Whilst I’m waiting for my next Ducati, I’ve been offered a Moto Guzzi V50 1982 project. Has anyone had one? Any advice/opinions?
I ran one for 3 years or so back in the day and chose it because it wasn't a CX500 and was the left field choice with character. I loved it, surprisingly small, handled great but not massive power. Took my poor maintenance in it's stride. The only faults were blowing a head gasket after dropping it in a campsite (don't ask ahem), the gearbox UJ letting go in spectacular fashion on the Warwick bypass at 80 mph & I seem to remember the ignition switch cutting out when you least wanted it to. Basic pushrod V twin so should be easy to work on.
Surprisingly capable little bike in it's day! Ran one in the early nineties and enjoyed the handling, light weight and simplicity of maintenance. No real problems with it either. Bought another one earlier this year as plenty of helpful owners on the forums, most spares still available at reasonable cost, refreshingly simple to work on and classic status, only downside is the heavy clutch for an old boy.
Yours is/was the Monza, no? This one’s a “barn find” so a bit of a dog. Going around the £500 mark, but needs pulling apart, then hopefully, finding everything OK. Respray, re chrome, new bolts etc. Still awaiting a 916 basket case really.
I had one back in the day Was going to try the Ducati range but bottled it last minute and plumbed for the Guzzi having read positive reports on its work horse reputation Great bike, I especially liked the way the bike would rock when you blipped the throttle at standstill, it’s a small thing but it amused me!
Yep. Monza bought unseen! hadn't been run for many years after the previous owner had done the frame and paintwork. Caliper seals, fuel hoses, brake cylinders all had to be replaced plus carb seals etc but great service from Gutsibits. It does run sort of Ok ish but I need to spend a bit more time setting it up! I'm sure you have searched ont net if you are seriously thinking of buying, there are at least a couple of V50 rebuilds to give you an idea of what you're letting yourself in for
This is all I’ve got at the moment. Tank is rusty, starter in bits. Perhaps I should wait for my dream 916 project…
Try and find one that's in working order and a reasonable purchase price or your catch a cold financially in my opinion.
I occasionally see a big old ratty Guzzi Le Mans in the underground car park in Bath and it's got straight through pipes that are heat wrapped & finish somewhere around the footpegs. Never heard it run but, yes, it does look cool like an old torn oily pair of 50's Levis.
Yes, but I think, psychologically this appealed because it was a) cheap, b) different and c) nearby. I still hanker after a 916 basket case, having done a 748SP, a 748SPS and an NS250R Honda. But with the Panigale *and* the Hypermotard, I really don’t have much room for another bike. Head over heart, I’m afraid.
The money pit scenario is optional and only really applies if you’re going to head off in the restoration direction. Why not just get it running and use it as a winter hack/shopper, saving the cash for that 916 basket case? Someone with more emotional entanglement with a Monza will eventually want to buy your runner to restore.
The one you highlighted looks like it has had a hard, unloved life. Given that nice, running, MOT'd versions seem to go somewhere in the range of £2k-3.5k, you will have a lot of trouble, expense and hard work getting that one back to a nice state.
I restored one years ago. Bought for £50 (those were the days) .I bought another with a blown engine as a donor. There are a surprising number about and the bits are fairly easy to get apart from seat pans. They rot out. This one looks as though it will require a lot of cash throwing at it. Having said that they are great bikes and nice ones fetch daft money.
