Buying a V7 Sport or an Le Mans mk1 series II questions.

[Rick4003]

Hi all,

I have influenced my boss in a good way and he have decided that he needs a Guzzi in his stable to accompany his four wheeled Italian bulls and tri-forks!

The choices is between an 1974 V7 sport with the "reverse" brake/gearshift arrangement and a 1977 Le Mans MKI series II in metallic blue.

Link for the V7 sport:
kortlink.dk/hfsc

Link for the Le Mans:
http://www.autoscout24.com/offers/moto-guzzi-850-le-mans-prima-serie-gasoline-blue-265710403

Questions is:
V7 sport.
How many v7 sports was made with brake on left, gear on right and how many was made with black frames.

Le Mans:
How many metallic blue Le Mans mk 1 was made?

Which of the two bikes would be the best investment? The point is to ride the bikes, but if their value increase it wouldn't hurt.

What small differences do I need to look for when looking at the bikes, besides VIN numbers?

What do you say guys?

Ps. my boss has asked if I could go and get the bike/ drive it home for him. This means roadtrip thru europe on a classic Guzzi! AND he will even give me two weeks vacation to do it! What more can you ask for! 



Looking forward to hear your answers/ suggestions. 

Ulrik

[Aaron D.]

Is there a job opening?

[Rick4003]

Every year there is around 12 new travelers hired. So if you're up for building cement plants around the world, then go ahead and apply ;) I'm currently in Indonesia, not too bad really 

[Cam3512]

Both are similar in value and a worthy "ridable" investment.  Prices continue to rise.

My '74 Sport has left side shift, and bikes imported into the US around that time had to.  Most of the '74's I've seen have black body work and black frame.  I thought the green ones were earlier year bikes?

The Ice Blue 850 LeMans' are much more rare than the red ones, and personally my favorite color.  Even less white ones were produced. Left side shift.

Both bikes look to be in nice shape.  The Sports came with chrome bores that would need to be replaced.  LeMans had stock iron bores.

As far as performance, the LeMans will have MUCH more grunt than the Sport (20 more horsies), and disc brakes all around.  The Sport has adjustable Swan Neck clipons, and tends to be a more comfortable riding position. 

The Sport was the original Tonti framed factory racer.  It later evolved  into the 750S, S-3, then the LeMans.

Get BOTH, and request a month off to ride each back!

[canuck750]

If I were to choose one it would be the Le Mans, I have both a 73 V7 Sport with left hand foot brake and a 77 Le Mans. I have yet to overhaul the Le Mans but I have ridden it just a short distance and the grunt of the 850 and its brakes are far ahead of the Sport. The Sport is a very nice bike, highly collectable but in the long run I think the Le Mans will demand a higher value. The Ice Blue bikes being much rarer than the red bikes will demand a  higher value in most cases. I don't have my production numbers at hand but the V7 Sport in 1974 was to my knowledge only a North American model whereas in Europe the 74 model was the 750S.
Just my 2 cents but I would go for the Le Mans.

[Rick4003]

Get them both was my answer too!  And I would happily spend a month to ride them home 

Or maybe spend two weeks as the V7 is only about 500km from his home. Then I could spend the last two weeks putting my own guzzi together 

I'm pretty split about which one to get, the Le Mans is faster / better handling(read better brakes) but the style of the v7 and the drum brake is fantastic! Or it looks fantastic at least! 

I'll have to tell him to get both, then I can buy the Le mans of him in a years time 

He just sold one of his cars and have the money in the pocket and it sounds like they are burning in there!

[Dean Rose]

Every year there is around 12 new travelers hired. So if you're up for building cement plants around the world, then go ahead and apply ;) I'm currently in Indonesia, not too bad really 

If I was 20 years younger I'd apply. I spent 2 years in Indonesia building the Badak LNG plant.


Dean

[Aaron D.]

Yeah, sounds like a cool gig.

I've owned both bikes, though my V7 Sport was a right shift.

The LeMans is a much better bike if he intends to use it as a sport bike.  As a vintage display/coffee shop accessory it depends on taste, and yes, the Sport brake is prettier and somehow the Sport looks more integrated, the LM has a Hot-rod look that I like a lot.

[huub]

i dont know what to choose from a investent point of view,
personally i would opt for the V7sport.

as a rider , i prefer the V7sport ( i own both)
the v7sport is pretty single minded sport oriented, the short stroke engine wants to rev.
that combined with a very tall gearing , means the V7sport only makes sense if you flog it.

the le mans has some bottom power , and can actually be ridden smoothly in low revs.
easier to live with , but lacks character.

in europe all V7sports had right hand shift .
for some oversea markets importers might have converted them to left hand shift..
all V7sports exept the very first series ( telaio rosso) had black frames
oh , one more thing, the V7sport front brake is barely adequate, you might want to keep that in mind if you end up riding it back to your boss.

[PeteS]

I have a '76 LeMans, originally blue. Now its red and has been for over 30 years. Not sure why blue would be worth more unless you can document the paint is original. The paint on the bike in the link looks pretty good but may have been repainted as it appears glossy. The original paint was not flat like some modern bikes are but it was not very glossy either. More like eggshell sheen.
I have always thought the V7 Sports were cool. Seeing one in 1974 got me interested in Guzzis. The blue LeMans had me hooked. Mine has had many changes that might not appeal to a collector but it was meant to ride and ride hard. I may do a cosmetic restoration someday and return it to blue but in the meantime I will enjoy it as is.
If the buyer wants to ride it I wouldn't focus on color as making it a better investment.

Pete

[Cam3512]

Blue LeMans is probably worth more due to its rarity. I think they only made less than 100 in that color. Your's is the second I've heard of that was originally painted blue, but ended up the very common red. 

[PeteS]

If someone has list a VIN numbers with a corresponding list showing their color from the factory then the only way a blue bike would be worth more is proof the paint is original. Any repainted bike could have started out with another color. I am not sure I have any pictures showing my bike in blue so for me the point is moot.

Pete

[Cam3512]

If someone has list a VIN numbers with a corresponding list showing their color from the factory then the only way a blue bike would be worth more is proof the paint is original. Any repainted bike could have started out with another color. I am not sure I have any pictures showing my bike in blue so for me the point is moot.

Pete

What does your title say?

[Rick4003]

[qoute]the V7 Sport in 1974 was to my knowledge only a North American model whereas in Europe the 74 model was the 750S.[/qoute]

I just read the advert again, in Europe it is very common that you state the year of first registration as the title year. Not the year the bike was build. It says in the advert that it is an 1972 V7 sport, first registered in 1974. Thats why the title shows 1974.

Thanks for all of your answers.

I agree that it would be difficult to prove that the Le Mans originally was painted in the metallic blue color. Unless you have the original sales papers that state what color the bike was delivered in.

Again it must be up to my boss to decide... I would say he needs to buy the Le Mans as it is in Napoli in Italy = longest ride home = very nice way to spend a holiday! :)

[v7john]

i dont know what to choose from a investent point of view,
personally i would opt for the V7sport.

as a rider , i prefer the V7sport ( i own both)
the v7sport is pretty single minded sport oriented, the short stroke engine wants to rev.
that combined with a very tall gearing , means the V7sport only makes sense if you flog it.

the le mans has some bottom power , and can actually be ridden smoothly in low revs.
easier to live with , but lacks character.

in europe all V7sports had right hand shift .
for some oversea markets importers might have converted them to left hand shift..
all V7sports exept the very first series ( telaio rosso) had black frames
oh , one more thing, the V7sport front brake is barely adequate, you might want to keep that in mind if you end up riding it back to your boss.

I agree pretty much with all of this. If the bike is to be ridden, the Le Mans will be easier but the V7Sport will be more involving and fun. The engines feel completely different but dynamic handling is pretty much the same.

The front brake can be made to perform adequately but needs to be very carefully set up. Even then, the linked system on the Le Mans is miles better.

If the bike is being bought as an investment your boss should buy something else and let the bikes be sold to someone who will ride them! That said, the V7Sport is not going to lose money but, the Mk1 LeMans classic status will soon pass that of the V7Sport and may end up being the best route to profit.