Airone Sport - 1955 - Fitting a speedo

[Dennis Lodge]

Hi Everyone,
I have bought an oily rag 1955 Airone. (Not yet delivered). It has no speedo fitted. I have noted kits are readily available. The front wheel hub gear box I note is driven by a gear. Does anyone know if the gear that this meshes with in the hub is aleady in place. The kits contain gearbox, speedo head, cable plus brackets/telescopic speedo drive. So nothing is supplied for the hub, hence question.
kind regards
Dennis

 

[Mike Peavey]

Hi Everyone,
I have bought an oily rag 1955 Airone. (Not yet delivered). It has no speedo fitted. I have noted kits are readily available. The front wheel hub gear box I note is driven by a gear. Does anyone know if the gear that this meshes with in the hub is aleady in place. The kits contain gearbox, speedo head, cable plus brackets/telescopic speedo drive. So nothing is supplied for the hub, hence question.
kind regards
Dennis

Hi Dennis,
Congratulations on the Airone, welcome to the club, you'll love it. Once you get your hands on the bike, you might pull the front wheel and have a look at the hub, it's entirely possible that at some point in the bike's life it had a speedo, which means the hub gear might already be there, some do, some don't.. Pulling the wheel is pretty easy, disconnect the brake cable and pull the two bolts from each fork leg, then the large nut that holds the brake backing plate and have a look. If the gear isn't there, you will need to source one, which means you'll also need to use a press to install. Sounds like you've had a look at a supplier with all of the bits, so just ask if they also have the gear.
By the way, there are two options of getting the information from drive at the wheel to the speedo, one is a direct cable, the other is a telescopic shaft, either will work, though I suspect the direct cable is easier to install and less expensive, though the shaft method is quite old school, I have one of each.
Are you in the states, or abroad?
Regards,
Mike

 

[GTM®]

Hi Everyone,
I have bought an oily rag 1955 Airone. (Not yet delivered).

Congrats and welcome the the GT Famiglia... And thanks Mike for your input. He's in the UK it looks like, noted just under his avatar.

 

[Dennis Lodge]

Congrats and welcome the the GT Famiglia... And thanks Mike for your input. He's in the UK it looks like, noted just under his avatar.

Hi Mike,
Many thanks for thorough description. I am in the UK. I can follow your explanation, no problem. I am a self contained motorcycle nut. I have restored lots of bikes, usually Japanese. However I have liked certain Italian machines. Last year I finished an Aermacchi 250cc and next will be the Airone. It should be delivered in about 2 weeks. Hopefully I can just run it initially however the speedo needs to be solved - thank you. I have browsed eBay and have seen what's on offer. Yes I have spotted the telescopic drive/cable. What's on offer seems quite expensive especially if I need the hub gear. I may also view alternatives.
Regards
Dennis

 

[Mike Peavey]

Hi Mike,
Many thanks for thorough description. I am in the UK. I can follow your explanation, no problem. I am a self contained motorcycle nut. I have restored lots of bikes, usually Japanese. However I have liked certain Italian machines. Last year I finished an Aermacchi 250cc and next will be the Airone. It should be delivered in about 2 weeks. Hopefully I can just run it initially however the speedo needs to be solved - thank you. I have browsed eBay and have seen what's on offer. Yes I have spotted the telescopic drive/cable. What's on offer seems quite expensive especially if I need the hub gear. I may also view alternatives.
Regards
Dennis

Dennis,
I agree, putting a speedometer on the Airone, particularly if you need the hub gear, if pretty expensive. I will say that my 54' Sport came without a speedometer, but when I pull the wheel to do some brake work, the gear was in place, so maybe at a certain point in manufacture, they did install that gear at the factory... I have a speedometer on my 56' Airone, but to be honest, I really don't miss it on the 54'. We do a Moto Giro of sorts for older bikes here in the Northeastern US, where an odometer is pretty necessary and a number of participants, install electronic units from places like Baja Design or Trail Tech, so if originality isn't that big of a deal, a more accurate and far less expensive option, and easily removed if you go to an event and there are lots of the trainspotting police in attendance.

By the way, we here in the US hear great things about the Moto Guzzi Club UK, so you might check with them as well. Regarding parts from the old country, lots of options, though I am a big fan of Marco Valenti at http://www.valentimotorestauri.com/public/public, the site isn't the best for estimating prices, but Marco answers inquiries quickly in decent English, takes Paypal and ships quickly, plus if he doesn't have something you need, he is willing to find it for you.. a decent fellow.
Best,
Mike

 

[Dennis Lodge]

Dennis,
I agree, putting a speedometer on the Airone, particularly if you need the hub gear, if pretty expensive. I will say that my 54' Sport came without a speedometer, but when I pull the wheel to do some brake work, the gear was in place, so maybe at a certain point in manufacture, they did install that gear at the factory... I have a speedometer on my 56' Airone, but to be honest, I really don't miss it on the 54'. We do a Moto Giro of sorts for older bikes here in the Northeastern US, where an odometer is pretty necessary and a number of participants, install electronic units from places like Baja Design or Trail Tech, so if originality isn't that big of a deal, a more accurate and far less expensive option, and easily removed if you go to an event and there are lots of the trainspotting police in attendance.

By the way, we here in the US hear great things about the Moto Guzzi Club UK, so you might check with them as well. Regarding parts from the old country, lots of options, though I am a big fan of Marco Valenti at http://www.valentimotorestauri.com/public/public, the site isn't the best for estimating prices, but Marco answers inquiries quickly in decent English, takes Paypal and ships quickly, plus if he doesn't have something you need, he is willing to find it for you.. a decent fellow.
Best,
Mike

Hi Mike,
Once the bike is delivered I will remove the front wheel and check to see if the gear is in place.
It's funny but I have just received an order placed via eBay for Valenti. He enclosed his business card and I have already been browsing. It looks like it would cost around $750 to fit the original. I simply need one because without would be illegal. I will check out the digital companies you mentioned. Also I spotted an Airone fitted with a gearbox on the front wheel (lhs) driving a Smith (possibly replica) speedo. I will measure up and see if that could be done.
I appreciate your comments re the Moto Guzzi club. I will see since I am already involved with other clubs.
Kind regards
Dennis

 

[Chris R]

...or you could just fit a modern bicycle speed for $30 bucks. It won't match the patina of the rest of the bike of course.

 

[Dennis Lodge]

Hi Chris,
Thank you. A friend who has one fitted one to a 'flat tank' and who also rides a bicycle suggested this. However like yourself he did say the display would be modern.
Regards
Dennis