New member considering purchase. Please advise.

[Joep7]

Project motor vehicles, regardless of the kind, unless there is an established collector base or it is a flip condition thing, aren't investments in any sense of the word. Even if you manage to recover the materials costs, as an investment you must also recoup labor costs, including your own. If you just like rebuilding things, its a hobby, not an investment.

I think the OP was asking about difficulty and the availability of materials and parts, not to see if he was going to get his money back or even turn a profit.

What is a royal pain and misery to one person is pure joy to another.  It might cost many thousands more than it would be worth in a sale but just how many Moto Guzzis are there that appreciate in value even in garaged condition?

You are correct. I am not looking for ROI. However I do have time and money constraints and while I do want a project, if a better example can be found for decently cheap them I am glad I was steered away from this purchase. I was under the impression they are becoming very difficult to find, but it sounds like I shouldn't be that desperate as of yet.

[rodekyll]

The early T variants are among the most numerous of the guzzi models.  With patience, you should be able to pick your price/condition (within reason) on any of the '70s model years.

[Denis]

If that 850-T was local and I could get it for $400 I would take it in a second. But then, an 850-T was my first bike and I've had Guzzis for years, so I'm not necessarily afraid of it.

[Joep7]

If that 850-T was local and I could get it for $400 I would take it in a second. But then, an 850-T was my first bike and I've had Guzzis for years, so I'm not necessarily afraid of it.

The tentative deal I had made was 450 if I picked it up. But only if I got the bags. I have a friend that flies to the area every few weeks. I was gonna hitcha ride and drive it back. Still think it's probably a bad idea tho :)

[oldbike54]

The early T variants are among the most numerous of the guzzi models.  With patience, you should be able to pick your price/condition (within reason) on any of the '70s model years.

 This .

 The claims of rarity always seem like nothing more than a sales pitch .

  Dusty

[Lannis]

This .

 The claims of rarity always seem like nothing more than a sales pitch .

  Dusty

And it gets worse as time goes on.

10 years ago, ads for BSA Firebird Scramblers (I have one of the 1000+ made) said "One of only 500 made".

Five years ago, the standard was down to 300.  "One of only 300 made".

The last two I saw, it was down to 200.   People read each other's lies and just repeat them ....

I'm sure Guzzis will go the same way.  Why, I used to own one of the 5 Centauros they ever imported here ....

Lannis

[oldbike54]

And it gets worse as time goes on.

10 years ago, ads for BSA Firebird Scramblers (I have one of the 1000+ made) said "One of only 500 made".

Five years ago, the standard was down to 300.  "One of only 300 made".

The last two I saw, it was down to 200.   People read each other's lies and just repeat them ....

I'm sure Guzzis will go the same way.  Why, I used to own one of the 5 Centauros they ever imported here ....

Lannis

 Yeah , the 1977 Silver Jubilee and 1979 T140 D Special Bonneville Triumphs are apparently down to a production count of
50 or so . One ad from a few years ago made me squirm . Guy had a late B50 , the one that BSA falsely badged as a Goldie. The ad claimed something like , "Buy this ultra rare BSA Gold Star , only 100 built this year" . True about the number maybe , but it never was or will be a Goldie .

  Dusty

[tpeever]

hello all, please see my intro in the new members thread.

I am considering driving a good distance to pick up this 850t. Bike is a basket case and will be a long term project. Price is very cheap.

Am I ever going to get this thing in working order or should I find a better project? I have experience restoring old Yamaha two strokers as well as riding and maintaining a modern guzzi.

Thanks for any input offered. I am most concerned about part availability.

Here is link.

http://www.caferacer.net/forum/bikes-sale/25253-moto-guzzi-t3-850-project.html

Run away!! Fast!! There are way better project bikes out there.

[Lannis]

Yeah , the 1977 Silver Jubilee and 1979 T140 D Special Bonneville Triumphs are apparently down to a production count of
50 or so . One ad from a few years ago made me squirm . Guy had a late B50 , the one that BSA falsely badged as a Goldie. The ad claimed something like , "Buy this ultra rare BSA Gold Star , only 100 built this year" . True about the number maybe , but it never was or will be a Goldie .

  Dusty

Well, BSA owned the name "Gold Star", and if they wanted to stick it on a unit 500 and pollute the Gold Star brand, it's their business.  (Business - something BSA was terrible at!).   

If you want to get a Gold Star Guy upset, just refer to a '71 - '72 500 single as a Gold Star.   "But look, it has the BSA decal right here on the side cover, it IS a Gold Star!"   They go into a blind frothing-at-the-mouth rage, they can't help it.

BSA imported to the USA thousands of the 5700 that they built, nothing rare about them, although I will say that most of them ended up getting beat to death on cow trails or on motocross tracks, so nice ones are hard to find.   Projects are all around .....

Lannis

[fotoguzzi]

  I was gonna hitcha ride and drive it back. Still think it's probably a bad idea tho :)

Enzo?

[Joep7]

Enzo?

?

[oldbike54]

?

 A famous ex WGer . I think Foto read your idea of driving the bike back home as meaning literally riding it back . It did kind of read that way , and obviously the MC isn't anywhere near riding condition 

  Dusty

[Lannis]

An INfamous ex WGer . I think Foto read your idea of driving the bike back home as meaning literally riding it back . It did kind of read that way , and obviously the MC isn't anywhere near riding condition 

  Dusty

Fixed it for you!

[oldbike54]

Fixed it for you!

 Yeah , that's better . Anyway Enzo is an EX member , and one must work pretty damn hard to raise the ire of Luap .

  Dusty

[Joep7]

A famous ex WGer . I think Foto read your idea of driving the bike back home as meaning literally riding it back . It did kind of read that way , and obviously the MC isn't anywhere near riding condition 

  Dusty

I think Michigan is mainly downhill from NY... ;)

[oldbike54]

I think Michigan is mainly downhill from NY... ;)

 

 Yeah , but ya got that big old pond to deal with 

  Dusty

[surffly]

Seller here.

You guys are 100% right.
This is a huge project best suited for a guzzi person.

Would not be a first guzzi and a really bad first project.

If anyone has any interest in it please feel free to reach out.
Super motivated to get it out of my garage.

This weekend I might start listing some parts and throwing the junk away.

[oldbike54]

 Surffly , let us be honest here . This bike does not qualify as a project , it is a rusted pile of parts with a seized motor . Someone might offer 100 bucks and haul it away , and that would be generous .

  Dusty

[Sportsterleroy]

Surffly , let us be honest here . This bike does not qualify as a project , it is a rusted pile of parts with a seized motor . Someone might offer 100 bucks and haul it away , and that would be generous .

  Dusty

The frame and title is worth the $100 and the parts are a bonus, but a friend is 550 miles round trip to ALBANY Ny . Thats maybe 150 bucks for gas , lunch his time on the road , would you help load and throw in a case of beer?

Leroy in Cleveland

[oldbike54]

The frame and title is worth the $100 and the parts are a bonus, but a friend is 550 miles round trip to ALBANY Ny . Thats maybe 150 bucks for gas , lunch his time on the road , would you help load and throw in a case of beer?

Leroy in Cleveland

 Leroy , I'm trying to make someone a good deal here 

  Dusty

[Sportsterleroy]

Leroy , I'm trying to make someone a good deal here 

  Dusty

Ok should he raise my SUGGESTION by a KFC Bucket of chicken will all the sides for the drive home?

Leroy in Cleveland

[Joep7]

I can Vouch for surffly. He is a good guy and seriously into all the good things about  viintage bikes. Guzzis just aren't his thing. He is contributing member on some of the other sites I'm on and has very much the same attitude as most of the members here have.

[surffly]

Semantics.
But if parts bike is the term then no hurt feelings.
No one is going to buy this and turn it into a running bike without many parts.
Like I said it is best suited for a guzzi person.
Maybe you have a worse bike and can build one out of two.
Maybe this has the parts to fill in the whole on another.

Is it worth $700? 
Not a chance.
Is there zero value?
Not a chance either.

I agree that it is in a funny place.
Someone will value a trifled frame by itself.
But as a parts bike like this they want it for less because of the burden of dealing with the "junk"

I would be more then happy to help load and even more so to buy the nut that wants this a beer and some food.

Not trying to get rich.
Just trying to find someone that needs some stuff.

Honestly thought this would work better as a trade deal.
Anyone have a brit bike motor?  Maybe a pile of junk bsa?
How about some real blashemy....Honda SOHC parts?

I need some eye/eye shocks for my Seeley.
Some whitworth tools?
Something else?

Anyone just waiting till this thing gets parted out?

[surffly]

I can Vouch for surffly. He is a good guy and seriously into all the good things about  viintage bikes. Guzzis just aren't his thing. He is contributing member on some of the other sites I'm on and has very much the same attitude as most of the members here have.

I would like a guzzi one day.
This just isn't going to be put to any use by me.  Other projects in front of the guzzi itch.

Playing the Norton game hard right now.
The basket case Seeley is kicking my butt too.

[fotoguzzi]

I got my first basket case for $50. a tree had fallen on it when parked against his wood pile.



 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Just my .02 Euros...

The rear wheel and brake are quite sought after by V700/Ambo/Eldo owners looking to add a cush drive. Last one I sold brought $175 and went to Italy.

The front wheel could bring as much as $200.

If the rear drive has a good ring and pinion, then it's worth ~ $450.

Same with the transmission - if good, ~ $300-$400.

Doesn't take long to make a profit, even on something so rough, especially if it's bought right. 

 

[surffly]

Just my .02 Euros...

The rear wheel and brake are quite sought after by V700/Ambo/Eldo owners looking to add a cush drive. Last one I sold brought $175 and went to Italy.

The front wheel could bring as much as $200.

If the rear drive has a good ring and pinion, then it's worth ~ $450.

Same with the transmission - if good, ~ $300-$400.

Doesn't take long to make a profit, even on something so rough, especially if it's bought right.

Right, but that person has to want to spend the time and tie up the space.
It seems that few want to.