Moto Guzzi Club of Queensland Forum

What is a Tonti frame? Emerging in the early 70's with the V7, until the 90's, found in a great variety of Guzzi models, so if it is somewhere between the early 70's & the early 90's then it is probably a Tonti frame.

Wal
That's all very well, but what's a Tonti frame?
The pet budgie wants diagrams.

If you look at the photo on my posts, the 1988 Cali III is a tonti frame, be buggered if I am going to try to draw one, I'm not that talented.

The Tonti frame is easy to see in this pic of a V7 Sport. Like Wal I have no talent when it comes to drawing so I just troll the net for stuff

The budgie's happy.
So am I......good pic, good explanation, and love V7 Sports

And you got good taste to

Troll!
I read your Introduction.
I was a bit intimidated by the list of bikes (a bit of a dream list)......until I came to "2007 Breva 750"
Yay!
Yes, good taste, definitely.
Hope to meet at the rally.

Wont be at the budgie but hope to catch all at the Imbil. Dont be intimidated about not being in debt. Still owe heaps. Had to sell Lodola, Stornello's, Galletto in bits and some two stroke guzzi motors to assist in getting them.

Debt: bad
Guzzi: good

No, make that......BRILLIANT

A Tonti frame is one that has been designed by Lino Tonti. The one most refer to is the big block frame that first came out on the V7 Sport. It was revolutionary as it was made from mainly straight tube and was able to lower the guzzi V twin engine to lower the centre of gravity. He also altered the engine by moving the alternator so as to lower the profile of the engine.

All following big block models of that era and up until the 90's used this frame with different lugs and bits and pieces depending on the cosmetics and breather systems. These include the T's, SP's, Lemans I-V and yes, despite their more common status the Calis. The fact that Calis actually handle is completely due to this "sport" frame. Sorry Wal, I couldn't resist.

What isn't commonly known is the small block machines such as the V50 and Monza also had a frame designed by Tonti.
The frame has similarities but has no compatible parts. When someone is referring to a "Tonti Frame" they usually don't mean this one.

Cheers

Rod

What frame does a 1984 V65 Lario have then? I hear a lot of chat on the V50 but not much on the V65.

The Lario is a small block. It basically has the same frame as the V35, V50, V65 and V75 Targa. This frame is still used today on the Nevada, Breva 750 and now the V7 Classic.

Just like the tonti big blocks the frames aren't always identical from model to model. For example, later frames had upswept frame tubes under the seat to accommodate the duck tail styling. Attachment points for covers, tanks, electrics and cosmetics may also differ but the design is fundamentally the same.

The only Guzzi still using the Tonti big block frame is the Californian. As I wrote fundamentally the same but with several differences from the original V7 sport.

The Lario was one of a series of machines that had the 4 valve heads. The V35 Imola II and the V50 Monza II were the same with similar styling. The Lario was the only one of these sold in Australia in any numbers.

The advantages of the tontis is that they are a bit like big mechano sets. Bits from one may fit straight onto another or with some minor modification. That is big block to big block or small block to small block but not big block to small block.

Me thinks Rod is worried about me saying to him yesterday, that I wanted to find a stripped out V50 & put a big block in it.
WTF was going through my head, next proposed project will be a Cali cafe racer.
That's after the wedding, after the chair is back on the road, after Lee has her small block (Rod still won't sell the Morini) & when I've sufficient funds to do so.
Oh, all these long term projects.

I'm not too worried Wal. Nothing is impossible but some things just aren't worth the heartache.

I haven't even measured up to see how the small blocks and big blocks compare but I have pulled the 2 apart and the way the engine and gearbox attach to the frame and rails is completely different. Just one easy example is on the big block the swing arm pivots off the frame, on the small block it pivots off the gearbox housing. Just trying to get the drive shaft aligned correctly would be a hassle.

The sump on the small block looks appreciably smaller too than the big block sump so I don't know how the bigger motor would squeeze in between the rails. Again, I've never even got the calipers out to measure but it just doesn't look easy.

Why would you bother when there is just such an easy solution? If you get an older small block and want to give it some more zoom then just get an injected 750 out of a Nevada/Breva and pop it straight in. No appreciable added weight, minimal headaches and more power.

Rod,

Thanks for that info. Does anyone know of someone in Mackay, Qld that has knowledge on the V65 as I just bought one and have a few little issues I'd like some info on but I love the bike. Top gear makes a clatter sound between 60 - 90 kmh and then settles into a nice quiet whine, clatter sounds like something jumping/rubbing over the top of the teeth and shifter (rear set) has a lot of travel up and down to engage. Also after a run on the highway and when brought back to the idle the oil light comes on, only takes the raising of RPM just slightly to make go out but to high to set as idle RPM.

regards,
Tony