Centauro request

[AH Fan]

Thx JJ
Turns out that one is gone....

So still looking.
Weird thing is these adds on Cycle trader and others are a million years old?? a lot of these machines are long gone or are not responding.
I was wondering if any of the members here remember a Gentleman out of Albuquerque new Mexico that had or has one as I spoke with him years ago.
I believe it had red wheels..... that's how you would remember it I'm sure.

Ciao         At any rate the quest continues.

[JJ]

I put the word out on Facebook on the following pages:

* V10 Centauro Group
* Moto Guzzi National Owners Group
* SOCAL Moto Guzzi Riders Group

Be patient, as another one FOR SALE will come up eventually...  

[AH Fan]

Thx to all for your assistance.   

Ciao

[JJ]

Thx to all for your assistance.   

Ciao

No worries...I am in contact right now with a guy on Facebook that has a nice '98 Centauro Sport in Houston, TX.  Asking about price, etc.  It is in his living room...all warm and dry!    Stay tuned...

[usedtobefast]

Reading this reminds me of a mistake I made. 

About a year ago, looking up Guzzi on craigslist ... a thing to do while having morning coffee  ... and up pops a yellow Centauro.  Bike was located a bit middle of no where CA, like 2.5 hrs from any real city.

Bike looked great, had not been started in ~ 2 years, guy was asking $2500, I believe it had around 10K miles. 

I read up some more about these bikes, tempted, but I already have a Griso.  And with my old knees, back, wrist, the Griso is a "ride it 1-2 hours" type of bike for me.  Seemed the Centauro would be similar ergos.  And again, Griso, 4 valve, just seemed redundant, too much overlap.

That ad ran for ~3 weeks and then disappeared. 

I still think I should have made that trip! 

Every Centauro after that has been a "look what a unique bike I have, give me $6,000 for it" ads.

Good luck with your Centauro quest. 

[JJ]

Reading this reminds me of a mistake I made. 

About a year ago, looking up Guzzi on craigslist ... a thing to do while having morning coffee  ... and up pops a yellow Centauro.  Bike was located a bit middle of no where CA, like 2.5 hrs from any real city.

Bike looked great, had not been started in ~ 2 years, guy was asking $2500, I believe it had around 10K miles. 

I read up some more about these bikes, tempted, but I already have a Griso.  And with my old knees, back, wrist, the Griso is a "ride it 1-2 hours" type of bike for me.  Seemed the Centauro would be similar ergos.  And again, Griso, 4 valve, just seemed redundant, too much overlap.

That ad ran for ~3 weeks and then disappeared. 

I still think I should have made that trip! 

Every Centauro after that has been a "look what a unique bike I have, give me $6,000 for it" ads.

Good luck with your Centauro quest. 

I have ridden several Griso's and they are fabulous, smooth, powerful, modern Guzzi's.   

If you already own and ride a Griso, there is no need to buy a Centauro, IMHO.

Before I bought my '98 GT, I came close to buying a new Griso, but it was twice the money (*new*).  No regrets about buying my Centauro, and yes, it is unique as they did not make too many of this model, in total....only about 245.

[AH Fan]

Thx to all for your assistance and comments….
looking forward to speaking with someone that has a nice correct one in need of a new custodian. 

Ciao for now

[Chuck in Indiana]

Thx to all for your assistance and comments….
looking forward to speaking with someone that has a nice correct one in need of a new custodian. 

Ciao for now

Just a heads up. I *know* you like totally unmolested bone stock motorcycles. A stock unmodified Centauro will barely run.  If you are "saving" it in a collection.. fine. If you are going to ride it, you'll need to molest it a bit.

[AH Fan]

Very aware of what would be needed as I went through my Daytona RS... Wills work ..Staintunes.. crossover.. V 11 oiling system transplant.
It would not be considered much molestation if any or all of that were done correctly by the present custodian as I would be doing it eventually. 

Thanks to all who are assisting in locating one that might be gotten.

Ciao

[JJ]

Well, this Centauro DID NOT sell in Vegas this week, as the high bid was a silly $1500...so it did NOT meet RESERVE!!

[Groover]

The Centauro is a tricky model. Until you "really" start looking at it, styling and performance specs, it's easy to glance over. I'm guilty of that until recently, but now I truly appreciated it.

[steven c]

 High bid $1500? I guess I'll be keeping mine.

[JJ]

High bid $1500? I guess I'll be keeping mine.

From my experience, the CMV (Current Market Value) for a nice, "turn-key", well running,  well maintained Centauro, with all the known issues ,(Timing gears / oil pump gear replacement, etc.), modified and fixed is between $4500-$5500.

[rocker59]

Not enough Guzzisti in the room when that Centauro went across the block.

Of course, if there was ANYTHING wrong with it, the price would be low.

A good Centauro being $5000.  If you want to buy a rough one, fix it, flip it, wholesale/auction price will be LOW.

[steven c]

Not enough Guzzisti in the room when that Centauro went across the block.

Of course, if there was ANYTHING wrong with it, the price would be low.

A good Centauro being $5000.  If you want to buy a rough one, fix it, flip it, wholesale/auction price will be LOW.

As far as I know the one I have with 27K on it has the stock pump and gears.

[Chuck in Indiana]

As far as I know the one I have with 27K on it has the stock pump and gears.

Mine had 42K on the original pump and gears and they were fine. Unfortunately, I got the Norge hots and traded it in.  However, I used to do belt changes for guys and the gears on one with less than 20K were toast. I *think* it's the luck of the draw. Tolerance stackups, type and frequency of lube changes..
Oh no! An oil thread..  

[rschrum]

I have a theory about the oil pump gears. Possibly the ones that fail have had owners that rev the hell out of them when the oil is cold and thick, putting more stress on the gears. Or not.

[dxhall]

I’ve never heard of the pump gears failing.  The weakness in the stock pump is that the shaft which holds the drive gear (or sprocket) runs in the unbushed aluminum pump body.  The spinning shaft wears away the body, ultimately allowing oil from inside the pump to escape into the timing chest.

The aluminum drive gear is claimed to be a weakness as well, but I didn’t see any serious wear when I replaced mine at about 20k miles.

If you plan to keep the bike, just go with the Joe Caruso gear and oil pump and be done with it.  This is not a place in the motor where you should cheap out.

[rschrum]

There's one for ya.


 

[AH Fan]

Yes it seems that there are some that have put big mileage on their stock machines with no bombs going off.
I just couldn't stomach the consequences if there was such an occurrence is all.
.

So still hoping to locate a fine example of the Centi for my safe keeping if anyone has one. 
Ciao

[Joliet Jim]

Psycho Chicken Yellow?!?   Never heard that one before!!

I understand the yellow color paint name is actually called Scopa Gialla, which means "Yellow Broom!"

If you look closely you can see the rubber chicken attached to the shield bracket

[JJ]

If you look closely you can see the rubber chicken attached to the shield bracket

"Rubber chicken" aside...at the end of the day...they did not make a lot of them!!

[steven c]

 I wonder how many are still out there? Or how many are leaning against a tree in the backyard somewhere?

[Travlr]

Well, this Centauro DID NOT sell in Vegas this week, as the high bid was a silly $1500...so it did NOT meet RESERVE!!

JJ, The Centauro at Mecum sold for $2500.  I spoke with the new owner in the unsold corral. He was surprised the seller took the offer.

Mike

[JJ]

JJ, The Centauro at Mecum sold for $2500.  I spoke with the new owner in the unsold corral. He was surprised the seller took the offer.

Mike

Yes, Nolan told me!     Well, even if the new owner has to put another thousand into it, and make it roadworthy and sorted, he still got a great deal overall!

[JJ]

I wonder how many are still out there? Or how many are leaning against a tree in the backyard somewhere?

Wrecked and/or parted out maybe...but I highly doubt there are any leaning against a tree in some backyard somewhere...but one never knows!

[Deno]

I bought one a couple of years ago that sat in a (not so waterproof) shed for 18+ years. Cleaned it up and it ran.
I still have the one I bought when it was about 4 years old. Always thought they were special and I am surprised by how little they are valued.

[Moparnut72]

I just got the latest issue of Rider Magazine. An article by Clement Salvadore titled Does a Motorcycle Have Character? Towards the end of the article he says "These test bikes all had their own good points, with a few bad points, and to remember I only have to find the road test. Moto Guzzi Centauro? October 1998." So I was wondering what he meant. I assumed he meant lots of character because we all know our bikes are probably the poster children for bikes with character. I am just not too familiar with older Guzzis.

There is another article, Favorite Ride, in that same mag that has a picture with some bikes in front of a restaurant. It is hard to see but right in front is an MG, looks like it might be a V7 II.
kk

[AH Fan]

I called the auction office as soon as I heard that didn't sell to get more details and they told me then it had just sold but wouldn't forward the winning bid.
So I'm still looking or waiting for any of you good old boys that might know or have one( sorted) that might be had.... 

Regards;

[rschrum]

There is one on mg classifieds. In Clearwater Florida. I talked to him some years back, and it seemed like a good one. Has an old Griso also.
http://www.mgnoc.com/classifieds.html