Should I buy a Guzzi?

[Ltl1]

Hello Guzzi owners,
I'm moving back to the states after living in Asia and seriously considering buying a used v7 Classic as my daily short commuter. I'd love any feedback and thoughts the group might have.

This would be my third bike, I started very conservatively on a Yamaha Virago 250 for 4-5 years, and am now riding a an old Chinese/Taiwanese standard as my everyday around Asia- which is an experience. Great training on mountain, traffic patterns and mystery mechanical hiccups.

I'm vertically challenged at 5'1" with a 28" inseam so I'd be definitely adding a lower gel seat.

I have read a bunch of forums and I know dealer coverage is an issue, but I live in North San Diego so I have GP Motorsports just south of me, Guzzitech just north of me and a lot of dealers in LA and Orange County.

Again, any thoughts or feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[Kev m]

What's your hesitance?

[et18]

I asked the exact same question here a few months ago and ended up buying a 1400 California Touring.  I'm still in the honeymoon period after a month of ownership but I really like it and am very happy with the decision.  V7s are really cool looking bikes, are relatively inexpensive on the used market and should be easy to wrench on, why not?

BTW - My first bike was also a Virago, only it was an '82 Virago 920.  I was 18, had a student loan check in hand and bought the first bike I looked at.  I kept that bike for 7 yrs and loved the entire time I owned it. 

[Guzzistajohn]

Buy Rocker59's V7, it's a beauty!

[Scud]

I live in North San Diego County too. GP Motorcycles is a good dealer. I think there a lot of good deals on V7s - even new ones that have sat a while and are deeply discounted.  I don't know the year-by-year variations, but that's probably worth learning about before you buy one.

[Huzo]

Have you sat on a Bellagio ? Oh, and welcome BTW..

[pete roper]

No Bellagios in the US. Poor bastards.......

[chuck peterson]

Nevada model has a little lower seat height if you need it...welcome!

[lti_57]

No Bellagios in the US. Poor bastards.......

No Doubt

[M0T0Geezer]

This answers all questions...



My 2004 Breva 750 (a V7 forerunner) has nearly 50,000 trouble-free miles.

'Geezer

[JJ]

Listen to Moto-GEEZER and the other Guzzisti on this fine forum!!!....Go with your gut...but a V7 Racer or Nevada (which you could easily farkle into a cool cafe cracer) and be done with it!  :1:  

WARNING:  Once you own and ride a Guzzi...they can be quite addicting!!

[Moto]

I thought this answered all questions:

[PJPR01]

Buyer Beware....having only 1 Guzzi in the garage is an inherently unstable situation...once you get one, you'll find any excuse to get another one to restore equilibrium in the universe! 

[Scud]

Buyer Beware....having only 1 Guzzi in the garage is an inherently unstable situation...once you get one, you'll find any excuse to get another one to restore equilibrium in the universe!

I really have no idea what you are talking about...

[PJPR01]

Now Scud...that's what they call Perfect...an 8 cylinder garage!!

Truly excellent collection!!

[M0T0Geezer]

Now Scud...that's what they call Perfect...an 8 cylinder garage!!

Truly excellent collection!!

Agreed...  But Inquiring Minds want to know: How many valves in this 8-cylinder garage... ??

[Penderic]

mmmmmmm ...

That garage reminds me of something .....


mmmmmm.... Moto Guzzies!

[malik]

Your limiting FActor is going to be the seat height. You must MUST be able to get your feet flat on the ground while sitting on the seat. Especially on a commuter. A fellow guzzisti, somewhat on the short side, has a Breva & a Monza, but the V7 is too tall for him. His daughter, even shorter, doesn't fit those either. The Lario & perhaps the V50's can accommodate even shorter people. A friend, not quite as short as you, but with short legs, has a Nevada that has been V7-ised, tank & seat, and she fits that.

If the guzzis don't end up fitting, or are in the too hard to acquire basket, I'd be tempted to try out some of those 250-400cc Chinese bikes now on the market. The power & weight are good for commuting. And if you can find a trail bike that fits you, with road tyres that it likely to position you higher in the traffic. Look at those that have aftermarket seat options - the stock seats of most of the modern ones don't appear to be designed for sitting on. There's no substitution for sitting on any prospect to try it out, or for taking them for test rides. Good luck & enjoy the search.

[John A]

Ride one for ten miles and you'll decide you can take it or leave it. Ride one for a hundred miles and you wont want anything else.

[Huzo]

I thought this answered all questions:

Not when you're 5' 1"

[sign216]

Buyer,
I've got an inseam of 28.5" and the V7 fits me fine.  I can flat foot it, with a little extra room.  I've got the standard seat, but I did use low profile tires and the shocks are set a little low.

Sit on it at the dealer's and see how the height works.  There are other tricks to lower it even further, but it's not a close fit, then it might not be a good bike for you.
Joe

[zebraranger]

Should I buy a Guzzi?
Without a doubt. I've been riding Triumphs and Japanese bikes most of my life. Went and test rode my first Guzzi, a 2016 Griso SE last Christmas. I was hooked, it went home with me the same day. Now after almost 5 months of joyous time in the saddle, I'm looking for my 2nd Guzzi. The hardest part is deciding which one next.

[twowings]

To quote guru rocker59:

"[Moto] Guzzi will find YOU when it's time..." 

wait for the sign, grasshopper....

[Scud]

Agreed...  But Inquiring Minds want to know: How many valves in this 8-cylinder garage... ??

16 valves in the "V-8."  I hadn't thought about it like that before. It's ironic, because when I sold a 1955 Cadillac a while ago, the "deal" with my wife was that I would reserve the same space for motorcycles. The Caddy had a 16 valve V-8 (331 cubic inches). That translates to 5.4L. The 1100cc Guzzis combine to make 4.4L. So that means we're still in an unstable condition... two of those will be for sale at some point soon and I think an ADV bike might come to visit.

Ltl1 - I'm in Carlsbad, gonna be puttering in the garage the rest of today, and maybe a bit tomorrow. Sounds like you live pretty close to me. You're welcome to stop by and take a look at some V11s. Send me a message through the forum if you want.

[Lannis]

What's your hesitance?

That's a good question!   Would help to know WHY there is a question ... ?

Lannis

[Ltl1]

What's your hesitance?

My hesitance is the seat height and the maintenance since I'll be doing a short commute on it every day.

I currently don't work on my own bikes so while I'm getting up to speed on performing my own routine maintenance I'll be running to the dealer.

And, I'm short. I am in the process of moving back to the states now and am considering buying a particular used V7 from a dealer without having ridden it. I'm banking on the lower seat, my riding boots and if necessary modifying shocks to get it to a comfortable height. I don't like to mess with suspensions but since I'm still an intermediate female rider and I only weight 130lbs after a big dinner I think it'll be ok.

There you have it. Thoughts? I appreciate your time....

[Ltl1]

I live in North San Diego County too. GP Motorcycles is a good dealer. I think there a lot of good deals on V7s - even new ones that have sat a while and are deeply discounted.  I don't know the year-by-year variations, but that's probably worth learning about before you buy one.

Thanks for the feedback on GP- that's helpful to know they're a a solid dealer as they'd be my local one..😄

[Ltl1]

Your limiting FActor is going to be the seat height. You must MUST be able to get your feet flat on the ground while sitting on the seat. Especially on a commuter. A fellow guzzisti, somewhat on the short side, has a Breva & a Monza, but the V7 is too tall for him. His daughter, even shorter, doesn't fit those either. The Lario & perhaps the V50's can accommodate even shorter people. A friend, not quite as short as you, but with short legs, has a Nevada that has been V7-ised, tank & seat, and she fits that.

If the guzzis don't end up fitting, or are in the too hard to acquire basket, I'd be tempted to try out some of those 250-400cc Chinese bikes now on the market. The power & weight are good for commuting. And if you can find a trail bike that fits you, with road tyres that it likely to position you higher in the traffic. Look at those that have aftermarket seat options - the stock seats of most of the modern ones don't appear to be designed for sitting on. There's no substitution for sitting on any prospect to try it out, or for taking them for test rides. Good luck & enjoy the search.

Lots of great thoughts here straight to my concerns- thanks very much.....

[oldbike54]

 The Beaver , one of our luminaries , rides a V7 , and I don't believe she is anymore than 5'2" .

 Dusty

[Ltl1]

Buyer,
I've got an inseam of 28.5" and the V7 fits me fine.  I can flat foot it, with a little extra room.  I've got the standard seat, but I did use low profile tires and the shocks are set a little low.

Sit on it at the dealer's and see how the height works.  There are other tricks to lower it even further, but it's not a close fit, then it might not be a good bike for you.
Joe

Great feedback, thank you. The standard I ride now now has a 28' seat height and I can flat foot it easily without riding boots. I appreciate your first hand feedback....