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

[TN Mark]

The market determines a bikes 'value' first, then the seller and the buyer either agree, or not. Last year I paid $9k for a 2016 Eldorado with less than 1500 miles on it. Was that way over priced? Yes, if it were a stock bike. Especially when the 2016 Eldorado in Canada was presented a week or so ago for under $3K USD. Did I pay 3 times more than I should have? Maybe. If the bikes were the same. They're the same make, model and year. But the differences then become quite evident.

They are not the same regarding condition, mileage and installed accessories. The seller literally had receipts totaling over $12K (yes, $12K) for items and accessories he bought and had installed on the bike. That's after he paid $9.5K for the bike just over a year prior to me buying it from him.

Though I did remove the Guzzi accessory bar end mirrors, the GIVI trunk and the front and rear camera system that was on the bike.  I now have two GIVI trunks in my attic I have no use for. If you need one, please let me know. Plus, I also will not be reinstalling the camera system. Look for it to be offered in the Swap Meet section soon.

So, did I overpay? Some (most Guzzi owners) would most certainly think so. Would anyone else pay $9K for it? Apparently not, he had two other people call about it. One hung up as soon as he heard the asking price and one lost interest as soon as he realized he couldn't buy it for $6K.

For me, it was the exact make, model, color and year I wanted. Plus it had the factory and aftermarket accessories I really wanted. Could I sell it today and get my $9K back? Doubtful. But, for me, this Guzzi is expected to be with me as long as I live. Even if I live longer than I can ride. I'd still like to keep it. If for no other reason than to admire it's classic and beautiful design.

So, for me, no, I didn't overpay. Though I'm certain the 'Market' disagrees with me.

 

[Bulldog9]

The market determines a bikes 'value' first, then the seller and the buyer either agrees, or not. Last year I paid $9k for a 2016 Eldorado with less than 1500 miles on it. Was that way over priced? Yes, if it were a stock bike. Especially when the 2016 Eldorado in Canada was presented a week or so ago for under $3K USD. Did I pay 3 times more than I should have? Maybe. If the bikes were the same. They're the same make, model and year. But the differences then become quite evident.

They are not the same regarding condition, mileage and installed accessories. The seller literally had receipts totaling over $12K (yes, $12K) for items and accessories he bought and had installed on the bike. That's after he paid $9.5K for the bike just over a year prior to me buying it from him.

Though I did remove the Guzzi accessory bar end mirrors, the GIVI trunk and the front and rear camera system that was on the bike.  I now have two GIVI trunks in my attic I have no use for. If you need one, please let me know. Plus, I also will not be reinstalling the camera system. Look for it to be offered in the Swap Meet section soon.

So, did I overpay? Some (most Guzzi owners) would most certainly think so. Would anyone else pay $9K for it? Apparently not, he had two other people call about it. One hung up as soon as he heard the asking price and one lost interest as soon as he realized he couldn't buy it for $6K.

For me, it was the exact make, model, color and year I wanted. Plus it had the factory and aftermarket accessories I really wanted. Could I sell it today and get my $9K back? Doubtful. But, for me, this Guzzi is expected to be with me as long as I live. Even if I live longer than I can ride. I'd still like to keep it. If for no other reason than to admire it's classic and beautiful design.

So, for me, no, I didn't overpay. Though I'm certain the 'Market' disagrees with me.

I don't think you overpaid.

Simple math for me.
- That is easily a $6K bike in that condition.
- Add $3K for $12K in accessories (how the ham sandwich he did that I have no idea)
- $9,000 is at the high end, but not a terrible price for the best of the 1400's.

Could you sell it for $9000? maybe to the right buyer. Most people will completely dismiss any accessories or performance upgrades, but I've always kept them in sight. When figuring on accessories, I always adjust for 25-30% of original cost if the parts are relatively new and in perfect condition. The parts don't only have value for what the PO spent, but what YOU are saved from spending.

So by my simple math, you paid a fair price.

I bought my MGX-21 for $14995 and sold it 5-6 months later for $15000 with 6K miles IIRC. I did add an Agostini Exhaust, Corbin, Isotta Crash bars and windscreen, and adapted a used and repainted Norge Topcase I had to it, so I had to eat the $2300 in add ons (sold the Corbin and broke even), but I was happy to get away as good as I did. I keep waiting to see it pop up somewhere, but it is among the missing. Likey the ONLY MGX-21 with a topcase.

[TN Mark]

Wow, that's a very good looking MGX-21. Someone got a very nice and a very unique MGX-21. And you did well by it! I always thought Moto Guzzi should have used the back half of the MGX mated to the front half of the CA Touring. I'm always a fan of the integrated 'designed in' look. Like what the MGX bags have with the back of the bike. Even the GIVI trunk looks good on that one.

[boatdetective]

Agreed- the "new" generation of Guzzis are coming on the used market and seem to me to be solid value. There are always V7s popping up and they are just pretty, straight forward machines.

What do people think about the 1400 Calis?  I see them come on the market for short money.  A friend of mine had a touring model that was quite pleasant to ride and handled surprisingly well.  The top of the range seems to be the Eldos, which have just phenomenal details.  Any reports of long term problems with them?

[Bulldog9]

Wow, that's a very good looking MGX-21. Someone got a very nice and a very unique MGX-21. And you did well by it! I always thought Moto Guzzi should have used the back half of the MGX mated to the front half of the CA Touring. I'm always a fan of the integrated 'designed in' look. Like what the MGX bags have with the back of the bike. Even the GIVI trunk looks good on that one.

I was just happy to get out of it without too much of a hit.

I liked the bike, and as a Touring bike, it was sublime. Powerful, nimble at certain speeds, and of course unique.

Ultimately 3 months after buying it, my hip socket finally tore open and the back of the labrum tore out. This triggered the need for a hip replacement (too old for labrum repair), and because the knee on that same leg was shot (3 ACL replacements and annual arthroscopy to clean up the torn and disappearing meniscus) and had to be replaced as well, I was looking at a year of being down for the count, the idea of pushing around an almost 900 lb bike was just not in the cards. I still had a year and a half of the warranty left, and decided to sell. Sold it in 3 days to a 'one and done' dude on Wild Guzzi. His check cleared so I didn't mind.

If I LOVED the bike I would have kept it, but it had several fatal flaws beyond the fatness IMO.

1. Low speed stability. No matter how I fiddled, adjusted suspension, tire pressures, the bike felt extremely unstable at parking lot, driveway, neighborhood and slow speeds under 25-30mph. I never dropped it and it had good center of gravity, but the front end was nerve racking.

2. High Speed Stability. This was worse. Without the Isotta Hand guards mounted to the top of the batwing, it was VERY unstable and light at speeds above 75. With, that bumped it up to 85, but the front just got too floaty. I don't often get into triple digits, but after years on a Norge and Griso and FJR, that lack of locked in freight train feeling. Of course, it was sublime on country highway and roads, and as I did a ride trade and ride of about 300 miles each way taking the same route, I was faster and enjoyed the trip back on the MGX more than I expected.

The side cases were all but useless, as was the speaker system. In addition to being obnoxious, the sound was bad, even with upgraded speakers (which I never did). Truth is, it was a novelty, and had they used the Eldorado front fork and geometry instead of that 19 or 20" wheel, it would have been brilliant I think. I don't miss the bike at all, where I missed the Norge every day.  It just wasn't for me.

Isotta also made a seat bracket that mounted under the pillion seat. This allowed me to fabricate two pieces of C Channel Steel and mount the Norge Baseplate and topcase I had saved from the Norge. I took a body panel to the local Napa, matched the paint as close as possible and painted it up. It really was a looker, and the Ago Exhaust sounded great.

As it would turn out, I made a 110% recovery from the joint replacements, and I could have easily handled the weight, but it was still too big and heavy for my likes. I am VERY happy with my 2012 Norge.

[TN Mark]

Bulldog9, I read about all your issues and more. I never rode an MGX but even lifting it
off the side stand at a dealer, was a big disappointment. Plus reading about all the issues
Luap had with his.

Then again, I never rode an Eldorado either. I loved the aesthetics from the moment I first saw one.
Then sitting on one at a dealer, it just ‘fit’ me.

The only 1400 I ever ride was a huge disappointment. It was a white CA Touring in excellent
condition and at a decent price. The fuel tuning was so bad on my test ride that I quickly went
back to the dealer. They knew the bike had running issues and they didn’t have the will nor
the inclination to address it.

As time went on and additional information became available. I knew running issues could be
dealt with. Especially with the guys over on GuzziTech.  The rest, is recent history.