New and looking for advice on roundcase bevel reliability

smb75 · Post by **smb75** » Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:30 am

Howdy all,

I am new to the forum, I dont know why its taken so long for me to find it. Anyway as a committed fan of Italian classics I feel right at home.

So I have a question about the roundcase bevel twin's reliability. I am interested in any experience riders have with using a roundcase as an everyday bike. If one owned only one bike - a roundcase - is it possible or with a good engine rebuilt and electrics modification to use one of these bikes as an everyday ride? Value and collect-ability aside is there any good technical reason not to use a GT as say, a commuter.

The roundcase models and bevel ducs in general are not seen as the most robust and hardy vintage bikes. But I met an an original 750 Gt owner the other day who had forgotten how many miles he had clocked up. He thought it was btw 200,000 and 300,000 miles, and the engine had never been apart. He had figured out how to clean the crank sludge trap through the bore and had done that a few years ago, but that was it. He had Amal carbs and all original bits and said that the bike was hardy as hell.

Any thoughts?

rwhc80 · Post by **rwhc80** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 3:33 pm

G'day smb75,

I couldn't help but smile at Peter's response, but I will try to give a reasonable explanation.
Using anything as a day to day commuter requires constant maintenance and upgrade and replacement of components/parts. The parts for roundcase bikes are damn hard to find, and as such are ridiculously expensive, making your suggestion somewhat fanciful .
Liken it to using an Austin 7 Chummy as your family sedan !

As for the suggested mileage on the GT with no rebuild, I think it may be a matter of a mathematical missunderstanding as simply, one extra 0 had been added. We aussies do have a tendency toward a bit of licence from time to time. welcome aboard, and hope to hear from you again !

Post by **BevHevSteve** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 7:55 am

20K maybe 30K sure, 200K or 300K not a chance on that motor....

Welcome aboard. If you had someone like Guy Martin completely go through your motor and do all his modern upgrades, you might have a chance of making it a daily commute bike with some sort of reliability but really, whay would you want to wear the thing out like that as the parts are difficult to find when you break them....

These bikes are better suited for your weekend rides then daily commutes. But hey, its YOUR bike afterall and you can do whatever you want with it! So, welcome aboard, and enjoy your bike.

smb75 · Post by **smb75** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 9:47 am

Thanks for the replies Gents.

I am in South Africa, Johannesburg. I fell for Italian bikes somehow, after finding a late 72 roundcase GT advertised in a small village as a 850 GT. The bike was in good condition and I rode it around a little, but after doing some homework I put it into hibernation until I could either pass it on or find the cash to restore the bike.

Many Italian heartbreaking romances later after falling in and out of love with pantah's and guzzi's I find myself without a bike, with a small bit of savings and trying to either import a Guzzi Eldorado from the states or restore my duc and ride that.

I am not interested in a modern run around, and I dont need a commuter bike. My heart is with the duc but my head is with a loopframe eldorado and my pocket is out having a stiff drink. It may seem like a nice problem to have but I have major riding withdrawal and if I dont resolve this soon I can see myself with a 2008 BoringMW GS and a heart switched for a fuel injection microchip.

Steve Foster · Post by **Steve Foster** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 5:10 am

Just a comment in terms of mileages on 750 GTs without a rebuild: mine has close to 100,000 km on the clock and the engine still has the original seal on it (and I can vouch for the history as I've owned it since 1975). Sure its had valve guides, rings and the usual stuff replaced but it's still going strong. Probably the two most significant factors in its longevity are oil changes religiously at 2,000 km intervals with .. gasp .. a suitable oil, and riding style (neither lugging or thrashing the engine).

It was used as everyday transportation for the first 5 years of its life but since then only as a weekender.

Steve.

smb75 · Post by **smb75** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 4:42 am

Yes, my story earlier in the thread is true. Sure I guess the owner may have inflated things a bit but he had definitely clocked the mileage meter once. He is an engineer and has looked after the bike really well. I guess there are roundcase bikes out there that do clock up high mileage without a problem.

smb75 · Post by **smb75** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 9:21 am

Well not sure about 500k but he reckoned he had done over 200,000 miles and I am saying he had definitely done over 100,000 miles. Stew

abmartin · Post by **abmartin** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 2:20 pm

I seem to remember an article in one of the American motorbike magazines that highlighted an 860GT that had done an astronomical mileage so anything's possible.

A 750GT would be a perfect commuter bike if the trip was at least 50 km each way with light steady traffic and a road with lots of curves.

Bruce

rwhc80 · Post by **rwhc80** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 3:48 pm

G'day Stew,

Commuter and mileage issues aside for a moment, and getting back to what I think your really trying to find out.
Their would be no contest for me. The GT restoration would win every time over the Guzzi. The GT will be a great weekend ride, used in that way, and with careful maintenance, the bike will have you smiling from ear to ear for many years. Not to mention the increase in value. Roundcase bike values are going through the roof, so it would be a great investment. Not that Guzzi's won't increase in value, but not to the extent of your Duc. And as for new bike values, forget it, depreciation plus.
Besides, think of the fun and controversy you can create on the forum whilst you go through the resto ?
Good luck with it all, Cheers Rick

abmartin · Post by **abmartin** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 4:57 pm

smb75 wrote:Many Italian heartbreaking romances later after falling in and out of love with pantah's and guzzi's I find myself without a bike, with a small bit of savings and trying to either import a Guzzi Eldorado from the states or restore my duc and ride that.

I am not interested in a modern run around, and I dont need a commuter bike. My heart is with the duc but my head is with a loopframe eldorado and my pocket is out having a stiff drink. It may seem like a nice problem to have but I have major riding withdrawal and if I dont resolve this soon I can see myself with a 2008 BoringMW GS and a heart switched for a fuel injection microchip.

I have ridden an Eldorado for a short distance and it wasn't much fun - slow and awkward. I also had a first generation LeMans for several years and the difficult gearshift was a nuisance. For some years I had both the LeMans and my SS - the Guzzi ended up being sold.

Conclusion - there's really no comparison between a 750GT and an Eldorado in terms of riding pleasure, handling, braking and probably even reliability. The Duke in my mind is the clear winner but I wouldn't use it as an everyday bike if it involved mostly short trips.

smb75 · Post by **smb75** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 8:36 pm

Its true, what I should be asking about here is opinions on the merits of the Duc 750 GT vs the Guzzi Eldorado. Its really interesting to hear from Duc owners for a change. I am active on Guzzi forums and I have never really heard the other side of the story. Thanks for the responses, they have definitely got me thinking that perhaps the Duc is the logical way forwards for me now.