I would be completely insane to buy an old-ish Moto Guzzi, right?

[HenryDorsetCase]

Like the 85 Le Mans 1000 that I got fix price offered for $5300, or a

V50 Lario http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-634147834.htm

or one of the 750's.

[mossy1200]

Like the 85 Le Mans 1000 that I got fix price offered for $5300, or a

V50 Lario http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-634147834.htm

or one of the 750's.

Don't get v50 or 750

Le Mans 1k would be good
I owned a 1100 sport years ago and loved it.
Have ridden a v35 and v50 and they just weigh to much for the power they make.

[jasonu]

I question the statement 'collectable' as the seller claims?
I would want to either be good with problem solving (especially with electrical and carb issues) or have deep enough pockets to pay someone who is.

[Kickaha]

V50 are a cool little bike, I rode one a bit when one of my mates owned one, probably not so flash as a long distance bike but awesome fun through the likes of the Hundalees or any twisty road, I'd quite happily own one

Parts aren't really that expensive and they're easy enough to work on, pm Voltaire he's got one

[nudemetalz]

I agree. V50 and Monza's go well and can be easily tuned to make some hp's.
I wouldn't discount them.

Is the '85 Le-Mans a Mk4 or Mk5? The Mk 4's had 16" front wheels (although a lot of owners converted to 18") and have rather questionable handling. I rode one once...interesting.. Apart from that, as long as the electrics are okay then I say consider it.
But don't discount the small block without riding it first. You may be surprised.

(A Lario is a 650)

[Paul in NZ]

The bikes are great although they do involve a lot of hands on time AND you have to learn them. Once you have the feel for them (which some never seem to get) its a great feeling and the Guzzi community is generally supportive and welcoming. Parts are reasonable and can be sourced readily. Guzziology is worth the price....

Mk1 to 3 are very low seat hight which was our biggest problem as it played havoc with my hips / back etc after a while. Eventually its the main reason we sold the Mk2. V50's are fun although a little underwhelming on the open road - great twisty road bike though.

Mk4/5 are 'big valve' engines and run way better than the spec sheets indicate. They are a little hard on valve guides compared to the earlier mid valve LM engines. They do have a lot more leg room but the std 40mm carbs have a ridiculously stiff throttle action (as in insanely tough) but that can be sorted to a great degree. Early Mk4's have a 16" front which requires the right profile tyre or it handles a bit wonky. There was an 18" kit and later ones came that way as the 16" went out of fashion.

Larios are making a comeback and can be made reliable IF you want to spend time and cash and can make lotsa power.... However their reputation is frightening and back in the day mechanics would hide behind scatter shields if some fool ran one in the workshop....

Great bikes - legendary really but be warned. Owners fall into two camps. There are the obsessives who maintain the thing to the nth degree (but may never actually wash it) and thats the one you want. The others are the crusty rat bikers who ride the wheels off the damn things knowing how forgiving they are and rather let the next owner pick up the pieces - you don't want one of these...

[Paul in NZ]

I agree. V50 and Monza's go well and can be easily tuned to make some hp's.
I wouldn't discount them.

The only way to get more power from a smallblock is the 4V heads like the factory did with the Lario. Small blocks run a 'Heron' head design and are thus limited in their ability to breathe. Nothing wrong with it - its a good design but not for high HP applications...

Then assuming you do make more power? Hard to change the gear ratio cheaply. The small blocks run a different U/J set up that isnt as robust as the bigger bikes. Blow a U/J on a small block and 50/50 it takes out the rear of the gearbox... Enjoy for what they are...

[HenryDorsetCase]

I feel the need the need for speed. Not really. but summer is coming and I would like something a bit quirky and interesting and fun. and I have always liked Guzzis. I vaguely knew someone in the 80's who had a brand new I think V65 and it was a complete lemon straight out of the box.

But I still like them. And airhead BMW's (R65, R80) and such. Although there is a GPz550 on tardme presently also

[nudemetalz]

The only way to get more power from a smallblock is the 4V heads like the factory did with the Lario. Small blocks run a 'Heron' head design and are thus limited in their ability to breathe. Nothing wrong with it - its a good design but not for high HP applications...

Then assuming you do make more power? Hard to change the gear ratio cheaply. The small blocks run a different U/J set up that isnt as robust as the bigger bikes. Blow a U/J on a small block and 50/50 it takes out the rear of the gearbox... Enjoy for what they are...

Yeah true , I was more referring to the 65 heads can go on the 50's. Mark from Scooterazzi told me that a common fault that the 4V heads is the valve guides which can be fixed with GN250 ones (of all things!!).

But yes I would have an original non-modified V50 Monza out of all of those small blocks.

(Yup I contradicted myself )

[T.W.R]

I vaguely knew someone in the 80's who had a brand new I think V65 and it was a complete lemon straight out of the box.

more likely a V75 Targa V65 Lario is probably the pick of the light middle weight guzzis. V50 Monza apart form that one at Darfield being pretty bog stock thus collectable it's more suited to a guzzi collector to add to their collection, they're pretty bland performance-wise and if set-up properly handle well but can also tie themselves in knots if pushed hard. MkIV LeMans were Guzzi's downfall with a dubious front end, MkV much better if you can find an unmolested one or a model prior to the MkIV
A Green Frame 1000s would be a nice find if you could

But I still like them. And airhead BMW's (R65, R80) and such. Although there is a GPz550 on tardme presently also

It'll be interesting to see what that GPZ ends up going for

This is a interesting bike if it's legit:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-631801124.htm


And this is also as it's actually the LTD model:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-633922141.htm

[Paul in NZ]

Yeah true , I was more referring to the 65 heads can go on the 50's. Mark from Scooterazzi told me that a common fault that the 4V heads is the valve guides which can be fixed with GN250 ones (of all things!!).

But yes I would have an original non-modified V50 Monza out of all of those small blocks.

(Yup I contradicted myself )

The 'problem' with the Lario was two piece valves and overly strong valve springs wrongly speced to handle the lumpy cam. That and keepers not up to the job.

GN250 valves and springs plus collets or generally shaking a voodoo stick at it and sacrificing a virgin... Originally Lario owners simply sacrificed bank accounts and sanity... When running well they go great....

I would NOT put a Lario head on a V50. In fact just try and find a spare pair of Lario heads. People have found NOS ones and put them on 750 small blocks and done other silly things but these are serious guzziphiles... Stick with UJM....

[Big Dave]

II would like something a bit quirky and interesting and fun.

Then buy a super motard.

[Muppet]

Like the 85 Le Mans 1000 that I got fix price offered for $5300, or a

V50 Lario http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-634147834.htm

or one of the 750's.

Buying an old Italian bike? It will end in tears!

[Voltaire]

I bought a fixer upper Monza last year....I have learned a lot about small blocks.
I had to get a FD as the ring gear was missing apparently due to hasty exit from Mt Eden Motorcycles.
forks were pitted and they have very expensive steering head bearing that look like they came out of a bicycle.
Now sports 35mm forks, taper head conversion, rebuilt brakes, rebuilt UV joint, wheel bearings.
I've been up and down the road on it and it goes ok, the Nippon Denso coils ( jap rubbish) are dying and I'd like to get rid of the ponts with a Dyno thingy.

Then its new tyres and Vinning..$$$$.....ah fuck it, back under the blanket.

I've just gone out and bought a Ducati ST4s.

Its cured my of my Guzzi curious phase, parts for Guzzis seem expensive and less easy to get than BMW's

My pick would be a mid 90s Ducati SS,http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-634066475.htm easy to work on, lots of bits on Ebay or a 70's80's BMW like the one I got in April.


In the end they are all fun, most of the people who slag Italian bikes off have never ridden one. Me I like Euro and Brit.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Then buy a super motard.

28 inch inseam, yo

Its the babyjeezus way of saying "dirt bikes ar not for you, son"