Full Circle -- new to me V7 Special

[jas67]

Stop looking at it as a '750' and expecting it to compete on a level playing field with other bikes, like the Shiver, for example. Love it for what it is and compare it to other, similar machines of lower swept volume.

There are many people on this forum who do love it for what it is, myself included.

What I would like to say though is imagine how much nicer it would actually be if it had a modern frame and decent suspension,

Ippo?   

(The stock shit plumbs the depths of a Marina Trench of awful!!)?

I love your posts!

I know there are people who want that antediluvian '1970's' look but it could be so, so muc
h better! I'm not suggesting that it look like some form of 'Alien Insect' to use the common vernacular. Simply that it could be put into something a bit less closely related to a horse and cart!

Pete

With a decent set of shocks they ride so much better.   They don't even need to be $1,000 ones.   The $400ish (USD) Ikons on Cam's '14 Special do just fine; WAY better than the stock pieces of rubbish.

I own bikes with much more advanced suspension (see list below), and do appreciate and enjoy good suspension (the Monster 796 has been upgraded with an Ohlins rear sock, and will get a front upgrade this winter).   But, when I ride my V7's I slow down and "smell the flowers" a bit.   With better shocks, the V7's suspension truly is good enough.

That said, if the suspension was better, and it has more power, the V7 might be a better only bike for some people, but, that's not its mission.    Its mission is not just to look retro, but to BE retro in every sense.    Heck, the cold start issue that persists (OK, not an issue starting, but, doing anything more than idle for the first 1-2 minutes) makes it more genuinely retro.

But yes, Pete, I do see your point, and certainly wouldn't mind a better suspension design, but, as someone pointed out on a V9 discussion over on ADVRider, the classic twin shock, down tube design frame that is part of what gives these retro bikes the retro look is mutually exclusive of a modern suspension design which means perimeter cast or trellis  frame, mono shock, and upside down fork (I really do like Ducati trellis frames).

All of this does not dictate the current "insect" look, as 90's sport bikes had perimeter frames and monoshocks.    I very much prefer the 90's sport bike looks (except the garish colors) esp. with twin round headlights, over the current looks.   Like automobiles, motorcycle trends change, keeping that look would've made the bikes look "dated".    The insect look will give way to something else, hopefully better looking.

[tonUPRacer]

Congrats! how about a photo of that garage/collection while you're at it? If you do decide to part with that Racer sometime and would consider selling the Record fairing, I'm calling Dibs!

[jas67]

Congrats! how about a photo of that garage/collection while you're at it? If you do decide to part with that Racer sometime and would consider selling the Record fairing, I'm calling Dibs!

Installing the fairing was enough of a PITA, if I did sell, I'd sell it whole.


Here are the pics:
IMG_8088 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr
IMG_8050 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr
IMG_7382 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr
IMG_7919 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr
R100R by jay_snyder67, on Flickr
IMG_7220 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr
IMG_3388 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr
IMG_3028 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr
IMG_4608 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr

Some previous rides:
P9223111 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr
IMG_6119 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr
IMG_2938 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr
IMG_3057 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr
IMG_1344 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr
P6112660 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr
P4112337 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr
IMG_3077 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr
IMG_3035 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr
NT650GT by jay_snyder67, on Flickr
IMG_6722 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr
IMG_4627 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr
P3283806 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr

[tonUPRacer]