A Guzzi California 3 with wire wheels and carburetors from 1992 is quite a classic. And if you hear later that a dealer wanted to give 500 euros for a best-tidy machine, have you been bought if you bought it for a considerably higher amount? That remains to be seen. Because the trader was right. And you as a buyer too.
It is all about the Moto Guzzi California in the hours
The Moto Guzzi California stood with an unknown problem in the road and for sale. The engine had done its job well for years until the owner at the time didn't have time for it. He was then bought by someone who wanted to make it into a cafe racer. The Moto Guzzi California had wire wheels. So that already saved a sip on a drink. After a few years, the buyer realized that he also had no time. The Moto Guzzi California was put on sale again. He was put away on the road. But in the meantime it didn't work anymore.
And then you come to the 500 euro that the trader wanted to give. According to him, that was the demolition value of the dusty Guzzi. Because it would be demolished to conquer the market in parts. The final buyer saw it differently. He saw a project with potential that would just give him a nice classic as a 'daily driver'.
Arriving at his new address, the new purchase was first viewed
The mirrors were inexplicably rusty. The cover of the driver's seat was like a sick mop. A flashing light was broken when driving through the tight barn door. And the whole thing was dusty. He was first cleaned. And he was very upset. Just like turning the dead man's button.
They first searched their own stocks
The new owner has been driving Guzzi for around twenty years. And from his current, stripped Cali III, there were still a few glimmers and things like flashing lights and nicer mirrors. A new saddle cover was made in-house from a piece of vinyl that was still in the attic. A new battery was purchased. The buttons on the handlebars have been cleaned. The Dell'Orto's broke up and several nozzles were found to have an E95 infarction. An acquaintance with an ultrasonic bath brought a solution.
The Moto Guzzi California was running again. This was followed by Het Grote Nalopen
Everything is wrong with an older machine that has slept for a long time. Tank and side covers went off. Just like the headlight. One side cover had a crack. But that was restored with superglue from the Action. The plug blocker have been cleaned. The mass connections too. There were things cleaned, relocated, and fixed with some fresh bolts and nuts. Suddenly there was no action at all because the power supply to the ignition switch, the plug had apparently been around for a long time on the lip of the switch, had become too hot due to the transition resistance and had found freedom. New AMP females were mounted. Problem solved again. The new starter made the case shiny.
Such an 1.000 euro in hours
All in all, it really took two full working days to make it viable and presentable again. And in the motorcycle world, the workshop hours are between 50-75 euros. By the way, at BMW already at € 98 excl. VAT. If we count it very tight, there is therefore € 1.000 in hours in the Moto Guzzi California. Add to that the price of a fresh battery, a set of flashing lights and some (used) stuff and let that be € 100 on the purchasing side.
Unsold
Then the trader has the engine for a cost that is above the current sales value. And of course he didn't become a trader for that. So he sees no 'motor with potential'. But a set of parts on wheels. Because do you know what a set of used spoke wheels yields? Well then!
But if you have a nice Moto Guzzi California 3 for just over two thousand euros without counting your own hours? Then you have made a good buy.
On the other hand: It is a motorcycle.
If one party wants more, if the other wants to give less? The trader sees items that are worth money. There are fewer and fewer people who buy a bicycle 'with work on it' and refurbish it for their own pleasure. Then such an engine remains in the shed. Being forgotten. Will show up in twenty years as 'barn find'. And then see what the value is?
In the Netherlands hundreds of motorcycles are still in sheds because they first failed to reach the asking price and then were forgotten ...
redecorating is a time-consuming task, especially due to amateur perfectionism. I can say from current experience
But our hours do not cost 100 euros each 🙂
.. if you know another Guzzi ... who can change hands for three bucks and a bag of licorice ... you just shout
I keep it on 2250 as asking price :-). The thing is mine. I had it as a back-up for my Cali 3 that has been running almost three tons. But with two new tires and a fresh clutch, it can last three tons again 🙂