Moto-Guzzi V8 racebike.

[carlo]

The famous Moto-Guzzi V8 from the 1950's GP scene. Note all those tiny exhaust pipes sticking out under the seat.
That's a 500cc engine, so each cylinder is only about 62cc.
Seen at a vintage M/C show in France last weekend.

http://motocyclettes.terrot.free.fr/dijon2007/motolegende2007%20%2816%29.JPG

[MikeG]

Pretty awesome. :thumbup:

That fairing looks like it could serve double-duty as a Gelato stand.

[dansrc51]

that is one of the 3 or so v8 race bikes I've seen. very nice

[carlo]

Pretty awesome. :thumbup:

That fairing looks like it could serve double-duty as a Gelato stand.
That's what's known as the "dustbin" fairing.
Covering the entire front of the bike really helped the aerodynamics.
They were banned from GP racing in 1957, and what was originally known as the "dolphin" fairing became popular. That's the forerunner of our modern fairings, and exists now, only because of aesthetics and the FIM rulebook. The original dustbin fairing is unmatched aerodynamically to this day, even though it's ugly as sin.