Thanks for the thoughtful comments, Ken & quin...
As far as "horrors" go, as yet none have been observed. However, the wheel situation should, I think, be seen as indicative of this bike. For the past ~9 years it was owned by a sculptor who had it serviced by a nearby mechanic. He rode it ~20ks to the uni where he taught and otherwise mostly just around town. Apparently he's also go a Suzuki TL1000R (v-twin Ducati competitor). He now wants to get a new guzzi, but his wife put her foot down saying one bike had to go... He was a reluctant seller - the best kind IMHO. The S's history before this time is unknown. But it looks as though it's been parked/stored under cover for the better part of his long life. To me it's much like a lot of old beemers in that it's been used for it's intended purpose and maintained to the level required to sustain that service. Cosmetics are of a secondary concern. My 750/5 is another example of this phenomenon.
Now, I too love concept of patina and the feelings it engenders - the embodiment of passing time. The Japanese call it wabi-sabi, to quote from wikipedia:
- Wabi-sabi (侘寂?) represents a comprehensive Japanese world view or aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete".[1] It is a concept derived from the Buddhist teaching of the three marks of existence (三法印 sanbōin?), specifically impermanence (無常 mujō?), the other two being suffering (dukkha) and emptiness or absence of self-nature (sunyata).
Characteristics of the wabi-sabi aesthetic include asymmetry, asperity (roughness or irregularity), simplicity, economy, austerity, modesty, intimacy and appreciation of the ingenuous integrity of natural objects and processes.
I can vaguely recall a discussion regarding this phenomenon on b'works sometime in the past. For me the last sentence sums up a lot of the feeling I get towards my old, unrestored, BMs. They embody their long lives unashamedly, with all their acquired imperfections and battle wounds. I like them to be maintained, kept clean, and USED for their intended purpose. They are "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete" yet functionally beautiful beasts... Consider the simple yet ingenious horizontally opposed design, the off-set foot pegs, the gauges that rattle into stasis yet can be rebuilt by competent amateurs, the stands, the tappet cover bolts, the side cover mounting method, the parts exchangeability... the list grows with the time spent with them (riding, restoring and maintaining).
I guess when it comes down to it I'm like that carpenter. I like my tools to do their job well, comfortably, and efficiently and if they continue in that service without breaking down or falling apart then that is all i ask. I find that something that has been with you through long service becomes familial and bonded. Sort of like an old BMW.
(One of my other passions is old cameras. I have a Leica that looks like it's been used as an offensive weapon for a better part of it's life, yet it probably works better now than when it left the factory.)
Better stop waffling on now...
Glyn is due up here on friday. We'll be changing the engine oil and filter and continue looking for any horrors we might have missed. Yeah, I reckon it's a collector's piece - but i think that about most BMs.
pete