The Airone (Italian for ‘heron’) descends from the 1932 P 175 and the P 250. Like the big Guzzis it has the horizontal cylinder and external flywheel devised by founder Carlo Guzzi. Because of that flywheel Italian enthusiasts also call it the ‘affettatrice’: the bacon slicer.

The model came out in 1939, with a 70 mm bore and 247 cc. Because of the war production stopped after only about 1,000 examples. In 1945 production resumed, now with a pressed-steel frame. That year 875 were made, almost half of everything the factory built. From 1947 the Airone got a telescopic front fork.

In 1948–1949 a Sport version was added, with an aluminium cylinder and head, bigger brakes, sportier bars and a ‘fishtail’ silencer. The ordinary model was now called the Turismo. In 1952 the tank got full paint and the Turismo also moved to the Sport frame. In 1954 the Sport got a chromed tank again, a pointed silencer instead of the fishtail and a quieter exhaust.

In the end the Airone became too expensive: in 1956 a Turismo cost 349,000 lire and a Sport 364,000 lire. The last model year was 1956; the Sport was built into 1957. It was Moto Guzzi’s last 250 cc motorcycle.

Airone (1939–1947): the first versions, first with a tubular frame, after the war with a pressed-steel frame.

Airone Turismo (from 1948): the calm standard model, from 1952 with the Sport frame.

Airone Sport (from 1948/1949): light-alloy cylinder and head, more power, bigger brakes.

Military versions: also built for the army; these now usually sell for less.

The Airone is strong and pulls well from low revs. A four-speed gearbox was unusual at the time. But there are weak points too.

Oil leaks. Some oil seepage comes with this type of engine. At the final drive it can leak badly because of hardened O-rings at the gearbox bearings.

Gear change mechanism. The gear change rods use 7 mm pins, an unusual size. With 6 mm pins it rattles.

Ride. Vibration (especially on the Sport), little top-end power, a somewhat awkward starting procedure and old-fashioned brakes and suspension.

Oil tap. On one restored example things went wrong because the oil tap was left open. Always check the position of the tap before and after a ride.

An original workshop manual and a parts book with drawings are very useful. In England Classic Bike Hub names the Guzzi club and specialists in Guzzi singles as important help; in the Netherlands a Moto Guzzi club is a good starting point.

Price indication. The Italian inSella wrote in August 2026 that an Airone costs on average between € 4,000 and € 7,000, that prices are falling and that there is room to negotiate. Military versions are cheaper. If an asking price is far above or below that range, look extra carefully. In 2013 Classic Bike Hub gave about £5,000 for a ready-to-ride, recently rebuilt example.