How many miles per year should you put on a low mile classic?

[Travlr]

Some of you will remember when I flew to Minnesota and purchased a one owner, low mile Spada.
Then I rode it back to my home in Arizona.  Great bike, great ride.  Tonti touring.  Across Kansas or thru the Rockies
it was a wonderful companion.  It now resides in my garage on a tender.





The bike is near flawless and has about 10K on it.  I could easily put 5K to 10K per year on it.
I've got several trips planned: Big Bend in February, California in March.  Then there is The National in Oregon,
Datil rally in New Mexico etc.  I'm torn about how many miles per year to put on the Spada.  Some friends advise ride it till it drops.
Others advise to ride it, but only a couple of thousand miles per year.  Others say ride it around the block
occasionally and keep it nice.

What do others do?

Mike

[Daniel Kalal]

I don't know that the SP3 or its sister bikes (the Mille and Strada) will ever be considered a high-dollar classic, regardless of the miles.  I'd say ride the thing--you'll have the same resale, regardless.

[oldbike54]

 A motorbike that resides in the garage is not a motorcycle , ride it .

  Dusty

[fotoguzzi]

as many miles as possible..A thing like that should not be parked.

[Chuck in Indiana]

It'll never be a *valuable* classic Guzzi. It was designed to go

Across Kansas or thru the Rockies
it was a wonderful companion.

cross country. You won't hurt it by riding it.. far from it. Ride it. Just MHO.

I see a couple more saying the same thing while I was typing. 

[azguzzirep]

I would ride it,
wear it out,
 restore/rebuild it,
repeat it.

Tom

[Guzzistajohn]

I say ride it too. More miles just show it's proven reliable.

[blackcat]

I had an SPIII, painted it black and never considered its potential as being a classic. Ride it and enjoy.

[nick949]

A motorbike that resides in the garage is not a motorcycle , ride it .

  Dusty

I'm with you fellas - ride the heck out of it. It's a motorcycle, not a museum piece.

Nick

[Texas Turnip]

Ride it so others can see what a nice cycle you have.  Enjoy. Repeat!

Tex

[mach1mustang351]

Agreed with the above. They are for riding. Even the low mileage, ultra rare, bikes should be exercised regularly. I remember as a kid, every few months, my dad would pick one of his bikes and give it the full work over, fluids, tire check, general shake down etc. He would then put about 100 miles on it and park it until next year. Now that he's retired the old bikes get more miles than ever. That's what they're for

[Tom]

I'm like the rest.  Ride it but use it the way it's intended.  Rides where the fairing really does the work for you.  So maybe less summer rides but long distance out of the Valley of the Sun.

[John A]

Minimum 40 miles every time you start it. Other than that, you bought it to ride it, right? There is probably enough museum examples so it's not that valuable as one so I think it's value is in riding it, why should you let someone else have that enjoyment?

[father guzzi obrian]

During the 12 years I owned my 72 Eldo, It was a daily rider, a tour'er and a sometime back road scratcher. It was bullet proof and looked as good and ran as good when I sold it as it did 12 years earlier, it was none the worse for wear, why have a motorcycle you're not going to ride

Edit: I had iron liners in my Eldo, when I sold it I had 158,000 in it, also had some Gilardoni cylinders, but really needed better brakes.  I would not have hesitated riding it cross country during my time of owner ship.  As an aside, I have a 2002 Cal Special sport that I would take around the world, also a Strada that is a great bike I would ride cross country tomorrow on...   Mileage is not that big of deal on the guzzi's I own and have owned...
Cheers,

Edit, oh yeah, Pete worked on all of them except the Strada which Chuck from Indiana went through, hence my confidence

[bigbikerrick]

That is one gorgeous Guzzi!  Man, I bet its a real pleasure riding behind that fairing! Answer to your question...Ride it, take care of it,reasonable miles on a Guzzi, along with good service documentation dont really lower its value , as others have said, it points to a well sorted, reliable bike.
Bottom line is, life is short, we are just "caretakers" of these fine machines, we cant take it with us, and all that other stuff.....
Rick.

[Tom]

The only complaint for me with the oem fairing is that for those 6 foot or more,  it'll lock you in to a riding position.  I find it a little confining and I'm 5'8".  Looks great though.  The oem seat confines you more.

[Turin]

Why save it for the next guy? Enjoy it now.

[Scud]

Ride it.

Don't hide it.

[injundave]

Ride it like there's no tomorrow, because one day................ ..there ain't!

[alanp]

Ride, and whatever you do, dont ride it around the block.  That is the worst thing you can do.  If you start, you should ride it at least 10 miles if possible. 

[Arizona Wayne]

If you have multiple bikes like me, rotate your rides among them. That way they will all last longer. If 1 needs servicing you jump on the other 1. 

[Tom]

That's what I do.