Because it didn't get on during journeys in and around the Randstad, I sold my car a few years ago. Then I scored cheap engines that should have been provided with: 1) A cardan, 2) electronic ignition and 3) valves that I can set without much effort. Ai, that's a thing with a Suzuki VX800 ...
DIY maintenance
Because when you use a motorbike as a car, you run for miles and official workshop visits at an hourly rate start to fall. In addition: I have a lift, quite a lot of tools and I enjoy tinkering. Because I have little to do with new engines, my daily riders are always classic or at best young timers.
Then I ran into a fat old Guzzi again
I know from experience that they are fun, rude and tough. And 'nice' is the added value for a workhorse. Because usually the idea was that it was only about my 'car' and that I didn't have to have an emotional connection with such a two-wheeler. Under my buttocks, such a workhorse had a better life than a Greek donkey, which only managed and did not eat. But my work bikes lacked the cuddle factor almost by definition.
Until the purchase of the Guzzi
And that only fell within my budget because the young timers are currently priced very consumer-friendly. The Suzuki VX800, which was my 'car' for almost three years, had a number of strong points. Just the fact that I bought it from an 82-year-old ex police motorbike driving instructor who had been driving it to the official Suzuki dealer only once a year for a turn for years. The fact that the two-cylinder VXsen were not in great demand - and are - also counted heavily.
Budgets are leading
That resulted in a low price and more money for motorcycles that made my heart 'BoemBoem'. In short: the 82 year old asked € 2.600 euros. When I called again after a while, we agreed on € 1.250. On Marktplaats prices are asking prices. And the son of the former driving instructor had once looked at how the collection of VXsen offered at Marktplaats behaved. It is best to describe the sales situation of the stretched Suzukis with 'Marktplaats is the club magazine for the Suzuki VX Club and the club members are loyal'. How much injustice that the somewhat headstrong Vtwins does.
A VX 800 is a good thing
Such a Vtwin is generally good for more than a ton of trouble-free driving pleasure. Well. So after 30D kilometers I threw my VX back into the digital pond. And it remained deafening. Maybe also because I had come up with a headline where the Suzuki search engines from Marktplaats had a bit of a hard time with: “Hooray! I have another Guzzi ”.
A second attempt gave a quicker response
Someone named Edwin or so offered 220 euros, while I had specified 750 euros as the minimum price. Then there was an English-language response from Thelma Louise. She asked for some data that I sent to her Gmail account. She immediately agreed with the price. I just had to send the vehicle details and my name, address and bank details. Then she would pay via Western Union and have the motorcycle collected. I didn't think that was a good idea.
Martin emailed "seems like something to me"
“I'm coming to watch. Address please. ”Martin came. From the other side of the country. The Suzuki was on the path outside the garage. Martin looked at it from the front door. He grabbed his pocket and held out three 100 bills. "Give me the papers, then I'll be gone." I told him I agreed with "being gone." He looked at me glassily and said: “Cock. You miss your chances. "
Now that VX doesn't stand in my way.
I will continue to use it for local work, for which I find my new acquisition just too sweet again. And it is not so bad with Marktplaats and Speurders. Comrade Henk put his engine on and immediately got the response: “That is exactly the engine I am looking for. Hold him. I'm coming now!"
And indeed, about two hours later, a happy man from Schagen came and immediately put the money on the table upon arrival and said, "So. Now I need a cup of coffee! ”Henk's engine was not a VX 800 but a Honda CB 450 from 1966. An engine that was never restored, but was quietly and carefully maintained for more than half a century.
Not very service friendly
Old Guzzies: Dog faithful and extremely easy to maintain
I bought a VX3 800 years ago for only 850 euros, drives 100% and has not had a problem, A real handlebar bike and won't go away.
Well, with the average Japanese type VX, the valve clearance hardly ever develops under normal use. So if you want to take a look at 100.000 km, that is an average once every 20 year. Don't be surprised if you don't have to make a statement.
With a Guzzi you do an average of 2 times a year, so after 20 year set 40 times. Every advantage they have is disadvantage than the saying nowadays according to me.
I have also had the VX a month or 3. I missed the Vtwin character. I would buy it again for home work.