Good resources for aftermarket parts?

[sstone14]

So my 2010 V7C is my first bike. 14k+ miles. Two previous owners. Dropped in a low-side by one of them with some scrapes to show for it. And, as you may know from some of my posts, has had a handful of problems here and there which I'm still in the process of sorting out. Part of me wondered if I'd made a mistake buying it and should've bought a first bike with less personal maintenance required, but I honestly love this bike, and the more I ride it and work on it myself, the more I love and appreciate it; so I've decided I'm going to be its final owner, and keep it running forever, and keep improving it and making it more my own gradually over the years.

Thus: I'd like to ask for any good resources for aftermarket parts for customizing the bike and improving performance and looks. And how can you tell when an aftermarket part that's not OEM will definitely fit the bike? AF1 is good about this stuff, but it seems mostly to be OEM stuff and I really wanna step my game up bit by bit. Also, there doesn't seem to be a ton of mainstream and youtube content about Moto Guzzis (which is why this forum is such a godsend). So quick google searches about this stuff are not as helpful as they would be for, say, a CBR or Ninja or any Triumph.

Also, what's the difference between "stock replacement parts" and "OEM parts", or is there none?

Any input would be great, thanks!

[Tom H]

You asked a question that has a bazillion answers.

Factory OEM or aftermarket OEM type. What comes to mind is MG Cycle, AF1. Stien Diens (SP?) or Harpers, or you local dealer.

Customizing type parts. You can measure and find something that may or may not fit the way you want it on fleabay or the like. Ask here to see if someone has tried the same thing and find what they did. Many aftermarket levers will fit Guzzi for instance, you just need to find which ones.

Hope this helps,
Tom

[Scout63]

MG Cycle has been my go to for oem parts and well selected aftermarket parts. 

[moto]

MG Cycle has been my go to for oem parts and well selected aftermarket parts.

It was pointed out to me by one of its owners that MG Cycle sells no parts from Guzzi itself. However, some of the parts they sell are the same ones that Guzzi bought to incorporate into their bikes. So  they are "OEM" in a sense, but not in the sense that Guzzi is the "M". AF1 and Harpers, on the other hand, sell actual Guzzi products in addition to differently-sourced items.

Gutsibits, in England, comes to mind as another source. There are several others, but nothing like what exists for popular brands. You shouldn't hesitate  to order from England or Europe. The service can be faster than what I obtain from one in-state vendor (not MG Cycle).

Maybe some owners of the newer generation V7 bikes can suggest other sources for particular accessories they have bought and enjoyed.

Welcome to the forum, by the way!

Moto

[Kiwi_Roy]

I have only added a few aftermarket parts to my V7III
A Dart Marlin screen from the UK
Decent loud horns and driving lights

Girbing Heated gear controller with Bluetooth & Voltmeter

Canadian Tire Gun case

One thing that happened to me, the alternator had some shorted turns that caused the battery to go flat, this also caused it to backfire and blow the throttle body off the intake manifold, the resulting over fueling caused both catalytic converters to overheat and set fire to the insulation. Apart from that I love this bike
Im all the time carving out aluminium brackets using a coping saw

[malik]

There's a lot less aftermarket accessories available these days than in the heyday 2010-2015, so you've just got to look harder.
There's really no cost-effective engine performance upgrades on these, the heron head engines are what they are - effective, but not stompers. Regular servicing & occasional throttle body balancing will keep them hummimg.

Stick with the factory air filter, it's the best. Get Guzzidiag & the cables - useful for maintenance. The 15RC ECU is robust & flexible & usually doesn't need changing or re-mapping.

On the V7C, best improvements are rear suspension, front suspension, (and which depends on how much money you can afford to spend - the Ohlins on the V7 III Racer were stunning), aftermarket muffler (frees up the mid range), single seat - there are some much more comfortable versions of both the solo & dual seat around - the problem these days is finding them.

After these there's a metal tank (21 litres is better than 15), rear sets & low bars (clip-ons or Jota-style) to change the riding position, LED driving lights, loud horns, luggage racks & luggage, mirrors, KINEO spoked rims would be nice should you have unlimited cash, centrestand or a shop stand, heated clothing, test ride some grip puppies - they may suit. Some people like tail tidies - I'm not a fan of mud up my back, so I'm not.

What else? Throttle lock or cruise control, head protectors/engine bars, rocker covers (the all alloy ones from the older smallblocks fit the V7C), there is bound to be other geegaws I've missed. Whatever. Enjoy.

[Dirk_S]

I don’t think anyone dropped down to the level that you’re looking for in terms of definition:

OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer. That’s the same part and part # that you would find in the bike’s parts diagram.

Stock Replacement = I’m not entirely sure if this is actually a precisely defined term as OEM and aftermarket are.  I read ‘stock replacement’ as a part that’s not OEM (therefore aftermarket), designed to substitute the OEM part, which may or may not be an upgrade in performance or quality.

[evank]

What about GTmotocyles on SoCal? (GuzzitechLLC)  They look like a good source, though I have not ordered anything yet from them.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

It was pointed out to me by one of its owners that MG Cycle sells no parts from Guzzi itself. However, some of the parts they sell are the same ones that Guzzi bought to incorporate into their bikes. So  they are "OEM" in a sense, but not in the sense that Guzzi is the "M".

I hadn't really thought about this, but I had a ration of shit issues with a lots of the repro stuff I got from MG Cycle. I'm shocked at how poor the quality and fit is on some of those items. Header pipes that require hours of fiddling to fit, repro switchgear that simply doesnt work, headlight trim ring just a mm or two undersized, turn signals, headlights that dont flear the fuse board, etc etc... I can only think of 1-2 repro items I got from them just 'fit' or 'worked' on the first try. 

I know thats the way it goes with repro stuff sometimes, but I was really shocked at how badly some of this stuff integrated and kept thinking "well they sell it and they are experts, so it must just be me!"

[moto]

I hadn't really thought about this, but I had a ration of shit issues with a lots of the repro stuff I got from MG Cycle. I'm shocked at how poor the quality and fit is on some of those items. Header pipes that require hours of fiddling to fit, repro switchgear that simply doesnt work, headlight trim ring just a mm or two undersized, turn signals, headlights that dont flear the fuse board, etc etc... I can only think of 1-2 repro items I got from them just 'fit' or 'worked' on the first try. 

I know thats the way it goes with repro stuff sometimes, but I was really shocked at how badly some of this stuff integrated and kept thinking "well they sell it and they are experts, so it must just be me!"

Some of the parts MG Cycle sells are the same ones that Guzzi buys or bought from a third party to install on their bikes. They don't get them from Guzzi since they are not a Guzzi dealer. Examples are Dellorto carb parts and certain switchgear and turn signals, such as this one used on Grisos: https://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3009. They label such parts "Original Equipment," quite properly since they are what Guzzi used as equipment on their bikes.

The other parts they sell vary in quality, which is at least partly a result of their efforts to have a large selection. It's a thin market and high quality items seem not to exist in some cases. Read the descriptions carefully and shop around.

Finally, tell them if you are not satisfied. They need information from their customers to maintain their expert knowledge.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

Read the descriptions carefully and shop around.

This one is very true.. in some of the descriptions (ie: repro pillbox switches for loopframes) they all but come right out and say "these dont work, or dont work for long, and you can't really fix them"

[Bulldog9]

My Go-To's in no order of preference, as all all great and have benefits. Comments added are my perspective.
In my experience usually FAST user friendly CS

- AF1 Racing - A big dealer in TX, Mostly OEM parts, with many aftermarket parts and can order off the factory Microfiche. Find the part# you want and search for it, and order it. Can be a bit pricy. Good service, and communication, they take a picture of your order when the pack it.
- MG Cycle - Mostly aftermarket parts, but are Guzzi Specific, and great for older models. Best source for Exhaust systems, and good pricing. , Located in WI.
- Harpers - A dealer and expert, so many factory parts, as well as specialized repro parts made by/for them. i.e. Solo Seat for Tonti framed bikes like my Convert, located in MO.
- Cadre Cycle - Similar to above, located in OH.
- Hamlin Cycle - Similar to above, and a suspension Genius, located in CONN.
- Moto Guzzi Classics - Sells many parts on Ebay and direct, mostly for used parts, located in CA.

There are others, but these are those I have dealt with. AF1 is the most 'commercial' with more of a marketing big business approach, and Harpers, Cadre, Hamlin and Guzzi Classics have a more personal approach.  We are blessed with such a great community of parts support and expertise.

Though not a parts source per-say, This Old Tractor, and Greg Bender is also a great source, particularly for wiring harness needs for older Guzzi's.