Moto Guzzi Club of Queensland Forum

Are you not sure, well here is a brief easy explanation.
If it has a large single backbone, normally with the engine oil running through it, then you are looking at a spine frame. They emerged around the nineties, with the V11 range.
So now you are a little wiser.

Wal
You're a fount of knowledge, but the pet budgie who sits on my shoulder when I'm on the 'net, checkin me gramma 'n' spelling, wants to know what yer engine oil is doing in the frame. Shouldn't it be in the engine?

It's very simple really. It prevents rust in the frame

I only know this as a few years ago, I worked for an import agent, handling peoples personal import vehicles, some clever person, me thinks someone from customs saw liquid in the frame probably when they x-rayed the bike & drilled a 1/16th hole just in front of the fuel tank. Yes when we started the bike to prepare it for roadworthy we had a stream of engine oil spraying from in front of the fuel tank.

The idea of the oil running through the frame, me guesses is for colder climates, keeping the backbone above freezing temp. At very low temperatures most ferritic materials (steels, aluminium alloys, etc.) can lose quite a degree of their torsional strength, thus making them prone to breakage.
Not a nice thought while you are riding around Europe in near or sub-zero temperatures, 'gee I wonder when my frame is going to snap in two from this cold'.

There may be another reason but this is the only pluasable one I can think of.

Like I said elsewhere, Wal, you are a fount of knowledge.
Good story about the "fount of oil".
I'll have to google this topic sometime now....I'm curious.
Someone else out there may be able to illuminate us further, or give us the good oil on the subject.

Just had an e-mail from a friend of mine in Melbourne who's been looking at the forum, and he reminded me that a couple of our mates from years ago had V7 Sports, and he went on to say he'd read all the posts and found them quite interesting.
He also added.....
"The oil is in the frame to save space and also slight weight reduction. Having ridden a Guzzi in late January-May in Europe (Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Spain etcetera) I can tell you that at -18 deg C the bike and it's frame, are the least of your worries!"