CBGYour guide to...
SYMMETRICAL, RACY, AND A CELEBRATED design icon – few motorcycles hang together as well as the Mk1 Moto Guzzi Le Mans. And this particular rebuilt ‘Guzzi Mk1 could quite possibly be one of the best examples around. Belonging to Mike Peter (twice!), it has spent most of its 43 years in Fife. And, as some ‘Guzzi enthusiasts will have noticed, this magnificent 1970s superbike is not all that it seems. In fact, this very red ‘Guzzi ‘special’ began life as a royal blue 1980 Mk2 Le Mans. During the 1980s and 1990s it passed unrecorded through the hands of several owners; one, David Robertson, suffered a ‘big off’ in 1985 and as a result, the Le Mans was rebuilt with T3 side panels and a new front fairing, and was repainted in Moto Guzzi factory red.
Mike owned the Mk2 after buying it from local businessman John Simpson in 1995, then one year later he traded it for a Kawasaki ZZR600. The Mk2 was subsequently sold to a new owner in Cupar, Fife, where it languished unused and unregistered, for the best part of 26 years – in a cowshed!
Fast-forward to 2022, when NDS 830V was spotted for sale on Facebook by Mike’s friend, Ross Carstairs. Ross recognised Mike’s old Mk2 and bought it Imagine his surprise when he discovered the documents still recorded Mike as the ‘Guzzi’s last keeper. Ross emailed Mike several pictures of his new purchase, followed by a teasing text: ‘Remember that nice Mk2 ‘Guzzi Le Mans you said you wish you'd never sold – well, I’ve just bought it!’ Not to be outdone, Mike sarcastically replied: ‘Bad luck Ross, old chum
