Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 10:13:51 -0700
From: Adam Altman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: **non-GTS** Guzzi Eldorado
Anyone know anything about Guzzis? I'm looking at a
1974 Eldorado with a sidecar, so I can carry my stupid
dog around. I know nothing about Guzzis. This one
has a rebuilt engine and trans from a guzzi shop, and
only 200 miles since the rebuild. Aside from the
normal used bike stuff, what should I look for with a
Goose? should I just junk the idea and get a Venture
sidecar rig?
thanks.
Adam
*******************
I had a 1975 850T for several years, until it got smashed when it was
parked by school and a truck ran loose. Good things about it were the
ease of maintenance, nice torquey motor, and regular Italian sexiness.
At normal cruising speeds the engine was turning 3-3.5K, which made for
a nice relaxing rumble of a vibration, not irritating at all, and I put
many miles on that bike. I am tall with long legs, so my knees were
right up against the engine most of the time, it could get hot, and I
don't want to think what would have happened to my knees in a crash.
The front brake was TERRIBLE, so very very bad as to be virtually
useless, and in the rain it was literally useless. It was the 850T3
that had the integrated brakes and twin discs up front, the 850T had
Brembo brakes with just one castiron disc, and I tried everything to
make it better: I bled the brakes numerous times, tried different types
of pads, rebuilt the master cylinder and the caliper, turned the disc,
about the only thing I didn't try was steel braided lines. This
situation would be especially horrible with a heavy sidecar. As I
recall, the Eldorado was a 750, and coupled with a sidecar you would
probably feel it was very underpowered compared to modern bikes. And if
you think getting parts for a GTS is bad.... Also, I had a lot of
trouble with the ignition and spark, I installed an aftermarket
electronic ignition, and had to replace the expensive coils often until
I discovered a small Toyota coil that would fit, and I never had that
problem again. Oh yeah, the throttle return springs on the carbs were
miserably stiff, holding the throttle open became difficult after about
a half hour, I had to experiment with throttle locks and such to make it
bearable. I had to replace the front headlight once, and a more awkward
setup you will NEVER find. It took me about two hours, by the time I
was done I was frustrated beyond all endurance. But, mostly I just rode
the thing, it needed very little upkeep, a very solid design with just
enough Italian eccentricities to make it interesting.
--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+Chase Kimball ([EMAIL PROTECTED]), nom de Plum "Lord Brancaster" aka
+"Hannibal" in the Quake Clan "Zero Tolerance." Columnist for
+http://www.voodooextreme.com ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
+
+"A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the
+need for illusion is deep." Saul Bellow.
+
+Visit my home page at http://www.aros.net/~chase to view the
+virtual gallery of fantasy art of Jesse Allen, and the home site
+of the Wasatch Avian Education Society.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
