Classic Moto Guzzi buyers guide 1969-1975

First thing, dos it run? then go from there, one of the first things I look at is the exhaust system down pips and muffler are not cheap it will cost you around $800.00-1200.00 to replace the system, the down pips and mufflers must be solid and have nice chrome. Look over the wiring harness,make sure it has not been butchered up, look in the headlight bucket at the fuse box make sure it is nice and clean and not tampered with, make sure all the handlebar switches are there and are working(switches are not cheap and hard to find) Then you will want to look at the rest of the chrome, crash bars,rear shocks,head light ring,front and rear turn signal brackets(all these are not cheap) handlebars you can get. After all this and you still want the bike it is time to fire it up, let it get good and wormed up,is the motor knocking? is it blowing oil smelling smoke out of the mufflers? (it will need motor work) check for leaky heads,check for for leaking oil and or gear oil under the bike, most of the time it is a rear main seal in the motor and or front seal in the transmission.(if you cant do this work yourself it will cost you big bucks) Give it a good ride and check out the transmission make sure it go's through all the gears(all old Guzzi transmissions are clunky when shifting) v700 and 750 Ambassador,s are 4 speed and 850 Eldorado,s are 5 speed, make sure the clutch is not slipping(very costly to repair). Tires are no big deal,cables are no big deal,as long as the bike is running the carburetors are ok, they rebuild easy(again if you cant do the work yourself this small stuff ads up) I always like a number matching Guzzi, look at the number on the left side of the motor and the number on the neck of the frame,they both should be the same, then make sure the numbers are the same on the title. All the same go's for the Eldorado police except one thing, look over the dash make sure there is no cracks and no hole have been drilled in it, look over all the dash lights and dash switches they must all work, look at the Speedo, it must be sealed and clean and working.(this stuff is very hard to find) when you do find it expect to pay. The ignition switch should be in the back and only one tool box on the right side.if the ignition switch is in the dash and or it has tool box's on both sides of the bike then someone modified it and the dash has been ruined. I hope this helps, if you have any questions,or need my opinion please feel free to contact me. *Guzzi On*