A new Guzzi joins the fold (and it runs!)

[canuck750]

A 1949 Moto Guzzi Airione (Astorino) arrived from California this morning, it has a life time of 'patina'. It is a 250cc. smaller than I thought it would be. It will get a full restoration, eventually ... lots of projects in the line.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Sweet! I would never restore that, just make it mechanically and electrically sound and then ride it every chance I got. To me, it's perfect cosmetically - it fits in right between "too pretty to ride" and "so ugly I'm ashamed of it".   

[canuck750]

Sweet! I would never restore that, just make it mechanically and electrically sound and then ride it every chance I got. To me, it's perfect cosmetically - it fits in right between "too pretty to ride" and "so ugly I'm ashamed of it".   

I may just do that, first to try and get it started!

Close up of the condition of the paint, pretty much like this everywhere.

[Dharma Bum]

I agree with Charlie, that's perfect the way it is.  Looks like it will be a fun ride!

[Guzzi Gal]

Sweet! I would never restore that, just make it mechanically and electrically sound and then ride it every chance I got. To me, it's perfect cosmetically - it fits in right between "too pretty to ride" and "so ugly I'm ashamed of it".   

^^^This^^^

It's perfect as is!

[ritratto]

^^^This^^^

It's perfect as is!

Agreed!

[Spuddy]

Burnished but beautiful...

Spud

[Dave Swanson]

Congratulations!  One of my dream bikes!

In the antique Harley, and Indian world you would have to be mad at your money to change the outward condition of one in this condition.  Survivor antique HD's are worth a 50 to 100% premium over a nicely restored bike.

Original condition survivors are  sometimes not as highly prized among other marquees.  It seems in the antique Triumph world new and shiny looking is still attracting more $$ than survivors.  And as far as MG I wouldn't venture a guess.

Give it some time and do what makes you happy.   I don't think the Airione Preservation League would come after you with a noose if you restore it.   

[Aaron D.]

Well and truly down the rabbit hole now!

[Cam3512]

Sweet! I would never restore that, just make it mechanically and electrically sound and then ride it every chance I got. To me, it's perfect cosmetically - it fits in right between "too pretty to ride" and "so ugly I'm ashamed of it".   

Nice!  Knowing  Jim here, and seeing all his work over the years,  NO WAY can he leave it cosmetically “as is”. 

[JJ]

I agree with everyone!  It's only "original"...ONCE!  Leave the patina as is...and get it running mechanically, etc.

CONGRATS!!!

[bigbikerrick]

Why is it that antique Harleys ,and Indians are worth more if left unrestored, and some other bikes are worth more restored? I personally dont get this "patina" thing. I like shiny.
I havea buddy that does custom paint/airbrush work. Most of the paint jobs he has done for customers lately, have been "grunge" jobs, where he makes the new paint look like its faded,old and rusty.
He says its "easy money" for him, as you can get away with alot of mistakes with one of those paint jobs. Almost anything goes!
Rick.

[AH Fan]

A 1949 Moto Guzzi Airione (Astorino) arrived from California this morning, it has a life time of 'patina'. It is a 250cc. smaller than I thought it would be. It will get a full restoration, eventually ... lots of projects in the line.

Good for you Jim...………. It could not have found a better home.

Ciao.

[Lexiyntax]

What are those little boxes with what looks like keyholes at the top of the rear tire on either side for? They seem far too small for storing anything useful.

[Cam3512]

What are those little boxes with what looks like keyholes at the top of the rear tire on either side for? They seem far too small for storing anything useful.

No less room than a loop frame tool box

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

What are those little boxes with what looks like keyholes at the top of the rear tire on either side for? They seem far too small for storing anything useful.

tool kit on one side and a spare tube in the other!

[canuck750]

Nice!  Knowing  Jim here, and seeing all his work over the years,  NO WAY can he leave it cosmetically “as is”.

I think you described me pretty accurately, I just love shiny and once I get into a build I have yet been able to stop myself. Maybe this will a first (but I doubt it).

[Turin]

I appreciate patina and love the worn look, but not on my stuff. Great bike!

[Dave Swanson]

Why is it that antique Harleys ,and Indians are worth more if left unrestored, and some other bikes are worth more restored? I personally dont get this "patina" thing. I like shiny.

Rick.

Rick,  an intact survivor, original paint HD, Indian, or any other antique US made bike is very highly sought after.  It wasn't always this way as many  originals were restored during the 70s, 80s and even into the 90's.  It didn't happen overnight, but around the 1990s the tide turned, and original paint bikes began to be recognized for their rarity and historical record.   There are always those HD's to this day that make perfect sense to restore; bikes that were already repainted years ago, incomplete bikes, or prior customized bikes.

Case in point is my original paint 1956 FLH.  To restore this bike to like new condition would cost about 10k assuming I don't charge for my labor hours.  The problem is I would be removing 10k worth of value from the bike.  So it would be a 20k negative hit, assuming I sell one day. 

I cant' explain why this hasn't followed suit with all other marquees. 

[Tusayan]

It's interesting (to me) to think of what may become of those original bikes that have never degraded to accumulate 'patina'.  Bikes made say 40 years ago aren't so old anyway and were originally finished with more durable paint etc.  My '80 Ducati looks exactly the same as it did 25 years ago when I bought it, still all original.  It's already very much a collector bike and in another 25 years, unless a crash or fire etc claims it, I'd guess it will still look exactly the same as today.  I'm hoping to still be around to enjoy it.

I value originality, I appreciate painted emblems over decals and to me it's also fun to see decals misaligned from the factory and other features that show nobody thought this thing was going to live so long.  I'm not such a fan of patina, unless maybe the bike is 100 years old and nobody reasonable would expect it to look new.

[JACoH]

That really is a great looking bike. I will probably spend hours staring at the pics studying how they were put together back then.

[canuck750]

That really is a great looking bike. I will probably spend hours staring at the pics studying how they were put together back then.

Me Too!!

[Dave Swanson]

Wow!  A real time machine there! 

Jim, do you know when it was last on the road?

[RinkRat II]

 
  Nice find Jim!,
    You may have already seen this, but if nothing else he's got some good close-ups for comparison.
https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/mcy/d/1950-moto-guzzi-astore/6651971815.html

       Paul B

[canuck750]

Wow!  A real time machine there! 

Jim, do you know when it was last on the road?

The bike was registered and on the road in California. Previous owner (a motorcycle mechanic) got the bike at an estate sale, deceased was an Italian emigrant who reportedly brought the bike with him when he moved to the USA and worked in the film industry. The seller of this bike also had a vintage Guzzi wool sweater he got in the estate sale but the sweater was not for sale. Front rim was replaced, newer tires, says it was running and occasionally ridden, I will fire it up when I get a little more time.

[canuck750]

  Nice find Jim!,
    You may have already seen this, but if nothing else he's got some good close-ups for comparison.
https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/mcy/d/1950-moto-guzzi-astore/6651971815.html

       Paul B

Thanks Paul, great resource pictures! The correct gas tank is the chrome one like the bike on Craigslist, I can get a tank out of Italy.

[Lannis]

That may be the most thoroughly "Visually Mechanical" bike (if there is such a term) of its era, or any era, that we'll ever see.

I vote for "ride as is".   They're fixable if something wears out!

Lannis

[SED]

Great looking bike!  Congratulations.  The fact that it was running and ridden is huge.  My GTV hasn't been a rider since the last competent person worked on it  - probably before 1966 (based on a sparkplug table from 1966 used as a shim under the generator).  The fact that all the pieces work together is huge.

I'm another vote (as if it matters!) for leaving the cosmetics mostly as they are - they add to the history: "Italian emigrant who reportedly brought the bike with him when he moved to the USA and worked in the film industry. "





I've been helping a friend get a beautiful '51 Airone on the road and it was painted and pinstriped and never ridden.  Cam timing seemed OK, but was put together with the timing mark 180* out. Ignition timing was set up at full retard for an auto advance mag - though the mag is manual advance  (at least 3 teeth out).  Valves gaps were set for finding cam timing, not for running.  New clutch was set-up so poorly was the lever was incredibly hard but it slipped anyway.  Wrong lever and perch combination meant you could not pull the lever all the way to the bar.  Got it assembled correctly and modified the perch and it's a nice clutch that works well.  Generator looks beautiful, but there's no voltage regulator inside...  Carb passages blocked with lead...  We're getting there...

Let me know if you need some info.  rpw.it has the best list of technical documents for the old Guzzis that I've found. 

[nick949]

I'm with the majority opinion that maintaining the patina is ideal. However, having seen Jim's other work, (here) if someone has to do a restoration, he's definitely the guy.  Wheatever he decides to  do, it will be wonderful.

Nick

[Green1000S]

What a great little bike, I would definitely leave it the way it is. I�m a sucker for old patina!
Congrats, I�m jealous....👍