Arturo Magni started his career in 1947 working for Gilera’s race department. In 1950, Magni would move to MV Agusta where he acted as the Sport Director of the racing department. During this time he would oversee the machines of legendary historical riders like Giacomo Agostini, John Surtees, and Mike Hailwood. After more than 25 years at MV, Magni would move onto the next phase in his life; starting the Magni Company which would go on to produce trick versions of existing models, not unlike fellow boutique Italian outfit, Bimota.
Magni – accompanied by his family – began producing special performance parts to transform MV Agusta road bikes into track weapons. Over the years the Magni Company would take on increasingly ambitious components before eventually producing its first chassis – a chrome-molybdenum and tig-welded steel tube unit built to house a modified four-cylinder MV engine. After essentially mastering MV’s, Magni moved on to other makes, first producing about 300 Honda-based machines (available sans bodywork as the “MH1” or with bodywork as the “MH2”) before setting his sights on BMW’s 1,000cc boxer engine. By now it was the early 1980s and Magni’s offerings had developed a deservedly stellar reputation. Like the Honda, the BMW was offered with or without bodywork (again as the “MB1” or “MB2”), though only half as many examples were produced (150).
After the Boxer-based bikes, Magni moved on to Moto Guzzi engines. According to Magni, this was done after his company received countless requests for another all-Italian machine. The first “MaGuzzi” was the Magni LeMans – a full-faired racer with an innovative rear-suspension system known as the “parallelogram”. Not long after, this technology was replicated by other manufacturers.
By 1987, Magni would introduce another pair of “MaGuzzi’s” with the “Classic 1000” and the “Arturo 1000”. Both machines boasted retro-styling and lines derived from 1970’s racers, spoked rims, polished stainless steel fenders, a single round headlight, and the engine on full display. The Classic 1000 came with no bodywork where as the Arturo 1000 came with a half-fairing. In ’89 and ’90 Magni would unveil another two Guzzi-based models; the “Challenge 1000” and the “Australia”. Magni would continue developing and refining his Guzzi-based specials all the way through 2013, but for now let’s go back to the LeMans 1000.
This particular example is a 1987 Magni LeMans 1000. it started out as a Moto Guzzi LeMans IV. According to the seller, this was “the first Magni LeMans kit to come to the UK in 1986”. The current owner purchased this example as a restoration project almost two decades-ago – replacing the original fairing and seat with Magni units, though he still has the original bodywork, seat, and instrumentation.
The engine on this example is a 1977 round barrel Le Mans Mk1 (serial-number VE083983) that was rebuilt by Armedeo Castellani at Raceco UK in 2001. The round barrel now sports balanced & blueprinted 90mm pistons and barrels, Carrillo rods, Raceco SS2 camshaft, alloy straight cut timing gears, aerospace spec alloy push rods, one-piece stainless steel competition spec valves, lead free head conversion to original LeMans heads, twin plug conversion, 40mm Dellorto PHM carbs bored to 41.5mm, Conti alloy flywheel and clutch, rebuilt gearbox with easy change/3 dog conversion, extended sump, and Ago breather box.
On top of the seat and fairing, this example also features a Magni tig welded chromoly frame with EPM three-spoke mag/alloy wheels (wrapped in Pirelli Dragon MTR23 & MTR02), trick Forcella Italia 40mm forks, Koni rear shocks, and a Magni fuel tank. All bearings, rubbers, fuel-lines, stainless oil lines, cables, and seals have been replaced. This example was also hit with a fresh coat of Ferrari Corse Red paint while the rims and chassis received a silver powdercoat.
Though it wasn’t built at the Magni factory, this is still a really special example with the only remaining elements from the Guzzi (aside from the engine) being the rear-drive box and brakes. The seller claims this bike is 1 of 35 produced, though I assume he’s talking about the frame. According to the seller, less than 270 miles have been put on this machine since its completion last year. The seller also adds that he owns a “a well modified Guzzi LM2” and that “this beast leaves it in the dust”.
You can find this 1987 Magni LeMans 1000 (frame number: MG0024) for sale here on TheBikeShed in London, England with a price of $20,650.