Rust? Newbie here

[Orangem]

Hi all,
Looking to get my first Moto Guzzi. Just checked out a 2013 V7R with a few hundred kms (barely off the lot). But it got rust on bolts, rust on shift linkage, white rust on anodized bolts and rust on the base of the tank. The seller (a non Guzzi dealer) said they are all like this. I just have a hard time believing a bike with few hundred kms are like that. My instinct tells me that the bike was stored wet or in a humid place, probably not stored properly. What's are your opinions? I attached some photos.

[oldbike54]

 No , they don't all do that , run away .

  Dusty

[guzzinka]

So, don't ever believe a word of any vehicle salesman ever.  Ever!  They lie for a living, profit is the only motive.  However, if the price is right, bolts and linkage aren't a big deal to upgrade, use your judgement and shamelessly push that price down.  Crazy low.  Keep going.  Just the fact that you knew something wasn't right shows you have good instinct!

[sign216]

I agree that it was probably put away wet, or stored in a humid place.

[guzzinka]

Where are you located?  Here in Chicago it does not take long to get rusty bolts etc. if left out or ridden in the winter at all, even just a little.  Does not rule out a sale if the price is adjusted accordingly after a thorough inspection tho.   If rust sank every vehicle sale, nobody would have anything to drive here 

[Nic in Western NYS]

Never sleeps. Find another bike.

[pikipiki]

They probably all are like that (irrespective of brand) where he gets his nearly new bikes from.
My instinct is same as yours probably a storage issue.
 It would not put me off, make sure you get a test ride check out things that really matter. Some bolts are cheap to replace, others can make do with a rub of grease. If dealer does not change rusty bolts on a near new bike expect to have to check bike over properly. Adjust what you will pay accordingly.

[oldbike54]

 OP states there is also rust on the base of the gas tank . I can buy a rusty motorbike cheap W/O aid from a dealer .

  Dusty

[jetmechmarty]

Three things  needed for corrosion are a cathode, an anode, and electrolyte.  The electrolyte in this case is water from the great outdoors and the bike is full of anodes and cathodes.  Eliminate the electrolyte and the corrosion stops.  Leave that thing outside and it gets worse in a hurry.  Bolts are plated with sacrificial anode such as zinc or cadmium.  That's the white powder on the bolts.  Once it's gone, you'll start seeing familiar brown rust.

Keep it clean and dry and it should be fine like it is.  You may want to address electrical contacts immediately.  If the price is right, this could be a bargain.  Fixing it and making it all pretty again could be expensive and time consuming.  If you want a pretty bike and working on one, spending money on parts isn't your thing, run away.  Otherwise, this one has to have a very steep discount.

[Orangem]

Yeah, it got rust on the tank's hook where the leather strapped is hooked to.
The chrome was peeling and it was rusting on the hook. Thought the tank is aluminium but perhaps the hook is made of metal? On the first picture.

[jetmechmarty]

Aluminum corrodes, too.  Especially if it's an alloy. 

[JeffOlson]

One can get rusty bolts just from washing a bike.

I'm not sure that would put me off. Bolts can be replaced.

My new BMW 228i front rotors are rusty because, well, I drive it in the rain and take it through the car wash. My Norge was getting some corrosion on the handlebar risers because I rode it in the rain, and washed it outside, and kept it outside. When I get another bike, it will just have to be tough, because it will be ridden in the rain, washed outside, and kept outside.

[Tom]

You should get a better price since it's showing rust.  Storage problem.  It's probably in the dealer's garage. 

[Orangem]

too bad they are not willing to lower the price any more. Also, no test ride. only 2k difference between a brand new one with warranty and this one with no warranty....

[oldbike54]

too bad they are not willing to lower the price any more. Also, no test ride. only 2k difference between a brand new one with warranty and this one with no warranty....

 They are going to learn a tough lesson about selling Moto Guzzi then .

  Dusty

[Triple Jim]

No test ride?  Ha, if I were thinking of buying it, showed my current license with motorcycle endorsement, offered to leave collateral, and was told I couldn't ride it, I'd walk out the door without a second thought.

[Cool Runnings]

Just purchased a 2014 Norge with 100 miles on her. Was down at the dealer getting a 12,000 mile service on the Vespa and noticed a white Norge setting on the floor. Sticker price was something like $16,200. Salesman said I could have in for $12,000 (November). Came back the next day for a test drive, no problem, just fill out this forum and we will see you in 20 minutes. Yup.

[JeffOlson]

Just purchased a 2014 Norge with 100 miles on her. Was down at the dealer getting a 12,000 mile service on the Vespa and noticed a white Norge setting on the floor. Sticker price was something like $16,200. Salesman said I could have in for $12,000 (November). Came back the next day for a test drive, no problem, just fill out this forum and we will see you in 20 minutes. Yup.

Congrats! Great bike! Best color: Motorists may pull over in front of you, thinking you are a cop (about a dozen did for me until a lady school teacher decided rear-end me--at east the cops came!)

By the way, you probably don't want to know how many of us have tipped over our Norges...

[Gliderjohn]

Quote from JeffOlson:

By the way, you probably don't want to know how many of us have tipped over our Norges...

Done what? Never!
GliderJohn

[frans belgium]

too bad they are not willing to lower the price any more. Also, no test ride. only 2k difference between a brand new one with warranty and this one with no warranty....

Walk and don't go back

[ed.bremner]

It wouldn't be a big thing for me.  I might well take advantage of it to try and drive the price down.  But in this case, it sounds like there are other issues with the seller anyway.

Bottom line is that with any new bike, if you live in a damp cold climate and it is left outside or you even use it..... it is going to rust.

I really don't know why manufacturers don't consider using far more 'stainless' fasteners on their bikes,  SS is so cheap these days, I can't see it adding substantially to the price.

Anyway, if it was me, and the bike panned out otherwise, I would buy it and replace every fastener I could with stainless.  I always do this anyway as  it is so damp/humid/cold here anything will rust, even in my workshop, let alone outside.

eib

[canuguzzi]

Getting in a huff because of what a dealer says is shortsighted. The apart of negotiations is being able to do more than walk away, anyone can do that.

What is the price you'd be willing to pay? If you don't know that before you walk in the door, you aren't giving yourself a fair play.

So the dealer said no test ride. Who cares? Make your best deal and just before you exchange money for bike, bring up the test ride. He might still say no but you have the power at that point, your money. At the last gasp, no test ride, no money in his hands.

If all you do is walk away from deals until you get someone else to seemingly give you what you want, you know you got screwed.

[Triple Jim]

You're right, NP.  I wasn't thinking of a case where the potential buyer wanted a test ride before a deal was struck.  I can see why a dealer would say "no" at that point.  I've always made the decision about whether to buy, and negotiated a price before explaining that I'll have to have a short ride before the deal is done. 

When I bought the Ninja 250 this summer, everything was agreed on, and I told the seller I need a test ride.  He was starting to scrunch up his face when I said "You hold the cash, I ride, and if I wreck it, you keep the cash.  If I find something wrong, I get it back.  If the ride shows me that everything's OK, I put the bike in the van and we're done."  He happily agreed.

If he had refused that deal, I would have assumed he was hiding a problem, and bid him farewell.

[canuguzzi]

^^^

Also, don't forget that with new bikes you generally sign a customer acceptance form saying they went over the safety procedures and basic functions and features.

This is your last chance to be nit  pickey and be so like no other time. Go over everything. Any little scratch, any adjustments to handlebars etc you note on the form. If something needs to be attended to and is minor make sure you mark it down. On any form you are given to sign you can make your own notations, have the dealer rep sign their name on behalf if the dealership that they will be corrected AND have them note the date by when that will be completed to your satisfaction.

It is so easy to bend to pressure or the rep saying they'll take care of it. In writing, always. Friendly is nice, business means in writing. Then let them buy you something to drink ( non alcoholic if your riding or driving home).

For a used bike, consider a hold back if something needs to be fixed but you are taking the bike. Make the hold back equal to the cost if getting it fixed so that if things don't work out, you go elsewhere and have it done. It works and gives everyone an incentive to make each other happy.

[jbell]

One can get rusty bolts just from washing a bike.

I'm not sure that would put me off. Bolts can be replaced.

My new BMW 228i front rotors are rusty because, well, I drive it in the rain and take it through the car wash. My Norge was getting some corrosion on the handlebar risers because I rode it in the rain, and washed it outside, and kept it outside. When I get another bike, it will just have to be tough, because it will be ridden in the rain, washed outside, and kept outside.

Jeff, I'm one of those vehicle salesman that lies about everything (according to Guzzinka) since retired, so you can take this with a grain of salt.  I think the reason your rotors are rusty is because they are made of cast iron rather than a stainless.  The cast rotors offer better bite with softer pads and are less likely to squeal and may be cheaper to produce.  Rust is inevitable with them and not to be feared in this instance.