Any Advice on what to look for when buying a Guzzi 850 T5
- Thread starter Devon
- Start date
If it starts and runs well and looks tidy. Fork seals tend to go but are cheap and easy to replace.
The Achilles heal is the UJ joint which will probably have been replaced on a bike of that age. The theory is that vibration can be felt in the RH foot peg when there is wear. To my knowledge it was not the case on my wife's bike until it had exploded. It was still able to limp home.
Good Luck
The Achilles heal is the UJ joint which will probably have been replaced on a bike of that age. The theory is that vibration can be felt in the RH foot peg when there is wear. To my knowledge it was not the case on my wife's bike until it had exploded. It was still able to limp home.
Good Luck
ghiribizzo
Registered user
T5 was never the most popular because of the small front wheel.
Any leaks of motor oil from crankcase/gearbox join? If so, it may not necessarily mean a crank seal. Could be, but might be breather gunged up. When idling should be able to hear a 'plop-plop' sound from it (top of crankcase at rear).
Try pulling away very very slowly on the clutch. Does it grab and tend to lurch away? Plus/or if slipping it forward on clutch - is it difficult to pull in the clutch and stop the drive? If so it's worn gearbox input splines+clutch plate splines+flywheel splines. Ex Police ones often the worst as they did lots of stop/start.
Is it actually a T5 or a defaired Polizia bike made to lookey-likey a civvy T5?
Any leak from bottom of bevel box?
With motor off, gently try turning the wheel - is it all smooth or tight/loose/tight? - UJ issues. Most old 'uns often suffer a UJ that spins in the bearing. Unlike airheads the shaft is not part of the UJ and they are often dry and rusty and worn but you can't check that without tearing it apart.
Like airheads and R1100RTs etc there should be play at the clutch lever as it wears the play gets less and less). If it's tight then the clutch may have issues if it's been like that a long time.
If it's on linked brakes, mind the foot pedal works rear and front left. Brake like a car and use the front lever (front right disc) in balance but the linked system is easy in town. So don't try the hand lever and pronounce the brakes duff! But is the calipers are in good order, yes you need to give em some effort to stop. An R1 it is not.
Dunno your bike history but if it's ok order, if you set up a corner it will track very well. But don't plan on quick alterations mid bend. Don't back off either as you'll find what torque effect means. On off throttle will also have it climbing up the bevel box but not as prominently as an airhead.
Don't believe most of what Mick Walker writes either...
Any leaks of motor oil from crankcase/gearbox join? If so, it may not necessarily mean a crank seal. Could be, but might be breather gunged up. When idling should be able to hear a 'plop-plop' sound from it (top of crankcase at rear).
Try pulling away very very slowly on the clutch. Does it grab and tend to lurch away? Plus/or if slipping it forward on clutch - is it difficult to pull in the clutch and stop the drive? If so it's worn gearbox input splines+clutch plate splines+flywheel splines. Ex Police ones often the worst as they did lots of stop/start.
Is it actually a T5 or a defaired Polizia bike made to lookey-likey a civvy T5?
Any leak from bottom of bevel box?
With motor off, gently try turning the wheel - is it all smooth or tight/loose/tight? - UJ issues. Most old 'uns often suffer a UJ that spins in the bearing. Unlike airheads the shaft is not part of the UJ and they are often dry and rusty and worn but you can't check that without tearing it apart.
Like airheads and R1100RTs etc there should be play at the clutch lever as it wears the play gets less and less). If it's tight then the clutch may have issues if it's been like that a long time.
If it's on linked brakes, mind the foot pedal works rear and front left. Brake like a car and use the front lever (front right disc) in balance but the linked system is easy in town. So don't try the hand lever and pronounce the brakes duff! But is the calipers are in good order, yes you need to give em some effort to stop. An R1 it is not.
Dunno your bike history but if it's ok order, if you set up a corner it will track very well. But don't plan on quick alterations mid bend. Don't back off either as you'll find what torque effect means. On off throttle will also have it climbing up the bevel box but not as prominently as an airhead.
Don't believe most of what Mick Walker writes either...
Thank's for the advice so far 
I won the bike on ebay, its advertised as in good condition, if it isn't I will walk away.
Here is the guys description for the auction :
Here we have my Moto Guzzi 850 T5 A Reg.
It's a clean & tidy bike, I have owned it for a year & I am selling it because I have replaced it with a MK3 Le Manns.
I bought it from a friend who is a collector of bikes, he had it for 11 years & only covered 600 km's on it. The speedo now reads 15,310 km's.
I put a new battery on it & it went straight through an MOT, so it now has 12 months MOT & is ready to go.
I have the owners manual, 3 old MOT's & the V5 documents.
The seller has good feedback and seems to know his stuff so I hope it will be ok.
I won the bike on ebay, its advertised as in good condition, if it isn't I will walk away.
Here is the guys description for the auction :
Here we have my Moto Guzzi 850 T5 A Reg.
It's a clean & tidy bike, I have owned it for a year & I am selling it because I have replaced it with a MK3 Le Manns.
I bought it from a friend who is a collector of bikes, he had it for 11 years & only covered 600 km's on it. The speedo now reads 15,310 km's.
I put a new battery on it & it went straight through an MOT, so it now has 12 months MOT & is ready to go.
I have the owners manual, 3 old MOT's & the V5 documents.
The seller has good feedback and seems to know his stuff so I hope it will be ok.
good sense in the replies so far.
keep us posted Devon -
we require more pics and a full technical report as well as first impressions of the ride.
Enjoy!
keep us posted Devon -
we require more pics and a full technical report as well as first impressions of the ride.
Enjoy!
Went, seen and walked away. The bike is a shed and the V5 was in someone elses name. When something seems to good to be true it's because it usually is 
I'll keep looking for a clean low milage Guzzi at sensible money.
I'll keep looking for a clean low milage Guzzi at sensible money.Deleted account 230523001
Registered user
I bought the 1000SP that Rob Farmer was selling....Always wanted a Guzzi and this one ticked all the boxes, it was a good price, the seller is totally trustworthy And the bike has all the knocks of having lived, not restored in any way, lovely it is and with 97K on the clock runs like a dream!
The most surprising bit of the bike is the handling, it is superb, really can`t believe how good it is....You will love a Guzzi.
And it get`s me into the airhead weekend too
And the bike has all the knocks of having lived, not restored in any way, lovely it is and with 97K on the clock runs like a dream!The most surprising bit of the bike is the handling, it is superb, really can`t believe how good it is....You will love a Guzzi.
And it get`s me into the airhead weekend too
I bought the 1000SP that Rob Farmer was selling....Always wanted a Guzzi and this one ticked all the boxes, it was a good price, the seller is totally trustworthy
The most surprising bit of the bike is the handling, it is superb, really can`t believe how good it is....You will love a Guzzi.
And it get`s me into the airhead weekend too
I was really tempted by that Guzzi but it was just too far from me. I reckon you will have years of quality riding from the SP and not lose a penny. Last year's airhead weekend was a good craic
Health to enjoy att 
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