Why I Bought a V7II Stone

[swordds]

� � �First, I live in Mandeville Louisiana so buying an MG was not easy. �Using the manufacturer's Dealer Search was worthless, it would only tell me that there are no local dealers and the search has no range options so I was left with stumbling through the www on my own. �Luckily I stumbled upon Adventure Motorsports of NWF in Pensacola Florida, almost 300 miles away. �(Fortunately they have been great to work with and they have a beautiful show room and customer lounge with several nicely restored classic MGs and BMWs and even a cut-a-way hand cranked MG large block engine to play with. If you are anywhere near that area I recommend stopping in just to look at the new and classic motorcycles on display, it is almost like visiting a museum.). So I placed my order for a 2016 V7II and rented a U-Hual motorcycle trailer (only $17.00 for 24 hrs) and drove the 600 miles round trip to pick up my MG (which I will have to repeat for the 600 mile service).
� � �Secondly, I already own a Suzuki TU250X, a beautiful little motorcycle (326 lbs/250 cc/~16 hp) that does about 90% of everything I want a motorcycle to do. �It looks like a classic 1960s BSA and almost every time I park it someone compliments it or asks me what year it is or if I restored it, etc. �Seriously, I never had any vehicle that gets so many positive comments from strangers. �It is just a classic looking motorcycle and if anyone here is looking for a smaller, lighter, 75-80 mpg regular gas motorcycle that can do 70 mph all day check out the Suzuki TU250X forum. �Also, if you are interested in a sidecar check out the photos of this motorcycle with a sidecar modification on that forum. �(Also, unlike what sometimes surprises me on this forum, you don't find any Suzuki bashing on that forum. �People on the forum who have the TUX love the TUX.).
� � �So, despite even the V7II bashings I have read on this forum, why did I get the V7II instead of a Triumph �or BMW or a dozen other choices? �
� - Air cooled. �Being your classic old retired guy who rode motorcycles in the 60s I don't trust or want water cooled. �That just adds weight, complexity, maintenance, another toxic waste fluid to deal with, and a water pump and thermostat and hoses and a radiator to fail at some point and leave me stranded on the road. �And to me the fact that Triumph has discretely concealed their water cooling system is just engineering code speak for having made it inaccessible for future maintenance and repair. �Take away the water cooled motorcycles from available new motorcycles and that significantly narrows the field!
� � - Low weight. �I think the V7II is the lowest weight motorcycle available in the ~ 40 - 50 hp range? �Anyway, certainly weights less than the Triumph.
� � - ABS and traction control.
� � - electronic ignition
� � - fuel injection
� � - add the additional benefits of shaft drive, 6,000 mile service intervals, easy valve adjustment, decent cruising range and I believe the V7II stands alone at the top of its class. �Perhaps I should have looked more closely at the Ducati 600 cc but I think the MG looks better.�
� � �

[Jurgen]

You did not mention shaft drive.  Jurgen

[Lcarlson]

Good reasons all, although I would put shaft drive near the top of the list (Chain drive is pretty much a deal-killer for me; others would strongly disagree). And despite any V7ii bashing you might find here, lots of these folks own them.

[sib]

You covered all the important points.  I would add two more:

1.  It's really a lot of fun to ride.  The '13 Stone was great and the '16 Stone with ABS and 6-sp is even better.

2.  These bikes hold their value surprisingly well.  When I bought my '16 Stone last May, I sold my '13 Stone with 12K miles for $6K in a snap, and I probably could have gotten $6.5K if I had been patient.

[Joliet Jim]

 Congrats on the new bike and welcome to the disagreeable old mans forum 

[jas67]

Great choice, and congrats!   Welcome to the constantly growing Guzzi Small Block fan club!   I love them so much that I have two (albeit the "older" V7 w/ the II).   I love them for all the same reasons that you've stated.

So I placed my order for a 2016 V7II and rented a U-Hual motorcycle trailer (only $17.00 for 24 hrs) and drove the 600 miles round trip to pick up my MG (which I will have to repeat for the 600 mile service).

The 600 mile service is pretty simple to yourself at home, there is even a thread on here on doing it.

� � - Low weight. �I think the V7II is the lowest weight motorcycle available in the ~ 40 - 50 hp range?

Yes, the V7II is relatively light, but, not the lightest in that HP range.   The KTM Duke 390, RC390, Kawasaki Ninja 300, and Yamaha YZF-R3 are all lighter and make HP in the 40-50 HP range.  Of course, those are all water cooled bikes, and none are classic-looking bikes, so, I guess for what you were looking for the V7 was it (get used to this type of nit-picking on this forum  ).

Perhaps I should have looked more closely at the Ducati 600 cc but I think the MG looks better.�
� � �

Ducati 600?  Ducati don't currently have a 600cc bike.   

[SmithSwede]

Bingo!   These things just make sense.   At least to me and the other small block guys.

[kingoffleece]

Good for you.  However it works is great.  The only real reason to own a bike is because you WANT to.  WE ride Guzzi and don't need no stinking reason to own these bikes.  We love them!

(hope you read this in the humorous manor intended!)

[SmithSwede]

I should have said welcome to the forum.  You will find this is a great bunch of folks, and you can quickly get helpful and accurate information here about anything Guzzi related. 
 
An appreciation for two-fiddy motorcycles is something else we have in common.  In addition to my 13 Guzzi Stone, I put a lot of miles on a 12 Ninja 250.  Love it to bits.   Heck, from my perspective my Stone seems like my "big" bike.

I no longer worry about revving an engine now that I've ridden across multiple states at 10,000 rpm for hours and hours.   

[guzzi4me]

I should have said welcome to the forum.  You will find this is a great bunch of folks, and you can quickly get helpful and accurate information here about anything Guzzi related.

Helpful and accurate most of the time!

Welcome to the best Guzzi site ever. Just imagine we are all sitting around a campfire enjoying
the time together.

Best enjoyed with a favorite beverage!

My next Guzzi will be the V7II Stone. Rode a V7 Stone last year and was quite impressed.

Welcome to the madness that is Guzzi!!!

Jeff

[organfixsing]

Bought a 2nd hand BREVA 1100 after 43 years off bikes (second teenagehood) and hadit it for some eighteen months. It was a problem for me. Too heavy, couldn't pick it up after a fall. Beautiful on the highway, a real pig around town for me. In a panic situation, using four finger son the front brake as you would do on a 60s Triumph drum brake would produce disaster as I would be automatically leaning slightly to the right (but that is where the rear footbrake is) (the engish bikes of my vintage had left foot brakes) so i would fall over on the right hand side. Couldn't pick it up! Found someone who had more muscle and longer inseam than me and sold it.
Bought a STONE V7II, mainly because of the ABS brakes and the six speed gearbox (the BREVA 6 speed was as gem) and so far has been definitely been a plus plus.I have made some modifications, firstly adjused the gearlever to my reqirements using the virtical shaft to the gearbox shaft to adjust the pedal height. The second change was somewhat more expensive. I was not happy with the suspension and ordered IKON rear shocks and progressivew front springs. I fitted the rear suspension units and was very dissapointed. Hello, I have wasted all this money grr! Fitted the front springs with preload spacers made from polyethelene standpipe (the new progressive springs are a lot longer than the original) and filled (to 140mm with 5W fork oil).
Magic. Probably not perfec, but, eminently useable.
Very happy with the result.
Cheers
Brian