Ciao!
This is my first attempt to build a board tracker, so as we move ahead, I may succeed in some areas and some larger parts will end up as my Grumman canoe anchor.
The only Italian Moto-Guzzi Board Tracker in the world
MOTO-GUZZI NEVA-LOST RACER
MOTO-GUZZI NEVA-LOST RACER
With the snow coming down and no chance to ride, things got a bit boring and I decided to do something with one of my Guzzi Chiu mopeds. I don’t think anyone is really going to miss it??? Starting point is a 1976 model Guzzi Chiu, partly due to being already registered and insured. I never really used it, since I have 2 that are in better shape than this.
After reading this forum, I decided that instead of a restoration, it was more fun to cut it into pieces and make a unique Guzzi Board Tracker. I saw many great pictures on this website and more and more I thought about it, this definitely was going to be a good project!
Here’s the poor Italian organ donor. To take motor out was about 3 minutes, since its hanging from the frame with 2 bolts and 3 wires. Now I know how to be faster with next motor removal, the rotating nuts are on right side.
The motor will be fitted first as is, but I have a Polini 65cc kit for it. This makes peddling uphill’s a bit easier.
So, my intension is to glue, weld and duct tape together a Guzzi Board Track Racer, similar to the old 1920’s velodrome motor bikes. Living in Pennsylvania, which is famous for 1920-30’s board track racing such as Altoona and Uniontown tracks this approach makes sense.
In reality, there were no Guzzi bikes running on 2x4 wood planks, mostly just HD’s, Indians and other domestic ones. The real ones did not have brakes or gears, I will cheat a bit and will install drum brakes and use the Guzzi automatic transmission.
Why use a running moped?
With just bicycle frame, I have little luck explaining to the LAW that it is a moped. To register it is expensive and time consuming.
Now… what do you do when you wreck a motor cycle and your tail section of the frame is bent? You buy another frame, however this will have a different VIN number. By welding a steering tube from your original MC to this "new" frame will legally result being the “old and original” bike, with old VIN. So, if this is the case with motor cycles, it has to be the case with mopeds. Since there are not much of legal limitations, why you cannot weld a hard tail on your new Harley, (its only seen as "customizing") and state does not mandate inspection of the welding quality etc. So… if you can change the steering tube and you can customize the frame as much as you wish.
The way I look at this, I have customized the complete frame from neck backwards. I’m not a lawyer, so I advise not to follow my sample, but that’s what I’m going to do. As soon as the wheels are on it, its ROAD legal, ready to go and insured. Motor and frame numbers will naturally match too, as they should. If I get pulled over, I can refer OCC TV series and mine being similar so there is little what the “LAW” can do legally to prevent me from driving or issue a ticket. State has already a stensil print of my serial number in files, feel welcome to compare it to my current bike…. WIN-WIN.
I will use several parts of the Chiu, such as motor, axles with the vicious drum brakes and electronics (although wiring will be done in 1920’s style on outside of the frame with colorful cloth wiring).
I got a late 1950-60’s Murray 26” frame. I chose this type of frame due to dual tubing on top and I had an idea to build a protruding tank into the frame, fitting closely into the triangle. The front will be a Monark Springer. Unfortunately I ordered the “un-welded” unit just before Christmas. Then E-Glide sent me an e-mail that a beefier fork was available, bigger springs, heavier drop outs and most importantly already welded and fitted with bearings. I contacted David at E-Glide and he promised to credit mine and supply a new one. Great news, this way I don’t have to weld it and it will not disappear under the bike at first street corner. I would only have to pay the difference, so that’s the route I went. I am currently waiting to get the new and improved fork back! Thanks David, good customer service!!!
The intensions is to keep the built “Vintage” looking, so it will not be shiny or chromed. I will be searching old, used parts from antique cars, tractors, MC’s and boats to get what I need. Yes, boats too...
For example tail light is old Farmall tractor tail light, looks kind of a bullet with red glass. Air filter will be either a Christ craft bilge pump section or Farmall oil pump pick up screen. Its about what looks great and "seems" to be authentic. Although no one would think that the 49cc Guzzi motor is from 20's...
Paint will be semi-gloss or flat. Maroon, that is, being actual Moto-Guzzi racing color.
First I had to “see” my vision in reality, so I draw few on paper and finally decided to make a full size drawing.
Last edited:
...... think i might......its a nice change from our regular squarish tanks. Hopefully you havent beaten on it too much thinning out the metal and later causing stress fractures??? I think you should be right though.
