The State of the Undervalued, Used Moto Guzzi Market...

[SLDMRossi]

Having been at this for some 40+ years now, I do believe that there's never been a better time to join the Moto Guzzi fraternity. Back in the day, the options available on the used market were essentially...do you want a black Eldorado, or a white Eldorado?

Obviously, Moto Guzzi has come a long way since then. The model range has expanded with multiple variants and displacements to choose from. And no doubt, after all the various company ownership changes back in Mandello, the bikes are now being built with greater integrity. Yes, they may be a bit more complicated, but modern electronics, fuel injection, etc. have made for more versatile and functional machines. And they're safer, too, with things like better brakes, etc. Turn the key and go...yee haa!

Meanwhile, with a relatively small following, used Moto Guzzis are in fact...undervalued. And the bikes, of course, are known to go the distance from a durability perspective. So it's not uncommon to see really affordable, relatively low mileage Guzzis on the market that have plenty of life left in them. Better yet, they're often accessorized to the extent that things like hard bags essentially come with them for free!

Here are couple of examples to prove the point, that I came across at Hamlin Cycles in Bethel, Connecticut the other day:

2004 Breva 750 = $2,500 (14,000 miles)
2006 Breva 1100 = $4,000 (Mistral exhaust, 16,000 miles)
2008 1200 Sport = $3,000 (new battery, new tires, Aprilia hard bags, 78,000 miles)
2009 Norge = $3,500 (new tires, Staintune Slip-on pipe, hard bags, 39,000 miles)
2014 Norge = $5,200 (new tires, hard bags, 26,000 miles)

How can you go wrong buying a bike like one of these? Particularly, if you get it from an authorized dealer? Which means that it's going to be fully serviced before it rolls out the door! At say $150 per hour Labor, think about the value that adds to the equation!!

So with the new season approaching (for those of us here in the Northeast, at least) it really is a great time to seize the opportunity to spread your Moto Guzzi wings! You won't be disappointed with an undervalued, used Guzzi.

I've never been...

Steven Rossi   

[Dave Swanson]

Agreed.  Cheap motorcycling never had it so good. 

Last year I bought a mint 98 EV for 2K and a week later an even better one popped up and was sold for 1.5K.   What other 1500 to 2000 dollar bike could you hop on and ride to California and back at 80 mph if you desired without a worry? 


 

[Perazzimx14]

Post pandemic it’s been a buyer market for the last couple of years and only going to get better for buyers of used. In a couple of years when today’s buyers that  bought bikes at suppressed values and go to sell them they are going to command even less money further torpedoing the market into eventual oblivion.

For the most part it’s a buy low, sell lower market.

It’s fun to see sellers who bought bikes at well below MSRP then complain when they go to sell at or near book value and cannot get a buyer. Can’t have your cake and eat it too.

[kingoffleece]

Yea, it's kind of killing me at the moment.  Time to move the Jackal but no way I'd take 1500-2000.  Bikes in that range have not had the renewal that I've done, and it's not cheap.  I'm asking less than half of what I've put into the bike with zero even insult offers.

Personally, I'd never take a 25 year old motorcycle on a long trip without going thru it top to bottom.  I no longer have the time or desire to trailer 1000 miles because a fuel hose rotted out or one of the very many other items to go thru on an older motorcycle.

Just last week had to replace, due to wear, the inner bearing and race inside the pumpkin.  Over 400 bucks just for parts.

Part of it is where I live.  One would not like to have a failure in many places out west in 100 degree heat with no shade or cell service.

[Perazzimx14]

Buying 15/20+ year old bike with no warranty from an authorized dealer usually equates to paying more for something but not getting anything for doing so.

For me the only reason to buy from a dealership is if there is a warranty included in the purchase.

I don’t think any dealer is going to spend a ton of time or money getting a $2500 ready for to be sold. An oil chance and a quick wash is more than most dealerships would do/invest to make it “recently serviced”

[Dave Swanson]

Personally, I'd never take a 25 year old motorcycle on a long trip without going thru it top to bottom.  I no longer have the time or desire to trailer 1000 miles because a fuel hose rotted out or one of the very many other items to go thru on an older motorcycle.

I agree with you for the most part.  My EV for 2k was sold by the original owner.  The owner was a fastidious fellow who religiously had Ned's perform all the service big and small over the years.  After my thorough inspection I can say the bike is truly in tip top.  There are exceptions to 25 year old bikes that need a laundry list of work. 

[red stripeguz]

Bought my 07 Norge from Fat Bob for $2000 and he had done a full service and put 2 new tires on it. Probably spent another grand on flight to Wyoming from Texas and gas/hotels/food to ride it back home but that trip was priceless

[Kev m]

Two of the bikes in the OP were Steve's and just traded in great condition (not that I'd work about any used bikes from Jim Hamlin).

[Motormike]

There are far more used motorcycles out there than there are buyers for.  Moto Guzzi or any other brand.  I'm amazed at some of the ridiculously high prices dealers still ask for used bikes languishing on their floor showroom. 

[SLDMRossi]

I've bought a lot of used bikes from dealers...and I've bought a lot of used bikes privately. And I've had plenty of good and plenty of bad experiences in both cases.

The one thing that the dealer model offers is that there's at least a place to return to if something doesn't work out. I can't tell you how many private sellers I've dealt with that literally vanished into the night once the $ was exchanged. Clearly, there was no recourse there. But of course, there are a lot of standup guys, too.

Obviously, there's no 100% solution here. Again...the subject of the Post speaks for itself: THE STATE OF THE UNDERVALUED, USED MOTO GUZZI MARKET. With particular attention to "Undervalued, Used..." Nothing more, nothing less.

SR

[SLDMRossi]

P.S. -- the $2,500 Breva 750 I saw at Hamlin's was on the Lift, getting all the fluids changed, the heads retorqued, valve lash checked/adjusted and new cover gaskets installed.

So, the generalization posted above..."I don’t think any dealer is going to spend a ton of time or money getting a $2500 ready for to be sold. An oil change and a quick wash is more than most dealerships would do/invest to make it “recently serviced” is a falsehood. Having personally witnessed something completely different a few days ago in Bethel, Connecticut.

SR

[Kev m]

P.S. -- the $2,500 Breva 750 I saw at Hamlin's was on the Lift, getting all the fluids changed, the heads retorqued, valve lash checked/adjusted and new cover gaskets installed.

So, the generalization posted above..."I don’t think any dealer is going to spend a ton of time or money getting a $2500 ready for to be sold. An oil change and a quick wash is more than most dealerships would do/invest to make it “recently serviced” is a falsehood. Having personally witnessed something completely different a few days ago in Bethel, Connecticut.

SR

And that was one of Steve's and I'm sure was fine but Jim is just that conscientious. 

[jrt]

Man.... If only I was 30 years younger with my current income.  
Seriously, though, I cannot complain even though I've only made money on one bike sale in my life... it was  Vespa, of all things.  I've never complained about loosing money on a sale, because it was never about making a sale- I just want to to try something different. 

I'll have to talk to my lovely wife about that Breva.  They are nice bikes and we (uh, she) used to have one.

[SLDMRossi]

If I already didn't have a 2008 Breva 750, I'd buy that 2004...

And I can assure you, I certainly have more than $2,500 in mine!

Steven Rossi

[davethewelder]

Older Moto Guzzi's are good prices right now, but a 20 or more year old bike should be really gone thru.   I'd say change all hoses and flush fluids, clutch cable also throttle cables and clean up any PO mistakes.

[Perazzimx14]

Older Moto Guzzi's are good prices right now, but a 20 or more year old bike should be really gone thru.   I'd say change all hoses and flush fluids, clutch cable also throttle cables and clean up any PO mistakes.

I have a tendency to do a lot of this stuff on any used bike I buy, no matter the age. Gives me the opportunity to go over it with a fine tooth comb and get to know the bike. More often than not  find out that there are very few good 12v electricians out there that know how to properly wire accessories.

[Gliderjohn]

This was my selling experience last fall. Needed to sell my 2011 Norge with 27,000 miles on it. Had some scrapes from two tip overs on dirt/sand at basically zero mph and one in a parking lot when my foot slipped out from under me due to fine sand and silt. Otherwise...
Both original and a Cal Sci wind screens.
Back tire about 89%, front 40% but with another new front tire to go with the bike.
Guzzi side cases and matching top case.
Fresh oil change.
Rollored.
Ran great, everything worked as it should.
Tough sell but went for $1,800 after a period of no nibbles.

Picture is the buyer taking it away.

[Dave Swanson]

This was my selling experience last fall. Needed to sell my 2011 Norge with 27,000 miles on it. Had some scrapes from two tip overs on dirt/sand at basically zero mph and one in a parking lot when my foot slipped out from under me due to fine sand and silt. Otherwise...
Both original and a Cal Sci wind screens.
Back tire about 89%, front 40% but with another new front tire to go with the bike.
Guzzi side cases and matching top case.
Fresh oil change.
Rollored.
Ran great, everything worked as it should.
Tough sell but went for $1,800 after a period of no nibbles.

Picture is the buyer taking it away.

That takes the prize for the best mile muncher for the money! 

But we need a SAD button.  Like button doesn't fit for this one.   

[toomanybikes]

for one more data point, I recently sold my '16 Audace (11k miles) for $4500. It was a non-running project when I picked it up, but clean enough overall that I thought it was easily a >$5k bike once I got it 100% roadworthy.

Nope.

The Guzzi brand is just not widely known and the minimal dealer support further decreases their value to all but us DIY mechanics.

[Moparnut72]

The sad part of Moto Guzzis but we knew that going in. I sold my V100 well below market to be able to sell it in a timely manner. I got next to nothing for my V7lll on trade in. It is what it is, I just think of the joy I got out of them. I just traded my Ram dually on a new Jeep Gladiator, I didn't need that big a truck anymore nor want to drive that big monster around town. It had several dents and scrapes so I took a beating but that's life. Thirteen years and 100,000 miles later it was ok. I always buy high and sell low, that's what my cattle rancher step father always said, I just follow in his footsteps.
kk

[Motormike]

I always buy high and sell low, that's what my cattle rancher step father always said, I just follow in his footsteps.
kk

 Jay Leno once said that every bike could become a future classic if you wait long enough!... "You didn't price it too low, you just sold too soon!" 

[bigbikerrick]

I wonder  are  used Guzzi sales in Europe, and other countries outside of the USA experiencing the same thing?
Rick.

[Kev m]

I wonder  are  used Guzzi sales in Europe, and other countries outside of the USA experiencing the same thing?
Rick.

The prices have always looked higher on the same used models in the EU to me but it might vary by country or region.

[Clifton]

The sad part of Moto Guzzis but we knew that going in. I sold my V100 well below market to be able to sell it in a timely manner. I got next to nothing for my V7lll on trade in. It is what it is, I just think of the joy I got out of them.

I recently took a pretty big hit trading my V100 Stelvio but at least with BMW incentives they took almost $5K off leftover 25 GS. I still have my V85 though and it's not going anywhere.


 

I always buy high and sell low, that's what my cattle rancher step father always said, I just follow in his footsteps.

LOL describes me to a T. :)

[DoubleGuzzi]

The prices have always looked higher on the same used models in the EU to me but it might vary by country or region.

Varies quite a bit by model too. In the UK, private sale of a Breva is depressingly low for a seller, yet a Le Mans not so much. London-centric prices in general (cars & bikes) tend to be lower than N. Scotland, for example.
I've seen bikes up for sale, for well over a year, by both private and trade sellers, not counting the ones asking for "silly money".

[yrunvs]

Whenever I check out used bikes (Guzzies included) the first thing I look at are the tires. I don't change my own so purchase and installation is a major expense. A $2700.00 cycle with good rubber is a $2200.00 cycle with bad rubber.

[johnwesley]

The Moto Guzzi market has been low for a long time. They just aren’t widely known, and most modern riders care a lot about the dealership network. Today’s bikes are complicated, and many riders don’t work on them anymore—it’s often hard just to diagnose problems. When you combine that with Guzzi’s almost nonexistent dealer network in some areas, it scares potential buyers away.

Personally, I find working on bikes satisfying, and the older Guzzis are almost therapeutic to me. For someone who enjoys learning a machine and getting to know a bike with real character, they’re fantastic. It’s a great bike and a great market for riders who appreciate pure riding enjoyment and don’t mind turning a wrench.

I had a guy ask me once about buying a Guzzi. I told him it’s like a marriage—a lifetime commitment. He laughed, and I smiled because I knew I was telling the truth. He ended up buying one, but later decided he didn’t want to put the money into it that it needed. Last I saw, it was sitting there listed for $1,500 as an EV Touring. The listing has since been pulled. I suspect dealing with lowball offers and tire kickers got old pretty fast.

As for me, I buy ’em to ride ’em… which is probably why I have so many Moto Guzzis.