Beschreibung
This is a Moto Guzzi V50 Mark III, manufactured in 1984 and first registered in the UK in October 1994. The V50 III was lighter than, and had more hp than the Mk II which preceded it, and also has the benefit of points ignition. The frame has the correct PF prefixes for a Mk III V50 and the engine has the correct PE prefix for a V50 III. I have a V5 in my name, and the bike has just been given a new year’s MOT for the first time since 2006 with no advisories and which runs out on 1st March 2023. The bike will be MOT and tax exempt from April 2024. I bought the bike last year and have enjoyed recommissioning it but now have to sell due to continued lack of income due to the Covid situation. When I bought the bike it was a real mess, filthy, some parts broken, but had been dry stored since 2006 (last road tax) by its lady owner who had taken it off the road to have a family, so I saw the potential. Looking through the paperwork that comes with the bike, I also realised I knew a previous owner mentioned in the paperwork, someone who is a long-term Guzzi owner, and he tells me it was imported from Italy by the very esteemed Amedeo Castellani of Raceco fame, Guzzi tuners and racers of note. The first MOT dated September 28th 1994 shows the bike as being ‘unregistered’ and mileage showed 33, 925km, barely run in for a Guzzi. My friend then bought it from Amedeo, and had Amedeo fit Raceco stainless one piece valves (there’s a recipe for this), better valve springs and a K&N and Le Mans breather setup, and then used it regularly. At some point the clock was changed from a KM clock to a MPH clock by the lady owner some time after 2001 and this presently shows 29, 500 miles, and I don’t know if this was a used speedo or new (most likely used.). There are plenty of receipts for servicing, including a note that the barrels and pistons were replaced at 58. 500km on the 8th July 2000. The previous owner told me she used to use a Mr Eric Krahe in Huddersfield who was apparently a Guzzi ‘guru’ of the day and ‘best Guzzi engineer up North’, he’s the one who replaced the km speedo as the glass was cracked. There is also a dating certificate from the Moto Guzzi Club GB dating it to 1984.,
The basic bike considering it’s almost 40 years old Is in pretty good condition, with lots of stainless fasteners on it and the frame paint is original as it still has its tag from the factory on the lower frame tube. All the wiring is more or less original and in good condition - I have repaired any faults that there were. There are no surprises under the tank, it is all functional and neatly cable tied in place. The paint on the fuel tank is original, as it is in the frame, swinging arm, forks etc. so expect some areas that have been touched in, worn and used, they call it patina! Some of the chrome on the handlebars is missing. I have recommissioned or better ‘rescued’ the bike back to standard trim yet trying to keep it as original as possible, but please don’t expect a restored machine. I’ve owned Guzzis for 30 years and am happy to work on them - in fact my first Guzzi was a V50, and they’re great machines. Here is a list of the work I have carried out and new parts purchased, mainly from Gutsibits, the UK’s main Guzzi spares supplier, or sourced from Italy or elsewhere.
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• New correct size Avon Roadrider Mk2 tyres fitted, with new tubes. Still need scrubbing in!
• New correct 24ah sealed lead acid battery from Tayna fitted
• New NGK BP7ES spark plugs
• All engine/ gearbox/ drivebox oils have been changed and a new oil filter fitted. Sump was completely emoved, oil screen cleaned out, new sump gasket fitted.
• Tappets set, new rocker cover gaskets fitted, and the ignition timing and points cleaned and gapped, and checked. Coils are good quality Motoplatt coils.
• Carbs cleaned, checked and fully rebuilt with carb kits from Eurocarb, and new plastic banjo filters fitted too. Carbs have been balanced with a carb balance gauge. New fuel pipe crossover purchased and fitted. Choke cables cleaned and lubricated. Compression test shows around 165 psi on each cylinder so very healthy.
• Brake systems bled with new brake fluid, and the rear master cylinder was rebuilt with a new Brembo piston and seals kit. I pulled apart the calipers to cake the over as one of the bleed nipples was seized. I had this removed by a local engineering shop and a new titanium bleed nipple fitted. All seals were fine, new pads on front r/ h calliper. Other pads are used but ok for now. Brake pistons are all teflon.
• Electrical system checked over, repaired where necessary, all earths and connectors cleaned. Charges perfectly. I had to spend a lot of time on the dashboard lights cleaning and sorting, all work fine now. New oil pressure switch fitted. New rubber boot for the ignition switch fitted. NOS headlamp shell fitted as the old one was rusted through. One of the indicator lenses had to be glued as was cracked.
• Clutch cable lubricated and actuating arm adjusted. I fitted a new adjusting arm that was missing.
• The rubber breather pipes from the breather box to the two rocker covers have been replaced, as the originals were perished and cracked.
• Carbs cleaned, checked and rebuilt with carb kits from Eurocarb, new needle valves and new plastic banjo filters fitted too. Carbs have been balanced with a carb balance gauge. Choke cables cleaned and lubricated.
• Forks checked over, drained and filled up with new oil. The fork tubes are in immaculate condition under the gaiters. Forks seals were like new. Koni Dial-a-Ride shocks on the rear work fine.
• Steering head bearings were regreased and reset and adjusted.
• Fitted new exhaust gaskets and cleaned the almost as new stainless Keihan exhaust system.
• New badges (III) that took a long time to source from Italy, new side panel rubbers bought and fitted. I had the side panel stripes replicated from an original side panel I have, as the stripes re unobtainable.
• I had to repair the original rear mudguard which was in terrible condition with ABS sheet and plastic weld. Should be strong now though every V50 rear mudguard I ever saw cracks at its mounting points, design flaw.
• All the paint on the rear mudguard, side-panels and front mudguard was professionally applied by a local bodyshop, and the colour scanned and matched from the original fuel tank paint. This was because the paint on these parts was just peeling off and just looked terrible. I left the tank as the paintwork is original, in overall good condition and it’s only original once. The idea was to recommission, not restore the bike. In my experience, the paint on the plastic side panels of V50s wears off pretty easily anyway
• There are 2 ignition keys, an old type round key for the fuel tank lock, 2 keys for the seat lock, and a key for the steering lock, which works!
• Documents-wise there is the V5, current MOT, and quite a few old MOTs and receipts for work carried out, including from Raceco. I can give you the factory workshop manual and part book on PDFs too if you need them.
I have many photos of the work carried out that I can give to a new owner. (I’m a journalist, it’s just habit to document stuff!) I also have receipts from Gutsibits too for the parts used. The stainless Keihan exhaust system is in excellent condition. On the road she now goes very well, no pops or bangs or hesitancy once warm, and sounds superb like any Guzzi V twin should do. I do think the motor is a good one and has been well maintained by its overs over the years. I have only ridden the bike for 20 miles for testing purposes, and the clutch, gearbox, lights and suspension all work as they should.
The V50 is ideal for smaller or female riders - perfect for riding along the A and B roads as it's light, handles well, and is manoeuvrable. Many owners of bigger Guzzis go for these after a big Guzzi gets too heavy! I think there can’t be many V50 III models around now in this kind of original trim so it can only be an investment that holds its value. I can’t think of anything else. There may be other work I did or parts fitted that I have just forgotten!
You can see a video of the Guzzi running here on YouTube, and another of a cold start, both taken yesterday, though the temperature was actually 20 degrees so I didn’t use the choke, just blipped the throttle a couple of time first - cut and paste into your browser:
Cold start YouTube link: - details above
Tickover vid: - details above
I can supply lots of hi-res images, just contact me and I’ll send them over. I have been as open and honest about the bike as I can and including as much history and info as I can but of course, please be clear that it’s a 40 year-old used Italian motorcycle so there are no guarantees or warranties with this private sale.
It is sold as seen. The photos form part of the description. Test ride permitted on deposit of the full asking price and proof of insurance deposited with me first. Payment in cash or bank transfer on collection. I can also recommend an excellent professional motorcycle transportation company that I have used several times, and am flexible to meet your transporter etc. too,
The bike is between Thame and Aylesbury, Bucks/ Oxon border. Viewing is welcome, please contact me.
Any questions at all, please contact me via the email button above or email me at: using the button below
