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

[vxn750]

It’s all a load of crap, just buy your bike, love it, ride it and stop buying some pus bucket that you fell head over heels for in a 5 minute toss fest, then want someone to bail you out..

My ‘07 Norge is “worth” $30,000..
Why ?
Easy, because I said so…

I'm really enjoying how lively this thread has become with the mention of Ducati, Monster and Desmo 
And isn't falling "head over heels" part of the fun with motorcycles?  We all know that other makes come and go, but Guzzi's are forever 

I never have a problem selling a bike if I have it priced right. I've gotten some really great deals over the years, so selling a bike for less than I had anticipated is actually fine. Besides, how can you put a price tag on a "5 minute toss fest"? 

[Huzo]

I could answer that last question, but Dan would belt me…
As for “falling head over heels”, yes that is the fun of hooking up with a new flame, however when you’re sick to death of her, you don’t expect someone to want her as much as you did.
You WILL lose money on a bike.

[SIR REAL ED]

On a side note, I'm considering purchasing a new bike and my wife asked me how many bikes total that would be. It would make five. She said, "that's so many". I asked her if it was "so many" in quotations marks, and she said no, "so many!" with an exclamation mark. 

I have a short list of older bikes that for the right price, I'd like to try out (Nevada 750, Ducati Monster 620, Buell Lightning XB12Scg, Royal Enfield Classic 500, Honda NX250, Kawasaki Super Sherpa 250).

Eons ago, Peter Egan wrote an article discussing how many bikes one needed.  After much thought, the number he and his riding buddies arrived at was five.

At work one morning a friend and I were discussing the bikes we owned.  Another friend's wife, whose husband also rode, joined the conversation and asked "How many bikes do you need?  You can only ride one at a time!"

I replied "Peggy, don't try to understand this.  It is like a man trying to understand how many pairs of shoes a woman needs!"

She replied "Actually, now I do understand!"

[SIR REAL ED]

Besides, how can you put a price tag on a "5 minute toss fest"?

I hear some people actually do that for a living....

[kidsmoke]

warms my heart to hear the GRiSO spoken of in such reverent tone. Hopefully it holds it's allure. I bought at what will likely turn out to be high on my one 'classic' Guzzi, but I wasn't doing it as an investment. Perhaps my GRiSO will offset that. That is if I ever let it go, which is inconcievable to me currently. I'm fully and absolutely smitten. 

Hamlin's attention to detail shouldn't be taken into account when discussing 'dealers selling used bikes'. He is simply on a different level, with no peer. If I was looking for a new-to-me machine, a fly n ride from his inventory would be option 1, 2 and 3. Let alone: I'm a CARC fan and he is a CARC whisperer. If you ever get a chance to scrutinize a build of his, do it. It will either motivate you to perform at a higher level, or just give up trying. I hope that as a community we can make the business lucrative for him - and Cadre - so that we can continue to have them putting properly sorted Guzzi's on the road for as long as they feel so inclined.

[Motormike]

I have never owned a Ducati let alone ever ridden one nor do I have any desire to do either. They just do not do a thing for me.

How could you possibly know if you've never even ridden one?

I have a friend that just got back from Daytona Bike.  While there, he demo rode a Guzzi 850TT.  His review, "I hated it!  Worst motorcycle I've ever ridden."  Now I could have guessed that his opinion would have been something like that.  He likes to ride hard and fast (his cars are a C8 Corvette and a new Tesla Model S) and his bike is an FJR. This was the very first (and I suspect last) time he'd even thrown a leg over a Moto Guzzi. But I knew since he rides "balls to the wall," any motorcycle with less than 100 horsepower is simply underpowered in his opinion. So, I was not at all surprised by his dismissive opinion. But at least he RODE the bike before forming that opinion! 

[blackcat]

"Peggy, don't try to understand this.  It is like a man trying to understand how many pairs of shoes a woman needs!"

She replied "Actually, now I do understand!"

I had the same discussion with my wife, unfortunately she is good at math and quickly calculated that her large shoe collection doesn't come close to the cost of all of my bikes.  So I've never gone there again with shoes vs bikes. 

[Perazzimx14]

My wife is my wingman when it comes to buying bikes. She rides along to get most of them helping me load/unload them and also checks FBMP several times a week to see if there is something I might be interested in.

[Bulldog9]

My wife is my wingman when it comes to buying bikes. She rides along to get most of them helping me load/unload them and also checks FBMP several times a week to see if there is something I might be interested in.

My wife is supportive and tolerant. Part of that is whatever I do has to be cash, comes out of the 'hobby fund' and doesn't impact the family budget. She just rolls her eyes when I bring another one home. The best part is she now looks for cars/motorcycles like mine.

[johnwesley]

My wife is supportive and tolerant. Part of that is whatever I do has to be cash, comes out of the 'hobby fund' and doesn't impact the family budget. She just rolls her eyes when I bring another one home. The best part is she now looks for cars/motorcycles like mine.

That’s the way it rolls around here, cash money that doesn’t affect the family. She use to give me flack but now she doesn’t say a word and tolerates me going on about them. 

[Stretch]

Quote from my girlfriend:

"It's your money, buy whatever ya want....."

She's a lovely lady, don't you think? 

                                        -Stretch

[sdcr]

I'd like to try a Honda ST, a Yamaha GTS1000, and a BMW K1600 for a few days to see if I could live with them (perhaps a couple of other odd-balls).

Here you go, under $2000.
https://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/mcy/d/point-pleasant-beach-2005-honda-st1300/7919067314.html

[snobear]

My wife says "you need to buy another bike to work on you are sitting in my house too much"

[Stretch]

That ST1300 is what I'm talking about. If you just want a nice bike to
ride and aren't fussy about the manufacturer, there are some REALLY
nice deals out there!

You MIGHT ride that one away for $1500. Even with new tires, taxes,
and insurance, you're still on the road for under $3K with a bike that will
last 100K.

Not at all a bad deal these days.


                                                  -Stretch

[red stripeguz]

another sub $2000 Honda ST

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/234641669626757/?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=lCAL5Ch8Om6fNosc&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F18Y74gmjY2%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr#

[turboguzzi]

Well, there's a reason those ST1300 sell for silly prices, nobody ever heard of the "Pan Weave"?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_ST_series#:~:text=Evidence%20indicates%20the%20ST1300%20can,owners%20had%20experienced%20the%20weave.

[red stripeguz]

Well, there's a reason those ST1300 sell for silly prices, nobody ever heard of the "Pan Weave"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_ST_series#:~:text=Evidence%20indicates%20the%20ST1300%20can,owners%20had%20experienced%20the%20weave.

I was actually reading up on that yesterday

[Cam3512]

How could you possibly know if you've never even ridden one?

I have a friend that just got back from Daytona Bike.  While there, he demo rode a Guzzi 850TT.  His review, "I hated it!  Worst motorcycle I've ever ridden."  Now I could have guessed that his opinion would have been something like that.  He likes to ride hard and fast (his cars are a C8 Corvette and a new Tesla Model S) and his bike is an FJR. This was the very first (and I suspect last) time he'd even thrown a leg over a Moto Guzzi. But I knew since he rides "balls to the wall," any motorcycle with less than 100 horsepower is simply underpowered in his opinion. So, I was not at all surprised by his dismissive opinion. But at least he RODE the bike before forming that opinion!

Sounds like the perfect candidate for a Darwin Award.

[Clifton]

Eons ago, Peter Egan wrote an article discussing how many bikes one needed.  After much thought, the number he and his riding buddies arrived at was five.

I remember reading that and I think 4-5 is about right.

At work one morning a friend and I were discussing the bikes we owned.  Another friend's wife, whose husband also rode, joined the conversation and asked "How many bikes do you need?  You can only ride one at a time!"

Motorcycles are like golf clubs they all do different things.

Used motorcycle prices are low so the smart money is buying used now, especially brands like Harley, Guzzi, KTM, and BMW which lately seem to depreciate more than most.

[Stretch]

Hadn't heard of the "Pan Weave" before. Now I know.

                                        -Stretch

[sdcr]

Well, there's a reason those ST1300 sell for silly prices, nobody ever heard of the "Pan Weave"?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_ST_series#:~:text=Evidence%20indicates%20the%20ST1300%20can,owners%20had%20experienced%20the%20weave.

Also, very heavy, and very warm, especially in summer weather.

[Bulldog9]

Back in the day when I was hooked on Japanese IL4s, I sold my C10 Concours with 100K miles before heading to Iraq in 2001. When I came back in 2003, I bought an FZ1 and promptly wrecked on the Cherohala skyway (pushed off the road by a lane crosser). Anyway, after taking a couple years back on my XS1100, I figured it was a good time to cross shop. Looked at the FJR, 1400 Concours, VFR, ST12/1300, BMWs RT, Triumph ST(?) and a few others. The VFR was tasty, but too sporty and the ST was OK, but the motor was so smooth it was weird and felt bland and dead. I ended up on an FJR. Looking back, I should have gone back to a C10 Concours.

Never a Guzzi or Guzzi Dealer in sight back then.

[Motormike]

Quote from my girlfriend:

"It's your money, buy whatever ya want....."

She's a lovely lady, don't you think? 

                                        -Stretch

Actually, I like the motorcycle For Sale Sign that says:
 
Motorcycle For Sale.  Apparently, "do whatever you want" doesn't mean what I thought it did!" 

[Motormike]

Sounds like the perfect candidate for a Darwin Award.

You'd think, but no. He's in his 50's.  Some people seem to be able to get away with it forever without repercussions. 

Me, I get a speeding ticket doing 10 over.  Then there was that time I got stopped for riding my ZX-12 110 in a 55.  Getting arrested kinda takes all the fun out of it.  But hey, that was 25 years ago.

[coast range rider]

I had the same discussion with my wife, unfortunately she is good at math and quickly calculated that her large shoe collection doesn't come close to the cost of all of my bikes.  So I've never gone there again with shoes vs bikes.

Have her do the math on resale value.
Finally we have a comparison to put a good spin on Guzzi resale value.

[blackcat]

Have her do the math on resale value.
Finally we have a comparison to put a good spin on Guzzi resale value.

Just talking about the resale value on the Norge, I'd say that some of her shoes have a higher resale value as a percentage of cost than an 07 Norge with 70,000 miles. If she was also into expensive handbags there'd be no discussion of return on investment compared to most Guzzi's. 

[Bulldog9]

You'd think, but no. He's in his 50's.  Some people seem to be able to get away with it forever without repercussions. 

Me, I get a speeding ticket doing 10 over.  Then there was that time I got stopped for riding my ZX-12 110 in a 55.  Getting arrested kinda takes all the fun out of it.  But hey, that was 25 years ago.

Back a few years ago, my long time riding buddy (back to the 90's when we were on XS's) decided to visit his son at VMI and then do the tail of the Dragon/Cherohala. While rocketing back up I81 in Virginia early in the morning on Memorial Day, the road was empty and our speed kept creeping up and up. We were both on FJRs and cooking along at 130+/- Each in out own lane but still staggered. Then in the center median in a nice little cutout in the long grass was johnny law.... He had us dead to rights... We pulled over just past the next exit, shut off our bikes, put our flashers on, helmets off, papers in hand trying to look humble. I wanted him to see that we COULD have taken the exit and squirted. If I was in my 20's, I likely would have, but not in my 50's and being in the Military. Speeding was bad enough if I got pinched, but fleeing? Yeah, I might not get discharged, but that would be in my permanent paperwork, and would pretty much keep me from getting promoted. Retiring at 20yrs as a Major instead of Colonel is like night and day $$ wise, and I didn't want the butt chewing that would follow from my immediate boss, and my branch chief..........

Anyhow, in Virginia, thats go to jail, get your bike impounded on the spot. Well a few minutes go by and we think maybe he decided NOT to pursue, but then we saw his lights come over the horizon, and he sped past us, then hammered his brakes and backed along the shoulder to where we were.  He asked in his FINE Vuuhhginyeah accent "Was that you boys who just flew by me?" We said yes officer. He then looks at us and said 1. I thought you were a couple kids............. 2. Your both military (buddy was a retired Navy Pilot), and this is Memorial day, so please keep it under 90, and he walked back to his cruiser............

I've only been pulled over twice on a motorcycle, got out of it both times. Now when it comes to cages? Don't get me started. I think I have put someone's kids through college for all the photo tickets I've gotten between DC and NYC on 95......

[Buckturgidson]

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.

I'm with you, thought about selling my Norge but for $2800 I'd rather keep it.
Cellular service doesn't have to be a concern anymore. Newer iphones have satellite texting. I was out of cell coverage last week near Panamint Springs and was texting a friend via satellite with an iphone 14, it works great. Voice calls via satellite are coming....

[bacongrease]

My wife says "you need to buy another bike to work on you are sitting in my house too much"

  Lucky.    She didn't say, " go for a ride, a trip, a week or so.".  Or suggest a R T W. ?

.