This is a standard four speed housing with a stadard five speed cover mounted on it. It is pretty clear why special castings were needed.

The owner of the Telaio Rosso who's gearbox is featured here was kind enough to let me keep the box for a number of days to take zillions of measurements and conduct all manner of tests and investigations. Thanks to his generousity we all get to learn more about this incredibly special motorcycle and the evolution of Moto Guzzi. He got what could have been a very expensive job done for the cost of the parts involved. A good deal all round.

In the process I believe I learned enough to build a four speed housing with vastly superior five speed internals in it. This would be a pretty expensive gearbox, but a wonderful update to any of the early four speed models while retaining the beautiful sand cast four speed housing. A must for Telaio Rosso Replicas. It would, of course, be clearly marked as a TR replica gearbox. If I can recover financially from eight years of full time racing without an income, I'll build one for my V7 Sport and see how it works.

The castings for this TR gearbox are really beautiful. The surface texture seems to be a little finer and the alloy used has a different appearance from all other housings I have seen. The color is lighter...whiter.

The input seal area seen here came to me modified to accept a five speed style clutch shaft and seal. The five speed style clutch hub had to be shimmed quite a bit to center it on the clutch plates. I'll have to get a look at the other TR which is near me, to see if this was done by the race department or when the non TR five speed internals were originally installed. I have the feeling it was the latter.

I have more information, observations and pictures to add and possibly details about the motor, frame and other aspects of these bikes. In many ways the Ducati 750SS is a better bike than the TR and has gotten much more recognition, but the Telaio Rosso is a more special and exotic machine that deserves to be documented and recognized as such. CC

    For exciting new pics and info on an original Telaio Rosso click here.