Time Capsule 1971 Falcone for sale

[canuck750]

Not cheap but an amazing find just the same, I could get interested in chugging along in the slow lane on one of these.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Moto-Guzzi-Moto-Guzzi/281781341921?_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D33278%26meid%3D788db36db3744baeac4a162fc6ff5205%26pid%3D100010%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D201415319558

[leafman60]

People are probably tired of hearing me laud the wonderful character of these bikes.

This is a military version. They are not so rare in Europe but like chickens' teeth in north America since they were never imported to the US or Canada.

This one is basically new.  Only 200 miles.

[Lannis]

People are probably tired of hearing me laud the wonderful character of these bikes.

This is a military version. They are not so rare in Europe but like chickens' teeth in north America since they were never imported to the US or Canada.

This one is basically new.  Only 200 miles.

You don't think it's a little pricey?   I could get a nice one imported from the UK for a lot less than that ....

Lannis

[grebmrof]

You don't think it's a little pricey?

That is $13K in Florida dollars, maybe the exchange rate with the rest of the world brings the price more in line with reason.  Yea, I thought it was a bit costly to think very long about, but it is pretty.

[guzzista]

There are a number of Falcone specialists in Italy that would have  very good and cheaper Falcone Nuovos, but the added cost of getting on this side of the ocean would make the  $ situation even at best... This one is in the US and looks good from the viewer's side...

[leafman60]

The price is certainly a good one... from the sellers perspective.

These military falcones are not so expensive in Europe, especially in Italy. Several European militaries and police forces used the bikes over the years and they are available.

Yes, if you check the classifieds on the European continent, you can certainly find a military NFalcone much cheaper than this one on US Ebay.

However, you have the buyer's risk of not being sure of the condition of the machine. For bikes in Italy, unless you speak Italian, even communicating about the condition of the machine can be difficult. I have lived and travelled in Italy and I would suggest a healthy dose of Caveat Emptor when dealing with our Italian cousins wanting to sell something.

On top of that, once you decide to buy from a foreign seller, you must arrange the  shipping of your purchase to the US. This likely would involve inland carriage to the port of export and from the port of import in addition to the ocean carriage across the Atlantic. Insurance and customs clearance must also be handled. There are agents who perform these tasks.  I have done it. 

In the end. You do not truly know what you get or how much it truly costs until you have jumped through a lot of expensive hoops to get the bike to you.

A bike sitting in Florida is a different situation.  You can talk to the owner and/or go see it. You can also make much more convenient shipping arrangements.

If you think the offering price is too high, stay in touch with the offering and contact the seller with an offer if the bike doesn't sell.

Price aside, this particular NFalcone looks like a basically-new machine.  200 miles.

[huub]

or buy this one ,

http://www.speurders.nl/overzicht/motoren-en-scooters/motoren-moto-guzzi/moto-guzzi-nouvo-falcone-500-152540937.html

it has more miles on it, but you'll have 10k left to ship it, and getting it registered.

[sign216]

I've been looking to get into an Italian long-stroke single.  In Europe they'll all over.  Here, they imported the twin cyl sport bikes, leaving the "chuggers" back home. 

So the pickings are slim. 

[sign216]

Here's one in the US, and in the Northeast to boot:

http://newhaven.craigslist.org/mcy/5192337714.html

[Lannis]

On top of that, once you decide to buy from a foreign seller, you must arrange the  shipping of your purchase to the US. This likely would involve inland carriage to the port of export and from the port of import in addition to the ocean carriage across the Atlantic. Insurance and customs clearance must also be handled. There are agents who perform these tasks.  I have done it. 

In the end. You do not truly know what you get or how much it truly costs until you have jumped through a lot of expensive hoops to get the bike to you.

I cheat a little bit.   I have friends in a couple of countries that will look at the bike, pack it up, and get it to the shipper.   I handle it from there, and pick it up at the bonded warehouse in an East Coast port.

Counting the actual shipping cost, warehouse cost, broker fees, customs fees, and driving down to get it, it costs me about $1400 to get a bike from Western Europe to here.    A lot of work, but it's all part of the hobby (changing a clutch is a lot of work too but we do it), and certainly better than paying an $8000 premium to someone for the privilege ....

Lannis

[nick949]

I've been looking to get into an Italian long-stroke single.  In Europe they'll all over.  Here, they imported the twin cyl sport bikes, leaving the "chuggers" back home. 

So the pickings are slim.

Just as a side note - the Nuovo Falcone engine is actually over-square or 'short-stroke'.  Bore is 88mm, stroke is 82mm.  Quite unlike the old British singles with their skinny pistons and immensely long strokes.

Nick

[guzzista]

Just a short note on the importing part. Even thought THE NF its a legal bike to import, no problems, my friends over there  can help pack it easy peasy blah blah blah, in some parts of the US the Customs may turn into a major headache. I know of a couple situations in the SF Bay Area where both a vintage  car  and a bike got stuck in Customs and it took some serious doing (time  and $$$) to get it untangled and in the hands of the waiting owner. So unless you have friends in the Customs services and hopefully where the bike reaches Customs stateside, 1)do your homework. 2) a specialized expediter could be invaluable .I am originally from Italy, have family and friends there, and given a choice, would buy here in the US first. YMMV

[Lannis]

Just a short note on the importing part. Even thought THE NF its a legal bike to import, no problems, my friends over there  can help pack it easy peasy blah blah blah, in some parts of the US the Customs may turn into a major headache. I know of a couple situations in the SF Bay Area where both a vintage  car  and a bike got stuck in Customs and it took some serious doing (time  and $$$) to get it untangled and in the hands of the waiting owner. So unless you have friends in the Customs services and hopefully where the bike reaches Customs stateside, 1)do your homework. 2) a specialized expediter could be invaluable .I am originally from Italy, have family and friends there, and given a choice, would buy here in the US first. YMMV

I suppose there are corrupt and criminal US Customs officials at some ports, just like there might be some at the Division of Motor Vehicles or in the Police.

But in my experience, that is not typical.   As long as your bike has the proper paperwork, and is in a container that can be inspected (the last one I did, my container was selected for a complete search and it cost me an extra $75 but no extra time), there's no reason to have to pay bribes to get anything "untangled".   Of course, mine was not coming straight from Italy or India, but from either Australia or the UK ... if I was buying an Italian Nuovo Falcone, I'd ship it from the UK anyhow .....

Lannis

[guzzista]

I was not implying any crime, corruption or anything like that. Glad your container went through fine. In the cases I am speaking of , it was the fact that it was a motorbike,  and  a car  and Alfa Engines ( all individual shipments): Someone in the Customs Service decided  the vehicles in question, were not legal for US use ( which they actually were based on their age) . In my case, someone decided that my Alfa imported engines also were not for US use. There came the hangup, which after going around and around,( a couple months) were fixed by a specialized expediter, and she  informed us that, had they started the paperwork at onset by their agent, ( in these cases in Italy and Spain), would have prevented the whole mess.  So my intent was to inform and prevent potential hassles to others. As I also said YMMV

[John in PA]

I imported an military NF 500 about 10-12 years ago from North Leicester Motorcycles in the UK.  As I recollect, I spent maybe $3500-$4k overall getting a consolidator, an expediter, paperwork, shipping, and other stuff.  The other thing I noticed is that everyone that touched the bike got $150 a piece.  They open the crate, $150. The close the crate again, $150.  They put the crate on my truck, $150.  That was after the other costs were already paid.
 (Oh, and, the speeding ticket I got on I-70 in Maryland on the way to the port of Baltimore was something over $150 )

The bike as presented is costly indeed, but it is what I'd call gem quality.  Just like in collecting cars, guns, etc, the difference in price between a scarce item in 80% condition and 98% or better condition, is often startling.  For firearms, the difference between "As New" and 95%finish can double the price.   For the person who wants the best obtainable, and has searched a long time, the price may not be out of line.  Of course, like a fine antique firearm, once purchased, you often feel reluctant to use it.  BTDT, with bikes and guns.  Once you run out of drool, you may be tempted to move it down the road. Then you have the challenge of finding someone else who's willing to pay the premium for quality, originality,  and condition.

A collector in CT has mine now, AFAIK, which he purchased from me some years ago along with it's cousin, a 1955 Falcone Turismo GT