The Factory

Right from the start the experiments were stimulated by the participation in races with important riders (Mentasti, Tenni, Balzarotti, Agostini) and by the test riders who collaborated with designers, mechanics and Carlo Guzzi. They covered kilometres pointing out problems or defects, before the prototypes went into mass production.

In the 1920s Carlo Agostini was in charge of the racing department, in the 1950s engineer Giulio Cesare Carcano; with a qualified group of technicians, Carcano studied and developed motorbikes that became legends in the history of motorcycling: Gambalunga, Condor, Dondolino, all destined to become protagonists on the world’s circuits.

In 1948 Umberto Todero began his activity in the field of experimentation and racing. In 1956 the new 500cc 8-cylinder engine made its debut, writing one of the most glorious pages in the history of motorcycling.

• The 1920s: Guzzi experimented with three-wheeled armoured motorbikes.
• The 1930s-40s: it produced the GT 17, the Alce (Elk) and the Trialce, a three-wheeled, dismountable, parachutable vehicle and, after the war, the Superalce.
• 1950s: experimented with the 3 × 3 Mechanical Mule, in production in the early 1960s.
After the war the following were used by the Police: the Airone 250, the Astore 500, the Falcone 500 Turismo. Guzzi motorbikes were also used by the Fire Brigade, the Financial Police, soldiers, sailors, airmen and municipal police officers.

In the post-war period, the market demanded an agile, small-displacement, economical vehicle; in 1946 the Guzzino was introduced.
•  On 5-6-1949 an international rally was organised; 
•  In the summer the Freccia Rossa Milan-Oslo ride with the Milanese Scouts. At each stage a crowd of curious onlookers welcomed the red Guzzi motorbikes.

Galletto: the motorbike for families, women and priests.
Equipped with large wheels, a spare wheel and suspension, it offered comfort and greater safety on the road.

3 wheeled light trucks, the Ercole and Ercolino, were used during the post war reconstruction by farmers, artisans and construction companies.
1950s: Moto Guzzi experimented with machines for agriculture, capable of hoeing, ploughing, mowing, towing a trailer cart or pump.

Trotter: moped suitable for young people and for the city; it was presented on 15-5-1966.

Some of its initiatives demonstrate this:

• energy production with two hydroelectric power stations;
• the wind tunnel, the first in Italy, to study the aerodynamics of motorbikes;
• radio links with the branches;
• pneumatic mail between some offices;
• fuel station inside the factory.