Author Topic: T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In  (Read 869 times)

Online Dave Swanson

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T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In
« on: May 23, 2022, 07:50:48 AM »
I have always had a fetish for the T3 California.  Mostly because they are SO kitschy cool, and partly fueled by the fact that they were never sold new in the USA for some reason, which makes them uber rare in the States.  They were sold new on the Continent, and the UK, therefore the only examples in the US were imported by their owners, as mine was in 1983 by a Brit who moved from London to San Francisco, who is still doing well by the way.

This thread is for those current and past owners to post pictures of their T3 Californias.  My ulterior motive for this thread is to add to my T3 California picture file.   :grin:

I will start out with my 1980.  It was a rough cob when I got it 2 years ago, and after lavishing many hours and dollars on it this is the result.  Pictures taken yesterday.





Dave Swanson - Northern IL
1935 GTS
1968 V700
1973 V7 Sport
1974 Eldo
1974 Police Eldo
1976 Convert
1977 Lemans 1.2
1980 T3 California
1993 1000S - Sparklehorse
2004 V11S - Eraldo-ized
2016 Griso SE - Beetle-ized
2021 V7-850 Stone Centenario
2022 V85TT Guardia d'Onore
2023 V100S

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Online Tkelly

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Re: T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In
« Reply #1 on: May 23, 2022, 08:46:51 AM »
Looks better than new Dave,nice work.Mine is the basic t3 restored very nicely by Bill here in WI.When I wash it I can get my wife to take a picture,got caught in the rain in my leather jacket last week.

Online Ncdan

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Re: T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In
« Reply #2 on: May 23, 2022, 09:45:03 AM »
Beautiful motorcycle!!!

Offline flower_king001

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Re: T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In
« Reply #3 on: May 23, 2022, 10:22:00 AM »
Hands down...stunning!
Current Fleet

1971 BMW R90/5
1986 Moto Guzzi Lemans IV 1000
1998 Moto Guzzi 1100 EV
2005 BMW 1200 RT
2007 BMW 1200 GS
2007 Moto Guzzi Breva 1100

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Re: T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In
« Reply #3 on: May 23, 2022, 10:22:00 AM »

Online jrt

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Re: T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In
« Reply #4 on: May 23, 2022, 11:03:37 AM »
Yes, nice looking bike Dave!
Which dash is on it?  The big single speedo or the dual gauge- rpm + speedo?
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Online Dave Swanson

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Re: T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In
« Reply #5 on: May 23, 2022, 12:46:11 PM »
Yes, nice looking bike Dave!
Which dash is on it?  The big single speedo or the dual gauge- rpm + speedo?

Dave Swanson - Northern IL
1935 GTS
1968 V700
1973 V7 Sport
1974 Eldo
1974 Police Eldo
1976 Convert
1977 Lemans 1.2
1980 T3 California
1993 1000S - Sparklehorse
2004 V11S - Eraldo-ized
2016 Griso SE - Beetle-ized
2021 V7-850 Stone Centenario
2022 V85TT Guardia d'Onore
2023 V100S

MGNOC L-780

Online jrt

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Re: T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In
« Reply #6 on: May 23, 2022, 02:23:03 PM »
Nice.  Almost the same dash as my old G5- mine had the 85 mph speedo.
Thanks, Dave!
L-720
1973 Eldorado
2003 Yardbird (1100 hydro)
2020 R1250RS

Offline flower_king001

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Re: T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In
« Reply #7 on: May 23, 2022, 03:44:56 PM »


Dave,

 The dash is just as gorgeous as the rest of the bike!
Current Fleet

1971 BMW R90/5
1986 Moto Guzzi Lemans IV 1000
1998 Moto Guzzi 1100 EV
2005 BMW 1200 RT
2007 BMW 1200 GS
2007 Moto Guzzi Breva 1100

Online Dave Swanson

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Re: T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In
« Reply #8 on: May 23, 2022, 03:59:24 PM »
Dave,

 The dash is just as gorgeous as the rest of the bike!

Thanks!  Harmut at Palo Alto Speedometer Service restored the clocks.



before

Dave Swanson - Northern IL
1935 GTS
1968 V700
1973 V7 Sport
1974 Eldo
1974 Police Eldo
1976 Convert
1977 Lemans 1.2
1980 T3 California
1993 1000S - Sparklehorse
2004 V11S - Eraldo-ized
2016 Griso SE - Beetle-ized
2021 V7-850 Stone Centenario
2022 V85TT Guardia d'Onore
2023 V100S

MGNOC L-780

Online Scout63

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Re: T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In
« Reply #9 on: May 23, 2022, 09:09:54 PM »
So so so cool. Quite possibly the world’s most perfect motorcycle.
Ben Zehnder - Orleans, MA USA

Online Dave Swanson

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Re: T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In
« Reply #10 on: May 23, 2022, 09:51:03 PM »
A short walk around video.

https://youtu.be/MHatKr9zEWw
Dave Swanson - Northern IL
1935 GTS
1968 V700
1973 V7 Sport
1974 Eldo
1974 Police Eldo
1976 Convert
1977 Lemans 1.2
1980 T3 California
1993 1000S - Sparklehorse
2004 V11S - Eraldo-ized
2016 Griso SE - Beetle-ized
2021 V7-850 Stone Centenario
2022 V85TT Guardia d'Onore
2023 V100S

MGNOC L-780

Offline Gusable

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Re: T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In
« Reply #11 on: May 23, 2022, 11:24:33 PM »
Dave that bike is awesome!! Great job
1994 California 1100

Offline Adv_hoon

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Re: T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In
« Reply #12 on: May 24, 2022, 05:42:14 AM »
I recently bought one in original condition as yours. I have however removed a lot of the "bling" and modified it slightly. But I have everything so it can be put back to stock condition if I want to at some point.








Offline lucian

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Re: T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In
« Reply #13 on: May 25, 2022, 07:59:13 PM »
Damn, I have no words to describe how beautiful the restoration is. Are you an alien?  I don't see how that attention to detail is  humanly possible.  Nice work :bow: :bow:

Offline Klinkhammer

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Re: T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In
« Reply #14 on: June 05, 2022, 03:45:07 AM »
That bike is just fantastic.

Here is a few additional pictures of my now sold Cali -you've seen it before.











850T Endurance racer lookalike 1974
992 Le Mans III Agostini 1983
V1000 ConverT 1976
850 Le Mans II 1979
BMW R1250GS HP 2019
V7 sport 1972 (Sold)
850T3 California 1977 (Sold)
850T 1974 (Sold)

Online Dave Swanson

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Re: T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In
« Reply #15 on: June 05, 2022, 06:36:01 AM »
It's always a pleasure to see this bike Klinkhammer.



Dave Swanson - Northern IL
1935 GTS
1968 V700
1973 V7 Sport
1974 Eldo
1974 Police Eldo
1976 Convert
1977 Lemans 1.2
1980 T3 California
1993 1000S - Sparklehorse
2004 V11S - Eraldo-ized
2016 Griso SE - Beetle-ized
2021 V7-850 Stone Centenario
2022 V85TT Guardia d'Onore
2023 V100S

MGNOC L-780

Online Anomaly

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Re: T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In
« Reply #16 on: June 05, 2022, 08:33:06 AM »
One shot of my new-to-me T3 California. More photos and details to follow once I actually have it in my garage:


1981 T3 California, 1983 Piaggio Apecar P2
Sold: 98 BMW F650, 2012 v7 Classic

Online Dave Swanson

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Re: T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In
« Reply #17 on: June 05, 2022, 11:52:55 AM »
Seth, I am very much looking forward to your report after collecting this one! 

Dave Swanson - Northern IL
1935 GTS
1968 V700
1973 V7 Sport
1974 Eldo
1974 Police Eldo
1976 Convert
1977 Lemans 1.2
1980 T3 California
1993 1000S - Sparklehorse
2004 V11S - Eraldo-ized
2016 Griso SE - Beetle-ized
2021 V7-850 Stone Centenario
2022 V85TT Guardia d'Onore
2023 V100S

MGNOC L-780

Offline Glawster

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Re: T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In
« Reply #18 on: June 05, 2022, 01:27:56 PM »
Here in UK T3 Californias were quite plentiful, but in recent years the value has substantially increased.  I found a rough one in 2016 in Belgium - at a time before Brexit when the GBP was much stronger against the Euro and there were no tariffs or fees to pay when importing from Belgium to UK. I had a business trip to Belgium so packed my collapsible trailer in the back of my car and brought the Cali back on it.  I think I paid about £2,500 for it.  I gave it a cosmetic refurbishment and it proved to be a delight to ride, with fine handling at odds with it's blingy appearance.
Stupidly I sold it in 2019 to a friend who kept nagging to buy it.  I put the money towards a V85TT (which in now long gone).  Might see if I can get it back - they really are a lovely bike.
Derek

DSC_2084 by Derek Wardell, on Flickr

DSC_3662 by Derek Wardell, on Flickr

DSC_3180 by Derek Wardell, on Flickr



1955 Falcone Sport
1973 V7 Sport
2021 BMW R1250R
1955 Moto Parilla Turismo Special

Online Dave Swanson

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Re: T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In
« Reply #19 on: June 05, 2022, 02:59:05 PM »
Might see if I can get it back - they really are a lovely bike.
Derek

DSC_3180 by Derek Wardell, on Flickr

You need to get it back!!   Lovely T3 Cali!! 
Dave Swanson - Northern IL
1935 GTS
1968 V700
1973 V7 Sport
1974 Eldo
1974 Police Eldo
1976 Convert
1977 Lemans 1.2
1980 T3 California
1993 1000S - Sparklehorse
2004 V11S - Eraldo-ized
2016 Griso SE - Beetle-ized
2021 V7-850 Stone Centenario
2022 V85TT Guardia d'Onore
2023 V100S

MGNOC L-780

Online Anomaly

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Re: T3 California Owners Past and Present - Check In
« Reply #20 on: June 06, 2022, 02:57:36 AM »
Seth, I am very much looking forward to your report after collecting this one! 

Will do-- I'm looking forward to writing that report! Current plan is to pick it up the end of this month
1981 T3 California, 1983 Piaggio Apecar P2
Sold: 98 BMW F650, 2012 v7 Classic

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