Is the V7 a woman's bike? Gillette Venus apparently thinks so...

[kevdog3019]

Is there any wonder why we don't have more women on this board? 

[sign216]

Placing the Guzzi V7 in the Gillette ad was probably a result of a hipster at the advertising firm wanting to add some Italian style to the scene being portrayed.  The ad isn't about motorcycling, or women motorcyclists.  And, the Guzzi in it is just an objet d'art. 

They never really show the bike well, or up close.  So maybe some people who are motorcyclists will see it and wonder enough about it to search it up and discover Guzzis.

keywords:  Gillette Venus Moto Guzzi V7 Racer Italian Motorcycle

I agree.  Don't discount the power of hipster ad "artists."

[Joliet Jim]

Is there any wonder why we don't have more women on this board? 

Yes but look at all the guys in touch with their feminine sides riding smallblocks

[tazio]

Yes but look at all the guys in touch with their feminine sides riding smallblocks

[cruzziguzzi]

I'm not even gonna read all the aggressively defensive, grumpy old white guy posts which I'm sure this thread is littered with.

I'ma just gonna say this:


They (the new v-7s  - you may well note the deliberate lower case v. Pity, there's no such thing as a lower case 7).... that is, I say, the v-7s might as well come with a bud-vase or gelata spoon for a key holder!


Todd.... Duckin' and coverin'!

[Guzzistajohn]

I'm not even gonna read all the aggressively defensive, grumpy old white guy posts which I'm sure this thread is littered with.

I'ma just gonna say this:


They (the new v-7s  - you may well note the deliberate lower case v. Pity, there's no such thing as a lower case 7).... that is, I say, the v-7s might as well come with a bud-vase or gelata spoon for a key holder!


Todd.... Duckin' and coverin'!

Surprised they don't have a little pocket for the Starbucks charge card.

[oldbike54]

Is there any wonder why we don't have more women on this board? 

 Most of the female riders I know are waaaayyyy too dignified for this board 

 Dusty

[Guzzistajohn]

Most of the female riders I know are waaaayyyy too dignified for this board 

 Dusty

I hope hardaspie doesn't see this 

[cruzziguzzi]

Most of the female riders I know are waaaayyyy too dignified for this board 

 Dusty

Chicks have way thicker skins than we, and some of their own kind, give them credit for.

The entire - well significant majority anyhow - American male segment is generally well tolerated for our sins, on the whole.



Todd.

[oldbike54]

 Here is the real question , is the 675 MV Agusta in either of its iterations a chick bike ?

 Dusty

[BRIO]

Yes, I'm going to be that annoying European.

There is no such thing as a woman's bike. Americans need to get over their gender insecurities. In many cases they produce the opposite of the intended outcome.  I'm not saying that this phenomenon doesn't happen elsewhere. However:

The relationship between man and machine can sometimes be likened to that between a man and woman. Take an E-type or Alfa 8c as an example. Curvaceous, finicky and somewhere out there there is a man tired of her sh*t.

The relationship between the insecure male and his overly loud Camaro is more like a relationship between a guy and a guy. Now, there is nothing wrong with that but I doubt that was the intention.

Come to think of it, I refer to my KLR as the donkey which may be an entirely different level of dysfunctional relationship;)

[Tom]

A women's bike only as a prop in a commercial ad.  You guys are overthinking it.

[oldbike54]

 BRIO , I seriously doubt that Europeans are any more annoying than Americans , especially Okies , or our cousins to the South 

 Dusty

[PJPR01]

Love the way the thread drifts...true Wildguzzi style.    Maybe if you guys would watch the commercial, you'll see there is nothing negative about the ad itself...

Hell of a leap of faith to go to gender insecurities from a commercial...I mean, I can see how you connected the dots, but that really wasn't the point of the thread...it wasn't at all about being insecure, it was about marketing to women, just like marketing to men, or to any other group of buyers...targeted advertising.

Obviously Gillette for Women thought that the connection was there, who knows if it is or it isn't...but it's hardly related to gender insecurity...

How go and shave with a woman's razor won't you!   

[twowings]

You mean, like, my legs???  I dunno....

[PJPR01]

You mean, like, my legs???  I dunno....

ROFL...that's funny!!

[Joliet Jim]

Here is the real question , is the 675 MV Agusta in either of its iterations a chick bike ?

 Dusty

But not as good of a chick bike as the triumph

And as long as there was a Pontiac firebird, the camaro was a chick car at least that's what my cousin told me when I had my camaro.

[oldbike54]

But not as good of a chick bike as the triumph

 So you're saying the Triumph is also a better chick bike ?

  Dusty

[Joliet Jim]

So you're saying the Triumph is also a better chick bike ?

  Dusty

Little triple vs big triple, just carrying on the theme that size matters 

[Vagrant]

pretty sure the European woman don't use razors.

[kirkemon]

Cher rides a Harley (or at least she used to)

[BRIO]

Love the way the thread drifts...true Wildguzzi style.    Maybe if you guys would watch the commercial, you'll see there is nothing negative about the ad itself...

Hell of a leap of faith to go to gender insecurities from a commercial...I mean, I can see how you connected the dots, but that really wasn't the point of the thread...it wasn't at all about being insecure, it was about marketing to women, just like marketing to men, or to any other group of buyers...targeted advertising.

Obviously Gillette for Women thought that the connection was there, who knows if it is or it isn't...but it's hardly related to gender insecurity...

How go and shave with a woman's razor won't you!   

I'd say asking the question "is the V7 a woman's bike?" is a pretty good indicator that the OP thinks women's and men's bikes exist without concluding that the OP has insecurities. I do believe that there is a lot of unhealthy gender insecurities present in our society when it comes to something like this. I bet you a lot of guys would have fun on a TU250x or in a Mazda Miata but don't dare buy one due to the associated stigma.

My point was who cares? The V7 is a great bike. Period...

[cruzziguzzi]

I'd say asking the question "is the V7 a woman's bike?" is a pretty good indicator that the OP thinks women's and men's bikes exist without concluding that the OP has insecurities. I do believe that there is a lot of unhealthy gender insecurities present in our society when it comes to something like this. I bet you a lot of guys would have fun on a TU250x or in a Mazda Miata but don't dare buy one due to the associated stigma.

My point was who cares? The V7 is a great bike. Period...

Jeeze - overthink/judge much?

If your funny bone was as delicate as your sensitivity you'd probably have more fun and less angst.

Get over the outrage - it's clearly all in fun.

And besides - what's wrong with declariing something to be "women's" after all. Keeps Mazda building Miatas or whatever they're called these days.... Midolas?

This from a guy who digs the livin' bejeepers outa his "Chick Bike" Harley 883.

Bugs me not a whit while the moniker cracks me up.

Insecurity, thy name is crusader.

Todd.

[PJPR01]

I'd say asking the question "is the V7 a woman's bike?" is a pretty good indicator that the OP thinks women's and men's bikes exist without concluding that the OP has insecurities. I do believe that there is a lot of unhealthy gender insecurities present in our society when it comes to something like this. I bet you a lot of guys would have fun on a TU250x or in a Mazda Miata but don't dare buy one due to the associated stigma.

My point was who cares? The V7 is a great bike. Period...

Brio...did you read the 2nd half of the title as well?  It's a Marketing question...that was the gist of it...Gillette/Guzzi including a V7 in their ad, not mine, to market to women...

That you hopped, skipped and jumped to gender insecurities is quite a reach...did I make any statement to that effect?  Nope...nothing of the kind...

There is marketing geared towards women, men, children, Hispanics, Blacks and many other demographics...does that mean that others who use those products have insecurities too?  Hardly!  If my girlfriend decided in the future that she wanted to ride a Guzzi, I'd probably recommend her starting on a V7 rather than a Griso or a Norge due to the weight difference, for now she's quite happy to ride pillion on the Norge.  No one said the V7 wasn't a great bike either,  is anyone disparaging it in the thread? No.

Back on topic again...

Your truly...Paul ( 1/2 European, 1/2 American)...since you think that's relevant to the opinions.  :)

[BRIO]

You don't understand what I'm saying or the intention. I digress.

[Penderic]

Restoring niceness in thread in 3

to one.

This from a lady rider's point of view...


Wonderful! I have that wish too! 

[redrider90]

Emily who used to work for Moto America the former importer was max 5'2' and had all her Guzzi's lowered. Last bike I remember her riding was a Centauro. Barbara Nowell (Mark Tenney's spouse) has had more Guzzi's that I can remember including a Rosso Mandello.
I have a professional basketball player who drools over my Mille every time she comes to see me and started looking at V7s a year ago in LA.  She said she was probably going to wait until he career was over and then buy a Guzzi.

[sign216]

Restoring niceness in thread in 3

to one.

This from a lady rider's point of view...


Wonderful! I have that wish too! 

Love it!  Great humor.

[Muzz]

When the Breva came out the accessory list had on it what they called a "lady's seat", being a bit lower than the one fitted. The Breva was promptly called a "lady's bike". Yes, a lot of guys did buy a Breva for their womanfolk but then, when they borrowed it to whip down to the shops etc., they found out what a neat ride it is.

As one that goes waaaaay back I can tell you that the Breva really broke down the barriers as regards big block owners that really used to sneer at small-block owners.

And I say, thank goodness for that.

[steelby]

It's only a girls bike if it's pink...