Opinions on a bargain 2004 Cali EV?

[Mwether]

Today's photo essay. 



















Below are the "this-bike-is-twenty-years-old" shots.

If I understand correctly, all occurred as a result of a single loading mishap. (It only takes one!)

"Chrome compromises"



Engine guard dent



Hairline in fairing



Mild fender carnage



Not too bad, eh? Some oxidation on the valve covers that should clean up okay.

May be on to something here!

[AJ Huff]

Looks great! Shinier and cleaner than mine! If it runs....

-AJ

[Mwether]

...If it runs....

An incredibly kind member of the Wildguzzi tribe (in the MSP area) has offered to go check the bike out in person. He's arranged to visit the seller tomorrow.

I am blown away...

[AJ Huff]

An incredibly kind member of the Wildguzzi tribe (in the MSP area) has offered to go check the bike out in person. He's arranged to visit the seller tomorrow.

I am blown away...

We are like that.

-AJ

[sdcr]

An incredibly kind member of the Wildguzzi tribe (in the MSP area) has offered to go check the bike out in person. He's arranged to visit the seller tomorrow.

I am blown away...

This thread is getting better every day….

Are you planning a fly and drive to get it back to NC?

[Mwether]

That Nashville CL link you referenced is my bike! ...

That's a beautiful Cali! And I certainly didn't mean to imply it was overpriced!

[Mwether]

This thread is getting better every day….

Are you planning a fly and drive to get it back to NC?

Agreed!

I was going to do the fly-n-ride thing but try this on for "this thread gets better"...the seller has a buddy whose son-in-law (I think?) is visiting MN but lives in Asheville! He's offered to bring it back with him. Seems the universe may be trying to tell me something...

While I'm seriously gung-ho for a MN to NC adventure/shakedown, it would be considerably less expensive for this guy to throw it in his pickup.

I wasn't going to do the fly-n-ride until mid-June, but the WNC dude leaves Friday, so I need to decide soon... 

[sdcr]

The planets are aligning perfect for you.

[chuck peterson]

You are still deciding?!?!

Run, don’t walk…

Your ride is finding you!

[Vagrant]

You could strip it for parts and come out ahead. Buy it before somebody shows up with cash! You snooze, you lose!

[Moparnut72]

At that price with transport arranged to your neighborhood, no brainier, snatch it up. Nothing to lose.
kk

[elrealistico]

GET it! See you on Cherohala Skyway in June!

[Mwether]

GET it! See you on Cherohala Skyway in June!

Is this a Guzzi event to which you refer?! 

I found this but don't see one in June...

Aug 2 to Aug 4, 2024
NORTH CAROLINA MOTO GUZZI RALLY - GUZZIS IN THE BLUE RIDGE
High Country Motorcycle Camp
765 Stony Fork Road
Ferguson, North Carolina 28624

[AJ Huff]

Is this a Guzzi event to which you refer?! 

I found this but don't see one in June...

Aug 2 to Aug 4, 2024
NORTH CAROLINA MOTO GUZZI RALLY - GUZZIS IN THE BLUE RIDGE
High Country Motorcycle Camp
765 Stony Fork Road
Ferguson, North Carolina 28624

That IS a great rally, but the Cherohala is a road, a skyway.

https://cherohala.com/

-AJ

[Mwether]

That IS a great rally, but the Cherohala is a road, a skyway.

https://cherohala.com/

-AJ

Yup. I live about two hours east of the Cherohala. 

Since he said "see you...in June," I thought he meant at a specific event up that way. If not, I'll just ride it every day of June and look for guys on Guzzis!

[Mwether]

...I bought a very well kept 2001 Jackal several years ago.  ...I spent almost 1.2K on new parts to be sure the bike was good to go. 

Super important perspective. Thanks.

[Tom]

🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️  Well?

[elrealistico]

No, I will be in the area on that road on June 12th. Same bike, if you end up buying it! We can do twins pix!

Also info on the tappet recall and hydro (and probably 2 plate clutch) frame numbers. If the bike has 5W40 oil in the crankcase, it's a hydro. Past a certain frame number it appears to me, anyway-- the factory sent them out with those two fixes and maybe the triple tree fix.  But easy to check by popping a valve cover off, looking in the inspection hole by the flywheel and taking a good look  in good lighting at  the TT

http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/2010/02/hydraulic-tappets/

Is this a Guzzi event to which you refer?! 

I found this but don't see one in June...

Aug 2 to Aug 4, 2024
NORTH CAROLINA MOTO GUZZI RALLY - GUZZIS IN THE BLUE RIDGE
High Country Motorcycle Camp
765 Stony Fork Road
Ferguson, North Carolina 28624

[Mwether]

No, I will be in the area on that road on June 12th. Same bike, if you end up buying it! We can do twins pix!

Also info on the tappet recall and hydro (and probably 2 plate clutch) frame numbers. If the bike has 5W40 oil in the crankcase, it's a hydro. Past a certain frame number it appears to me, anyway-- the factory sent them out with those two fixes and maybe the triple tree fix.  But easy to check by popping a valve cover off, looking in the inspection hole by the flywheel and taking a good look  in good lighting at  the TT

http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/2010/02/hydraulic-tappets/

Gotcha on 6/12 and thanks for the link. 

If I understand the site correctly, any EV Touring (in the US) with a VIN number HIGHER than ZGUKDD0024M112346 is good to go??

And roger on the valve and timing hole checks. See replies #27 and #29 in this thread.

[Tkelly]

There is a rally we are attending the first weekend in June at the motorcycle campground in Elk Park.Italian Adventure Bike Weekend.

[bacongrease]

What state .... .country?

[Mwether]

What state .... .country?

North Cackalacky
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057529086709

[Guzzistajohn]

If you can tolerate those floorboards, GO FOR IT 

[Dave Swanson]

Looking a gift horse in the mouth is a serious faux pas!  Buy it!  If you don't like it (don't think that will happen) sell it next year for a tidy little profit. 

[kingoffleece]

My 2001 was perfect until it wasn't.  Got very hard to start, then wouldn't start at all.
Turned out to be several bad relays.  Easy to fix but took time to track down.  THAT'S why I suggest going over everything-specifically electrical.  Take it for what it's worth.
I had serviced everything except the relays.  You know-"if it's good don't mess with it".

Was THIS CLOSE to being stranded out in the desert 250 miles from home.  Finally got it going and never turned it off until I returned.  Cheap and easy fix.  And I should have known better............. ...............

[Mwether]

FINAL UPDATE ON THIS BIKE

First, MANY thanks to Brad (fotoguzzi), who is an utter hero for making a special trip on behalf of a stranger to check the bike out.

And as much as I'd like to be this guy:



I just can't get there.

Unfortunately, the more I sleep on this—and the more I scour ALL the advice I've been given on WG—the more I think I was excited by this bike almost entirely because, "It's a bargain!!"

When I get over the what-a-deal euphoria and focus specifically on WHICH bike we're talking about, I'm reminded of one of Jefferson's Canons of Conduct, which goes, "Never buy a thing you do not want, because it is cheap, it will be dear (expensive) to you."

While I certainly want a Guzzi (generally speaking), if I'm realistic about it—and as we've established in other threads—an '04 EV Touring is probably NOT the best model for my situation. In fact, if I were to buy a Cali, it should really only be a Vintage. That's the one big block I look at with lust. Truth be told, certain bagged Jackals do it for me too, like kidsmoke's and this random one for sale in Idaho. Anything else, and I feel like I'm settling for sub-par aesthetics.





I'm still in the weird (ultimately futile?) situation of hunting for a Guzzi while knowing that MG doesn't actually make the model I'm after: namely, something midsize and modern that looks as close to a Loop as possible. Even if I ultimately have to settle for only checking two of those three boxes, buying an EV Touring doesn't truly tick ANY of them.

While I'll probably regret this decision, what's for sure is that Jim in Harris, MN is a very nice guy, a straight shooter, and a motivated seller. If you're interested in his bike, the ad is here: https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/mcy/d/harris-good-bike-needs-better-owner/7745960336.html

[kingoffleece]

They are hard to resist, eh?

[Dilliw]

5th gear is noisy on that transmission (it was on my '03).  Wayne can tell you why but he's over in Italy drinking wine somewhere. 

Does it have the front crossover?  It doesn't look like it in the picture and it would have had one when new. 

[AJ Huff]

Interesting the subtle nuances between the Californias. For one don't like the profile, seat, and side panels of the Jackal.
Compare to mine, which I of course prefer 😀:





-AJ

[Mwether]

Interesting the subtle nuances between the Californias. ...

AJ, I forgot the Cali Special. D'oh! And it's probably my favorite, after the CalVin.

With a solo seat (and bags), it would be right up my alley!