'01 EV vs. '04 Hydro

[Mwether]

2001 EV, 36K miles, Givi bags, running lights, no mechanical concerns, $3000
2004 Hydro, 10K miles, H&B bags, MG King/Queen seat, all recalls addressed, still has the leg shields!! $3500

A wise man once told me, "Find a nice 1999-2002 with the bullet proof P15 series computer and simple FI.” But, man, that sorted Hydro is pretty...

Which do you think is the better value? Which do you buy?

[StuCorpe]

I have the 03 hydro with the same paint as the 04 you show and love it.  After the initial problems that they all had got sorted out and cured it has been very good.  I have a sidecar on it now.

[diablo45]

 The seat on the 04 is a Moto Guzzi accessary king/queen seat. Very comfortable, 3/4" gel padding under the leather.

[Mwether]

The seat on the 04 is a Moto Guzzi accessary king/queen seat. Very comfortable, 3/4" gel padding under the leather.

Thank you, Sam! I changed it in the original post.

Does that seat influence your vote?

[Tom H]

The '04 seat looks much taller than the one on my '04. If so, that would be nice for riding, but unless you have some long legs, you might find it hard to touch the ground comfortably.

Hydro...Even with the fixes, the fixes may not have fully fixed the issues??? There are high mileage ones after the fixes.

'01...Should be pretty bulletproof. I believe many of the '04 features. Should have the 15M ECU??. It's a few bucks less, but do you want to live with the color. You seem swayed by the '04 colors.

If the fairing is the issue, depending on what fairing brackets you have, you may just need the fairing and shield. You may need the brackets though???

Love my Hydro! Wouldn't trade it for a non-Hydro. But if I had to do it over, I likely would not have bought it if I knew then what I found out after buying it.

Tom

[Mwether]

The '04 seat looks much taller than the one on my '04. If so, that would be nice for riding, but unless you have some long legs, you might find it hard to touch the ground comfortably.

Very good obervation, Tom. Long legs are something I don't have. I'm 5'8", which is probably the average height of an Italian man twenty years ago! 

Hydro...Even with the fixes, the fixes may not have fully fixed the issues??? There are high mileage ones after the fixes.

I agree that this uncertainty with Hydros is a PITA. Then again, I wonder if you're ever certain about something mechanical...?

'01...It's a few bucks less, but do you want to live with the color. You seem swayed by the '04 colors.

I'm actually okay with the '01 paint. I like that 1) "Moto Guzzi" is larger and more visible on the tank and 2) the paintwork is more obviously retro, which is cool. The '04 does have an elegance the '01 lacks. I like the '04 because I am inelegant and could use some elegance. OTOH, the '01's inelegance may suit me better!

If the fairing is the issue, depending on what fairing brackets you have, you may just need the fairing and shield. You may need the brackets though???

I wish I knew more about the fairings! I certainly have learned through Wildguzzi that the Swanee is the winner, but I have zero experience with any of them. I've never ridden a bike with such a large fairing that I couldn't see the road surface in front of the bike. Not sure I'd like that. I hate to sit on big baggers/dressers in the showroom. It feels like i'm looking at the dash of a Peterbilt.

Love my Hydro! Wouldn't trade it for a non-Hydro. But if I had to do it over, I likely would not have bought it if I knew then what I found out after buying it.

VERY interesting. Can you say more about this, Tom??

[jrt]

I've got a hydro and love it.  Looks nothing like an EV, even though an EV was the donor.  It had a cam sensor go bad, and other than that, it is a really nice machine.  My wife had a Jackal (yes, it is a later model)  for a couple years, so I rode that as well.  I don't think either one was head and shoulders above the other. 
I'd say you have a choice between two good decisions. 

[ridingron]

I would take that beautiful red and white bike with the Givi bags over just another black bike every day of the week!!   

[Tom H]

I have about a 31.5-32" inseam. Stock '04 was a bit high for me to flat foot with stock seat and with 14" (IIRR) stock rear shocks, much less have comfortable footing when stopped. I changed the rear shocks to 12.5" IIRR and raised the forks in the triple clamp to lower the bike and it's CG. Another solution "could" have been to narrow the seat so your legs are not quite so wide spread. Though, narrowing the seat would still have left me a bit uncomfortable.

Warning.....If you lower the '04 like I did, you must reset the spring length on the proportioning valve.

I do not remember the shock length of the '01, it may be shorter. Go look up the parts list at Cadre Cycle or see what shock fits what at MG Cycle.

The only reason I would have gone non-Hydro is to not have to worry about any possible issues that even the Fixes "couldn't" fix?? I did not even know about Hydro bikes when I bought mine. It was the design/style I was looking for (the '98 blue and light blue was the color I really wanted over the blue and chrome) and it was local to me.

Tom

[drdwb]

I would take that beautiful red and white bike with the Givi bags over just another black bike every day of the week!!   

Personally I’ve always liked the looks of the chrome on black with red pin stripes accent, I have a Maroon 03 EV also now with side car. Originally I test rode one exactly like the one you posted and was very tempted, but the stock seat floor board seating position resulted in leg cramps. 6 months later I found mine for $2000 less and got a Ned’s seat (from River City Ia) seat is actually a bit higher but trimmed narrower for the thighs, I added bar risers and it resulted in a very comfortable 3-400 mile a day cruiser. At 5’9” I can still flat foot the bike. I tend to ride with my heels on the passenger pegs a lot.

In 07 I test rode a Red 07 Norge at the infamous National rally at Money Creek ( Muddy Creek flood). I fell in love and lusted for a Norge, the perfect bike. My wife bought me a Silver/Gray Norge for my 50th, I’m very happy with it, but it’s not Red.

What I’m saying is what bike speaks to your heart? If the fixes are/ were done right that EV will bring a smile to your face every time you get on it, and give you lots of miles and memories. Just my .02.

[Vagrant]

Simple decision, really. Buy them both and ride them for a year. Sell the least liked bike. But I doubt either one will get sold!
I had a red and pear white 01. The prettiest bike they ever built and bulletproof. You might have to put in a $100. TPS in either of them. The stock seat on the 01 will make even a masochist cry, and that might be what's hiding under the sheep hide.

[Mwether]

Simple decision, really. Buy them both and ride them for a year. Sell the least liked bike. But I doubt either one will get sold!

Man, I wish this were an option!

I had a red and pear white 01. The prettiest bike they ever built and bulletproof. You might have to put in a $100. TPS in either of them. The stock seat on the 01 will make even a masochist cry, and that might be what's hiding under the sheep hide.

I think I'm leaning toward the '01 today. "Bulletproof" is pretty attractive. (Though the Hydros are supposed to be bulletproof once sorted...)

Tire pressure sensor??

I wish that sheepskin conveyed, but he wants to keep it. Said he made it by finding a car in a junkyard with sheepskin covers, took one home, and cut it up. Howzat for a Guzzi owner! 

[Vagrant]

Throttle position sensor. No big deal and they might be fine.
He is a bit high on the price for todays market.

[inditx]

04, like this one for sale….

[drdwb]

Throttle position sensor. No big deal and they might be fine.
He is a bit high on the price for todays market.

Vagrant is correct in his “bit high on price” statement, unfortunately. But considering prices for used bikes are down for most makes and models, if you weren’t sold on theses 2 options and looked around you’ll find similar Californias going for as low as $2000.00, the averages I’ve been seeing seem to be $2500, but it may require a fly and ride. So add $600-800 for a flight your back to the $3000 range.

[elrealistico]

Hm, the 01 has a nicer color paint, looks like stock seat and higher mileage, which probably means it was used regularly at least and serviced.

The 04 appears to have the lifters & clutch in order, lower mileage, good aftermarket seat, very low mileage, a more common color, and Also slightly more $$.

I would agree with Vagrant, why not both?? Yes, a tough choice, and as other have said you can probably get the price down on both of them. Or wait till the fall/winter, when something closer to you may come up. They aren't "collectible"--yet! So prices will continue to drop, I think. This is also happening to the CARC bikes as they age, so that's another option.

[Mwether]

Throttle position sensor.

D'oh! Thanks! 

He is a bit high on the price for todays market.

Do you mean both are high or just the Hydro guy?

[drdwb]

D'oh! Thanks! 

Do you mean both are high or just the Hydro guy?

Unfortunately both. If you add in the travel costs to get either? But a fly and ride experience for the right bike is worth it if your sure it’s the one for you. Which you won’t know until you spend the seat time, unless you’ve ridden a similar bike for a couple hours, things like seating, peg, bar, and fairing or shield can be modified to fit you, and your needs. The suspension and handling is going to be fair to good and very similar on both bike in my opinion but also can be modified for you but at a cost. I’ve found that pulling a camper trailer, or relearning how to handle the side car, my mechanically stock EV has capabilities that I’ve never tested. We had to lower the front end and put shorter shocks on rear end of my wife’s 04 Stone so at 5’ 6” she can flat foot and actually made it more sporty. The Californias are a good base to start with and you’ll learn what you may or may not want to modify as you get to know the bike.

[jrt]

I don't know whether this is relevant or important, but my '03 Hydro has adjustable front suspension, compression and rebound.  Does the other model?  More importantly- does it matter?

[Mwether]

...a fly and ride experience for the right bike is worth it if your sure it’s the one for you. Which you won’t know until you spend the seat time, unless you’ve ridden a similar bike for a couple hours...

THE central conundrum! 

[Mwether]

I don't know whether this is relevant or important, but my '03 Hydro has adjustable front suspension, compression and rebound.  Does the other model?  More importantly- does it matter?

Great question. To have it would be nice. I'll have to check...
Also want to confirm that both run tubeless, i.e., spokes terminate on the outer edge of the rims.

[jrt]

Great question. To have it would be nice. I'll have to check...
Also want to confirm that both run tubeless, i.e., spokes terminate on the outer edge of the rims.

My '03 hydro is tubeless. 
By the way- you can make this platform into almost any kind of bike that you would like.  Lots of historical parts still fit.

[Mwether]

Seller just let me know the '01 went for his full asking price. ($3K)

By process of elimination, it's looking like the Hydro!

[guzzisteve]

All EV's had tubeless rims, CalVin went back to tubes. Lower budget Cali's had tubes.