Moto Guzzi (aka "Guzzi") the Italian motorcycle manufacturer has endured from the industry's infancy to its place today as the oldest European manufacturer in continuous motorcycle production. Guzzi is now one of seven brands owned by Piaggio & Co. SpA, Europe's largest motorcycle manufacturer and the world's fourth largest motorcycle manufacturer by unit sales. Established in 1921 in Mandello del Lario, Italy, Moto Guzzi has led Italy's motorcycling manufacture, enjoyed prominence in world-wide motorcycle racing, and led the industry in ground-breaking innovation — for the greater part of its history. Today Moto Guzzi impresses its heritage on a range of motorcycles in touring, cruising, racing and naked configurations — each with the company's iconic, air-cooled 90° V-twin engines.

The company has produced over fifty models since its inception. One of its most famous machines has been the Le Mans. This model was a further development of the 1971 750 V7 Sport designed by Guzzi engineer Lino Tonti. The V7 Sport was planned as the first five speed, 200 kg (441 lb), 200 km/h (124 mph), production motorcycle. It signified a major step forward in the design of a more sporting Guzzi, with a more compact frame being made possible by replacement of the dynamo, sitting high between the cylinders, with an alternator sited on the end of the crank at the front of the engine. The 750S and 750 S3 followed, but it was the 850 Le Mans, with its disc brakes and additional displacement, that lived up to the promise of the V7 Sport and really caught the public's imagination. When the Le Mans debuted in 1976 it was among the 5 best performing road bikes available.

Six versions of the Le Mans have been produced, designated I, II, III, IV, V and V11 Le Mans. The I, II and III are 850 cc, the IV and V are 1000 cc and the V11 Le Mans is 1064 cc. The first two models had rounded air-cooling fins on the barrels while the latter have squared fins (known as "round-fin" and "square-fin"). All models have shaft drive. Early models use 36 mm or 40 mm Dellorto carburettors but the late model V11 Le Mans are fuel injected. All the machines in this series are highly regarded for their styling and performance. Moto Guzzi introduced the California models in 1972, based on the model sold to the L. A. police department -- combining European performance and maneuverability coupled with American styling. The California remained popular throughout the 1980s and 1990s and remains in the US Guzzi lineup as the California Vintage.