Le Mans....Worth restoring?

[sdcr]

Lots of work and parts to make this one nice.

Then again, they're not making them anymore...

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/mcy/6063430587.html

[JJ]

Yes, absolutely!!  Bring her back to life and into circulation again, as I did a few years ago with this '83!

[JoeW]

I looked at that and it has a lot of cool stuff on it, but, no title, missing a carb and obviously been sitting in the elements for a long time. It would take a lot of work but, would be worth it in the end.

[JJ]

I looked at that and it has a lot of cool stuff on it, but, no title, missing a carb and obviously been sitting in the elements for a long time. It would take a lot of work but, would be worth it in the end.

No title is always an issue, but I think today, one can overcome that, yes?

[steven c]

 Hell yes!That bike looks like it needs fresh gas and oil/ I brought my 77 back to life after the PO crashed and burned it, ever see a melted carburetor?

[rodekyll]

No title is always an issue, but I think today, one can overcome that, yes?

Sure!  That's why the seller always gets his paperwork sorted out before he lists the bike.   

[Chuck in Indiana]

ever see a melted carburetor?

and more. 

[Lannis]

No title is always an issue, but I think today, one can overcome that, yes?

Sometimes.   Unless there's a reason that you CAN'T and the seller already knows the reason ....    .   

Same category as "Just Needs A Battery To Run".   Yup.  Sell a bike for $1000 as a non-runner, or put a $75 battery in it and sell it for $2000 as a runner.   

Hmm, what to do, what to do ....   

Lannis

[PeteS]

$1200-$1500 tops in my book. Lots of work needed. What is your time worth?

Pete

[huub]

if you want a rider and can retitle it, just fit a carb and enjoy the bike.
as far as i can see it is already nice, just not showroom nice
Restoring it  to showroom condition might turn out a bit expensive
so a percect bike for a restomod.
pricewise , i dont know how much hassle it is to retitle it,
over here you would expect to pay that just for the engine and gearbox

[Air-Cooled]

No.  Looks like a nightmare.

[JJ]

Sometimes.   Unless there's a reason that you CAN'T and the seller already knows the reason ....    .   

Same category as "Just Needs A Battery To Run".   Yup.  Sell a bike for $1000 as a non-runner, or put a $75 battery in it and sell it for $2000 as a runner.   

Hmm, what to do, what to do ....   

Lannis

Personally...I would NOT buy a bike without a clear title...and you are right...ultimately, you get what you pay for...

My experience is that it's best to spend a little extra money and buy a bike that is running...one has been maintained...titled / registered / ridden regularly...restore d with all records...and from an "enthusiast" (like most folks on wildguzzi...) etc. etc.  :1:

[siabeid]

    If you are a competent mechanic and enjoy working on Guzzis, sure it is worth doing. I am currently going through a v7 sport that had been sitting abandoned  out in the Idaho desert for 10 or 15 years. I paid $500 for it without a title. My state, Washington, was not too difficult to deal with. I had to get a state patrol inspection, and was issued a plate, registration and provisional title. After 3 years it will revert to a normal title. The nice lady at the auditors office (where you get your titles in Washington) ran the numbers for me before I went down and got it. If they had shown up as stolen, I certainly wouldn't have gone for it. Here, if you take it to the state patrol for inspection and it shows up as stolen, they immediately impound it. Every state has a different procedure.
    So far, I have about $4500 into it, including going to get it and the $500 I paid for it. I expect that it will be another couple thousand by the time I am done. I also had quite a few parts in my stash that I am able to use on it, which saves some money. (See v7 fencepost rebuild in the bike rebuild sub category.) To me, it is worth doing to save an iconic classic like a v7 sport. I also find it a lot of fun.
     I also have a Lemans 3 that is a fantastic bike. To me, a LM3 is worth saving as well. Whatever you do, don't pay too much for it. You will end up spending a lot more money on it than you think. Kind of like house remodels.
     Not having a title lowers the value a lot. And definitely check with your state before you by it. Some states are a nightmare, others are not too bad, title wise.  It looks like your bike is nearly all there. That will help a lot as far as costs go. You don't have to make it into a show bike. I had to put  2 brand new PHF 36 carbs on my LM3 to get it to run properly. I got them from Dell Orto Direct for less than $600 the pair. Well worth it.
     If you do get it, check out the bike rebuild sub category. You can learn a lot from the other projects.

[JJ]

    If you are a competent mechanic and enjoy working on Guzzis, sure it is worth doing. I am currently going through a v7 sport that had been sitting abandoned  out in the Idaho desert for 10 or 15 years. I paid $500 for it without a title. My state, Washington, was not too difficult to deal with. I had to get a state patrol inspection, and was issued a plate, registration and provisional title. After 3 years it will revert to a normal title. The nice lady at the auditors office (where you get your titles in Washington) ran the numbers for me before I went down and got it. If they had shown up as stolen, I certainly wouldn't have gone for it. Here, if you take it to the state patrol for inspection and it shows up as stolen, they immediately impound it. Every state has a different procedure.
    So far, I have about $4500 into it, including going to get it and the $500 I paid for it. I expect that it will be another couple thousand by the time I am done. I also had quite a few parts in my stash that I am able to use on it, which saves some money. (See v7 fencepost rebuild in the bike rebuild sub category.) To me, it is worth doing to save an iconic classic like a v7 sport. I also find it a lot of fun.
     I also have a Lemans 3 that is a fantastic bike. To me, a LM3 is worth saving as well. Whatever you do, don't pay too much for it. You will end up spending a lot more money on it than you think. Kind of like house remodels.
     Not having a title lowers the value a lot. And definitely check with your state before you by it. Some states are a nightmare, others are not too bad, title wise.  It looks like your bike is nearly all there. That will help a lot as far as costs go. You don't have to make it into a show bike. I had to put  2 brand new PHF 36 carbs on my LM3 to get it to run properly. I got them from Dell Orto Direct for less than $600 the pair. Well worth it.
     If you do get it, check out the bike rebuild sub category. You can learn a lot from the other projects.

All sound advice...

[Chuck in Indiana]

Well, I've done my share of "barn finds." I *like* to do it. Just the same, this one is setting off alarm bells to me. Very low mileage and repainted? What's up with that? No title? Ditto. Crashed/stolen? Both??
Maybe nothing, but I'd look closely, and make sure all the geese were in a row.  <shrug>
Other than that  it would be a fun project, and appears to be mostly there.

[Perazzimx14]

A coupe of years ago I'd have been all over this. After reviving 3 vintage Guzzi's, 3 years in a row I now know when to stay away.

[troyhamilton]

No.  Looks like a nightmare.

yes. at least i got a good title and really i dont have a lot in my 850-t. looks like a top ends in order but im able and i have time. it all boils down to time, money and ability! I have plenty of time. a little bit of money and I have ability, even though I often have questions.

[JJ]

A coupe of years ago I'd have been all over this. After reviving 3 vintage Guzzi's, 3 years in a row I now know when to stay away.

In the end...it's really about how much TIME and MONEY you want to invest....

It's always cool to see BEFORE and AFTER bike projects...especial ly if they are done properly...

[sdcr]

Beautiful!

Yes, absolutely!!  Bring her back to life and into circulation again, as I did a few years ago with this '83!

[twowings]

If it hasn't been wrecked or drowned, save it! They don't make them anymore...

[jdgretz]

At least with this one you can check the serial number before finding out it cannot be titled.

Pretty bike when restored.  I'm not sure I have the patience to do that any more.  If I was a bunch younger, I'd give it a go.  For $1500 it would be a no-brainer for me.  At $2K - probably.

Getting a bike titled in California being sold on a bill of sale only, especially with the odo showing less than 7500 miles, can be more than problematic.

YMMV

jdg

[Shorty]

2500 bike
  300 title
    75 battery
  400  tires and tubes
   200  used carb, jets etc.
   100  cables
   500 brakes replace
    500 misc.
---------------
3975 bux , assuming there is no major issues with the drivetrain, etc...and you do the work yourself.  Your call. Enjoy. 

[Perazzimx14]

2500 bike
  300 title
    75 battery
  400  tires and tubes
   200  used carb, jets etc.
   100  cables
   500 brakes replace
    500 misc.
---------------
3975 bux , assuming there is no major issues with the drivetrain, etc...and you do the work yourself.  Your call. Enjoy. 

Non running bikes are full off assumptions, none of them good . Adding another zero to the "misc" category Is probably prudent if you want to be realistic.

[Dukedesmo]

Even well looked after, running bikes are a risk.


I bought my LM2 from a guy who looked after his bikes but didn't ride them much due to having many others and it was in excellent condition for it's age with very low mileage (less than 12k miles) and seemingly didn't need much doing to it, however it had a piston to exhaust valve interface after around 500 miles that, whilst I'm not completely sure of the cause, lack of use must figure in there somewhere?


Anyway the repair cost wasn't too bad but, from previous experience of buying non-running/project-bike/money pits it will cost considerably more to get it right than you will ever imagine, so try to pay as little as possible.


That said the bike doesn't look too bad and at the right price, I'd definitely be interested especially as (here in the UK) getting a 'title' is very easy and not expensive - less than $100 fee for an import (much less if it was previously UK registered)  plus a form or two to fill in, IIRC.

[sdcr]

    I think the elephant in the room is the buy in price of $2500.

    Although these are somewhat rare,  the fact that it does not run, needs some critical parts, like carb(s), and the missing title, makes it a real Las Vegas roulette table. He could probably move it pretty quickly at a sub $1000. price, IMHO.

2500 bike
  300 title
    75 battery
  400  tires and tubes
   200  used carb, jets etc.
   100  cables
   500 brakes replace
    500 misc.
---------------
3975 bux , assuming there is no major issues with the drivetrain, etc...and you do the work yourself.  Your call. Enjoy. 

[swooshdave]

    I think the elephant in the room is the buy in price of $2500.

    Although these are somewhat rare,  the fact that it does not run, needs some critical parts, like carb(s), and the missing title, makes it a real Las Vegas roulette table. He could probably move it pretty quickly at a sub $1000. price, IMHO.

With eBay around you get into the balance between price for the whole thing and parting out value.

[JJ]

Non running bikes are full off assumptions, none of them good . Adding another zero to the "misc" category Is probably prudent if you want to be realistic.

That's puts the total at $9,075....just saying...

[PeteS]

2500 bike
  300 title
    75 battery
  400  tires and tubes
   200  used carb, jets etc.
   100  cables
   500 brakes replace
    500 misc.
---------------
3975 bux , assuming there is no major issues with the drivetrain, etc...and you do the work yourself.  Your call. Enjoy. 

You must watch Wheeler Dealers. Ed's time is never calculated into the final cost.
BTW best of luck to Ed China on his new endeavor whatever that is.

Pete

[Dimples]

  NO!

That's too far gone to "restore" in my experience-- even if it had a title. There aren't many valuable parts to be salvaged for a restoration. You would hate life.

[Chuck in Indiana]

When I was first starting on the Lario Rehab.. some said I should "restore" it. I said no. It was way too far gone to even consider a restoration. It's possible to make a pretty nice rider, but the cost goes up exponentially when you do a "restoration." 
For that, everything has to pretty much be there, and in nice shape.
I've mentioned before that it's a slippery slope.