Little Goose joins the gaggle

[mjptexas]

Nice bike, it bears a decent semblance to the original, I would prefer if Guzzi took a few more ques from the 75 model and offered chrome fenders, alloy flange rims and black exhaust, just my opinion, kinda a purist of original design.

Hadn't thought about the chrome fenders.  Might have to add them to the wish list.

[rocker59]

Hadn't thought about the chrome fenders.  Might have to add them to the wish list.

The long...
http://www.af1racing.com/store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idProduct=75542

and short of it...
http://www.af1racing.com/store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idProduct=75485

[Kev m]

The brand/model is tied to the VIN.  Adding a bike to the insurance is very automated.  Go to the website, key in the VIN and it tells you what you are insuring, ergo the V7 Classic.  I'm not sure I've ever seen a 'Special' sold as an option in the U.S.

Wait a minute. Pedantic I know, but are you actually claiming this model was called by Piaggio/Piaggio NA etc. a V7 CUSTOM because that's how your insurance company classified it in their system?

I realize the VIN will normally contain a unique model code digit, but the meaning of that digit is assigned by the manufacturer, and then insurance companies, banks, and DMVs around the world have to manually add that data to their own database (or take it from someone else's database they contract with).

Either way mistakes do happen, but that doesn't change what the OEM called it, or the MSO even.

And maybe the V7 hasn't been on your radar very long, but I can assure you that until the V7II Piaggio NA has called that model nothing but the

V7 SPECIAL since it arrived in the US in the beginning of 2013.


<snipped un-necessary supporting documents> 

[rocker59]

It's a V7 Special.  Says so on the side cover.

Insurance companies (and sometimes DMVs) don't keep up well with Guzzi models.

My Nero Corsa was a Rosso Corsa to my insurance agent and a Coppa Italia to the county assessor.  Those were the closest names they had.  They didn't have Nero Corsa.

I don't doubt that his insurance company calls them all "V7 Classic".  That is what they are, after all.  Variations on the V7 Classic.

[kirkemon]

The long...
http://www.af1racing.com/store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idProduct=75542

and short of it...
http://www.af1racing.com/store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idProduct=75485

The long - is confusing. First it says Extra LONG Bobber; then it says: "Smaller than stock, hand polished natural aluminum fenders."

So they're longer than than the SHORTER Bobber fenders, but shorter than the stock fenders?

[Kev m]

It's a V7 Special.  Says so on the side cover.

HA ha, yeah, there is that too.     

It's a V7 Special.  Says so on the side cover.

Insurance companies (and sometimes DMVs) don't keep up well with Guzzi models.

My Nero Corsa was a Rosso Corsa to my insurance agent and a Coppa Italia to the county assessor.  Those were the closest names they had.  They didn't have Nero Corsa.

I don't doubt that his insurance company calls them all "V7 Classic".  That is what they are, after all.  Variations on the V7 Classic.

YUP,

Or just V7C I could see that.

[Lcarlson]

CT DMV listed one of my former bikes as a " Bueli M2 Cyclone " for years....

[mjptexas]

And maybe the V7 hasn't been on your radar very long, but I can assure you that until the V7II Piaggio NA has called that model nothing but the

V7 SPECIAL since it arrived in the US in the beginning of 2013.

Chalk it up to a brain fart.

[Vagrant]

Georgia titled my 2001 EV as "Moto" and that's it.

[Kev m]

Chalk it up to a brain fart.

I can relate cause I'm REALLY GOOD AT THOSE!

AGAIN, gorgeous bike, hope you enjoy!

[Muzz]

A nice looking bike indeed sir! :1:

Welcome to the gaggle who have found that the small blocks do indeed punch above their weight. They will feel smaller after the big block, but the payoff is in the twisties where they can really be flung around with ease. Face-ache is a common problem I have found.

[drlapo]

CT did not recognize Moto Guzzi as a manufacturer of new motorcycles so I had to have my new V7 Special inspected at the main office of the DMV the inspector confirmed that it is a motorcycle and it is now registered as a Moto

[mjptexas]

Nice bike, it bears a decent semblance to the original, I would prefer if Guzzi took a few more ques from the 75 model and offered chrome fenders, alloy flange rims and black exhaust, just my opinion, kinda a purist of original design.

And...
I was thinking polished Agostinis until I looked at your picture again. I may need to rethink....

[guzzinka]

My insurance company has "moto marina" on the paperwork    I must have told him "guzzi" 10 times....

[Muzz]

My insurance company has "moto marina" on the paperwork    I must have told him "guzzi" 10 times....

And I thought a moto marina was somewhere where they parked fizz boats.

[HDGoose]

mini bike!

[rocker59]

And...
I was thinking polished Agostinis until I looked at your picture again. I may need to rethink....

This was my happy medium:

[HDGoose]

Georgia titled my 2001 EV as "Moto" and that's it.

I went to register my 79 1000SP in New Orleans. When the lady typed in just the serial number, she looked up at me and said she would be right back. Then a deputy appeared behind me, asked me where my vehicle was, and I said outside. She explained that it was stolen and would be impounded. I said I know who the owner is, and that the motorcycle is not stolen. She said "motorcycle?". Apparently, the serial numbers were part of a VIN associated with a stolen Chevy truck. Once she typed the whole VIN, she then asked what a MoGu was.

And some insurance had Guzzi listed as 'exotic sport bike'. I actually laughed when the agent told me that.

[Dean Rose]

Geico said my Breva 1100 was a Sport bike and now the EV is listed as a Stone.


Dean

[LaGrasta]

Congrats on your new V7.
I have a 2010 V7cc and own both the original Café seat as well as a later model two-up seat I picked up for the wife rides. As you mentioned in your original assessment ride, it's hard. The Café is much softer, much nicer.

[mjptexas]

Finally got a decent ride in the on the Little Goose yesterday (275 miles).  The miles were fairly evenly split between backroads under 60 mph and highway speeds 70-75 mph.  After a total of 450 miles I think I've got a pretty good impression of the bike.

Interestingly, the riding position still feels cramped when I first get on the bike, but, I never felt uncomfortable throughout the day.  I may think about adding rear sets for a little more legroom, but that's down the road a bit.

It handled nicely on the curvy roads.  You'll never mistake it for a sports bike but it does fine for my purposes.  An occasional bump in a corner seems to upset the steering more than I'm used to on my other rides.  For now I'm attributing this to the forks.

It does great at highway speeds.  I think this bike can run all day at 70-75 mph with no issues.  It's obvious there isn't a lot of reserve power so passes have to be carefully planned.  I did notice a very slight, what I'll refer to as nervousness, in the front end at highway speeds - it wasn't enough to present any problem but it was there.

The Biturbo shocks did just fine.  I may crank a turn of preload into them, but beyond that no issues (And yes, I know there are better options out there - they aren't in the same league as the Ohlins I had on my Triumph). 

I initially thought the seat might be ok.  Yesterday at the 175 mile mark my butt was saying  'this could be better'.  At the 240 mile mark my butt had about all the seat it could take.  So, seat replacement is moving up on the want list.

I'm still breaking the bike in so I haven't fully cracked the throttle nor have I run it up to 6,000 rpm.  But I must say the Little Goose certainly makes the most of it's modest horsepower output.  And the mileage was pretty good: 46-47 mph.

This is the only picture I got of the bike yesterday.  This guy is on one of my regular riding routes and I'm trying to get a picture of all my bikes in front of him:



POST SCRIPT
I got out on the Griso today for about 70 miles of back roads.  I'm not even going to draw any comparisons as the two bikes are so different that it would be meaningless.  But I will say this - the Griso makes me smile every time I get on it.

[mjptexas]

At the 1,200 mile mark with just a couple of changes:









The front suspension needs attention.  Still pondering what to do with the exhaust.  Both will have to wait as prime riding weather has hit Central Texas.   

[rocker59]

how's the seat ??

[mjptexas]

how's the seat ??

I like the seat, but then again I've got Corbins on 3 bikes.  Hard like all Corbins.  Definite improvement over the stock seat.

It does change the riding position a bit as you tend to  sit back an inch or so farther which increases the reach to the bars, straightens your knees slightly and gives you more space between your knees and the jugs. 

Need to get a really long ride on it to see if my opinion changes.

[lucian]

Congrat's on new addition!  Who say's birthdays are no fun when your,   um,    ah,  more mature. 
 Must feel like a mini bike when you get off the cali. Hope the big blocks don't bully it too bad. Enjoy and happy maturity day.

[vstevens]

The chrome valve cover... is that a bolt on addition?  it looks very similar to the 70's version.  Very nice bike and mods! 

[mjptexas]

The chrome valve cover... is that a bolt on addition?  it looks very similar to the 70's version.  Very nice bike and mods! 

Covers are for a 2012 V7 Racer, with a spacer plate from Guzzitech.

[ClassicV7]

Great looking bike. Have a 2012 myself and love it. Only upgrades are rear rack (which came with bike), Dart Manta flyscreen and I recently put on Aprilia mirrors from AF1 (much better than stock).

[mjptexas]

Congrat's on new addition!  Who say's birthdays are no fun when your,   um,    ah,  more mature. 
 Must feel like a mini bike when you get off the cali. Hope the big blocks don't bully it too bad. Enjoy and happy maturity day.

The big blocks are getting most of the love lately, primarily because I've been out with one of my riding buddies who is on a BMW K1200s.  Keeping up would present a challenge to the V7.

I have gotten some miles on the V7 during solo rides 

[Muzz]

The big blocks are getting most of the love lately, primarily because I've been out with one of my riding buddies who is on a BMW K1200s.  Keeping up would present a challenge to the V7.

I have gotten some miles on the V7 during solo rides 

Out here with our tight twisties my mate who also has a K1200 struggles to keep up with the Breva. He also said that he enjoys listening to the "V twin bellow" as I wick it in the corners.