29
28 universal acclaim and, because of its specification, was sold at a premium price. The conservative market just wasn’t ready for such an expensive touring bike that provided only modest performance. Buyers still preferred the much cheaper Sport 15; after one year,
OPPOSITE: Although sophisticated for the day, Guzzi’s threecylinder touring motorcycle was unsuccessful.
the Tre Cilindri was discontinued.
P 175
LEFT: One of Moto Guzzi’s more successful ventures during the 1930s was the expansion of the lightweight range. This is the 1933 P 175.
Guzzi’s expansion of their range into the lightweight segment with the P 175 in 1932 more than compensated for the Tre Cilindri’s failure; it would be one of their more successful ventures for the 1930s. The P 175 also
BELOW: In 1934, the 175 grew to become the P 250, now with a foot-operated gear change.
pioneered several new features that would eventually
1932–1933
Tre Cilindri
find their way onto the 500cc production models, in
T ype
Four-stroke tr ansverse in-line triple
particular overhead valves. Typical for a Guzzi, the
Bore x stroke
56x67mm
cylinder head design was advanced, the two 32mm
Displ acement
494.8cc
valves having a narrow 62-degree included angle. The
taxation class for lightweight motorcycles, motoleggere,
Power
25 hp at 5,500 rpm
Compression r atio
4.9:1
engine cases were also redesigned to make them more
the sprightly P 175 retained the hand-operated three-
Valves
T win par allel overhead, pushrod oper ated
aesthetically appealing. Designed for an advantageous
speed gearbox and was produced until 1937.
Bore x stroke
68x64mm
Carburetion
A m al
Displ acement
232cc
Gears
Hand-change 3-speed
Power
9 hp at 5,500 rpm
Ignition
Coil
Carburetion
A m al or Dell’Orto SB22mm
Fr a me
Tubul ar duplex cr adle and sheet metal
1932–1937
P 175
Front suspension
Girder fork with friction da mpers
T ype
Four-stroke
Rear suspension
Swingarm with friction da mpers
Br akes
Drum front and rear
Wheels
19x 2 1/2
Tires
19x3.25
Wheelbase
1,440mm
Dry weight
160kg
Top speed
130 k m/h
magneto ignition for an automotive coil type—with a distributor driven off the right side camshaft—and a single Amal carburetor, the engine was advanced
Dry weight
135kg (P.E.)
and in 1934 the production range was expanded
Top speed
100 k m/h
Displ acement
174cc
1,886 (P); 1,568 (P.E.)
7 hp at 5,000 rpm
with the addition of the P 250 alongside the P 175.
Production
Power Compression r atio
6:1
Valves
T win inclined
valves the P 250 owed more to the P 175 than the
overhead, pushrod
racing 250s. Unlike the P 175, the P 250 had a foot-
oper ated
The Complete Book of Moto Guzzi Motorcycles
Complete_Book_Moto_Guzzi_pgs_001_045_3P.indd 28-29
operated gearbox and could be distinguished from
A m al or Dell’Orto SB20mm
the smaller model by its deeper fenders and a frame
Gears
Hand-change 3-speed
that included a sheetmetal section behind the engine.
Ignition
Bosch t ype m agneto
Fr a me
Duplex cr adle
A sprung-frame P.E. (E for elastico) soon joined the P
Front suspension
Girder fork with friction da mpers
Drum, front m anual,
Unfortunately, the Tre Cilindri didn’t meet with
Ostensibly a bored P 175, with its pushrod-operated
Carburetion
Br akes
suspension included a new design of friction damper.
Swingarm with friction da mpers (P.E.)
differences between light and regular motorcycles,
engine cases, as was the three-speed gearbox, the
frame followed the racer’s form, but the rear
Foot-change 3-speed
Rear suspension
59x63.7mm
for its time. The flywheel was incorporated inside the
Comprising two parts bolted together, the
Gears
horizontal single
Rigid
roller bearings providing a very smooth engine.
In 1933, the Fascist government abolished the tax
P 250, P.E. 250 Differing from the P 175
Bore x stroke
Rear suspension
120-degree crankshaft running entirely on needle-
P 250 and P.E . 250
1932–1937
rear pedal
250 and, while weighing considerably more, it offered superior comfort and handling.
Wheels
19x 2 1/4
G .T. 17
Tires
19x3.00
Throughout this period, some of Guzzi’s most
Wheelbase
1,320mm
successful ventures were vehicles for the military,
Dry weight
115kg
notably the G.T. 17. Based on the G.T. 16, this included
Top speed
90 k m/h
Production
1,503
the 500cc opposed-valve engine, three-speed gearbox, and sprung frame. The G.T. 17 also featured
Technical and Racing Success: The 1930s
2/9/17 3:45 PM