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The price has just gone up....WAY UP...and still 6 days to go!!
I bought mine sight unseen via an ad in the MGNOC classifieds around 95? from a guy in Wisconsin. I sent him a check for $5K and it showed up a week or so later from Allied and it looked pretty much like the photo he sent me. And he had been trying to sell if for awhile.
Back in the 90's when they were completely unloved we should have bought up a few! As a long term investment you did OK!
Should have been buying up Vincents, Broughs and Ducati's back in the 90's! DonG
I remember calling Marsh in Connecticut around 94-95 looking for one and whoever answered the phone was like, “nobody wanted them when they were new”
I used to walk thru Donaldson's in St. Louie back in the early 90's and walk past a 1000S and barely give it a glance. I DO remember thinking "why doesn't someone buy this thing?" I think I even sat on it, but I wasn't smitten by it's looks at that time. What an idiot I was. Young, single, money, nobody to tell me no......
The 1000S is a retro classic introduced before retros were cool. I have owned my 91 big valve since new and have enjoyed it over the years. Here is what I have learned about them, sourcing articles and a former employee at the importer in Lillington NC at the time. There was one container of 34 1991 Big valve1000S bikes brought in late 91 or early 92. In that shipment 17 were black frame with orange stripes and 17 were green frame with green stripes. They were priced at over 9 thousand retail which was very expensive for a basic motorcycle in 91. There were no 92 Guzzis imported in 92 at all. In 93 3 containers totaling 102 green frame mid valve 1000S models were brought in. I was at the AMA Superbike races in Charlotte NC in 92 where Guzzi had an impressive diisplay and a 1000S was presented. I knew right then I had to have one. When I returned home I called John Hoffman at Cycle Specialities in Athens GA and he had one in stock. I went the next day and made the deal.All of the 1000S models I have seen had the wire wheels, with the exception of one that had mags and the earlier instrument pod. I believe it was an import outside of our importer at the time. The 1000S was available from late 89-93 worldwide with the US only 2 years. There were three basic models available over the different years . The early ones which were green or orange, big valve and with optional cast wheels and the earlier instruments. The 91s with big valve and green or orange with updated instruments. Then the 93s with the VN motor, digital ignition,and36 mm carbs. I was lucky enough to ride my 91 back to back with a friend who had a 93. There is a significant difference in the motors. When the 91s fun meter hits 4000 rpms the motor pulls hard and breathes deep. The 93 sings right along but doesn’t’ have that hit. It is smoother though. The 1000S models sat in the showrooms in some cases for years. When the last one was sold them everyone wanted one. I have made a few updates to mine including a Bub Conto exhaust bought in the 90’s. That lets it breathe and sounds incredible. I changed the jetting to similar euro components and installed flat top carb tops. It also has a dyna ignition for no maintenance and stainless brake lines. It is a keeper!
And... that's where it stopped, didn't meet reserve.
The mid-valve engine feels like the big valve at 5K rpm's. Smoother for touring. I'd rather ride a big valve for the mtn. pass rides.