Author Topic: SPIII (Read 2797 times)

johnwesley · « **on:** June 27, 2023, 05:42:19 PM »

Dad had an SPIII in white back in the 90s. He bought it from Gene Jones Guzzi in Eldorado. It looked sharp in the bright white color and I enjoyed riding around in it in my 20s. I was really to young and wild to enjoy it for what it was. A few years back I bought a Ev and have feel in love with it so when the chance came to pick up a SPIII in white I jumped at the chance. I’ll head out Sunday, and cross three state lines to pick it up. Super excited to get it back to the house.

I’ll give it a good once over and change the fluids when I get it home. Anything I should pay attention once I get it home? Hope to have it in good enough shape to cross a few states and hit the Datil guzzi rally.

Scout63 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 28, 2023, 06:58:30 AM »

Pictures make it real. Best of luck and keep reporting please.

johnwesley · « **Reply #2 on:** June 28, 2023, 07:29:34 AM »

Pictures will come on Sunday. Maybe I should just document the trip.

John A · « **Reply #3 on:** June 28, 2023, 09:46:30 AM »

I convinced a friend to look at Guzzi’s after he said he was thinking of buying a bike. He ended up buying a new white SP3 from Judson cycle near Mankato. He rode it a little and sold it a few year’s later in a fly&ride to someone west of here. I always wonder where it ended up, it was a nice one.

Alfetta · « **Reply #4 on:** June 28, 2023, 10:28:06 AM »

you have some great road options in your neck of he woods to cruse through !

Tom · « **Reply #5 on:** June 28, 2023, 05:46:28 PM »

Keep the full fairing on. It'll extend your riding season. 👍 Congrats!

blackcat · « **Reply #6 on:** June 29, 2023, 03:41:30 PM »

I had an 93-SPIII and it was basically trouble free BUT it can get very hot in the seat as the temperature rises outside which is the same problem I have with my 07 Norge but not quite as bad as the SP. Turbulence was another problem but that all depends on your height, a taller windshield didn’t help me so I just kept the stock shield. Passengers do not like the seat, at least my wife didn’t, as on even moderate stopping she was sliding into me or we were banging helmets or both. I never had a problem with the Digiplex ignition(same with my 1000S) but I did pick up a used box just in case it went bad but there is a place in Germany that can fix one if it does go south as they were used on Ducati’s,etc. but they are not a cheap fix. One other thing, don’t drop the bike as those plastic parts are hard to find, especially the belly pan. I did modify the jetting after installing a pair of Lafranconi Whizzers but have no memory of what I did but it’s probably similar to the 1000S jetting. Jetting can be found in Guzziology as a starting point.

Tom · « **Reply #7 on:** June 29, 2023, 04:07:46 PM »

What he said.

I have a Strada. Same thing as the SPIII minus the fairing. I replaced the electronic ignition with a distributor and points. The box went south. No problems with the backwards conversion.

Groover · « **Reply #8 on:** June 29, 2023, 04:49:01 PM »

Looking forward to the pics, congrats! It sounds like a nice looking bike in white.

blackcat · « **Reply #9 on:** June 29, 2023, 05:17:26 PM »

Quote from: Tom on June 29, 2023, 04:07:46 PM

What he said. I have a Strada. Same thing as the SPIII minus the fairing. I replaced the electronic ignition with a distributor and points. The box went south. No problems with the backwards conversion.

I’m guessing the cam has gears on the Strada for distributor? I wonder if my 1000S has gears? Guess I could take the blanking plate off and take a look.

Tom · « **Reply #10 on:** June 29, 2023, 05:50:58 PM »

Luckily it did have the gear. So did my Cal III. The box died on it too.

johnwesley · « **Reply #11 on:** June 29, 2023, 08:25:30 PM »

Thanks for all the well wishes and advice. Just to let ya know the bike is not in great shape cosmically. Been through a nice, long, hard life and has some cracks and the like to show for it. Mechanically is suppose to be in good shape. I’ll lay eyes on it Sunday. I’ve not seen any pictures just basing it all on a conversation with the owner.

ccoli · « **Reply #12 on:** June 30, 2023, 12:44:31 PM »

I've got over 160k miles on this one. It's been everywhere man!
Have some spares that I might be talked out of. Body work and windshields, etc.

johnwesley · « **Reply #13 on:** June 30, 2023, 01:01:51 PM »

Quote from: ccoli on June 30, 2023, 12:44:31 PM

I've got over 160k miles on this one. It's been everywhere man!
Have some spares that I might be talked out of. Body work and windshields, etc.

Thanks for that, I maybe doing some “talking” when I get this home

johnwesley · « **Reply #14 on:** July 02, 2023, 11:00:45 AM »

I made to the SPIII, and it’s in better shape than I expected. Obvious signs of age and wear but in great daily driver shape cosmetically. Needs some love in the brakes to get them up to operating standards but that easy work. Runs good and smooth with several new in box parts.

Groover · « **Reply #15 on:** July 02, 2023, 12:47:15 PM »

Congrats, looks all there. Now you have the option to enjoy as-is or restore if/when you feel like it!

johnwesley · « **Reply #16 on:** July 02, 2023, 01:01:19 PM »

Quote from: Groover on July 02, 2023, 12:47:15 PM

Congrats, looks all there. Now you have the option to enjoy as-is or restore if/when you feel like it!

My plan is to enjoy as is and fix as needed. Sweet riding bike and is very smooth compared to the ev….at least on the short ride.

blackcat · « **Reply #17 on:** July 02, 2023, 02:32:49 PM »

Looks good, interesting modification of the original seat.

When I purchased my bike it was the stock Cadillac gold as per the front forks in the above photo but I had it repainted black. Sold it to a guy in the Chicago area that had two?SPIII's but he always wanted one in black.

Good luck with the bike.

johnwesley · « **Reply #18 on:** July 02, 2023, 03:11:29 PM »

Quote from: blackcat on July 02, 2023, 02:32:49 PM

Looks good, interesting modification of the original seat.

When I purchased my bike it was the stock Cadillac gold as per the front forks in the above photo but I had it repainted black. Sold it to a guy in the Chicago area that had two?SPIII's but he always wanted one in black.

Good luck with the bike.

Good looking bike, what seats swap with the spIII? I’m thinking I may try to get another. This one is made from really soft foam.

blackcat · « **Reply #19 on:** July 02, 2023, 04:40:20 PM »

I think the LeMans IV seat will work at is a guess. The seat on mine was just ok, I found the stock seat to be the best one for me.

Dave Swanson · « **Reply #20 on:** July 02, 2023, 04:45:13 PM »

Great story, and glad it all worked out.

vintagehoarder · « **Reply #21 on:** July 03, 2023, 07:03:57 AM »

Awesome, beautiful find!

John in PA · « **Reply #22 on:** July 03, 2023, 01:47:20 PM »

I had one years ago. Very enjoyable ride. More than any other Guzzi I've owned (over 25!), it felt like piloting a very low-altitude aircraft. I ended up selling and shipping it to a guy in BC back in 2008.

johnwesley · « **Reply #23 on:** July 04, 2023, 07:02:01 PM »

Getting to know each other better, bath, oil change and tune up. Went to change the plugs out and the spark plug caps are cracked. I’ll pick up some tomorrow…I hope. It’s in need of a little more love than I first thought. A couple of the oil pan bolts are stripped so I need to address that at some point. Couple of fairing tabs are broke and bolts missing. If any one know when to get the hardware feel free to share. Worse case all look around mac Mastercar.

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Author Topic: SPIII (Read 2797 times)