Craigslist dreamer ad of the week? Guzzi Lemans III

[atadaskew]

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/mcy/565333512.html

Dood has dropped it a few times, says it's leaking oil and needs a tuneup.  Wants $5K.  Nadaguides values it (retail) at $200 for fair (!), $600 for good (again !), $1300 for very good, $1900 for excellent condition.
Guess with a Lemans III from 1983 you might as well go fishing to see what you can get for it.

[Sport-Touring]

[Rincewind]

Cool bike, crazy price.  But more power to him if he can find someone to pay him that.  

Me, I'd get a used V11 Lemans for that kind of money.  

[atadaskew]

That's the problem with sites like Craigslist.  As it's free to advertise, there's no downside for peeps to ask ridiculous prices (apart from not selling the bike!) as their investment in the ad is basically $0.

[farmer fred]

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/mcy/565333512.html

Dood has dropped it a few times, says it's leaking oil and needs a tuneup.  Wants $5K.  Nadaguides values it (retail) at $200 for fair (!), $600 for good (again !), $1300 for very good, $1900 for excellent condition.
Guess with a Lemans III from 1983 you might as well go fishing to see what you can get for it.

This ad notwithstanding, NADA doesn't know Guzzis.  I'd buy nice LM IIIs all day for $1900.

[st ryder]

Cool bike, crazy price.  But more power to him if he can find someone to pay him that.

If the bike's worth it, he'll get it from the right buyer.   I've seen '84 Gold Wings going for close to the same money.   Supply and demand dictate price, not any book that deals only with hypothetical prices based on year and set depreciation rates. The actual market is often very different, both ways, ie book could quote more, much more, than can be realised in the market.

[atadaskew]

If the bike's worth it, he'll get it from the right buyer.  

Dood has dropped it a few times, says it's leaking oil and needs a tuneup.  It's a beater.

[st ryder]

Dood has dropped it a few times, says it's leaking oil and needs a tuneup.  It's a beater.

Then either bike's not worth it, or the next owner hasn't yet seen the ad. I sold a '87 FJ12 10 years ago 3 weeks after my ad stopped running in the Bike Trader. (the bike would probably still fetch the same price today) I had a few calls during the time the ad was current, each caller asked about the selling price before seeing the bike.   "Firm" means firm. It was not a bargain price, in fact, it was 500.00 more than I had paid 2 years earlier. The bike was worth it to me, as it was meticulously maintained as are all my bikes. The eventual buyer picked up the old Bike Trader at his buddy's place and came down to take a look, with the cash. He knew all about FJ12s and could spot a good one when he saw one. Right buyer, right bike, right time.

If this seller's "motivated" and the bike does not stand-up to scrutiny, the price may  come down. Or, the right buyer might see the ad and rush down cash in hand.  It doesn't look like that'd be you.   Call up and make a low ball offer if you're interested, but if he bites, do you want the bike?

[atadaskew]

  It doesn't look like that'd be you.   Call up and make a low ball offer if you're interested, but if he bites, do you want the bike?

Not interested in the slightest.  I like to buy bikes that look like they have been cared for.  For $5K I've seen Lemans IIIs that look like new.

[Guzzipat]

Whatever the guide that says a "fair" Mk 111 Le Mans is only worth $200 is a joke. A non runner would fetch more than that for parts. Hell you would get $50 for the fairing alone.


$1900 for a mk111 Le Mans in excellent condition ?
I will take all you can find at that price. That's less than £1000, I could ship a container full to the Uk and sell them all at over £1500 ($3000). A mint Mk 111 Le Mans, the best of the 850's IMO, in the UK would cost you at least £2500.

Farmer Fed is right, that guide doesn't know what Guzzi are worth.

[veefer800canuck]

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[tpfaff100]

Note that nicer Lemans III bikes go for $5k - $10k.  Believe it.

During the last three years I have never seen any kind of decent Lemans III for less than $3,000.
If I did, I would buy it!  I've seen lesser LM3s for lesser prices of course.  I've noticed that people who put LM3s up for sale do not want to sell them after they think about it for awhile.

The Lemans III is arguably the best of the Lemans bikes.  The LM1000 (most of them) had a couple of minor problems that makes it less desirable (mainly the 16" front wheel).  The LM2/CX100 had smog issues and breathed less effectively.  I've ridden all except the LM2 extensively.

The "LM1" is a FUN bike w/ a totally unique character.  However, the LM3 is more practical; smoother at accelerating and more comfortable.

LM3 Top speed:  130mph.  Embarassingly I've nearly been there... w/ the bike just itching to go faster.  The LM3 is an amazing bike w/ more character than most people want.  Like nearly all Moto Guzzi models, it is a very reliable bike.  Unless you drive like grandma, the clutches typically need to be pulled at about 50,000 miles; the rear-end looked at then.  The engines can go nearly 100,000 miles without incident unless beaten.

BTW... the Lemans bikes handle better with skinny 80's-era tires.  Putting fatter tires on them is known to ruin their terrific handling.  All Tonti-frame Moto Guzzi bikes apparently behave this way.

Thomas

[Oilhed]

Then either bike's not worth it, or the next owner hasn't yet seen the ad.

Good point.  I've seen a couple like new '04 R1150RT for $11k and a couple mint '95 R100RT for $7500.
I would have happily paid all that for either bike.  But I saw them just after I had bought a new bike.

[sprint EX]

I should have never sold my III. Loved that bike. Hopefully the 77 850 I'm putting back together will as fun. The days of $400 Guzzis are long gone.Beaters that don't even run seem to get $1000 now even for T-3s.