Description
Click here for an CycleVIN Motorcycle History Report on this 1998 Moto Guzzi V10 Centauro. Additional photos are available here for your perusal.
Designed for the 75th anniversary of the MG factory, the Moto Guzzi Centauro was a limited production model designed as a sporty variant of the classic Italian cruiser with very distinctive bodywork – bodywork that the factory advertised as being 100% recyclable.
It might be apropos to call it an Italian V-Max – the 992cc 4 valve twin in the Centauro was good for 95 horsepower and a top speed of 130 miles per hour.
The owner tells us his Moto Guzzi collection included a Daytona and this beautiful Centauro with exceptional components – WP suspension front and rear, Brembo brakes, and Marchesini wheels. “No wonder,” the seller says, “this is basically the same cycle frame as the legendary Daytona with superb handling.” Want to learn more? Head over to the Centauro Owners Group (COG) for all the information you could want. According to the COG, just 1,918 Centauros were ever built.
The seller of this example (VIN: ZGUKKAKK4WM112757) has had it since 2007. He acquired it from a private party in Illinois and believes he’s the fourth owner.
He’s covered approximately 3,000 miles – the odometer shows 11,121 miles.
Here’s what the third owner shared about the history of this Centauro with the seller: “It was bought brand new in Indiana and only had around 2,400 miles on it when Illinois MGNOC state rep, Tim Smith bought it. I bought it from Tim at around 4,800 miles. Tim also gave me a Stucchi crossover, Creedon C5 chip and a K&N air cleaner. Those three items completely transformed the Beast to a true Italian stallion.”
“I also bought a NOS Centauro engine belly pan from Harper’s and had it painted to match the British Racing Green. It must have been an 8 out of 10 at that time. So I contacted Agostini and inquired about mufflers.”
“I didn’t want the Mistral carbon cans because I thought the BRG made the bike dark enough and the standard stainless cans looked dull. I asked if Ago could get some polished stainless Mistrals and they said sure, it would just take a few extra days to complete the polishing. That bike likely still has the only polished stainless Mistrals in the country. Now it was near Italian nirvana. The Beast now had a voice to compliment it’s looks and performance.”
The owner comments “the Stucchi crossover brings out the very best Guzzi roar. Included in the sale are perfectly stored polished stainless steel Mistral carbon cans and the original Guzzi collector box and fittings. This bike likely has the only polished stainless Mistrals in the country.”
“If you rode it to 5,000 rpm in 3rd gear and whacked open the throttle you were then in Guzzi heaven. The front end got light, the sound was incredible and the you better be hanging on to the grip with intensity.”
“Let me tell you, it’s an awesome motorcycle. I loved the looks of the V10 when I first saw pictures of it on the internet. They didn’t sell well in the showrooms because Guzzi didn’t develop the EFI computer chip and the dealers couldn’t make them run. Sales were flat, the engine build costs were very high and the V11 Sport engine put out nearly identical horsepower and torque figures so the Centauro was left to die. But get one to run as designed and you’ll never forget it.”
The seller states that there are no mechanical issues, and he calls the bike “exceptional.” He told us, “I felt so lucky to have purchase the bike from someone who knows the Centauro so well, as can be seen on the Centauro Owner’s Group, this bike has it all.” When not ridden, the bike was stored in a filtered air bubble tent. It was given a full service in early 2017. “All wrenching was done by GuzziTech’s Todd Eagan who knows me and the bike well.”
Cosmetic Blemishes:
The tire date codes are 3704 and 5004.
The sale includes two keys, various spare cables, tear drop turn signals, and aftermarket black plastic mirrors.
The seller sums up his bike by saying, “it would be hard to find a better looking, sounding or running Centauro. Just one ride would convince even the hardest hearted person this bike is loads of fun and more versatile then many would think.”
Currently located at our facility in Santa Monica, California (please make an appointment for an inspection), this Moto Guzzi is offered on a clean California title with registration current through February 2022.
The seller is letting it go as he is moving to Europe. Have any Centauro stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the comments!
