Rare White SPIII on Craigslist MN

[John Ulrich]

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/mcy/5145917718.html

It's in Red Wing, MN no connection etc.

[yogidozer]

real purty!

[Denis]

Wow, that looks great! I love the white ones and they are REALLY rare.

[blackcat]

Low miles too.

When I was looking for an SPIII the white one was my first choice but it never happened and I ended up the Cadillac gold. Good bikes, hot in the summertime.

[Travlr]

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/mcy/5145917718.html

It's in Red Wing, MN no connection etc.

Did that use the LeMans motor?

Mike

[Tom]

It has the same engine as the Strada. 

[John Ulrich]

I know from the guy who did it....this one has a hotter cam in it!   

[John A]

I know him too, John. This bike is in very nice condition both cosmeticly and mechanically. Never abused and well taken care of. No worries on this one!

[dxhall]

I've emailed the seller.  John U., if you know this fellow, can you let him know I'm not a Nigerian scammer?

[Lannis]

I've emailed the seller.  John U., if you know this fellow, can you let him know I'm not a Nigerian scammer?

If something suddenly changed to allow my knees to fit behind the fairing, you'd be too late to get this one ....

That's a beautiful example of one of my favorite Guzzis.

Lannis

[Yukonica]

How can anyone own such a nice machine and only put on 13k km in 22 years? I managed that number in the first five months of owning my lowly V7 special.
If that were an 850 LM IV (or III) up for sale with the engine barely seated  I'd be subdividing my property, selling my dogs, hawking my camera's .... every option explored.

[Tom]

Could have been his cold weather bike.

[fotoguzzi]

How can anyone own such a nice machine and only put on 13k km in 22 years? I managed that number in the first five months of owning my lowly V7 special.
If that were an 850 LM IV (or III) up for sale with the engine barely seated  I'd be subdividing my property, selling my dogs, hawking my camera's .... every option explored.

I'd have a hard time selling my dog for an overpriced outdated ditch pump on wheels..

[Tom]

Great face.

[canuguzzi]

And the dog knows it too. 

[canuguzzi]

That SPIII though, what a looker. Rather a timeless figure.

[Yukonica]

I'd have a hard time selling my dog for an overpriced outdated ditch pump on wheels..

We breed Bernese Mountain Dogs. The very worst day is the day we send a puppy off to their new home. The beautiful part is they remember us years later. 'Baby Huey' is 135 pounds of headstrong love I get to see every couple years. This titled working dog turns himself inside out and drops any pretense of obedience until he gets to greet, cuddle and hug me. It is a special feeling to be the focus of that intense love.
They are never 'for sale' but if you are lucky you may be allowed to adopt one.

[Muzz]

Every tine I see a white MG I think of Dean's White Magnolia.  Got to be one of the nicest looking bikes ever!

[leafman60]

I was never attracted to the SP.  Too much plastic covering for my tastes.

[Don Ivey]

I was never attracted to the SP.  Too much plastic covering for my tastes.

And, it gets very hot in the Southern Summer.  But the other three seasons, total bliss.

[Travlr]

One can buy a Norge for the same price, or close.

Why would you buy the SP3 over a Norge???

Mike

[Lannis]

One can buy a Norge for the same price, or close.

Why would you buy the SP3 over a Norge???

Mike

Older technology - carbs, no ECU, etc.   More likely (possibly perceived, but real enough for me) that a normal shade-tree Guzzi owner could keep it running for many years without a Diagnostic Power Axone Commander Diagnostic Guzziwhiz update for his laptop.

Plus they have a nice "feel" on the road.    If I had the choice for the same money, I'd choose the SP.

Lannis

[blackcat]

The SPIII has mostly unobtainable plastic parts so a drop of any major kind will be a problem unless one is willing to find another bike for parts. A Norge runs cooler which says a lot, performs and handles better plus you don't have to fold your knee's(if possible) behind the fairing and if you ride with a passenger the Norge is far superior to the SPIII.

[canuguzzi]

One can buy a Norge for the same price, or close.

Why would you buy the SP3 over a Norge???

Mike

"Buy them all, let the roads sort them out"

by Me.

[ITSec]

One can buy a Norge for the same price, or close.

Why would you buy the SP3 over a Norge???

Mike

Not over a Norge - next to a Norge, in the garage!

[John in PA]

I had a dandy green SPIII in years past.  I agree that they are warm in the summer. And you have to fiddle with bodywork when doing some maintenance.

 But riding one is the  closest thing to piloting a very low altitude aircraft rather than riding a typical motorcycle. I can't explain the sensation, but that's what I felt like when riding it.  And, mine got 55-56 mpg on road trips.  That white one is almost too tempting, but I'm trying to downsize the flock, not build it up.

  Best wishes to the new owner, whoever it is.  That one is a gem.

[Travlr]

Can you get modern rubber for the 18" rims?

M

[Groover]

That looks great. I kind of want it... actually, I want it, no kind-of at all!

[Groover]

Can you get modern rubber for the 18" rims?

M

Yes, a lot of stuff. Pirelli Sport Demons, Michelin Pilot Activ, pretty much anything you'd want likely.

[flangeman_70]

Anyone that buys this can expect a good deal of work replacing seals and perished rubber items like rear main seal, and the O rings under the rocker gear.
Brakes will need flushing and the lines will likely be suspect.
The fork dust seals need to be upgraded and the oil (ATF) levels adjusted.
Open up the valve covers and remove the mayonnaise. Which leads me to this little gem, check the small cross tube where the head breathers plug into, they rust out and get small pin holes in the bottom and puke oil.
If the cam is 'hot' then it should've had a bow style tensioner installed, if not, it is worth doing.
The charging system is marginal and if you want to run heated grips needs upgrading. Various electrical items need relays installed e.g. Headlights, horns and starter motor if not already done.
I bought mine 5 years back with just on 30000 km and it ran terrible. I got it running and it leaked oil from the heads (those little O rings), rear main and gearbox rear seals. When I removed the heads the first time, I removed a layer of about 1.5 a 3mm of carbon from the head and pistons, needless to say it ran much better after that little procedure.
I am just about to K Line the heads and fit new valves after 80000km, truth is they needed it 15000 back but I couldn't get new valves then.
I run Dunlop Arrowmax Streetsmart 130/80-18 TL 66V and 110/80-18. Lower profile at the front made a huge difference in turn in and the rear lower profile is negated by the oversize width.
I am 187cm tall and I fit the bike perfectly and use it as a daily commute and LOVE IT! This engine loves to rev beyond the 3500 RPM mark.

Adam