OLD BIKE AUSTRALASIA: 63Japan and super quiet and very eighties style. The
mufflers that are on it now are just a standard type
that look OK until I can get something better. The
problem is that the exhaust pipes themselves are
really big diameter, about 52 mm, and nothing I
could get here would fit. I am having some
especially made by Armours in UK at the moment
in stainless steel in a sort of Norton Peashooter
style. Hopefully these will be a better fit and stop
it popping on the overrun, because there’s not a lot
of sealing in the ones that are on it. The standard
shocks that go on these look like La Franconi to me
from the pictures I have seen. It came with Ohlins
rear shocks but they were very old so I put on a pair
of IKONs that I had.” As mentioned, the Magni came
seat-less, so the job of creating one was entrusted
to MJM Custom Seats in Goulburn, NSW, and a nice
job it is too. Bruce also has a single seat from the
same source which he plans to fit in the future.
“When we went to the Victorian Guzzi Rally we
went across country through western NSW, and out
on the open road, the quicker you go the better it
feels. Tucked in behind the fairing it was just great.
It’s not a city bike. The engine is from a Mk4 Le
Mans, still a 2-valve before they went to 4 valves.”
Up front sit 40mm Forcella forks – an unusual design
with anti-dive valving cast into the aluminium sliders.
Bruce is not convinced that the forks are operating at
peak efficiency, and says he will probably get a
suspension expert like Terry Hay to set it up correctly.
The front end uses the original 28 degree fork angle
with Magni’s own milled aluminium fork yokes.
Conventional (for the period) Brembo brakes are used
at both ends, which Bruce says are ‘adequate’. With
its ‘bikini’ fairing, the vivid yellow Arturo looks very
much a product of the ‘eighties, and like the fully
naked version, the Classic 1000, was offered with a
choice of spoked or cast alloy EPM wheels.
For now, the Arturo shares its garage with a pair
of fellow Mandello models, a 500cc Nuovo Falcone
single, and a California, which Bruce says he is “still
too young to ride”. It’s certainly a head turner, and
when the last few remaining parts are fitted and
the front suspension sorted out, it will be a highly
functional one as well.
COVER STORY
OLD GOLD
MOTORCYCLES
SELLING PRE 1991 MOTORCYCLES & SPARESABOVE Frame splits just behind
the twin FIAMM horns.
ABOVE RIGHT Fork sliders have
anti-dive built in.
RIGHT Proud owner.
Bruce and his Arturo.