Model differences

Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

Created: 2006 August 02

Updated: 2018 January 10

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Like most things in life, these differences are not absolute. There was plenty of crossover as the models evolved and there are many exceptions. But, this can serve as a general guideline to the differences between V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models. Some of the photos and information came from Dave Otis' old website. I'm certain I missed something, so please contact me with any corrections, contributions, or additional photos: greg@thisoldtractor.com.

Special thanks to Mike Tiberio, Rob Prins, Newtin, Paul Linn, Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle, Gordon Kline of MG Cycle, Sven Stepan, and Marty Ray for providing additional difference information.

	V700	V7 Special	Ambassador	850 GT	850 GT California	Eldorado	850 California Police
Imported into the United States directly from the factory	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
Engine Case	3 shallower vertical ribs Photo courtesy of Dave Otis. Photo courtesy of Dave Otis. Direct link to image	Most had 3 deeper vertical ribs plus additional diagonal rib running rearward from cylinder base Photo courtesy of Dave Otis. Photo courtesy of Dave Otis. Direct link to image Very late had horizontal webbing Photo courtesy of Dave Otis. Photo courtesy of Dave Otis. Direct link to image		Horizontal webbing Photo courtesy of Dave Otis. Photo courtesy of Dave Otis. Direct link to image
Bore	80 mm	83 mm
Stroke	70 mm			78 mm
Displacement	703.717 cc	757.486 cc		844.05 cc
Piston rings	4, 3 above wrist pin, 1 below	4, all above wrist pin		3, all above wrist pin
Valves	38 mm intake and 34 mm exhaust	40 mm intake and 35 mm exhaust
Valve springs	Single	Dual
Compression Ratio	9:1			9.2:1
Maximum RPM	6000	6500
Horsepower at maximum RPM (SAE)	50	60		64
Cylinder head exhaust port	No boss for future exhaust studs Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image	Early models had no boss for future exhaust studs; later models had a boss for later exhaust studs Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image		Most had no boss for future exhaust studs; Some had a boss for later exhaust studs Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image
Cylinder head top stud	One piece design with o-ring Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image	Early models had one piece design with o-ring; later models had two piece design with crush washer Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image		Two piece design with crush washer Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image
Cylinder head valve guide casting Thanks to Gordon Kline of MG Cycle for providing this difference information.	Valve guide casting is proud of the top of the cylinder head. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image	Valve guide casting is level with the top of the cylinder head. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image
Valve covers Thanks to Charley Cole of Zydeco Racing for providing some of this difference information.	Early models had Moto Guzzi printed below raised area, no ridge on raised area, longer hex-head securing bolts Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image Later models had Moto Guzzi printed on raised area, no ridge on raised area, shorter allen-head securing bolts Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image	Moto Guzzi printed on raised area, no ridge on raised area, shorter allen-head securing bolts Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image		Early models had Moto Guzzi printed on raised area, no ridge on raised area, shorter allen-head securing bolts Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image Later models had Moto Guzzi printed on raised area, ridge on raised area, shorter allen-head securing bolts. There were two versions of this valve cover, one style appeared completely shiny while the other style appeared rough with only the raised area shiny. It is believed the shine was not the result of polishing, but rather the result of the manufacturing process. MG# 12023502 Photo courtesy of Stein Dinse. MG# 12023502 Photo courtesy of Stein Dinse. Direct link to image MG# 13023561 Photo courtesy of Stein Dinse. MG# 13023561 Photo courtesy of Stein Dinse. Direct link to image MG# 13023561 Photo courtesy of Rob Anderson. MG# 13023561 Photo courtesy of Rob Anderson. Direct link to image
Gas tank - capacity	4.5 gallon	early models had 4.5 gallon late models had 5.84 gallon		5.84 gallon
Gas tank - petcock position	Petcocks positioned forward Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image	Early models had petcocks positioned forward Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image Late models had petcocks positioned rearward Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image		Petcocks positioned rearward Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image
Gas tank - tunnel width Thanks to Karl Kologiski for providing this difference information. Note: Wider tunnel tanks will fit on the earlier models. Narrow tunnel tanks will not fit on the later models.	Narrow tunnel Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image	Early models had narrow tunnel Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image Late models had wider tunnel Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image		Wider tunnel Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image
Gas cap	Cap with lever, lever secured via special boss on tank Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image	Early civilian models had cap with lever, lever secured via special boss on tank Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image Later civilian models had a cap with a lever, lever secure via ring and groove on neck Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image Police models had a screw-on cap, taller neck Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image		Push button release style, like was fitted to the 850 T	screw-on cap, taller neck Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image	Civilian models had a cap with a lever, lever secured via ring and groove on neck Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image Police models had a screw-on cap, taller neck Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image	Screw-on cap, taller neck Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image
Front brakes	most had twin leading shoe some very late models had four leading shoe (circa 1977)	twin leading shoe		most had twin leading shoe some in 1973 had four leading shoe late 1973 and 1974 had single disk
Forks	Early models were fit with a two leading shoe front brake. These models used fork lowers with a single retainer for the brake plate (on the left fork lower). These early fork lowers only used an axle pinch bolt on the left fork lower. The right fork lower did not have a pinch bolt for the axle. Very late models (circa 1977) were fit with four leading shoe front brakes. These models used fork lowers with a retainer on each side for the the pair of brake plates.	Some models were fit with a two leading shoe front brake. These models used fork lowers with a single retainer for the brake plate (on the left fork lower). These fork lowers used an axle pinch bolt on both the left and right fork lowers. Some models were fit with four leading shoe front brakes. These models used fork lowers with a retainer on each side for the the pair of brake plates (a right side fork lower from a two leading shoe front brake is identical in all other respects). These fork lowers used an axle pinch bolt on both the left and right fork lowers.		Some models were fit with a two leading shoe front brake. These models used fork lowers with a single retainer for the brake plate (on the left fork lower). These fork lowers used an axle pinch bolt on both the left and right fork lowers. Some models were fit with four leading shoe front brakes. These models used fork lowers with a retainer on each side for the the pair of brake plates (a right side fork lower from a two leading shoe front brake is identical in all other respects). These fork lowers used an axle pinch bolt on both the left and right fork lowers. Some models were fit with single disc brake. These models used entirely different forks with completely different components.
Rake	27°
Trail	56.94 mm	81.94 mm
Triple tree offset	90 mm Photo courtesy of Dave Otis. Photo courtesy of Dave Otis. Direct link to image Photo courtesy of Gerhard Ziesemann. Photo courtesy of Gerhard Ziesemann. Direct link to image	70 mm Photo courtesy of Dave Otis. Photo courtesy of Dave Otis. Direct link to image Photo courtesy of Gerhard Ziesemann. Photo courtesy of Gerhard Ziesemann. Direct link to image
Triple tree offset for use with side cars	Information from Gerhard Ziesemann: I can assure you there is a 3rd type of triple trees with an inclined steering tube. Unfortunately I don't have a pic of that although (or because) I ride a set of these on my sidecar outfit. The only pics to show the three versions I have are of their upper ends with different positions for the steering tube. Thanks to Patrick Buss for posting these photos on Facebook. I believe the part number for the matching lower triple tree is MG# 12494270. Side car triple trees for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models (MG# 12493070). Photo courtesy of Patrick Buss. Side car triple trees for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models (MG# 12493070). Photo courtesy of Patrick Buss. Direct link to image Side car triple trees for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models (MG# 12493070) Photo courtesy of Patrick Buss. Side car triple trees for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models (MG# 12493070) Photo courtesy of Patrick Buss. Direct link to image Side car triple trees for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models (MG# 12493070) Photo courtesy of Patrick Buss. Side car triple trees for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models (MG# 12493070) Photo courtesy of Patrick Buss. Direct link to image Side car triple trees for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models (MG# 12493070) Photo courtesy of Patrick Buss. Side car triple trees for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models (MG# 12493070) Photo courtesy of Patrick Buss. Direct link to image Side car triple trees for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models (MG# 12493070) Photo courtesy of Patrick Buss. Side car triple trees for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models (MG# 12493070) Photo courtesy of Patrick Buss. Direct link to image Side car triple trees for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models (MG# 12493070) Photo courtesy of Patrick Buss. Side car triple trees for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models (MG# 12493070) Photo courtesy of Patrick Buss. Direct link to image Side car triple trees for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models (MG# 12493070) Photo courtesy of Patrick Buss. Side car triple trees for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models (MG# 12493070) Photo courtesy of Patrick Buss. Direct link to image Side car triple trees for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models (MG# 12493070) Photo courtesy of Patrick Buss. Side car triple trees for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models (MG# 12493070) Photo courtesy of Patrick Buss. Direct link to image Side car triple trees for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models (MG# 12493070) Photo courtesy of Patrick Buss. Side car triple trees for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models (MG# 12493070) Photo courtesy of Patrick Buss. Direct link to image Side car triple trees for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models (MG# 12493070) Photo courtesy of Patrick Buss. Side car triple trees for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models (MG# 12493070) Photo courtesy of Patrick Buss. Direct link to image
Transmission speeds	4 speed			5 speed
Transmission gear ratios	1:2.230 1:1.333 1:0.954 1:0.750			1:2.000 1:1.388 1:1.047 1:0.869 1:0.750
Transmission case	Smooth			Ribbed
Transmission gear design	Earliest all straight cut, middle first straight cut/second-fourth helically cut, latest all helically cut	All helically cut
Rear drive gearing	8/37	8/35		8/37
Rear drive case	Star burst, polished	Star burst, polished very late may have had the deeper sump, unpolished		Deeper sump, unpolished
Overall gear ratios (from engine through transmission to rear drive)	1:14.180 1:8.473 1:6.063 1:4.768	1:13.413 1:8.015 1:5.735 1:4.510		1:11.424 1:7.929 1:5.980 1:4.964 1:4.284
Carburetors	Dellorto SS1 29mm later models had an intake liner to increase air flow velocity	Dellorto VHB 29mm		Dellorto VHB 29mm Some were fitted with Amal 930 carburetors while the Dellorto factory was on strike.
Carburetor body to intake manifold clamps	Smooth polished aluminum band Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image	Early models had smooth polished aluminum band Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image Later models had steel bands perpendicular to the carb body Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image		Steel bands perpendicular to the carb body Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image
Shifter design	Most had heel-toe, few had toe only			Heel-toe
Shifter location	Right side, had a different bend to clear the swing arm nut Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image	Left side
Rear brake design	Aluminum Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image	Chrome plated steel Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image
Rear brake plate	Shaft at 12 o'clock, shoe pivot doubles as tie rod attachment point Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image	Early had shaft at 12 o'clock, shoe pivot doubles as tie rod attachment point Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image Later had shaft at 3 o'clock Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image		Shaft at 3 o'clock Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image
Rear brake location	Left side	Right side
Shift pattern	1 up, 3 down			1 up, 4 down
Headlight	Deep shell	Shallow shell
Tail light	Very early models used an entirely unique tail light which is exceedingly rare. Photo courtesy of Sven Stepan. Photo courtesy of Sven Stepan. Direct link to image Photo courtesy of Sven Stepan. Photo courtesy of Sven Stepan. Direct link to image Photo courtesy of Sven Stepan. Photo courtesy of Sven Stepan. Direct link to image Later models had additional horizontal mount to the frame, round lens Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image	Early models had additional horizontal mount to the frame, round lens Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image Later models lacked additional mount, round lens Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image		Early models lacked additional mount, round lens Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image Later models had a rectangular lens Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image
Instrument panel	Civilian models only had a speedometer See civilian and police variations here	Early civilian models only had a speedometer; later civilian models had speedometer and tachometer See civilian and police variations here		Civilian models had speedometer and tachometer See civilian and police variations here
Battery covers	Narrow, non louvered	Early models had narrow, non louvered; later models had wider, louvered		Wider, louvered
Tool boxes	Knobs Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image	Early models had knobs Later models had locks Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image		Locks Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image
Coil	Magneti Marelli	Early models had Magneti Marelli; later models had Bosch		Bosch
Coil mount	Across the frame	In line with frame
Civilian frame	Narrower backbone (later tank will fit on earlier frame, but not vice versa)	Wider backbone
Police frame (in addition to civilian frame differences)	Siren mount (mechanical sirens had different mounts than electrical - not sure of difference???), stronger gusset plate for seat, gusset plate drilled for rear crash bars, dimple in rear fender mount at the rearmost part of the frame
Generator	Magneti Marelli	Early models had Magneti Marelli, later models had Bosch		Bosch
Generator covers	Two individual metal plates (most painted, there is some debate as to whether or not some were chromed) Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image	Early models had two individual metal plates (most painted, there is some debate as to whether or not some were chromed) Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image Later models had a single black plastic cover Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image		Single black plastic cover Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle. Direct link to image
Regulator	Magneti Marelli	Early models had Magneti Marelli; later models had Bosch		Bosch
Starter	Magneti Marelli	Early models had Magneti Marelli; later models had Bosch		Bosch
Center stand	Short feet	Early models had short feet; later models had long curved feet		Long curved feet
Turn signals	None			Front and rear
Fender reflectors	None	Early models had none; later models has reflectors with wide chrome trim; some very late models had reflectors with very narrow trim		Early models had reflectors with wide chrome trim; later models had reflectors with very narrow trim
Fork covers / headlight ears	Shorter			Shorter for all drum brake models. Disc brake models are longer.
Swing arm	Aluminum cap on the back end of the swing arm...just before the rear drive	Boss that could be drilled for aluminum cap		No boss.
Hand levers	Smooth lever with a perch that angled toward the handlebar Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image	Early models used a smooth lever with a perch that angled toward the handlebar Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image Later models used a finger-grooved lever with a perch that was more square to the handlebar Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image		Finger-grooved lever with a perch that was more square to the handlebar Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image Models with 4 leading shoe front brakes used a finger-grooved lever with a special adapter to connect both front brake cables Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Photo courtesy of eBay auction. Direct link to image
Shocks Thanks to Newtin for providing this difference information. Note: the shocks must be completely disassembled to remove the chrome cover; the plastic cover can be distorted to clear the tabs at the bottom of the shock body.	Early models had a black plastic inner cover to hide the rod Photo courtesy of Newtin. Photo courtesy of Newtin. Direct link to image Later models used a chrome steel cover to hide the rod Photo courtesy of Newtin. Photo courtesy of Newtin. Direct link to image	Early models used a chrome steel cover to hide the rod Photo courtesy of Newtin. Photo courtesy of Newtin. Direct link to image Later models had a black plastic inner cover to hide the rod Photo courtesy of Newtin. Photo courtesy of Newtin. Direct link to image		All used a black plastic inner cover to hide the rod Photo courtesy of Newtin. Photo courtesy of Newtin. Direct link to image
Seats	Dual seat. If used in police service, a solo seat was likely fitted.	Dual seat. If used in police service, a solo seat was likely fitted.	Dual seat. If used in police service, a solo seat was likely fitted.	Dual seat. If used in police service, a solo seat was likely fitted.	Buddy seat.	Dual seat. If used in police service, a solo seat was likely fitted.	Solo seat.
Foot rests	Foot pegs.	Foot pegs. If used in police service, footboards were likely fitted.	Foot pegs. If used in police service, footboards were likely fitted.	Foot pegs. If used in police service, footboards were likely fitted.	Footboards.	Foot pegs. If used in police service, footboards were likely fitted.	Footboards.