1963 Moto Guzzi Falcone Sport
(Page 3 of 5)
July/August 2009
By Robert Smith
“Mine is probably a very, very late one,” says Blumberg. “According to Ledger and Lacey, most Falcones were produced to around 1957 or so. After that, just a handful was built every so often as orders accumulated.”
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Life with a Falcone
There is, of course, a technique to starting any big single, and the Guzzi is no exception. The Guzzi’s big, exposed flywheel has an interesting effect on how the engine spins over, and one long lunge on the kickstarter will spin the engine through a half-dozen revolutions.
On my visit for our photo session, however, the bike hadn’t run for a while and was a bit slow to start. Even so, after a few reluctant coughs the Guzzi started and settled into a remarkably slow, almost catatonic idle. Also unique is the exhaust note: like firecrackers exploding in a paint can — sonorous and resonant. The sight of the huge flywheel spinning — backward, because of the gear-drive primary — evokes memories of stationary “hit-and-miss” engines and fairground equipment. The flywheel seems innocuous enough, its red and chrome finish glinting in the October sunlight, but potential pilots might be recommended to avoid long scarves and loose clothing.
The engine’s lazy power and steamroller torque haul the Guzzi away at very modest revs, which is probably just as well because the huge flywheel effect means throttle response is lethargic at best, and its considerable inertia continues to drive the bike forward after the throttle is closed. The flywheel was cited in contemporary tests for inducing a reluctance in the Guzzi to change direction at speed, something that’s difficult to test on city streets.
As I line up my camera for some action shots, though, Blumberg swings the Guzzi easily through a series of turns, easing the long-wheelbase single to quite respectable lean angles.
My most memorable experience of the single-cylinder Falcone is riding behind it, listening to the steady, hollow beat of the exhaust. Michael credits good parts availability from Paul Montgomery at www.guzzino.com in California with helping him keep the Falcone in fine fettle.
The Falcone is truly a trip back in time. Essentially obsolete when it was launched, it nevertheless survived, in various forms, for another 25 years; yet its exposed mechanicals and in-your-face engineering provide a direct link to the early years of the 20th century. Beauty? Well, that’s subjective, of course. But it’s totally candid: no dressing up, paneling over or unnecessary trim. And there’s an honest beauty in that. MC
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