V9 query

[grame99]

I have posted this question elsewhere but I thought I would try here also as I'm a new rider and not very techy and would appreciate the wisdom of wiser counsel:

I want to 'Bobberfy' my V9 Roamer. I assume I can swap the handlebars easy enough if I can find the size of the Bobber bars (is this info available?)

But can I put the smaller Bobber front wheel on my Roamer? From studying images, it looks plausible - but I have no idea about forks, geometry, rake etc. and whether they would be affected.

Would the fender/mudguard be adjustable to accommodate it.

The brake disk would need attaching. But I assume that would be straightforward.

I would be fascinated to hear opinions...

[Toecutter]

My advice.... as a long time vintage rebuilder/rider...

Is to ride the damn thing as is for a while. And when you start changing things... change them one at a time.

Handlebars: unless rise and pullback is "close",  you will need to revisit cables, wiring and routing.

Changing wheels... if diameter of wheel is different, then handling will be affected. Rotational weight of wheel will affect handling, too. Any changes to geometry at all, will have an effect... it's up to you if it's good or bad. I'm not 100% sure, but I think the hubs on the bobber and roamer are identical, I believe, so swapping should be easy. Chances are the fender would swap as well.

Now... you do realize how much this is going to cost, right? I highly doubt there's a lot of "take off" parts just lying around for a bike this young.
You'd probably be further ahead to sell your roamer and just buy the bobber.

You could save money by buying a rim & spokes and lacing your own wheel, as well as buying an aftermarket fender and mounting it.

[grame99]

Thanks so much for this! Exactly what I needed to know. I didn't even think about the cabling for the handlebars...

I saw a Bobber front rim on Ebay for 250 and this set me a-wondering. Especially after reading that the bikes weere the same save for front wheel, fenders, and handlebar.

I did try selling but the Roamer doesn't sell well in the UK (only 30 ever sold) so I wondered if this might be a sneaky way to a Bobber - a red 'Broamer.'

I've had it for under a year and I guess I can just hold on as is until it's paid off if it's not a viable project.

[Huzo]

Thanks so much for this! Exactly what I needed to know. I didn't even think about the cabling for the handlebars...

I saw a Bobber front rim on Ebay for 250 and this set me a-wondering. Especially after reading that the bikes weere the same save for front wheel, fenders, and handlebar.

I did try selling but the Roamer doesn't sell well in the UK (only 30 ever sold) so I wondered if this might be a sneaky way to a Bobber - a red 'Broamer.'

I've had it for under a year and I guess I can just hold on as is until it's paid off if it's not a viable project.

Where did you but it Gramme ?

[rocker59]

If you're not a mechanic, the easiest thing to do would be trade the Roamer for  Bobber at your dealer.

If you have to pay a mechanic to bobberize your Roamer, it's going to be expensive.  More expensive than taking a loss on the Roamer and buying a Bobber.

[Kev m]

On the flip side from a manufacturing side of things it would make the most sense if the cables etc were all one length and the hub would fit, so it COULD be as easy as buy the wheel and buy the bars and swap them.

Spend some time in the OEM parts books (should be available online at Harpers or AF1 and see if parts for things like cables or axle are the same. And if so, Bob's Your Uncle!

And yeah, it might change the geometry slightly, bla bla bla, but that can be dealt with.

[grame99]

Definitely no mechanic...

Spoke to Guzzi tech at local dealer who said the two bikes are the same save for seat, fender, bar, and front wheel. He said the bars should swap easily, and saw no reason why the wheel couldn't be swapped. He's looking into the possibilities - whether new fork-ends would be needed so that the front fender doesn't sit too high above the front tyre.

Agree about exchanging - but p/x values in the UK aren't good (around 4K). Ideally I want a new V7iii Stone but can't afford the extra 3K right now. (I had it all set up but my buyer backed out at the last moment. Sigh.) So might just wait 18 months and see what's available then. And tweak the Roamer...

 Maybe the new v85 engine will be appearing in a non-adventure guise?

[MMRanch]

grame99

The Roamer has tire size's that's available in Cruiser sizes , and is a dandy looking  bike .   Trade for your Bobber instead of butchering a beauty.    You'll save some money by trading too !

 

[Unkept]

I did the math (for some reason) before and the outside tire diameter of both the Roamer and the Bobber are close.

V9 Roamer Front Tire: 100/90R 19 = Outside Diameter of 26.08''

V9 Bobber Front Tire: 130/90R 16= Outside Diameter of 25.22''

So a gap of + 0.86"' +0.43" (Thanks Rocker) for the fender moving from Roamer to Bobber front wheel and tire.

Fork assembly is listed as 2B002192 for both. The blank front fender / mudguard is listed the same for both. 2B001141

I would bet if you measured the tire gap on a stock Roamer and Bobber, you would find that 0.43'' difference. See how the Roamer fender is closer to the tire?






I just looked at the wheel diagrams and my quick scan makes it appear that only the wheels are different, no axle, etc. differences.

You can verify for yourself all of this info here. http://www.motointernational.com/uploads/pdf/moto-guzzi/2017v9bobberpartscatalog.pdf and here http://www.motointernational.com/uploads/pdf/moto-guzzi/2017v9roamerpartscatalog.pdf

[rocker59]

I did the math (for some reason) before and the outside tire diameter of both the Roamer and the Bobber are close.

V9 Roamer Front Tire: 100/90R 19 = Outside Diameter of 26.08''

V9 Bobber Front Tire: 130/90R 16= Outside Diameter of 25.22''

So a gap of + 0.86'' for the fender moving from Roamer to Bobber front wheel and tire.

I would bet if you measured the tire gap on a stock Roamer and Bobber, you would find that 0.86'' difference. See how the Roamer fender is closer to the tire?
 

Distance between fender and tire will be 1/2 the difference in diameter, or 0.43"

 

[Unkept]

Distance between fender and tire will be have the difference in diameter, or 0.43"

Thanks for the correction Rocker, I forgot to do that step!

Should be as simple as buying that wheel if you can, hopefully it would come with the tire.

[grame99]

Cheers chaps, some really great feedback here!

So presumably the handling would differ but it would be basically stable - my key concern, knowing little as I do about geometry, rake

Interesting stuff. The Broamer looks do-able! Swapping just the wheel shouldn't take too long if done by a mechanic? Ditto the handlebar?

[Unkept]

Cheers chaps, some really great feedback here!

So presumably the handling would differ but it would be basically stable - my key concern, knowing little as I do about geometry, rake

Interesting stuff. The Broamer looks do-able! Swapping just the wheel shouldn't take too long if done by a mechanic? Ditto the handlebar?

I'm not going to offer too much more here, but just from my elementary understanding of the two bikes their parts are largely the same... except the front wheel and tire.

My guess is that if you changed the front wheel and handlebars to match the bobber... it would handle almost exactly like a Bobber.

So test driving a Bobber first might be the best way to go? While there you could maybe get a quote for labor (if you don't want to swap the wheel yourself. Just need a stand and some tools) and you could ask about a trade just to test the waters.

A *more interesting* swap would be to look into putting V7 wheels on. An even more interesting idea would be to get the V7 hubs from the Special or Racer and have them laced to a nice 17" rim! But I have no idea if the rear would work, I imagine the front would work with the right axle and spacer.

Have fun with your choices. :)

[grame99]

I'm not going to offer too much more here, but just from my elementary understanding of the two bikes their parts are largely the same... except the front wheel and tire.

My guess is that if you changed the front wheel and handlebars to match the bobber... it would handle almost exactly like a Bobber.

So test driving a Bobber first might be the best way to go? While there you could maybe get a quote for labor (if you don't want to swap the wheel yourself. Just need a stand and some tools) and you could ask about a trade just to test the waters.

A *more interesting* swap would be to look into putting V7 wheels on. An even more interesting idea would be to get the V7 hubs from the Special or Racer and have them laced to a nice 17" rim! But I have no idea if the rear would work, I imagine the front would work with the right axle and spacer.

Have fun with your choices. :)

Thanks hugely!

[Huzo]

An even more interesting idea would be to get the V7 hubs from the Special or Racer and have them laced to a nice 17" rim!

Why would anyone take a perfectly good set of cast wheels off their bike and replace them with "old fashioned" spoked ones..?
Sounds like madness to me.

[Unkept]

Why would anyone take a perfectly good set of cast wheels off their bike and replace them with "old fashioned" spoked ones..?
Sounds like madness to me.

You would know. 

[MMRanch]

Why would anyone take a perfectly good set of cast wheels off their bike and replace them with "old fashioned" spoked ones..?
Sounds like madness to me.

*2

[Unkept]

I was only suggesting it to get better wheel sizes, btw. :) I would prefer cast 17" wheels front back.

[bpreynolds]

You should do what drives your heart but another vote here for just trading the bike in for a Bobber.  Now look, not everyone on here is as consumed and troubled as me about needing the “next” bike  but you must know you now own an absolutely wonderful, super rare piece of fine Italian machinery that will bring you squat if/when you go to resale it.  It’s going to bring you even less squat if you diddle it up with your own Bobber longings.  You being a “new” rider - not a criticism at all - increases the likelihood you will in fact want to sell it eventually and if you are like me or many of the other folks on here, you’ll want to sell it for another Guzzi even.  If you are not a mechanic nor a customizer per se, and you really only want the look, then the wrenching aspect of the work won’t appeal to you.  Or it might.  Who knows.  Seems like an expensive way to find out.  And you should listen to me on this point as I have lots of experience throwing money out the door while chasing bike tail.    You may want to Bobbify it to have something special, but you already got something rare and special as it is.  Anyhow, I’m just saying to me it seems like there are a lot of reasons in this situatiion for you to just trade it.  But you know what, don’t listen to me.  I never listened to anyone on this board and look where it got me 

[grame99]

Some valuable perspectives - thanks.

I heard back from the local dealer - and it IS possible. So now I have the option to consider. I understand the recommendation to part-exchange - but I would take a hefty hit just to get a bike with a different wheel, handlebar and paint-job. Ideally I would like a V7iii but it's just not financially viable right now - especially with the low p/x. The Roamer's fab - reliable, fast, pretty, well-cared-for, but the cruiser ergonomics are not good for my back. I need a more traditional straight-backed roadster-style ergonomic - and the smaller front wheel and lower straighter bars of the Bobber help with this.

I understand some may see this as an abomination, but the parts could be easily swapped back at a later date and the new additions sold online. I just need to check some pricing details - but it may not work out as being as expensive as  I feared. It just depends if I have to replace the rear wheel, the rear tyre, the front mudguard, or whether I can keep the red Roamer's.

I am afraid I am already a Guzzi afficianado. No other bikes interest me. And next we should see some nice new options with the new V85 engine...