Aquila GV 125 barn find
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Perhaps it’s best if I start a new thread here as the subject has drifted away from my earlier GV250 post.
I went to look at two bikes today, a Yamaha XV 250 and the above mentioned Aquila 125.
The Yamaha felt okay, but a little small perhaps. I could almost certainly get used to it though. But then I went to see the Aquila. It was literally in a barn, under a tarpaulin. Immediately I got on it, it felt like it was made for adults to use, the Yamaha was like a toy by comparison. The foot controls were positioned there where my feet wanted to be, rather than the other way around.
Unfortunately though there really is a lot of work there. The paintwork was in a reasonable state, but the fuel tank had been left completely empty and it was rusty inside. the throttle cable was seized, but the clutch and both brakes were working. The key for the saddle was missing which is problematic as the battery has been dead for ten years at least,and access is from under the seat. The tyres were flat, but would obviously need to be replaced anyway.
I’m kicking myself so hard now for having missed the gv250. Still there’s no use crying over spilt milk.
The situation is that I really wouldn’t want a project as my first bike. I’m tempted by this, but not at 500 euros. These bikes don’t have much value here as people don’t trust “odd” makes. They don’t realise things like the Suzuki connection means that some spare parts (eg oil filter) are in fact extremely easy to find. The seller was firm on the price, but the sad fact is that with what I’d have to spend on getting it back on the road, I would nowhere near recover my costs if I wanted to sell it for a bigger bike. If it had been a 250 rather than a 125 I’d probably go for it on the basis that I’d almost certainly be keeping it anyway.
Perhaps I should buy a Yamaha 250 to get me started and on the road, then try and find a GV250 from somewhere like Germany where they seem to be less of a rarity than at home in Finland. I’d still be tempted by the 125 project if the price was lower though. After all winter is coming, and a project might keep me out of mischief!
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Why not get the GV125 and fully rebuild it from the ground up even cosmetically because here in the UK, they always sell around £2000 mark but usually no less than £1000 if its tatty (cosmetically rought) but bike works as it should.
I would tell the seller the bike is worth £250 in my eyes, a rusty tank is not good but depending how bad it is , i won’t be able to say now if its worth trying to save it (taking rust off by chemical means) or buying another used copy tank but repaint it. etc.
I suppose if the batter is accessed and the carb was cleaned (ultrasonic bath etc), change oil immediately of the bike, then new plugs, see if fires up to life.
I do agree the GV125 is chunky for what it is , but ofcourse same body as the bigger GV250 sister. The GV650 is much bigger.
If you dare ? Get the GV125 and work on it. And use the Yamaha as a pleasure or commute bike for the time being, it will fetch some money back when its time to sell it.
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Thats crazy money for a GV125 in that condition with so much work required and you have no idea what the engine is like or the electrics. My advice walk away and keep looking.As an example of what you could find this is my GV125 above 2010 with only 1,250 km in absolutely perfect condition and I paid €900 for her.
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