850 T 3 California

1978 Moto Guzzi 850 T 3 California Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Positioned in Moto Guzzi's classic motorcycle lineup, the 1978 Moto Guzzi 850 T 3 California utilizes a 844 cc (51.5 cu in) air-cooled v2, four-stroke layout. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 59 HP (43.1 kW) at 6,800 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 5-speed gearbox and shaft drive (cardan) final drive. With a specific output of 69.9 HP per liter, the engine character is indicating a tractable, stress-free state of tune focused on everyday usability and broad torque delivery.

On the scales, the 850 T 3 California measures 245 kg (540 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.24 HP/kg (4.15 kg per horsepower). The 24-liter (6.3 US gal) fuel tank supports practical everyday commuting and weekend road stints, while factory top speed is listed at 150 km/h (93 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's Moto Guzzi archive, this model family spans 7 indexed model years from 1976 to 1982, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.