Why you should buy a Guzzi T3
1975-1980 Moto Guzzi T3
John Fallon has spent his life chasing down, fixing and selling Italian classics. In 2008 he turned his passion into a business, setting up Made In Italy Motorcycles. Since then he has specialised in everything from Laverda Jotas to Ducati bevel models and even a few MotoGP bikes from his Suffolk showroom. So what would he spend his own money on?
“If money was no object, I’d buy a 1970s Ducati 900 Super Sport or a 750 GT but you are looking at £25-£35,000 for a good one, mainly as they cost so much to restore. Sadly, they have priced themselves out of the market for most riders. “At the moment sub-£10,000
Moto Guzzis are where the market is at and that’s where I would spend my cash. When you get inside an old Guzzi it is a bit like taking apart your dad’s Ford Anglia as it is good, old-school, engineering. That’s not to say they are slow, a Le Mans will happily do 125mph, which is impressive for a 40-plus-yearold bike. That said, I’d go for a more relaxed model.
“I’m really into the old T3 or California models, which have higher bars and are easier and more fun to ride while still offering good performance. £7000 to £8000 will get you a beauty. As Guzzi made so many of them there are a few £3000 ‘bargains’ out there but you are better off spending the extra on a nice one – it is easier to keep a good bike good than recover a shonker! Believe me, I speak from hard-learnt experience. “Yes, old Guzzis suffer a few electrical gremlins, but the engine, chassis and shaft drive are strong and parts are pretty cheap and easily sourced– certainly compared to a classic Ducati. You can buy a mid1970s Guzzi and take it touring in Europe with a fair degree of certainty you will ride it back onto the ferry afterwards.”