Reliability……

[BillyBoxer6]

Hi All,
I’m looking for an older Guzzi (Eldorado would be nice), but how reliable are they?
Thanks in advance for any knowledgeable Input.
BB

 

[Wrinkly]

Hi All,
I’m looking for an older Guzzi (Eldorado would be nice), but how reliable are they?
Thanks in advance for any knowledgeable Input.
BB

I've owned 34 Guzzi's, some new some older. The only problem I ever had on any of them was the spotlamps on the 8V Stelvio. The wires used to rub internally on the lights and blow the main 30amp fuse. Easily rectified. It's always worth just going through the wiring and checking all connections.
Enjoy whatever you get, they really are lovely bikes.

 

[Oldrat]

34 - you greedy bugger !

 

[Oldrat]

Older Guzzis are often reputed to be simple and reliable.

Electrics are up to early Italian bike standards, ie not brilliant. Lots of help and support on the internet and quite a decent social scene too

 

[cookie]

Older Guzzis are very reliable once they are properly sorted. Many aren't.

If you're looking at Eldorados or other Loopframes check the two studs that hold the dynamo onto the crankcase. They are often snapped and you may need to remove the engine to drill them out.

 

[PMVern]

Make sure the bike is not on it's original chrome bores, they will fail, and the chrome flakes will destroy the engine ( no oil filter). Or factor in the price of re plating the bores. Magnet on a stick down the bore will tell, if it sticks, happy days

 

[xsgraham]

I've been a Guzzi fan for a while now, going through T3s, a V1200 Sport, a Le Mans and even a quirky single cylinder 500 Nuovo Falcone. If you are going for an old one (they are very charming), then reliability is based upon previous ownership and what its been through.

I have a V700 V7 from '71 at the moment which was very original looking when I bought it. Although it ran there were years of dubious wiring repairs and potentially the original chrome bores still in there. I checked out the bores and found that they had already been replaced but dropped in some new rings and honed the bores. Left to do is a rewire later this year (time permitting) and once that's done I'm expecting a bit of an old plodder with scary drum brakes which I will take out for relaxing rides when I don't want to be in a hurry anywhere. I'm hoping that it'll be reliable because I've been through it, changed out various things and checked other bits and pieces. If you are someone who enjoys doing this then it should be fun to have. If you are not interested in doing any work on it yourself then make sure you get a very well restored one from someone you trust to have gone through it in detail.

As someone said above, they are very simple bikes and so there is not too much to go wrong once they are sorted. Plenty to tinker with, even when running around on one.

 

[BillyBoxer6]

Thanks everyone.
I don't mind "Tinkering" to keep things running sweetly (I alredy have a 41 year old 2CV6 that keeps my hand in on that score), but I do prefer a well sorted, reliable Machine to start with.

 

[theoneandonly]

they will involve lots of " owner participation " .
if you do a job , DO IT PROPERLY , DO NOT CUT CORNERS , if you fail to do this , it will come and bite you on the arse just when you really don't need it .

you have been warned.

 

[AustinW]

Check out a Canadian called Nick Adams on YouTube and AdvRider. He’s a long term owner of a 1974? Eldorado and other bikes and does some epic trips on it often on gravel roads in the wilds of Ontario and Quebec. As well as ride reports he does pieces on maintenance, writes travel books and articles in various magazines. He hosted us for a few days on our travels across Canada in 2015. Nice guy.

Nick Adams

Videos of my various motorcycles (Moto Guzzis: 1974 Nuovo Falcone, 1972 Eldorado, 1974 750S, 1976 Convert etc., 1962 Panther) and motorcycle trips being used as nature intended. Most footage from eastern and northern Ontario, northern Quebec, Labrador and Newfoundland. Audio presentations of...

youtube.com

 

[The Other PaulG]

Check out a Canadian called Nick Adams on YouTube and AdvRider. He’s a long term owner of a 1974? Eldorado and other bikes and does some epic trips on it often on gravel roads in the wilds of Ontario and Quebec. As well as ride reports he does pieces on maintenance, writes travel books and articles in various magazines. He hosted us for a few days on our travels across Canada in 2015. Nice guy.

Nick Adams

Videos of my various motorcycles (Moto Guzzis: 1974 Nuovo Falcone, 1972 Eldorado, 1974 750S, 1976 Convert etc., 1962 Panther) and motorcycle trips being used as nature intended. Most footage from eastern and northern Ontario, northern Quebec, Labrador and Newfoundland. Audio presentations of...

youtube.com

Ah yes I have seen his content. It’s not that the (very old) bike never had problems..but he could always fix it at the roadside and carry on, unflustered. Simple agricultural old things. Utterly charming.

 

[theoneandonly]

so ? what has the op done ?

 

[BillyBoxer6]

so ? what has the op done ?

Absolutely Bugger All at the minute, I'm not one to rush into these things