1100 Salvage Sport...$2,595

[SLDMRossi]

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/mcd/d/san-jose-1997-moto-guzzi-1100-sport/7181350972.html

No connection to Seller...

Steven Rossi

[drdwb]

Other than the right exhaust can does anyone see anything wrong with this bike? Looks like a great price for this bike.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Front fender.

[Murray]

Not sure how salvage  works int he us I'd be checking the frame very carefully make sure its not bent around the headstock and there are no engine/gearbox mounts torn out of their castings.

[LowRyter]

what wrong with the right side exhaust?

[SLDMRossi]

Only one way to find out...somebody go check it out!

SR

[drdwb]

Compare right exhaust to left, although I’m not familiar with this system, the right side looks like it had a patch riveted on it that is not on left. Closer look at front fender  right side looks different shorter than left, I thought angle of picture, but blown up looks different, funny no apparent difference in fairing body work though, at least from these pics. If I lived in CA I’d make a road trip and bring a trailer. Just in case it is one of my dream bikes.

[MedicAndy]

On the brighter side, I have a perfect 1997 1100 Sport frame that I have no use for. I was going to junk this frame into the metal recycling bin a week ago, but I may just keep it a little longer, since whomever is going to buy this SF bike could swap frames and get a clean titled bike again......

I already own three 1100 Sport parts bikes, so I'm not interested in this bike. However, this bike doesn't look to me that it was involved in an accident. I almost wonder if this bike could possibly be a theft recovery? I may just call the dealer tomorrow just so that I know the story of this ride.........

All that is missing to get this frame back out onto the open road is the stuff that bolts onto it! :)

[wirespokes]

It says clean title - not salvage??? I wonder if it's that California thing where you have to pay DMV to not charge licensing fees if it's not being used (non-op they call it), otherwise after a few years the fees are more than the value? I've gotten a few bikes that way.

I know you've gotten your bikes pretty reasonably, and with low miles even. If you didn't have a bunch of parts bikes already, what would you pay for this one?

[MedicAndy]

It says clean title - not salvage???....... what would you pay for this one?

I called the dealer this morning, and the bike does have a salvage title. However, the dealer didn't know the reason for the salvage title. The dealer told me that he was going to contact the original owner to find out for me, but that this could take a couple of days before I get an answer. The dealers service department checked the bike out, and here is what they stated about the bikes mechanical condition. The engine starts, and the bike rides, but the technician stated that the engine & transmission make a lot of noises. The brakes are inoperable, needs new tires, and overall the bike is in fair condition, except the fiberglass and fuel tank, which present nicely. He did say to bring a trailer to pick it up, so it is not mechanically ready to ride "As Is".

It's hard to place a value on a bike that has an unknown reason for having a branded "salvage" title.

So how much is this 28k miles salvage bike worth to me? For me it would be a parts bike, since it has a salvage title. Not knowing if the bike was a theft recovery, flooding, mechanical vandalism (someone messed with the powertrain), or possibly an electrical fire makes it hard to place a good $$$ value on this bike.

But, let's assume a couple of values:

Purchase cost:     $2600.00
New tires:             $600.00
New brakes:          $700.00
Full service:           $300.00
Unknown issues:  $1500.00

The cost of buying and getting this bike running again could easily be at a minimum around $5k or possibly much higher, plus there are other costs like shipping to consider.

For me, I think that I would be a buyer around $1.5k tops, maybe less depending on the salvage reason...... On the other hand, I think that a purchase cost of $2.5k as a parts bike would be a good buy, if the engine, gearbox, ECU, final drive, forks, instrument cluster, wheels, fiberglass, tank........ are in good usable condition.

I will let everyone know of the salvage reason, if the dealer gets back up with me in a couple of days.

[SLDMRossi]

Thank you for the report! Much appreciated...

SR

[wirespokes]

Thanks Andy.

With your spare frame, the salvage status could go away, but I'm wondering about the noisy power train. Maybe they're not used to Guzzis? Or maybe something's really wrong...

Who knows?

Considering you've paid only slightly more for some of yours, I'd guess $1500 would be about right for this one.

[drdwb]

If you buy this for $1500 and get it safely back on the road for a $1000 Or even $2000, I’m going to cry, I’ll be happy for you, but I’m still gonna cry. Good luck let us know how it turns out.

[Murray]

Thanks Andy.

With your spare frame, the salvage status could go away, but I'm wondering about the noisy power train. Maybe they're not used to Guzzis? Or maybe something's really wrong...

Who knows?

Considering you've paid only slightly more for some of yours, I'd guess $1500 would be about right for this one.

If its an early 1100i it may still have the straight cut gearbox which tend to make a little noise.

[wirespokes]

I've never ridden an 1100 sport but always liked the look. Unfortunately I'm not into high tech and prefer carbs over FI, which means I'd have to find a 96. I could always remove the FI, install carbs and figure out a way to mount petcocks. Not sure how realistic that is.

Good point about the straight cut gears. Just idling there could be a racket with loose valves and trans rattle.

[drdwb]

Wirespokes, loved your comment , maybe the mechanic isn’t used to Guzzi’s, had to laugh.

[MedicAndy]

I got a voice message from Spirit Motorcycle out of San Jose this afternoon, and the sales person told me that the 1100 Sport was sold earlier today. He didn't tell me what the bike sold for, and I still would have liked knowing on why this bike had a salvage title, but he didn't tell me.

[Murray]

I've never ridden an 1100 sport but always liked the look. Unfortunately I'm not into high tech and prefer carbs over FI, which means I'd have to find a 96. I could always remove the FI, install carbs and figure out a way to mount petcocks. Not sure how realistic that is.

By the time you screw around put and after market ignition with the sensors (the cams don't have a drive gear for a dizzy) and some decent carbs i.e. not delorto's you could of sliced off the unobtainable connector spliced in an aftermarket ECU had it tuned, it would be more reliable easier to tune and cheaper. You would also get the benift of the better brakes much lighter wheels and vastly superior front end compared to the carbed bike.

[wirespokes]

I'm also curious what the sale price ended up being. Anyone here buy it?

Murray - I could live with electronic ignition, so you're saying it's a better deal getting an FI bike? Explain about the 'unobtainable connector'. Are you saying that putting carbs in an FI bike is a good way to go? It sort of sounds like it.

[Murray]

I'm also curious what the sale price ended up being. Anyone here buy it?

Murray - I could live with electronic ignition, so you're saying it's a better deal getting an FI bike? Explain about the 'unobtainable connector'. Are you saying that putting carbs in an FI bike is a good way to go? It sort of sounds like it.

No I am saying the opposite keep the fuel injection go with an aftermarket ECU. The issue is the OEM connector is somewhere between hard and impossible to find so you won't get a plug and play even without that the time and expense vs a carb conversion is line ball IMO probably with a inferior outcome. I am also saying that there are a number of chassis, mainly suspension and wheel improvements that came with the injected bike that make them worth while. Some of the aftermarket ECU's have got to the point you tell it the inputs and the engine configuration and it will generate a map good enough to run the motor it won't be optimised, the motor will run though.

I haven't looked at FCR's recently but 500 each seems about be right, electronic ignition, different throttle cable setup you'll probably end up fitting an oxygen sensor for tuning purposes anyway, and you haven't done the ignition yet.

[wirespokes]

Thank you Murray. I get the picture.

[Kremmen]

On the brighter side, I have a perfect 1997 1100 Sport frame that I have no use for. I was going to junk this frame into the metal recycling bin a week ago

Crikey. Please don't! I have no immediate need for a spare for my daily but I have the shelf space. Tell me what you want for it plus shipping to Oz, and it's sold.

I've never ridden an 1100 sport but always liked the look. Unfortunately I'm not into high tech and prefer carbs over FI, which means I'd have to find a 96. I could always remove the FI, install carbs and figure out a way to mount petcocks. Not sure how realistic that is.

Murray gave good feedback on this and the bike is sold anyway, but if another Sport 1100i comes up jump for it. It is like riding nothing else on earth. Weird in a good way. People do ditch the EFI and add carbs but I'm sticking with EFI, using an aftermarket unit after the original blew up. It needs some tweaking - the bike doesn't really get enjoyable until you're up to 10 or 20kms but it seems to settle in and have a good time after that.

I am also saying that there are a number of chassis, mainly suspension and wheel improvements that came with the injected bike that make them worth while.

Lovely WP USD suspension, much better-looking Marchesini wheels that are easy to clean and lighter, stronger cleaner better-looking 'porkchops', what did I miss? It is definitely the model of choice. The black is gold-flake metallic and sexy as hell and the red is simply the best SFI red ever brought to the mass market. There's also a yellow option if you're into that sort of thing. :P

Some of the aftermarket ECU's have got to the point you tell it the inputs and the engine configuration and it will generate a map good enough to run the motor it won't be optimised, the motor will run though.

I'm running a not very tweaked MyECU and still have the random stalling and rough running at lights etc, just like the old days. I need to look into this. Or find a laptop that still has a serial port.

[wirespokes]

 Thanks, Kremmen. Not sure if I should be thanking you - I don't NEED another bike!

[Kremmen]

 

[MedicAndy]

I just have to give my $0.25 worth of feedback on the carbs versus injected preference...... I don't have one when it comes to carburetor or injected bikes........

I think that if a bike is serviced and the fueling delivery system is setup correctly, then neither a carb or an injected 1100 Sport should give you many issues. Five of my 1100 Sports are fuel injected, with three of them having the Will Creedon ECU chip installed, the forth was professionally dyno tuned with a Power Commander III, and the fifth 1390 original milage one is completely stock. The fifth bike has the original ECU factory chip still installed, which makes this bike "huff & buff"......  I know that many people have their preferences (just like debating what oil to use.... ) on the type of ECU, fuel mapping chip, or installing a Power Commander to address the factory's 1100 Sports fuel mapping shortcoming.

I really like the Creedon chip, and I had no issues with any of my 1997's with this ECU chip installed. Now the fine tuning of the injection system with the Creedon chip will take time, and I had to get some help from Hunter with doing so on two of my bikes. Will Creedon does provide great step-by-step instructions on how to setup the bike after installing the chip, and the bike will run just fine if setup accordantly.

But, to be completely honest, the old saying of "There is a Ghost in the machine" is true on all of my 1100 Sports...... Every now and then, without any warning, the 1100 Sport I'm riding may decides to throw out a short cough or a hiccup (not cutting the engine off) while stopping at a light or while riding at a slow speed. I think that those "issues" are just part of owning those bikes. I have come to peace knowing that my 1100 Sport's, regardless of carburetor or injected, will never run as "perfect" as my same manufacturing period 1996 GSX 1100R does.

So, if someone would ask me which one (injected or carb) they should get, then my answer will always be "either one". Just remember that both types will need to be setup just right to make them enjoyable.