Thinking about a new 850T project

[drdwb]

Recently I was approached with an offer to trade services for this 850T, the agreed price is yet to be set. So I’m wondering: 1 why do I want this bike, 2 What is special about this  bike worth investing potentially a lot of time and effort. 3 It’s all there and the cylinders were filled with oil prior to it being covered and parked behind the shed. 4 Besides the personal pleasure of the experience of bringing one back, what will the value, desirability, sell ability of the bike be once fully restored?

[gearman]

Are you nuts. Even if you get it free. it will be worth less than all the parts you will have to buy.Good luck.You know   why I know don't you?I have NEVER made money on restoring a standard Guzzi.

[Turin]

What's wrong with it? The forks look jacked, and the right cylinder is missing fins. A lot of the corrosion looks recent, which makes me thing something went wrong in 1994. I don't see why anyone would park a perfectly good bike in a field.

[Perazzimx14]

So even if the agreed to upon price was free you will have $2,000 to $5,000 a couple hundred hours just getting it mechanically sound. If you want to do a cosmetic resto add another bucket of money and more time. In end you'll have a $5,000 to $6,000 bike.


I have a 1975 850T that I got for $800 and was in about 100X better condition than the one you are looking at. I put new cylinders on  and did a bunch of mechanical work (total investment over $4,500) to it and priced at $3,500 is generating absolutely zero interest after being posted in the swap meet section for a looooong time.

[guzzista]

 "Besides the personal pleasure of the experience of bringing one back"

 You provided your own answer.  That is your only gain. You coud buy the 850T advertised in the swap meet  section and simply enjoy the ride, let alone be ahead financially by not taking the field fresh bike on

[Chuck in Indiana]

I've said it before.. sometimes free is too much..

[drdwb]

Good feedback, which is helpful,I hadn�t seen the bike personally and the offer came through a mutual friend. I was looking for feed back on why this model would be worth the effort. So far no one has made a case for 850 T. Oh well, I certainly have enough other projects wanting my time and effort that will cost far less. I�ll probaby take a pass on this opportunity in hopes that there is a special barn find or basket case out there coming my way.
Thanks.
Perazzimx14 I did look at your bike while considering this one, You did a fantastic job on that,I looks beautiful. That is something you certainly can be proud of,and you must have gotten a great deal of satisfaction from the project.  But That it has sat on the swap meet section for awhile at that price speaks a lot to the desireability of the 850T.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I have my own crusty, crashed and abandoned 850-T project:




The plan is to build a "special" using a Laverda SF2 tank I bought for $100 and various other bits and pieces I've accumulated.




I'm building it mostly for my own amusement and to use up parts, but it should be fun to ride (short distances). 

[Perazzimx14]

Good feedback, which is helpful,I hadn�t seen the bike personally and the offer came through a mutual friend. I was looking for feed back on why this model would be worth the effort. So far no one has made a case for 850 T. Oh well, I certainly have enough other projects wanting my time and effort that will cost far less. I�ll probaby take a pass on this opportunity in hopes that there is a special barn find or basket case out there coming my way.
Thanks.
Perazzimx14 I did look at your bike while considering this one, You did a fantastic job on that,I looks beautiful. That is something you certainly can be proud of,and you must have gotten a great deal of satisfaction from the project.  But That it has sat on the swap meet section for awhile at that price speaks a lot to the desireability of the 850T.

Its not solely a 850T thing. Desirability IMO of 60's and 70's era bikes has been dropping steadily. As the motorcycle population ages that 440 Victor you lusted over as a young man is now something you can afford but now you realize things like kick starters are no where nears as friendly to use as a hot button.  So you still lust over but pass on owning it. The Big Block Tonti's are GREAT bikes and will go many tens of thousands of trouble free miles and are as reliable as an anvil. But after riding modern bikes it saps some of the joy out of these old bikes. Things like more than 3 inches of suspension travel that is mostly spring, modern brakes or lighting all make, adjustability all make the more modern motorcycles the easier choice for most.
 

I had fun reviving the T along with an T3 and an Eldorado. Each one cost a bundle but were never intended to be money makers. After doing 3 projects I have also stepped away from doing anymore (my saving account is thankful for it) and am currently trying to sell off a good portion of the herd. Now I prefer riding over wrenching so just like that 1 more person is out of the buying pool lessening the demand even further.

[SemperVee]

 Some mechanical things make no sense other than a "Labor of Love".... Why I am looking at a 100K mile  EV1100 California that needs some love.

[MotoG5]

850-T's are a great all round bike and a pleasure to ride. The one you are looking at is at best an organ donor. Find a runner with a good background and if you can pick up the one you are looking at for a VERY low price great things could happen. In every case the value is in what you find in it. No money in restorations as a general rule. A good running old T is a thing to truly enjoy.