Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Testarossa on March 26, 2016, 08:19:46 AM
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Anyone know this bike?
http://boulder.craigslist.org/mcy/5489387100.html
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Beautiful bike in seemingly great condition. I have never seen it on the road (but wish I had) and do not know the owner.
(http://www.dansher.com/bikepix/Guzzi/1989_MG_Mille.jpg)
It needs a caring home (yours). :boozing:
- Dan
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Nice!
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Does that belong to that dude that calls himself picklecookin?
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I don't think that is one of Mike's.
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http://postimg.org/image/gtvryr4qr/
(http://s5.postimg.org/gtvryr4qr/image.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/gtvryr4qr/)
I think I got the picture in this time. Don't know the one in CO but this is my daily rider.
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Wonder if $3500 is his "motto"??? Might be negotiable.
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Just 2 minutes across the river from me, if anyone needs a local to lay eyes on it. Not me, I have a Stornello in my future.
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So, anyone snap this up? He gave me a facetime walk around, looked good but the wife threw a fit at the thought of another bike. I think it was listed in the Denver area last summer for under $3000. I've never seen one in person, but have had a hankering for one for awhile now.
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He decided not to sell it after all. Maybe in the fall.
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The Mille is back on Craigslist. I saw it yesterday. Pretty nice in general. Idles very smoothly. Compression 135psi on both sides and the plugs are sooty black. I couldn't ride it because after the compression test the battery went flat. Will ride it today.
The owner posted on WG in February asking for help because the plugs weren't sparking.
http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=81835.0
Anyone remember how this was resolved? This bike was built with points and I'll find out today if it has a Dyna.
42,000 miles. Owner says he's had it for a year and the previous owner replaced the timing chain, but he doesn't know what else has been done. At the least, I'd need a new battery and change the jetting.
He's asking $3500. NADA says $2000 for for "very good," $3000 for "excellent." What say you?
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My now standard Mille reply:
The Mille's Achilles heels are it's horrible seat and overly stiff throttle, Rich Maund can build a much better seat and has done so for me, the throttle can be overcome with a throttle lock (Vanda cruise on mine) and or lighter throttle springs (check Guzziology). My Mille will cruise all day at more than the posted speed on any road in the U.S.A. Things that may need attention include timing chain tensioner, mufflers that tended to rust through prematurely (late model Cali mufflers are a direct replacement), suspension system, brakes need braided hoses to give their best. I love mine and will not sell it.
Value, personally I believe realistic pricing is difficult, I think they're worth more than blue book values. I also believe selling one is not easy they're kind of an odd duck, not typical Guzzi fare and they are fairly rare. It's been said that no more than 200 came to the US. I have no idea if that is a good number but it seems possible. I have long thought that if I was forced to sell mine I would ask $4000.00 and take no less than $3500.00. Good luck with the negotiation Seth!
Brian
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Good Mille's have been rising in price for the last 3 years. My overly stuffed seat is fine on a 36" inseam. All other issues are minor. At 55K the original rear Koni's still work well. The front end needs progressive springs and bitubo or equivalent. Braided brake lines and an F09 right caliper (or equiv master cylinder) makes it a 2-3 finger stopper. I love mine. It's red and I have noticed the tank paint is ever so slightly pitting or bubbling. I commuted for many years and it sat in hot summer sun at work which is where I expect the paint took its beating. I have seen cherry Milles (red) go for upwards of $5K. Even the dark ones are getting good money. A good one at $3K is a steal.
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Thanks, Brian. Thanks, Red. Heading over soon to ride it.
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When you look at it try to look at it in the sun, it's not really black, Guzzi calls it Lotus Black, I call it green, but it's really just the flake in the paint. What a beautiful color and very hard to match according to the local paint master.
Brian
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Thanks, Brian. Thanks, Red. Heading over soon to ride it.
Check those turn signal mounting stems as they dry rot easily. Those look like stock turn signals. There were 2 kinds, round and rectangular: plastic chrome. If the front end dives easily it probably has stock springs which suck. I can see rubber on the brake lines.
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I don't know if the round and rectangular signals use the same stalks but MG Cycle had the ones for mine with rectangular lenses at reasonable cost. They are repops.
Brian
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I don't know if the round and rectangular signals use the same stalks but MG Cycle had the ones for mine with rectangular lenses at reasonable cost. They are repops.
Brian
The stalks are identical round or rectangular.
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Let us know what you think after the ride. I don't need any more Guzzis, but I'd weaken if the deal were right. Dennis
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Didn't ride it yesterday -- the seller called time out to replace the battery. Will go over today. Meanwhile, there's this:
http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=83722.0;topicseen (http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=83722.0;topicseen)
Half the miles, better equipped, asking $3850 but implies he'll go down to $3000.
When did the Mille change to 40mm forks?
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Rode it, bought it at a better price.
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Rode it, bought it at a better price.
Good for you! My Mille has given me nothing but happiness, and I hope yours does the same.
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Congratulations! Is this to be a replacement for the long lived T?
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Now I'm in the market for a luggage rack to fit the Mille. Leads?
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I have a full Hepco Becker set up on mine. They are expensive but I don't believe you can do better. The racks are still cataloged. I don't know about availability. Congratulations on the purchase!!
Brian
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Didn't ride it yesterday -- the seller called time out to replace the battery. Will go over today. Meanwhile, there's this:
http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=83722.0;topicseen (http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=83722.0;topicseen)
Half the miles, better equipped, asking $3850 but implies he'll go down to $3000.
When did the Mille change to 40mm forks?
Mille's never had 40 mm forks. The Strada which was a Mille upgrade had 40 mm forks. Also 91 Mille's were never sold in the US. On in Europe could you get a 91.
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Don't despair, my '89 Mille with 35mm fork tubes and a Tarozzi fork brace does quite well when running over rough roads while leaned over.
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Very happy. We went for a two-up blast down US 36 along the foothills between Boulder and Lyons. This is the Tonti-frame handling I missed so badly since the T has been laid up, and the brakes are a huge improvement. Saddle is very comfy (aftermarket, I think). Tires are nine years old but I can transfer the three-year old Shinkos from the T. I have leaner jets ready to pop in and Guzziology recommends changing the needles and mixture screws.
(http://thumb.ibb.co/bZGDdv/millegt.jpg) (http://ibb.co/bZGDdv)
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Why leaner jets? As far as I know, mine has stock jetting and averages around 50 mpg.
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Was that one of the year's with the 'lean burn' carb setups? Either way, being up in CO you might need to change jets if they were factory.
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Oh yeah Charlie, I forgot about the elevation in CO! My Mille is quite lean at sea level, but I bet it wouldn't get 50 mpg a mile up. But wasn't that one already in CO? Testarossa might want to run a couple tanks through it to find out where he stands before changing anything.
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The plugs are are sooty black -- not oil-fouled, but far from clean. The PO reports 42 mpg. The factory set-up for the U.S. was "lean-burn" but that may have been fixed by a previous sea-level owner. I live at 5000 feet and often ride at 9000+.
I'll drop a float bowl and inspect the jets.
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Good plan. Stock US jetting might effectively give you "Euro jetting" at home, and allow you to ride it anywhere in the country without a problem.
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Stock setting, per Greg Bender, should be 130 main, 50 pilot, needle at clip slot 3.
My bike is jetted 155 main, 50 pilot. Will look at the needle position after I put in a 130 main jet. And I'll get fresh plugs.
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Needle is on the correct slot.
However -- I pulled the plugs again and after last night's 70-mph jaunt, the soot is burned off, leaving a healthier-looking light gray. Perhaps the bigger jets were installed when the K&N pods went on. The emulsifier tube is missing, so it seems someone has already been trying to modify the carbs to world standard.
VHB main jets don't fit the PHB carrier anyway, so no swapping jets today. I'll order a set of jets; meanwhile I'll ride the bike and keep an eye on the plugs.
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I enjoy riding my Mille.
They are real bargain basement bike , made out of parts during a bad time at the factory (is there ever a good time?).
Most of the plastic is really really bad, very thin and prone to splitting. The front guard is so flappy it cracks around the mounts ad the sidepanels arnt much better. The clocks are terrible. The plastic surround is cheap and nasty and gone so brittle it disintegrated as trundled along. The 30mm carbs are bit weady, Why did they fit them, as they cost the same as 36's???
The seats already been mentioned, some have one of those dodgy in house electronic ignitions (digiplex?) and mine had the narrow spline clutch hub. The box shimming was one of the worst ive seen, it was way way out. Saprisa charging works out I suppose.
But a the end of the day its a mid vale tonti so none of these problems are particulary difficult or expensive to sort out. Most probably already are.
Have fun.
Kev
(https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7442/27198831031_a05e1700a6_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Hrt7SB)DSCF0532 (https://flic.kr/p/Hrt7SB) by Kev Foote (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60904565@N08/), on Flickr
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Was that one of the year's with the 'lean burn' carb setups? Either way, being up in CO you might need to change jets if they were factory.
89-90 were small valve lean burn. Every single stock Mille owner I meet at rallies got 55 MPG routinely. I never saw a mid valve 91-92 in the states.
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Don't despair, my '89 Mille with 35mm fork tubes and a Tarozzi fork brace does quite well when running over rough roads while leaned over.
Jim I believe you have progressive springs in your front end. Remember when we "tested" out here at my house? You could not collapse the tubes completely when you pushed on the front end with the brake on? Stock springs would have bottomed when pushing on the bars and the brake on.
Stock Mille springs suck. One other good test is just roll off the throttle at 40-50 MPH and the front end will drop 2"+ if they are stock. Progressives do not drop when the throttle rolls off.
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I'm sure you're right, Harvey. Luckily springs shouldn't be terribly expensive if needed. Really though, problems of a wandering or weaving front end are more related to flexing fork tubes (and on some bikes the frame) than springs, in my experience, and a fork brace goes a very long way toward fixing that problem, especially if the stock plastic fender is all the fork bracing the bike has now. (Another reason I don't hate the beefy metal fender someone before me put on my Mille)
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I'm sure you're right, Harvey. Luckily springs shouldn't be terribly expensive if needed. Really though, problems of a wandering or weaving front end are more related to flexing fork tubes (and on some bikes the frame) than springs, in my experience, and a fork brace goes a very long way toward fixing that problem, especially if the stock plastic fender is all the fork bracing the bike has now. (Another reason I don't hate the beefy metal fender someone before me put on my Mille)
Yes wandering and weaving is better controlled with a fork brace but you are lucky to not have had the misfortune of riding a Mille with weak springs where the front end would dive just rolling off the throttle much less braking down hill approaching 20 MPH decreasing radius curve in the mountains of NC. What a difference it was when full loaded with my wife and camping gear (1000#s bike, 2 adults and all gear) it made with the progressives and bitubos on those mountain curves.
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Congrats Seth. Great looking bike.
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Thanks, Alan! We need to do another ride soon and introduce your FJR to the mountains.
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http://postimg.org/image/gtvryr4qr/
(http://s5.postimg.org/gtvryr4qr/image.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/gtvryr4qr/)
I think I got the picture in this time. Don't know the one in CO but this is my daily rider.
Hey Red Dog, I'm pretty sure I owned that MilleGT of yours a few years ago. I traded it in at a NH dealer. Did you buy it from NH? How's she running? That was my 1st Guzzi. I bought it from another Guzzista in Mass.
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Thanks, Alan! We need to do another ride soon and introduce your FJR to the mountains.
Yes we do! I am heading off to Illinois this weekend and next on the FJR so the tires are going to need some rounding off after that.
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Alan: Travel safely. Phone when you get back.
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Set up for touring. The Honeymoon Mille.
(http://thumb.ibb.co/kDGqQa/touring.jpg) (http://ibb.co/kDGqQa)
We did a 110-mile loop up to 9100 feet today, two-up with the bags on, and everyone is happy.
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After 400 miles I'm learning more about the Mille. She has points, so I'm holding the Dyna III off the T in reserve. I didn't like the Siem headlamp, and the 7" Bosch units now sell for $180, so I ordered a Cibie for $49 and with the Eastern Beaver relays, I'm very happy with the result. Did a little sheet metal work inside the shell to make it fit.
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Set up for touring. The Honeymoon Mille.
(http://thumb.ibb.co/kDGqQa/touring.jpg) (http://ibb.co/kDGqQa)
Sorry, I didn't see this thread when it was active, & just stumbled on it today. What bike is that fairing off of? I've had my Mille for about 4 years now & ride it regularly on short jaunts, but would like to try a small fairing on a longer (i.e. overnight/weekend) ride.
Thanks!
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What bike is that fairing off of?
It's an old Shoei FM-5 fairing that was on my 850T when I bought it in 1983. It will go back on the T when I finish the rebuild. Meanwhile, I've put an SP fairing on the Mille.
(http://thumb.ibb.co/mh2bLR/2upcropped.jpg) (http://ibb.co/mh2bLR)
I have no idea where to find an FM-5 nowadays. There's FM-2s all over ebay. IMHO the FM-5 is a much better looking fairing, a lot like the LeMans Mk2 fairing.
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Thanks for the info on the fairing. I'll keep an eye out for one...you never know what will pop up.
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Does anyone know the part number for the Tarozzi fork brace that fits a Mille?
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I don't, but if you find out pls post it on this board. I bought a cheap used one off of ebay a couple of years ago that came off of an SP, I think. I couldn't find one listed specifically listed for Milles on the Torazzi web site or anywhere else, so I tried to find what other models had the same diameter legs and space between front fork legs. Because the front fender rides a little high off the tire, I couldn't get the fork brace completely down on the tops of the lower sliders unless I shoved it down completely on the fender (probably scratching the paint) or I drilled holes in the fender "ears" to lower the fender a little - which I wasn't willing to do. So, the brace doesn't fit perfectly but it seems to be holding in place well enough. I do notice a small improvement in the front rigidity, but not a tremendous amount. I'm not a street racer, though, so maybe a more aggressive rider would notice more difference.
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I just looked all over mine and I don't see any model number, just "Tarozzi".