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V7 III Carbon Questions, Mods & Musings

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DoubleGuzzi:
Looking for some advice and relevant details on ownership.

Having had my wee Breva rekindle my interest in Guzzis and just sold my Street Twin, I'm keenly eyeing a few Carbons for sale at prices that I can just about stretch to. They vary in exact model year, 2018/19 and the highest mileage is a paltry 16,000 miles approx.

Can I pick your combined brains/experiences? What are the pitfalls of ownership and what should I be aware of upfront?
I'm not concerned about it being only 744cc compared to later V"7"s, in that a primary consideration is vehicle weight.

I honestly could do without the matte paint finish and prefer glossy. What do you guys use to clean and protect the finish, without it turning to a shiny satin look?
In a similar vein, what about care for the exhaust pipes and silencers (mufflers)? On black finish Triumph pipes, I've used factory recommended Motorex Protect & Shine but that was for black chrome. A couple of photos that I've seen of Carbons show signs of the pipes being polished to some degree.
How does one go about touching up inevitable paint chips?

Did some bikes come from the factory with red wheel rim trim, or has it just been a particular addition on one of the bikes that I spotted?

Engine-wise, are there any significant/worthwhile changes compared to the 2008 744cc Breva? Bigger clutch with lighter action, for example? Ever so slightly more powerful and barely noticeable?

What's the consensus on the best tyres to use? (Controversial/personal, I know)

[I'm also considering the Shine version, kinda circumventing the black finish queries, at the expense of being blinded/dazzled.]

Thanks for any insights.
 :popcorn:

Kev m:
Mechanically all V7III variants are essentially the same though details vary in the form of fender, instrument, and wheel configurations.

But they are all ABS/TC equipped hemi head 6-spd smallblocks. They make decent power, a bit of punch over the heron head models, yet very efficient (low to mid 50's mpg range despite more power).

There's a little more weight than the earlier models but I don't really notice it.

We've had ours since new but only a gentle 8k miles or so. I guess that's pampered with that I've not needed to touch up anything. I clean the bodywork with Plexus or Pledge. I tend to use the Plexus on the tank to maintain the matte finish, though I would use the Pledge too and not worry if it got a little shiny.

The cast wheels are the same as all the other cast wheels since the intro of the 1tb Stone up until the 850 models. Any red trim was added by an owner.

The motor is noticeably more powerful than any of the Heron Head models but that probably isn't much in the big picture of things. I do think it is more highway capable than my MkI Stone.

I also think the suspension is a hair better out of the box than earlier models but still relatively poverty pack.

I'm quite happy with both my MkI and MkIII though I'm really considering a Mk whatever the F the new ones are gonna be.

But I'm still keeping these two.

DoubleGuzzi:

--- Quote from: Kev m on January 17, 2025, 07:31:04 PM ---There's a little more weight than the earlier models but I don't really notice it.

--- End quote ---
Thanks: I was hoping that you'd chime in.  :bow:
Have you got any definitive figure for this, as in my poking around, I get varying weights?
I usually go on dry weight for comparisons: 189kg is exactly my expectation - not light but just bearable.


--- Quote ---Dry Weight (lbs/kg)
417 / 189
Wet Weight (lbs/kg)
461 / 209
--- End quote ---

Seems like the carbon fibre goodness (I have a fetish for it) is of little/zero consequence.

Mid 50(UK) mpg is what I'm seeing from most sources - seems about the same as the Breva and a big drop from the Street Twin.  :cry: One might have thought the 6-speed box and changed cylinder heads would make improvements to fuel consumption. If 'muricans had to wear the same costs as Brits do for go-go juice, you'd cry too.

(Pledge is a household furniture polish in the UK and I'm still Googling Plexus ;) )

Kev m:
Those weight figures sound about right. It's a guess as the OEM specs are a little suspect being the exact same as other variants.

I actually do think the carbon fiber bits look good even if overall they have little impact vs plastic or aluminum on other models with regards to actual weight.

But honestly at the end of the day I don't feel any big differences between our three bikes and the lightest is 400# wet and the MkIII heaviest is probably only around 460# wet.

My MkI heron head only gets 40-45 mpg (US) so the MkIII hemi getting 50-55 mpg (US) feels like a jump to me.

I can get more if I'm really conservative.

Jenn can do better but she's half my size and manages nearly 60 mpg on her Duc so there's that.



Yes on Pledge that's the same stuff I'm talking about.

Plexus is an overpriced plastic cleaner/polish but I really like it and use it on our helmets and windscreens.

https://www.plexusplasticcleaner.com/about.html

DoubleGuzzi:
Back in the '70s, we all used Pledge on our visors but not used that in many moons! I very occasionally use Hard Shell Turtle Wax as an external protecting skin (helmet shell & visor) - demister spray on the inside, to augment the near ineffective dual layer visor. A few minutes light soak with a damp kitchen towel, to remove bugs etc.
Reading about the Plexus Plastic Cleaner, it seems to include ingredients to shine. The previously mentioned Motorex isn't too dissimilar. Even products such as Armour All (however it's spelled) have a tendency to shine dull surfaces.  Hmm, think I need a rain-check for this one, perhaps literally.
 :clock:

P.S. Another ~10mpg is always welcome.  :wink:
P.P.S. I've been spoiled by the (lack of) weight of my previous Winter bike: Duc M600

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