I've been casually keeping an eye out for a California Vintage, and ran across the following listing:
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/580559014110608/
But I'm of course a bit leery of considering a big purchase via Facebook, especially a vehicle, without being there in-person to see the bike and meet the seller.
I spoke to the owner, who is very nice, and now too elderly and ill to ride anymore. So although I don't think he wants to sell the bike, he has decided it is time to let it go.
The bike has been sitting for about 5 years, and hasn't run since then. As you can see, there are only a few lower resolution photos in the FB Marketplace ad, and he's not able to move the bike around to get better photos. He says it is in very good shape, but does have some minor rash on the left hand engine and pannier guards, and a chip in the paint of the left bag from a stationary gentle drop some time ago. One of the side covers is cracked, but he says he has a NOS replacement.
It is interesting that it doesn't have the "skunk stripe" seat, which would have been normal for the black CalVin. The all black seat typically came with the white CalVin. I forgot to ask him about why his black CalVin seems to have the white CalVin seat. It wouldn't surprise me if it came from the factory that way, as we've seen other inconsistencies with MG products. That's not a big deal though.
It currently doesn't have a battery, drained of fuel (good), but some wiring is chewed through by a rodent in the battery compartment. He says he believes is it "only two wires" in the battery compartment where a rat, not mice, built a nest a few years ago.
So currently it doesn't run, and he isn't in a position to get it running.
Given that I'm in NC and thus nowhere close to give it a close in-person inspection, and he can't verify that it will run, I told him it probably isn't for me, at least not for $5000-5500.
But if there is someone local from the Guzzi community that wouldn't mind taking an hour or two to run over, give the bike a good look, check if there seems to be no other damage, especially to the wiring, and maybe drag a battery along and some gas to see if it will start (doing the appropriate checks before hand); I'd be happy to compensate them for their time and any materials. The seller said that would be fine to coordinate.
So I wouldn't ask anyone to take a special trip outside of their immediate area, but if anyone is in the Colorado Springs area and willing to maybe drop by to check out the bike and seller, it would be appreciated and just let me know.
Thanks,
Al
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/580559014110608/
But I'm of course a bit leery of considering a big purchase via Facebook, especially a vehicle, without being there in-person to see the bike and meet the seller.
I spoke to the owner, who is very nice, and now too elderly and ill to ride anymore. So although I don't think he wants to sell the bike, he has decided it is time to let it go.
The bike has been sitting for about 5 years, and hasn't run since then. As you can see, there are only a few lower resolution photos in the FB Marketplace ad, and he's not able to move the bike around to get better photos. He says it is in very good shape, but does have some minor rash on the left hand engine and pannier guards, and a chip in the paint of the left bag from a stationary gentle drop some time ago. One of the side covers is cracked, but he says he has a NOS replacement.
It is interesting that it doesn't have the "skunk stripe" seat, which would have been normal for the black CalVin. The all black seat typically came with the white CalVin. I forgot to ask him about why his black CalVin seems to have the white CalVin seat. It wouldn't surprise me if it came from the factory that way, as we've seen other inconsistencies with MG products. That's not a big deal though.
It currently doesn't have a battery, drained of fuel (good), but some wiring is chewed through by a rodent in the battery compartment. He says he believes is it "only two wires" in the battery compartment where a rat, not mice, built a nest a few years ago.
So currently it doesn't run, and he isn't in a position to get it running.
Given that I'm in NC and thus nowhere close to give it a close in-person inspection, and he can't verify that it will run, I told him it probably isn't for me, at least not for $5000-5500.
But if there is someone local from the Guzzi community that wouldn't mind taking an hour or two to run over, give the bike a good look, check if there seems to be no other damage, especially to the wiring, and maybe drag a battery along and some gas to see if it will start (doing the appropriate checks before hand); I'd be happy to compensate them for their time and any materials. The seller said that would be fine to coordinate.
So I wouldn't ask anyone to take a special trip outside of their immediate area, but if anyone is in the Colorado Springs area and willing to maybe drop by to check out the bike and seller, it would be appreciated and just let me know.
Thanks,
Al