1974 850t purchase - opinions?

[Peter949]

I wanted to ask the group for opinions about purchasing a 1974 850t that a friend has for sale. He recently picked it up in running condition. My friend with this 850t operates a small/local used bike parts garage from his home.
My question is: what kind of money is something like this worth?  It certainly needs restoration. 

[Moto]

I wanted to ask the group for opinions about purchasing a 1974 850t that a friend has for sale. He recently picked it up in running condition. My friend with this 850t operates a small/local used bike parts garage from his home.
My question is: what kind of money is something like this worth?  It certainly needs restoration. 

Almost surely worth less than what it will cost to restore it.

$4,000 for a really nice example, with Gilardoni cylinders??

But many find that the market value of a T or other older Guzzi has little to do with its enjoyment value to themselves. If that might be your situation, welcome to the club!

Moto

[fotoguzzi]

the T is aquiring a cult following, that does not make it anymore valuable but it's a COOL motorcycle!
was my first Guzzi back in the 70's..

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

This might give you an idea.
https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/mcy/d/1975-moto-guzzi-850t/6243079235.html

[Testarossa]

I'm restoring my T just because it's a cool motorcycle and not for the $$$ value. If it has Gilardoni nikasil cylinders already, but is not cosmetically perfect, then $3000 to $3500 (high end of this scale if the timing chain tensioner was upgraded from the original rubber block). If it's still running chrome cylinders, it's not a bike but a project and may be worth more parting out.

Bear in mind that these bikes have no oil filters. People here will tell you that any chrome chips from the cylinders stay in the oil and wreck the bearings and journals.

A lot depends on the mileage. If unusually low, consider that the bike may have sat unused for years, which leads to chrome flaking. If high, you want to know that the oil was changed frequently, and that the rubber chain tensioner is gone.

Added:  Okay, now I've seen the craigslisting and it looks like a well-cared for bike. Even with the oil filter, you want to find out if the cylinders are chrome and if the rubbing block has been replaced.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Added:  Okay, now I've seen the craigslisting and it looks like a well-cared for bike. Even with the oil filter, you want to find out if the cylinders are chrome and if the rubbing block has been replaced.

Seth: the one I posted isn't the one the OP is interested in AFAIK. I just posted it as a reference point.

[pat80flh]

OP, got a picture?  What's he want for it? Lots of variables.........

I'm piecing together a75 T project, looks like it'll be more T3, and it's to be a personal bike, not for resale

Bare engine case, frame, and title    $100
Used engine,trans, final drive, swingarm,joint, shaft   $1200
Pile of parts, alloy wheels, trees forks, lowers,swingarm, headers, mufflers   $500
Incidental ebay,  fenders, calipers, headlight shell, 1 rotor, brake stay        $200

Still along way to go, good thing I didn't set a budget.

[GuzziNZ]

Well I have been looking to import a standard T/T3 for a couple of months now, put a wanted add on here and told just about everyone worth telling and I'll be buggered if I can find a nice example with Gilardoni barrels, new tensioner etc and I am willing to pay.
So if someone can point me to these bike I would be more than happy.

What would you pay for a good honest more or less standard T that still runs and rides well but has not been upgraded, remembering that having Nikasil barrels is really no indication of the condition of the rest of the motor unless you know they were replaced before the chrome started to flake.
 

[Peter949]

I decided NOT to purchase the 1974 850t that my friend has for sale. It is only $1200 Canadian funds, and so I was very tempted. It is an original bike, with 7,600 miles. It runs but was sitting for 'many' years.  I will post this bike for my friend in the 'for sale' section of this site ...

[Groover]

What is the process to get a bike title in the US if it comes from Canada? Anyone know?

[steven c]

 Later T's did have a oil filter. Mine did.

[swooshdave]

At $1200, depending on condition, would be a good deal. If it's CAN$1200 it's a really good deal.

Pic?

[JJ]

At $1200, depending on condition, would be a good deal. If it's CAN$1200 it's a really good deal.

Pic?

I too, think $1200 USD / Canadian is a good deal if it is running...even if you have to put $2K into it...a cool vintage Guzzi to ride and enjoy!   A few nice examples...

[swooshdave]

This is still a work in progress but she's a fun old girl to ride.


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[JJ]

This is still a work in progress but she's a fun old girl to ride.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's a nice example! Clean, functional, and simple...as a Guzzi should be!  :1:

[Groover]

That's a nice example! Clean, functional, and simple...as a Guzzi should be!  :1:

 :1:

[TOMB]

If you look at the front of the engine pan in the middle there will be three plugs about the size of a dime that your indication that particular bike would have a oil filter if it does not have the three plugs than you do not have an oil filter just an FYI
TOMB

[TOMB]

Getting any Canadian bike titled in the United States that's a toss-up 50 different governments because of the states then you have the local bureaucracies all the crap that goes with a bracket bureaucracy might be cheaper just to buy a bike here each state has different requirements Connecticut as an example if the bike is over 10 years old you're not supposed to be able to register it but there's a stipulation if it's over 10 years old and you don't need a title just a bill of sale I'm going to laugh now hahaha let me know how it works out for you
TOMB

[Groover]

Getting any Canadian bike titled in the United States that's a toss-up 50 different governments because of the states then you have the local bureaucracies all the crap that goes with a bracket bureaucracy might be cheaper just to buy a bike here each state has different requirements Connecticut as an example if the bike is over 10 years old you're not supposed to be able to register it but there's a stipulation if it's over 10 years old and you don't need a title just a bill of sale I'm going to laugh now hahaha let me know how it works out for you
TOMB

I was just curious. For me being in Ohio, I'm sure it's probably on the more complicated end of the spectrum. I looked into once a while ago for a car I was considering, and I really couldn't get to the bottom of it.

[Kiwi_Roy]

I decided NOT to purchase the 1974 850t that my friend has for sale. It is only $1200 Canadian funds, and so I was very tempted. It is an original bike, with 7,600 miles. It runs but was sitting for 'many' years.  I will post this bike for my friend in the 'for sale' section of this site ...

At $1200 its a great deal even if you had to immediately replace the cylinders, if you have garage space buy it.
Are you sure it has chrome bores, for some reason I thought the T3 was cast iron, a magnet would soon confirm.

[fotoguzzi]

  for some reason I thought the T3 was cast iron, a magnet would soon confirm.

it's not a T3.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

At $1200 its a great deal even if you had to immediately replace the cylinders, if you have garage space buy it.
Are you sure it has chrome bores, for some reason I thought the T3 was cast iron, a magnet would soon confirm.

T and T3 both were chrome bore engines from the factory. Of the 850s, only the Le Mans had iron liners.

[Peter949]

That 1974 850t did sell to a fellow in western Canada.