1978 Moto Guzzi V50 Small Block on 2040-motos

US $1,505.00

Year:1978 Mileage:35000 Color: Silver

Location:

Monroe, North Carolina, US

1978 Moto Guzzi V50 small block, US $1,505.00, image 1

Moto Guzzi V50 photos

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1978 Moto Guzzi V50 small block, US $1,505.00, image 6

1978 Moto Guzzi V50 small block, US $1,505.00, image 7

Moto Guzzi V50 tech info

Type:Naked Engine Size (cc):500 Warranty:Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty For Sale By:Private Seller VIN:12417

Moto Guzzi V50 description

One of the most fun bikes I've ever owned. (I'm 62!) I've been commuting almost daily on this for the past 3 years. This is also my first choice for club rides in the mountains or on back road rides. It's light, agile and just fast enough to keep up with other adults. I find that a brisk pace on twisty back roads is absurdly easy to maintain, while still keeping a good safety margin. It's a very nice, presentable bike that looks a little better on film than in person. The paint is very nice with the occasional small chip on the frame, swing arm, or engine. The chrome is nice ("nice" with a small "n".) It would be accurate to say it has a nice patina, and is extremely well preserved for a 35 year-old bike. I've thought about a restoration, but it gets a lot of positive comments as is, and is just so much fun to ride. Bought this 6 years ago as a non-runner and built it up for my 5'2" wife, hence the cut down front seat padding.She's put a few miles on it, but prefers pillion, and that's why it's for sale. We've ridden 2-up quite a bit on this, and I can say that in doing so, none of the engine's potential goes unused.

I know the side panel badges say V35. This is a V50. That's my excuse for not riding fast.

The V50 has Guzzi's famous linked brake system. All the calipers and both master cylinders were rebuilt. The original chrome cylinder bores have been replated with nigusil. It has a pair of pod filters and LaFranconi silencers. The sound the combination produces is intoxicating, but won't irritate the neighbors. Tires are good, it's oil tight, and has offered Honda-like reliabilty over the years. Small block Guzzi maintenance is simple and infrequent. I run mid-grade gas and it returns low 50mpg to mid 60's.

It has eaten 2 front-wheel speedometer drives at $100+ each time, so I've just used a bicycle speedo the last couple of years. Somebody (!) forgot to install the nuts that secured the old speedometer and it flew off the bike over some railroad tracks. Hence the Aermacchi unit seen in the photos. The blinkers used to work, don't now. Haven't worried about it since it's exempt from NC inspection. Kill switch doesn't work and I've never gotten around to investigating that.

My son's incentive to return from his deployment to the Middle East is to be my Ducati ST. Now that it looks like he'll make it, I think I made a mistake. (Not really.) I need to sell my V50 to replace the Ducati with something better suited than the Guzzi for 2-up riding. The bike is near Charlotte, NC and could be ridden ANY DISTANCE home with confidence. My rating is 100% and I intend to keep it that way. No disappointments!

I have a partially dismantled V35 engine, a complete transmission, spare brake pads, electrical parts, gaskets, an English-language shop manual, parts book, etc. All can be had for $200, with or without the bike. I'll not be selling any piecemeal ahead of time, as the new bike owner should properly have first refusal

When these were new, one could purchase a new Honda 750 for $100 less. The Honda 400 was just as fast.That being the case, i't's no wonder that the V50 is so seldom seen in the US. The few that were sold here tend to be treasured by their enthusiast owners for their eager demeanor and their craftsmanship. They're rare, but that doesn't mean they're worth buckets of money. The Moto Guzzi V50 is a practical exotic, an affordable classic, a vintage bike that can be confidently ridden anywhere, any time.

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