Below is a translation of a Falcone History... enjoy.
HISTORY MAKING MOTORCYCLES
MOTO GUZZI FALCONE
by MARIO COLOMBO
ALL THE MODIFICATIONS YEAR by YEAR
1950-1967
Translated by JOSE L. BARTOLI, NYC
1952
The war in Korea during this period imposed a drastic reduction in the use of chrome since it was of strategic importance. The Falcone exhibited in January 1952 in Milan at the Motosalone shows its gas tank to be completely painted in red; the two oval areas at the knees are painted in black. The two round protuberances on each side of the oil tank are also painted in black. The dust cover edges of the brake hubs are also painted in red and not in chrome anymore. The brake and pressure release valve levers are burnished. In November of 1952 at the Milan Motosalone the Falcone is equipped with the new magneto Marelli MCR 4-E with a rotating magnet and automatic advance. Therefore, the magneto lever mounted on the handlebars which is now 22.5 mm, no longer exists. Lights and horn switches are now together as one switch on the left side of the handlebars.
1953
At the Milan Campionaria Fair in April of 1953, the Falcone is presented with a new oil tank, triangular in shape as before but with flat surfaces and without the round protuberances on each side. The pillion seat above the rear fender originally mounted slightly forward is now perfectly horizontal and hence now positioned a bit rearward. In November of 1953 at the Milan Motosalone the Falcone Turismo is introduced and substitutes the Astore. The Falcone Turismo has the sliding gearshifts of the Falcone but the camshaft, valves, compression and carburetor of the Astore therefore it has the same performance of the Astore. It should be noted that to maintain the same direction of the gear shifts (first backwards, the others forward) the gear selector disc is mounted with one tab above and one below. The cycling parts are those of the Falcone; the wheel rims, however, are of steel, the footpegs are placed forward, the handlebar is a bit wider,leg shields are added and instead of a rear pillion above the rear fender there is now a luggage rack. The Falcone Turismo keeps the gas tank painted in red with the oval areas at the knees in black. The Falcone with the more powerful motor is called Sport from this moment on; its gas tank has the oval areas at the knees and are chromed or painted black; the license plate carrier is now larger.
1956
The usual fishtail exhaust muffler, a characteristic of the Guzzis in the thirties is now replaced by a new cylindrical muffler, longer and in one piece without the possibility of disassembling it. It is very quiet and its noise is within the then imposed legal limits of 84 decibels: it reduces the performance of the Sport however which now is no longer able to reach 135 kmph (84 mph) notwithstanding the Company's claims on the brochures. The nuts and bolts are finished in cadmium.
1958
The attachments of the headlight above the forks are raised so as to allow the placement of the siren between the headlight and the front fender for the cycles sold to the Traffic Police.
1961
The 30 watt generator is replaced by a Marelli type DN 36 C 60/6-2100 D of 60 watts outside tension regulator positioned with a bracket above the battery so that as per the requirements of the Police, the officers could now avail themselves to a more powerful electrical system
1966
The various Falcone Sport and Turismo models sold to the Traffic Police and other military corps, have always been in stock set-up except for the paint colors (first red-amaranth and gray-green thereafter) and the presence of some accessories (windshield, siren, etc.) In 1966 however, a particular version of the Falcone is developed and destined to be sold only to the Traffic Police which now has a halfway point of performance between the preceding Sport and Turismo models. As a matter of fact, the Falcone NT (Nuovo Turismo*) uses the frame along with the appurtenances of the Turismo besides a new gas tank reminiscent of its contemporaneous V 7, an "anatomical" seat mounted as a cantilever and an "american" handlebar which is wider and higher, but the motor is assembled with the distribution (i.e. camshaft, rockers, push rods and valves), domed piston and crankshaft of the Sport model. The carburetor instead remains at 27 mm. Consequently, this results in a motorcycle with intermediate performance of the previous Turismo and Sport models, be it power, speed and take-off ability and with a more comfortable riding position. The set-up consists of stock tachometer-speedometer (without the usual telescopic transmission), siren, windshield and sidestand on the left. The radio-transmitter is placed on the luggage rack. The motorcycle is painted in gray-green; some units are also painted with the new white-blue colors sold to the Police.
Special Versions
During the first years of production, various units of the Falcone Sport were sold to the Finance Police with special attention paid to the set-up and tune-up, but without any type of "trick" work to increase their performance. The motorcycles sold to the Presidential Guard for fast pacing are of considerable interest, always painted in "governmental blue" and built in two styles: The 1952 version exhibits side engine guards, smaller leg shields; seat and rear pillion are covered in white leather, sirens, coat of arms of the Corp on the front fender. More radical, instead, are the modifications to the 1957 version. There is a 12 V electric start replacing the magneto; therefore, ignition is now by coil due to space limitations. Back-up batteries are stored in the toolboxes on each side of the rear fender which like the front one are now more valanced. Also, the central part of the motor is enclosed with sheet metal panels. The gas tank is larger and rounder with additional chroming to the front part. The old style of the oil tank with round protuberances is used. Engine crash bars are chromed and contain leg shields within their perimeters. The seat has been raised to accommodate the notable average height that the Guards are known for**. The headlight contains the tachometer. There are sirens and two chromed supplemental front lights on each side of the headlight. The exhaust is split hence there is a muffler on each side while the set-up and tune-up is that of the Sport version.
Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN)
All the Guzzi 500s from 1921 to 1954 have had only one number which chronologically increased from the beginning for the frame numbers that commence at 51 for the first Normale sold to the number 33864 in which are mixed all the models produced. It is therefore impossible to ascertain the series of numbers that pertain only to the Falcone. From 1954 onwards, a combination of letters and numbers to be able to dis various models was adopted by the factory. For the Falcone Sport this new numeration begins at FS 00 AA and ends at FS 88 AB; for the Falcone Turismo it begins at F 00 AA and ends at F 72 CP. The complete production of all of the Falcone's versions total 12,405 units.
The Turismo model including the NT was practically the only Falcone model in production during this period although some Sport models were supplied on demand.
Modifications for the Nuovo Turismo (NT) model of 1966 (with respect to the Turismo)
Motor
Compression ratio: 6.5 : 1; horsepower: 19.5 HP @ 4450 rpm; domed alloy piston model Sport, exhaust valve diameter: 40 mm; tuning: identical to Sport model.
Carburetor Dell'Orto type MD 27 F identical adjustment to Turismo model.
Ignition Timing adjustment: identical to Sport model. Spark plug: Marelli CW 6 L.
Dimensions Width: 32.7"; height: 41.3"; weight: 423 pounds.
Performance Mileage: 52 mpg. Maximum speed: 80 mph. (with stock 16-tooth pinion gear)
Fuel capacity Gas tank: 4.8 gallons of which 1/2 gallon is for reserve.
* Not to be confused with the Nuovo Falcone of 1969-1976
** Average height: 6' 7"
HISTORY MAKING MOTORCYCLES
MOTO GUZZI FALCONE
by MARIO COLOMBO
ALL THE MODIFICATIONS YEAR by YEAR
1950-1967
Translated by JOSE L. BARTOLI, NYC
1952
The war in Korea during this period imposed a drastic reduction in the use of chrome since it was of strategic importance. The Falcone exhibited in January 1952 in Milan at the Motosalone shows its gas tank to be completely painted in red; the two oval areas at the knees are painted in black. The two round protuberances on each side of the oil tank are also painted in black. The dust cover edges of the brake hubs are also painted in red and not in chrome anymore. The brake and pressure release valve levers are burnished. In November of 1952 at the Milan Motosalone the Falcone is equipped with the new magneto Marelli MCR 4-E with a rotating magnet and automatic advance. Therefore, the magneto lever mounted on the handlebars which is now 22.5 mm, no longer exists. Lights and horn switches are now together as one switch on the left side of the handlebars.
1953
At the Milan Campionaria Fair in April of 1953, the Falcone is presented with a new oil tank, triangular in shape as before but with flat surfaces and without the round protuberances on each side. The pillion seat above the rear fender originally mounted slightly forward is now perfectly horizontal and hence now positioned a bit rearward. In November of 1953 at the Milan Motosalone the Falcone Turismo is introduced and substitutes the Astore. The Falcone Turismo has the sliding gearshifts of the Falcone but the camshaft, valves, compression and carburetor of the Astore therefore it has the same performance of the Astore. It should be noted that to maintain the same direction of the gear shifts (first backwards, the others forward) the gear selector disc is mounted with one tab above and one below. The cycling parts are those of the Falcone; the wheel rims, however, are of steel, the footpegs are placed forward, the handlebar is a bit wider,leg shields are added and instead of a rear pillion above the rear fender there is now a luggage rack. The Falcone Turismo keeps the gas tank painted in red with the oval areas at the knees in black. The Falcone with the more powerful motor is called Sport from this moment on; its gas tank has the oval areas at the knees and are chromed or painted black; the license plate carrier is now larger.
1956
The usual fishtail exhaust muffler, a characteristic of the Guzzis in the thirties is now replaced by a new cylindrical muffler, longer and in one piece without the possibility of disassembling it. It is very quiet and its noise is within the then imposed legal limits of 84 decibels: it reduces the performance of the Sport however which now is no longer able to reach 135 kmph (84 mph) notwithstanding the Company's claims on the brochures. The nuts and bolts are finished in cadmium.
1958
The attachments of the headlight above the forks are raised so as to allow the placement of the siren between the headlight and the front fender for the cycles sold to the Traffic Police.
1961
The 30 watt generator is replaced by a Marelli type DN 36 C 60/6-2100 D of 60 watts outside tension regulator positioned with a bracket above the battery so that as per the requirements of the Police, the officers could now avail themselves to a more powerful electrical system
1966
The various Falcone Sport and Turismo models sold to the Traffic Police and other military corps, have always been in stock set-up except for the paint colors (first red-amaranth and gray-green thereafter) and the presence of some accessories (windshield, siren, etc.) In 1966 however, a particular version of the Falcone is developed and destined to be sold only to the Traffic Police which now has a halfway point of performance between the preceding Sport and Turismo models. As a matter of fact, the Falcone NT (Nuovo Turismo*) uses the frame along with the appurtenances of the Turismo besides a new gas tank reminiscent of its contemporaneous V 7, an "anatomical" seat mounted as a cantilever and an "american" handlebar which is wider and higher, but the motor is assembled with the distribution (i.e. camshaft, rockers, push rods and valves), domed piston and crankshaft of the Sport model. The carburetor instead remains at 27 mm. Consequently, this results in a motorcycle with intermediate performance of the previous Turismo and Sport models, be it power, speed and take-off ability and with a more comfortable riding position. The set-up consists of stock tachometer-speedometer (without the usual telescopic transmission), siren, windshield and sidestand on the left. The radio-transmitter is placed on the luggage rack. The motorcycle is painted in gray-green; some units are also painted with the new white-blue colors sold to the Police.
Special Versions
During the first years of production, various units of the Falcone Sport were sold to the Finance Police with special attention paid to the set-up and tune-up, but without any type of "trick" work to increase their performance. The motorcycles sold to the Presidential Guard for fast pacing are of considerable interest, always painted in "governmental blue" and built in two styles: The 1952 version exhibits side engine guards, smaller leg shields; seat and rear pillion are covered in white leather, sirens, coat of arms of the Corp on the front fender. More radical, instead, are the modifications to the 1957 version. There is a 12 V electric start replacing the magneto; therefore, ignition is now by coil due to space limitations. Back-up batteries are stored in the toolboxes on each side of the rear fender which like the front one are now more valanced. Also, the central part of the motor is enclosed with sheet metal panels. The gas tank is larger and rounder with additional chroming to the front part. The old style of the oil tank with round protuberances is used. Engine crash bars are chromed and contain leg shields within their perimeters. The seat has been raised to accommodate the notable average height that the Guards are known for**. The headlight contains the tachometer. There are sirens and two chromed supplemental front lights on each side of the headlight. The exhaust is split hence there is a muffler on each side while the set-up and tune-up is that of the Sport version.
Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN)
All the Guzzi 500s from 1921 to 1954 have had only one number which chronologically increased from the beginning for the frame numbers that commence at 51 for the first Normale sold to the number 33864 in which are mixed all the models produced. It is therefore impossible to ascertain the series of numbers that pertain only to the Falcone. From 1954 onwards, a combination of letters and numbers to be able to dis various models was adopted by the factory. For the Falcone Sport this new numeration begins at FS 00 AA and ends at FS 88 AB; for the Falcone Turismo it begins at F 00 AA and ends at F 72 CP. The complete production of all of the Falcone's versions total 12,405 units.
The Turismo model including the NT was practically the only Falcone model in production during this period although some Sport models were supplied on demand.
Modifications for the Nuovo Turismo (NT) model of 1966 (with respect to the Turismo)
Motor
Compression ratio: 6.5 : 1; horsepower: 19.5 HP @ 4450 rpm; domed alloy piston model Sport, exhaust valve diameter: 40 mm; tuning: identical to Sport model.
Carburetor Dell'Orto type MD 27 F identical adjustment to Turismo model.
Ignition Timing adjustment: identical to Sport model. Spark plug: Marelli CW 6 L.
Dimensions Width: 32.7"; height: 41.3"; weight: 423 pounds.
Performance Mileage: 52 mpg. Maximum speed: 80 mph. (with stock 16-tooth pinion gear)
Fuel capacity Gas tank: 4.8 gallons of which 1/2 gallon is for reserve.
* Not to be confused with the Nuovo Falcone of 1969-1976
** Average height: 6' 7"
