quickly. Underneath that is the more complex things that you won’t need to get to often or that require more advanced knowledge to service.
Top Clamp . there’s two knobs here. The small one to the left of center adjusts the rotary steering damper integrated into the clamp. The larger one to the top right adjusts the height of the bars and screen up or down by 50mm.
Footpegs . no mechanical connection is made between the foot levers and the shifter or the rear brake. Instead, electric sensors integrated in the pegs actuate electric motors that then perform the required function. Doing this eliminates the need to keep linkages aligned and allows the designer greater freedom to place the pegs in an optimal position for the rider.
Levers adjust by spinning around the peg mount.
Shock . located on the swingarm instead of in front of it, the shock works normally through linkages, this is just a packaging solution that enables the ABS unit and other electrics to be housed in the space usually occupied by a vertical shock. This helps reduce the overall length of the bike.
Heat Sinks . the finned metal sections on the sides of the engine aren’t oil coolers, they’re heat sinks just like you’ll find on your computer. The pipes connecting them to the heads don’t contain fluid or air, but are instead heat pipes which transfer heat energy through thermal conductivity.
Rearview Cameras . Pierre says these are 100 percent production feasible with a reasonable cost. They work like you think, displaying their images on the screens mounted where mirrors would traditionally be.
Filler Cap/Start Button . The two metal discs on top of the tank are a filler cap and starter button. The larger of the two screws off to reveal a classic aluminum funnel while the smaller is the start button. As long as the key’s in your pocket, pushing it will turn the bike on or off.
Note to other publications: feel free to republish these images. We included subtle watermarks in the hope that you’ll link back to us.
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