Al B wrote:My question is - is this a 'normal' headlight? I haven't come across any photos of a similar unit on another bike, they all have chrome front rings which presumably attach via a self tapper or two and hold the reflector/lens in place.
It's normal for a US spec bike, but perhaps others as well. I have the same headlight on my '74 Sport, which was imported from the US last year and is 'original' in that respect.
The headlight assembly is the same as used on US spec Moto Guzzi V7 Sport and the shell will have 'CEV 02980' stamped on it. My 1972 US spec V7 Sport has the exact same headlamp.
Why would US spec bikes be different ?.....well, anyone that's imported bikes from the US - particularly from that period - will know that lighting is an area that they have some distinct differences. This is because their design/registration requirements contained in the US 'Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards' (FMVSS - the equivalent of Australia's ADR's) stipulated particular lighting specs that was'nt met by the 'standard' lighting for Europe, etc. It is not hard to understand that Morini would have wanted a 'simple' solution to this 'problem' for selling bikes into the US market, and 'bolting on' an already homologated/complied headlamp in the form of the Guzzi unit was the obvious way to go (I'm speculating, of course, but it does seem a reasonable explanation and the number of US spec Sports with this headlamp tends to lend weight to the theory). The tail light lense is likely another 'unique' component since the FMVSS of the time stipulate red reflectors to both sides and to the rear, and the lenses fitted to these bikes have 'extra' CEV174 (red) reflectors bonded (glued) to the sides and rear face of the lense.
The FMVSS's also require yellow reflectors be fitted, usually at the front on each side of the bike. I've seen pictures of US spec Morini Sports from that period that have yellow reflectors fitted at/near the headlight.
If you want to see a glaring example of how the FMVSS's can impact on the appearance of a motorcycle, look at pictures of a US spec Moto Guzzi 850 LeMans and compare with pictures of one from Australia, UK, etc. With the US spec bike you will see that the headlamp assembly 'sticks out' from the nose of the fairing by about 50mm or so compared to the others (quite ugly, actually). This is totally down to the different headlamp assembly required to meet the FMVSS's of the time (or, more accurately, Guzzi's solution to the problem).