97 California EV

[timonbik]

Looking to get a more comfortable touring mount.  A fellow has a 97 California EV for sale a couple hours down the highway.  Low Kms at 27000, especially considering the year.  Anything I should be aware of so I can go in with my eyes wide open.
Thanks,  Tim

[LowRyter]

IIRC '98 is the first year for EV

[pehayes]

IIRC '98 is the first year for EV

 :1: on the year.  A '97 would be an 1100i.  Would have the same fuel injection and computer components.  Would NOT have the valuable tubeless rims which came in '98.  Otherwise a fine moto.  Just be aware that regardless of low mileage, a twenty year old moto is going to have rubber and gasket issues throughout.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[Kiwi_Roy]

The 98s came with tubeless spoke wheels which I love.
It will probably have a Pizza box P8 ECU, nothing wrong with that but you can't use Guzzidiag.
Small tank for cruising, 150 miles.
Rusty tank problem if it's spent time outdoors due to the recessed tank filler, that can be fixed.

[timonbik]

Owner claims it is a 97.  Graphics on side covers show it to be an EV.  Would North American models be different?  I'd post a pic but can't figure how to do it!

[Wayne Orwig]

Does it have chrome 'eyebrows' one the front fender? If so, it is an EV.
If it has chrome fender front brackets, it is a California.

The EV was first sold in 1998.
Mostly cosmetic differences. The EV had stainless steel rotors, not cast iron.


Tubeless tires are over rated.

[timonbik]

Has what I assume you are calling "eyebrows" along the sides of the fender.  No bracket on the fender except between the fork sliders.   Rims look to be aluminum and are stepped on the sides like what I would expect on tubeless rims.  Sidecovers read "California EV" and owner maintains it is an 1997.  Have not seen the title.

[oldbike54]

 Not long ago a fella swore up and down he owned a 1978 R100RT BMW . No such thing ...

 Dusty

[twowings]

Could be titled as a '97... if the title and tag people there are from the same inbred West Virginia hillbilly gene pool as Oklahoma tag agents, accuracy is not exactly their strong suit....

[maquette]

Could be titled as a '97... if the title and tag people there are from the same inbred West Virginia hillbilly gene pool as Oklahoma tag agents, accuracy is not exactly their strong suit....

Really? Rather a broad brush eh?

Tom

[fotoguzzi]

Not long ago a fella swore up and down he owned a 1978 R100RT BMW . No such thing ...

 Dusty

"Dicke"
1978 BMW R100RT
owned by
Armin Kuester
Gummersbach
Germany

[oldbike54]

"Dicke"
1978 BMW R100RT
owned by
Armin Kuester
Gummers bach
Germany

 Yeah , typo on my part , supposed to read 1977 .

 Dusty

[fotoguzzi]

oh, nevermind..

[oldbike54]

oh, nevermind..

 It was my bad . One of the forum members was with me , I asked the guy if he might be interested in selling it . "No"he said . OK , cool , do you still ride it? "No , haven't even looked at it in 20 years , but one of these days I'm gonna get it running." .

 Dusty

[twhitaker]

As to the '97 vs '98 matter, I've noticed that Europe gets new Guzzi models a year or so before they appear here. This EV may have been one of those.