Opinions on a bargain 2004 Cali EV?

[Mwether]

I may have a pretty hot lead...

Found an '04 EV Touring with 9800 miles. New tires & battery. Private seller asking $2400.

Running the VIN on the Magic Recall Checker (http://static.piaggio.com/recall/form-motoguzzi_en.html)
returns the following:

NO recall campaigns are pending for this vehicle
CALIF.EV PI 02 TOUR USA NERO - EV PI TOU

Picture is from when he bought it about four years ago. (Fork gaiters to hide weeping seals, maybe?!)



It's in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, and I can fly one-way on Allegiant for $48.

Most comps are just under $4000.
https://nh.craigslist.org/mcy/d/effingham-2003-moto-guzzi/7743874564.html
https://nashville.craigslist.org/mcy/d/tullahoma-2004-moto-guzzi-california-ev/7741443548.html

Despite the fact I was leaning midsize, I wonder if this may be a deal I shouldn't pass up? Thoughts?

[sdcr]

“ NO recall campaigns are pending for this vehicle
CALIF.EV PI 02 TOUR USA NERO - EV PI TOU”

Help me out here….you say that the $2400 bike is a 2004. But the recall data says that its a 2002, and black.

[guzzi4me]

I put a lot of trouble free miles on my 2001 and 2002 V11's. One of the best series of Guzzi's in my opinion.

If this is a hydro engine just make sure the hydro fix was done. If so it has MANY more miles left in her and would be a great find.

The only reason I went to a V7II from my V11 was because of a hip issue. Love my V7II but my V11's will always be a fond memory....

Ride safe and often,

Jeff

[Mwether]

“ NO recall campaigns are pending for this vehicle
CALIF.EV PI 02 TOUR USA NERO - EV PI TOU”

Help me out here….you say that the $2400 bike is a 2004. But the recall data says that its a 2002, and black.

Pretty sure NERO is short for Nero Oyster! Predominately light gray with dark gray tank accent. Here's another angle.



I too thought the "02" was weird in the VIN search results, but I ran other Guzzi VINs through the Piaggio recall site and whether or not the year of manufacture even appears is inconsistent. Does make me wonder about the accuracy of their database...

When I run the VIN through a regular VIN search (not the Guzzi Recall site) it comes back as an '04.


EDITED TO ADD

I'm going to ask the seller for current pics, but I think this is the Nero Oyster paint scheme.

In a perfect world, I'd like to get the proper HB inserts. It also looks like the leg shields have gone missing at some point over the past twenty years. 

[guzzi4me]

After giving it some thought.....

My hip is doing much better....
The V11 series is great....
It IS a great price.....

So exactly where is this listing??

 

Let us know how it turns out!!

Jeff

[Vagrant]

If it were me, I'd ask for a real sales receipt and give a $500 deposit based on them pulling the rocker cover and sending Pics so you can be sure. Seeing as it's at a dealer, they might add $2000 in BS fees.

[Mwether]

If it were me, I'd ask for a real sales receipt and give a $500 deposit based on them pulling the rocker cover and sending Pics so you can be sure. Seeing as it's at a dealer, they might add $2000 in BS fees.

I was thinking about the ol' "what's under the cover?" picture too. Good call!

To be clear, the above photos of the bike were taken at a dealer (when the seller bought the bike), but it's not being sold by a dealer. The negotiated price will be the price.

I certainly will ask for current pictures. The ones I posted are roughly four years old—and probably just after being detailed!

[Ncdan]

Whatever you do, you had best do it quickly to seal the deal before somebody walks in and hands them the money, and that is a good deal if the recall work has been completed. 
Good luck with your adventure.

[Irishflyer]

Wow, that is clean.  I just picked up an 04 that's a twin to it.  Like previously mentioned, look to make sure the Hydro upgrade was done, that there isn't a single plate clutch lurking inside, and when you ride it, get to 5th gear above 3300 rpm and see if there is a whine.  If that had an ITI speedometer, that mileage could be off, but for as clean as it looks, maybe not. 

Here is mine.

[bacongrease]

 And what does the whine tell us?  It shifts to 5th?

[drdwb]

The before at the dealer pictures were taken at Mora Mn MotoGuzzi dealer  Les and Kaye Caswell shop 320 679 1383

https://www.caswellcycle.com/  which may / may not be where the bike was originally sold. I would give them a call and see if they know more about its history. 

Some folks put on the fork gaters to prevent future work, some folks put them on cause they look cool. I put a set on my wife’s 04 Stone when I had to replace a fork seal on a bike with less tan 8000 miles on it. It may have been a fluke but something damaged the seal, so since the forks were off I did it to prevent having to do it again.

Nice looking bike, low miles, great shape. Great deal if the recalls have been done. At this few miles the ITI lspeedometer should still be working. My guess it’s an O3-O4 some of those had peacocks that you could turn on /off like my O3 EV, which could produce an intermittent whiny noise also, caused by crud in the gas tank,some off them had dual clutch plates and one of the plates may be defective ( like mine) which shows up around 20,00, and have to be replaced. However, most of the dual clutch plates have no problems. I haven’t experienced or heard of the 5 gear issue yet.

[Irishflyer]

 And what does the whine tell us?  It shifts to 5th?

Those years had issues with the 5th gear going out, whether by substandard treating or other factors.  A loud whine in 5th could mean the transmission has an issue.

[bacongrease]

 Thanks...

 Oh great, my 04 Stone has a slight whine in 5th,   I just thought it was a trait of MG.

  :

[Mwether]

...make sure ...that there isn't a single plate clutch lurking inside...

...some off them had dual clutch plates and one of the plates may be defective ( like mine) which shows up around 20,00, and have to be replaced. However, most of the dual clutch plates have no problems. ...

Thanks for this! (And nice bike, Irishflyer.)

Is there any way to tell by external examination whether it has a double or single plate clutch?

It sounds like both could be problematic in their own ways?

[Bob Wegman]

My opinion is; Buy it.

[Irishflyer]

Thanks for this! (And nice bike, Irishflyer.)

Is there any way to tell by external examination whether it has a double or single plate clutch?

It sounds like both could be problematic in their own ways?

Yep, I just had asked the same question last week:
https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=120951.0

And thanks! I am just getting to know it better.

[Irishflyer]

Thanks...

 Oh great, my 04 Stone has a slight whine in 5th,   I just thought it was a trait of MG.

  :

From what I'm learning it can get pretty loud, not just a slight gesr whine.  Mine was very noticeable at first.  I changed out the trans oil, and noticed there wasn't too much fuzz on my magnetic drain plug.  sSme of the whine has quieted down.  I can hear it more under a load like accelerating.  My 96 Cal110i has absolutely no whine in 5th, even at around 3,000 rpm.  When I first got my 04 fast enough to use 5th, it was very evident, and a surprise since I hadn't heard anything like it before .lol.  With some searching, I found it is more prevalent in the later years of the EV. 

[elrealistico]

I have the same exact bike too. Mine has a VIN/Engine number that is after the cutoff for them manufacturing with the 2 plate clutch and hydraulic lifters. The range escapes me now. I havent noticed a whine in 5th gear either, in the 3K miles (bike now has 19K on it) I have owned it. Ask for more pix and the engine #

[Mwether]

Yep, I just had asked the same question last week:
https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=120951.0
...

Super helpful, thanks!
Here's the dumbest question yet: Where is the timing inspection hole located? Can't find a picture that isn't a close-up...

[Irishflyer]

Super helpful, thanks!
Here's the dumbest question yet: Where is the timing inspection hole located? Can't find a picture that isn't a close-up...

It is on the RH side of the bike, close to where the transmission and engine bolt together. 

[John A]

It appears to be a lot of bike for the money. Might as well buy it….

[kingoffleece]

Just sayin............

I bought a very well kept 2001 Jackal several years ago.  A bike that age, for me, needed: all new lines and rubber bits replaced-they're old and past their service life.
New bearings (wheel), new stator, rotor and Zetner diode, rebuilt brakes, serviced front end and new shocks.  New relays were also added.  Overkill?  Perhaps.  But age can effect any vehicle and I gotta be sure it's 100% before I ride it.  New battery, too.  Point is, I spent almost 1.2K on new parts to be sure the bike was good to go. 

You take it from there.

[s1120]

Am I the only one that thinks its strange that the seller is only showing a picture from 4 years ago when he bought it? A lot can happen on 4 years!! 

[chuck peterson]

On the saddlebags you can rattlecan any color you like…

Plasti-something spray, peelable too

[Mwether]

Am I the only one that thinks its strange that the seller is only showing a picture from 4 years ago when he bought it? A lot can happen on 4 years!!

Agreed! He's obviously not a guy who photographs his bike much.

He'll send current pictures today or tomorrow, including 1) a head with the valve cover removed and 2) a view into the timing hole to determine dual or single plate clutch.

[Don G]

I have a 2004 EVT and it has a noisy 5th gear, always has a fuzz on the drainplug magnet, will need to change out the high gear set eventually.  DonG

[Joliet Jim]

That's a great price assuming valve recall was done and the single plate clutch and cracking triple tree don't apply to this bike.

[Mwether]

Hello, beautiful! 

(We're over the first hurdle...)

[decotriumph]

That Nashville CL link you referenced is my bike! I also had questions about the recalls, so I asked a Guzzi dealer to check them for me. The Piaggio records showed that mine had already been done on both the valves and the triple tree.

[Mwether]

Two for two!