Is this worth a look? - 1979 V50 II on Craigslist

[lucian]

Been looking for a starter bike for my daughter and found this on local cl. Any opinions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Dave

http://maine.craigslist.org/mcy/5064126664.html

[RinkRat II]

Definitely worth a look if it's local,and it's as clean as the pictures show. 


     Paul 

[Yukonica]

As he said: If that bike is as clean as it looks....
When your daughter graduates to a V7 ... call me.
Only rode a V50 twice. Sweet, sweet handling little bike.
To me it seems everyone likes big torquey power and overlooks that Italy knows how to make small bikes sing.
One of my favourites was a Moto Morini 3 1/2. Been missing it since the day it left my hands.
A V50 could make the hurt go away. If it is there, and it is good: buy it.

[lucian]

Well I put the call in and I am number 2 in line ,so I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed. Really looks like a cool bike. I almost got her a honda 450 but it fell through. When my daughter saw the picture of the honda she said she really wants a Moto Guzzi, chip off the ol block. Had to laugh, she's never ridden a bike in her life. Thanks for the input. I should know by this time tomorrow as no. one guy is going to see it tomorrow. What's meant to be will be right?         Dave

[father guzzi obrian]

The Guzzi is a nice bike, but I have never found a better starter bike than a Honda rebel 250, bullet proof, crash resistant, easy clutch and shifting... Taught my wife to ride on hers, and she cant ride a bicycle

[Matt]

Not a good starter bike IMO. Heavy clutch in traffic, heavy throttle on longer rides. Newer V750s are much better if it's a Guzzi you want.

That being said a DR200, XT225/250, Super Sherpa and a pile of other tiddlers are great little bikes and hold their value well. Once confidence is there she can go shopping for what she wants.

That being said it looks like a sweet little bike for you to tool around on and never lose money. Investment biker.

[Vasco DG]

From at mechanical perspective just be aware thet the V50 II has electronic ignition and replacementarts are unobtanium. Also because of the lack of a mechanical advance mechanism you can't retrofit points or a Dyna system without a lot of farting about.

Just so you know.

Pete

[NC Steve]

The Guzzi is a nice bike, but I have never found a better starter bike than a Honda rebel 250, bullet proof, crash resistant, easy clutch and shifting... Taught my wife to ride on hers, and she cant ride a bicycle

Yep, hands down, and if you don't crash it too bad, it'll always be worth what you paid for it.

[jas67]

From at mechanical perspective just be aware thet the V50 II has electronic ignition and replacementarts are unobtanium. Also because of the lack of a mechanical advance mechanism you can't retrofit points or a Dyna system without a lot of farting about.

Just so you know.

Pete

Can something from a later smallblock be retrofitted?   Or, for that matter, the advanacer and points from a V50 I?

[Vasco DG]

Not without a different cam and, from memory, a different timing chest cover. The II's were the only models to use electronic ignition before a return to points for the III's, Larios etc. probably due to cost I suppose. It does mean that buying one is a bit risky.

Having said that as I understand it most failures are down to the ignition pick-ups and are generally repairable with care, but that is hearsay, I've never done it.

Pete

[greer]

If the V50 doesn't work out, you might have her take a look at the Suzuki TU250X:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/motorcycles/a9242/test-ride-suzuki-tu250x-a-dream-starter-bike-15703190/

Light weight, standard seating position, and just cute as a button in my opinion.  My last fill-up got me 90 mpg, and I'm doing my best to ride the wheels off it, running it up in every gear like I stole it.  I've hankered after the looks for a long time, but couldn't justify buying one.  Then I was in an accident last July that left me with a bunch of fractures (legs and pelvis) and needed something light and low to ease myself back into riding.  The passenger seat comes off with just a couple of bolts, so that makes off and on much easier for me, and there are a couple of rear racks to choose from when I'm ready.  I think this little bike would be a great way to start toward a V7.

Sarah

[Guido Valvole]

The Bosch ignition boxes (one for each cylinder) on the V50 II are the same ones used on period Ducatis, Laverdas, BMWs, and maybe Benellis. Generic and not perfect but they work well enough. Any replacement will be used… I had a spare one I found at a swap meet long ago when I had my Darmah. Same part number, so presumably interchangeable. Yeah there's a bit of a flat spot around 4500 rpm sometimes -- but less annoying than the identical behavior on the Monza with a Lucas RITA (if we want to talk about unobtainium…)

It's nit just the front cover that's different from later V50s, it's pretty much everything. The engines look the same until you look more closely. I don't think much interchanges, ditto with gearbox details. Tiny square-slide carbs are also hard to get replacement bits for, at least compared to the PHBHs on later versions.

I don't notice that the clutch or throttle are particularly stiff but what do I know? After a Darmah clutch, everything else is light…

V50 II seems smoother than the III/Monza but has noticeably less power. Torque is not on the menu. Nobody home under 5000 rpm and only mousepower over that. But it's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than it is to ride a fast bike slow, and "fast" here isn't very. It'll cruise all day long at 100… kph.
cr

[tpeever]

The Guzzi is a nice bike, but I have never found a better starter bike than a Honda rebel 250, bullet proof, crash resistant, easy clutch and shifting... Taught my wife to ride on hers, and she cant ride a bicycle

Agreed, the Rebel is an awesome bike to learn on. My wife learned to ride on an '86 model we picked up for 500 bucks. We still have it 4 years later even though she has moved up to a Nevada. We use it to ride around town and commute to work on. In addition to the great qualities listed above, it is light (320 lbs) and has a very low seat height. Dorky-looking bike IMO but a great machine to learn on!!

[jas67]

If the V50 doesn't work out, you might have her take a look at the Suzuki TU250X:

+1 on the TU250x.   I took the MSF course on one.    They're way better looking than the Rebel, and have standard ergos, instead of the cruiser-esque ergos of the GZ250, or Rebel.   They're also fuel injected!

That said, a 2009 V7C was my first street bike.  I did have some dirt experience about 20 years prior to starting to ride on the street in 2011.   The V7 series are a good starting point as well, IMHO .     

I think I'd avoid the V50 for a first bike.

Also consider the Breva 750.    There is a nice looking red one on ebay right now for $2,400.  I think that is the  buy-it-now price!

[Chuck in Indiana]

The Mark twos are just kinda weird. I, personally, would avoid it. Find ya a nice Mark 3.

[Guido Valvole]

Mk III is the pick of the litter for V50s. Geared lower than the Monza so better acceleration (ok, less slow acceleration) but watch for stretchy exhaust valves. It wasn't just Larios…
cr

[Chuck in Indiana]

Mk III is the pick of the litter for V50s. Geared lower than the Monza so better acceleration (ok, less slow acceleration) but watch for stretchy exhaust valves. It wasn't just Larios…
cr

True, true..

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Worked on a customer's MK II with about the same miles. Had ignition "issues" due to most of the insulation being gone from the pickup leads. Spliced on new wires and heat shrinked them. Did the trick.

There are things I like about the MK II, III and V65. My "ideal" small-block would have some of each.

But, since I've just bought a Morini 350 K2 for $1500, a small-block Guzzi isn't on my radar.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Worked on a customer's MK II with about the same miles. Had ignition "issues" due to most of the insulation being gone from the pickup leads. Spliced on new wires and heat shrinked them. Did the trick.

There are things I like about the MK II, III and V65. My "ideal" small-block would have some of each.

But, since I've just bought a Morini 350 K2 for $1500, a small-block Guzzi isn't on my radar.

  Nice find, Charlie..

[lucian]

Well wasn't meant to be, caller no 1 snatched it up. Was kinda bummed as it looked to be in great shape, so the search goes on. There's a couple of rebels available locally but I would rather find a standard style. Don't know why a lot of entry bike are set up as cruisers, forward pegs and all,  a little goose would be great but they just don't show up very often. Would consider shipping one if anyone has one to sell. Thank you all for your input.    Dave

[smdl]

Not to hijack this post, but I would love to know more about the Morini, Charlie.  I've always liked the looks, and wonder about the owning/riding experience.  Will you start a post on your new bike?

Cheers,
Shaun

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Not to hijack this post, but I would love to know more about the Morini, Charlie.  I've always liked the looks, and wonder about the owning/riding experience.  Will you start a post on your new bike?

Probably won't start a thread here, since it's not a Guzzi. Maybe on the Morini Rider's Club or a separate blog of my own.

This is the second K2 I've owned, the first was an '86 that I bought new in '88 from Fred Heistand Motors in Manheim, PA. Owning one isn't as easy as owning a Guzzi or BMW - proprietary parts can take a while to arrive from the UK (North Leicester Motors is the main supplier of parts now). Some parts are shared with other Italian bikes though. Maintenance is easy - the engine is a wet-sump design, so just drain, clean the strainer screen and refill, valves have screw adjusters, electronic ignition is pretty much "set it and forget it" (until something fails). I had a winding of the stator open up causing very weak spark, once NLM rewound the stator it was back strong. Ignition transducers have been known to fail, but there are aftermarket ignitions available.

Riding is really where the fun starts. It's a light (344 lbs. dry) bike with excellent handling and brakes. Only 35 hp (DIN), but surprisingly quick if you aren't afraid to rev the crap out of it (redlines at 9k rpm). Also very efficient - I averaged mid-70s and topped 80 a few times. The seat though nearly board hard, was broad and shaped pretty well, so I could run a tank though (250 miles to reserve) at one sitting. Made a pretty decent light-weight touring machine - the half-fairing offered good wind protection, great range, suspension (Marzocchi front and rear) was actually a bit on the soft side and I had a pair of Krauser "Starlet" (I think they were called?) saddlebags mounted. Keep in mind I'm only 5'6", 145 lbs. 

In '90 (or '91?) I rode it out to the AMA Heritage Homecoming in Athens, OH, and all around the area while there. The AMA had a dedication ceremony for the opening of their museum that weekend with Jay Leno emceeing. After the ceremony and his standup routine, Jay was going through the crowd shaking hands and asking "what do you ride?" Lots of "Honda Goldwing" and "BMW K100", etc. answers and then there was me.  "What do you ride?""Moto Morini 350 K2" <puzzled look on Jay's face> "You really like to be different don't you?" Everyone laughed as he moved on to the rest of the "normal" guys... 

When the chance to buy this one "cheap" popped up, there was no way I was going to pass it up. Funny how things work out - back when I had my first K2, I also had a Le Mans 1000. Now I have both again, but also have the bike my brother owned at the time as well (750 Paso).   

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Low quality video of this K2 running for the first time in years.

http://vid100.photobucket.com/albums/m5/Amboman4/Morini%20K2%20runs%20001_zpsc4o078z1.mp4

[tpeever]

Low quality video of this K2 running for the first time in years.

http://vid100.photobucket.com/albums/m5/Amboman4/Morini%20K2%20runs%20001_zpsc4o078z1.mp4

Awesome!! Would love to get a Morini one of these days!!

[Yukonica]

Diving in on the Morini theme. Had a 3 1/2 Strada that I should never have let go... It was really a solid machine that was genuinely fun to ride. Draw the big guys into the really tight back roads on South Vancouver Island and you could pretty well do laps on them. I'd buy another in a heartbeat if it ever crosses my path. Only real problem i had was the front carb/air filter pointed directly into the spray off the wheel when it rained.

[lucian]

Well the saga continues, caller no 1 hasn't showed with the cash so the girl called me and said it was again available. And my  daughter called and said she passed her mc course and would have her license in a week. The owner said she and a friend have been trying to get it started but it does not turn over after charging the battery. Sounds like a bad connection or who knows till I get to take a look at it tomorrow afternoon. I think as long as it isn't seized I'll be dragging it home. Lord help me, sucker for a sideways twin. Very cool Morini by the way.      Dave

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Only real problem i had was the front carb/air filter pointed directly into the spray off the wheel when it rained.

It think you've just made up my mind about finding an original airbox for mine. Was going to stick with pod filters, but the airbox would prevent that from happening.

The owner said she and a friend have been trying to get it started but it does not turn over after charging the battery. Sounds like a bad connection or who knows till I get to take a look at it tomorrow afternoon.

Could be as simple as rewiring the starter relay to cure "startus interruptus". I have Patrick Hayes' write-up on doing that if needed.

[Matt]

Well the saga continues, caller no 1 hasn't showed with the cash so the girl called me and said it was again available. And my  daughter called and said she passed her mc course and would have her license in a week. The owner said she and a friend have been trying to get it started but it does not turn over after charging the battery. Sounds like a bad connection or who knows till I get to take a look at it tomorrow afternoon. I think as long as it isn't seized I'll be dragging it home. Lord help me, sucker for a sideways twin. Very cool Morini by the way.      Dave

Old Guzzis are famous for that. Drop a screwdriver across the solenoid tab and power lug and she'll start right up, the arduous route the starter button takes to get power to the starter is silly.

That being said the TU250 is a much better starter bike...See my previous post.

[injundave]

I've had 2 V50s and they are great little bikes. You may have to spend some time getting it sorted the way you want it but the rewards are huge once you have done so. AND your daughter will have the coolest bike of any of her friends.

Good luck with it.

Dave

[lucian]

I'm still waiting, the owner cancelled on me yesterday and is supposed to call me today for a look see. The suspense is killing me. Thank you all for you input.  dave