Moto Guzzi Le Mans Mk I

I'm looking at this bike. Engine is out and I haven't seen it so I don't know how apart it is. "Parts are all there" but we know how that goes, if they aren't on the bike you will never know.

The big question: How much to offer for it? I tried to trade a Porsche 914 for it and he wouldn't go for it.  ;D

The MK1 is pretty much the holy grail of the Guzzi's ( other than the V7 Sport) imho.
My mate has a blue one.
Your lucky to be able to negotiate directly as it would go to Trade Me ( Ebay type site) here and I could not see it selling here for less than 10k NZ , about 8k US.
I'm not sure if the Mk 1 has the chrome bores, as the chrome flakes over time and that may be why the motor is in bits.
Another mate of mine sold a very nice one a couple of years back and he would not say what he got but probably in the low to mid 20's US 15-17K
The R100 behind would be in the 4-6 k range here.
Do him a deal on both and move on the BMW :mrgreen:

Nice find,good luck. I was looking for a vintage LM or V7 last year and LM prices were anywhere between $4-6K for projects like this one and at least $10K and up for running ones. Hop over to Wildguzzi.com they'll sort you out pretty fast and fact wise.

Cross posting to some other forums including wildguzzi.

I believe the MK I has iron bores.

The garage was stuffed with interesting bikes. That BMW was the least of them.

The Mk 1 does have iron bores - if it still has the original cylinders.
(some folks fitted the 950 cyls, more grunt).
Tank badges should be metal, and say MOTO GUZZI.
The 2 holes have been filled in, or a later tank fitted ?
Looks a bit Mk 3, or Mk 3 decal ?

If the oil filter unscrews (in the sump), its too late when the oil light comes on.
Check the crank carefully....
What is that switch below the tell tale lights ?

Frame would have been black originally, and the wheels silver.
If the forks are stock, the little damper inserts may leak, and all the damping goes away.
The bolts in the top of the forks look different, so something may have been done to them.

Tell us how the horse trading goes.

Horse trading doesn't seem to have worked. What's a fair price range?

swooshdave said:

Horse trading doesn't seem to have worked. What's a fair price range?

Click to expand...

Don't know. Probably about half what the seller is thinking ?!
Local values might be different to where I am.
What sort of $ value suggestions has the owner refused ?

Just ask the owner what $ he wants for it ?
And how much $ he thinks it will need spending on it.
That tends to pull the asking price down to earth...

Rohan said:

swooshdave said:

Horse trading doesn't seem to have worked. What's a fair price range?

Click to expand...

Don't know. Probably about half what the seller is thinking ?!
Local values might be different to where I am.
What sort of $ value suggestions has the owner refused ?

Just ask the owner what $ he wants for it ?
And how much $ he thinks it will need spending on it.
That tends to pull the asking price down to earth...

Click to expand...

I prefer to poll the audience before tainting the conversation with some numbers. Once I have a good sampling I can divulge "the rest of the story". :mrgreen:

If the rest of the story involves why the engine is out, this could be an expensive tale ?!

Indeed, like Commandos, Lemons can be expensive if everything needs attention...

Guzzi's are generally not so easy to break. If it was stripped to to the cosmetic work, then if its all there, you could do a rusteration for the price of gaskets and seals.

If bits are broken or missing then it's big ????

Seen a few striped because of broken gear return spring or rear drive bearing or UJ, then while it's apart... PO adds up costs of new stuff. Lays around in garage, bits go missing, rinse and repeat.
As the rear wheel is still on then unlikely to be rear bearing catastrophe, which doesn't mean it's not broken.

Other favs are alternator malfunction, usually rotor open circuit - it's a Bosch, but can be rebuilt locally. Starter solenoid sticky, would be the same supplier except apparently NLA. Switchgear and assorted wiring faults.

Actually really easy to work on, mostly robust and durable. But if you want it concours then it could work out ££.

So what happened with the Guzzi swoosh? You got me drooling I love them.

gtsun said:

So what happened with the Guzzi swoosh? You got me drooling I love them.

Click to expand...

I heard from another guy who also made a run at this same bike a while ago. He got stonewalled when the guy couldn't find the engine. I haven't seen the engine either so that will be a deal breaker.

I did loan the guy my bike trailer so I'm hoping to leverage that "favor" to get him to dig out the engine so I can at least see if it's intact. Or if it still exists.

He mentioned something about putting a big bore kit in it but I don't know if that was because it's already apart or he's just dreaming.

You guys should know me well enough that if there was real news I'd give it to you... in pictures... :mrgreen:

I got my trailer back. As I thought it worked and the guy is more interested in selling. So there's still a chance. :mrgreen: