When Moto Guzzi first released the V50 in the late 70s, they were met with a tepid response from an American market that preferred bigger bikes and expected smaller bikes to be cheaper. Guzzi updated the V50 to the “II” generation in 1979, giving it dual-point ignition, a larger sump, and Nikasil coating on the cylinder bores.
The 490cc V-Twin was good for 48 horsepower and a estimated top speed of 109 miles per hour. But in America, bigger was better, and in ’81, the little Monza was $3,200. Meanwhile, $3,495 in the same year would have bought you a Honda CB900F. Thus, the V50 did not sell well, and they’re much harder to find nowadays.
This example has 38,372 miles and the seller says that it “starts, looks, runs, and drives like a 5,000 mile bike.” Find this V50 for sale in Miami, Florida with a BIN of $5,000 or best offer here on eBay.
