Ducatisti considering a V7...thoughts?

[Dave Swanson]

BedMac, I assume you have been looking over the V7 models?  Which one has your interest?  Just curious.

[chuck peterson]

....if you like riding so much to fill the garage with your favorites, you're about to discover the many different ways a GUZZI rolls

Surprised your not looking at the new V85TT..

Don't forget red suspenders, a corn cob pipe and buy used (guzzi content)

I sold all three big tonti's (1000cc) after a serious health issue, started w scooters and have been able to climb back aboard a V7 Nevada for short trips...w a LaFranconi exhaust it rocks my boat

Flat torque curve, syncopation of that 90 degree motor between 4-6500 Rpms, great delicate handling, 50 horses at 450 lbs, light nimble quick responsive what's not to like?

Bet you can't eat just one...

[LowRyter]

I did a test ride, this one had some pipes on it.  I think it's a fun little bike to cruise around on.  It will certainly cruise at 80 on the highway.  Looks cool and rides fine.  The suspension was set up for my weight+ (the dealer is a pretty big guy), so it did offer a greater feel & handling than my expectations.
 



summary of the poem success is counted sweetest


I'd say it's pretty opposite of my Ducati, although the seating position is more of a "standard" rather than a "cruiser".

[BedMac]

BedMac, I assume you have been looking over the V7 models?  Which one has your interest?  Just curious.

The Milano, though I haven't seen that model in the flesh yet.  I wonder how I'll react to the color in person.

It's tough because each seems to have pluses and minuses.  One big break point for me is the tach - I want one!  Not just for riding info (which I prefer) but the single instrument just looks so weird to me from a design standpoint.   I realize there are workarounds (ride without, add aftermarket) but none of those address the design symmetry I apparently want.  So that means Milano, Special, and Racer. 

I also like the Milano because of the grab rail and the brushed fenders.
The Racer has the benefit of the Ohlins and the spokes look cool, but I'm not seeing the same "deal" possibilities for that at the moment.
The Special is possible but there are not a lot of them around me.

For the "no tach" models:

Carbon Dark looks nice with its red flashes but I don't know if that appeal would last for me
The Stone models would be the cheapest way in - some attraction in that alone given that performance-wise they are the same as the rest of the models (save the Racer's suspension)!
The Rough looks good but I just don't see any roads I'd use that justify the different tires though obviously they are easy to switch.
Carbon Shine - I keep wondering about the sun reflecting off that tank!  I've had small flashes of chrome on a gauge drive me crazy!  Is this an issue for those chrome tanks?
The Night Pack - no burning need for LED lighting.

I'm also struck by how great some of the previous years' offering look.  That Anniversario looks killer.

[jpv7]

That is despite me giving an example of one (JAS67) on here who has TWO V7s in the first reply.   

Yup.  Missing the point completely...

[Kev m]

Yup.  Missing the point completely...

EDIT - ooopps my bad - never mind.

Wait you or me?

My point was that YOU " just can't imagine a track day Ducatisti liking a V7." which I find hard to accept when TWO track day Guzzisti mentioned on this thread DO. So you should be able to imagine it no?

I get your point and kinda understand that YOU feel that way, and I suspect MORE often than not others may agree. But just the fact that two exist here sorta proves the negative or that "one should be able to imagine a track day Ducatisti might very well LIKE a V7".

That was my point....

But its all moot. It comes down to the OP and how HE feels and none of us can tell him for sure how he will.

[BedMac]

Surprised your not looking at the new V85TT..

I've seen the ADV; I think it looks spectacular, especially the McDonald's one.  But it is too close to my Multistrada in functionality I think. 

[usedtobefast]

Wait you or me?

My point was that YOU " just can't imagine a track day Ducatisti liking a V7." which I find hard to accept when TWO track day Guzzisti mentioned on this thread DO. So you should be able to imagine it no?

I get your point and kinda understand that YOU feel that way, and I suspect MORE often than not others may agree. But just the fact that two exist here sorta proves the negative or that "one should be able to imagine a track day Ducatisti might very well LIKE a V7".

That was my point....

But its all moot. It comes down to the OP and how HE feels and none of us can tell him for sure how he will.

I think we are getting the "me's", "we's", "you's" mixed up here.      I'm the guy with a bad imagination.   

Here's an example, let's say someone says "I currently live in New York city.  I really enjoy the nightlife, all the people and activity, different foods an culture, etc.  But occasionally I would like a quieter place.  So I think I'm going to move to rural Iowa!" 

I would say "I can't imagine this New Yorker is going to like rural Iowa".

Then people could give me 5-10 examples of people that moved from NYC to Iowa and liked it.  But ... I still couldn't imagine a New Yorker moving to Iowa and enjoying it (given that they 95% like NYC).  Guess I have a fixed, not variable imagination.   

Bringing this back to motorcycles, the great thing is in one garage we can have "NYC" and "rural Iowa" and you could ride one for a 1/2 day and the other for a 1/2 day, or pick based on mood, etc. 

I have a V7 iii Racer (and a Griso, and my gosh a Quota!) ... and my one piece leather suit track day buddies are worried about me.      

And back to the OP, easy enough to get a test ride and see.

[Kev m]

I think we are getting the "me's", "we's", "you's" mixed up here.      I'm the guy with a bad imagination.   

Here's an example, let's say someone says "I currently live in New York city.  I really enjoy the nightlife, all the people and activity, different foods an culture, etc.  But occasionally I would like a quieter place.  So I think I'm going to move to rural Iowa!" 

I would say "I can't imagine this New Yorker is going to like rural Iowa".

Then people could give me 5-10 examples of people that moved from NYC to Iowa and liked it.  But ... I still couldn't imagine a New Yorker moving to Iowa and enjoying it (given that they 95% like NYC).  Guess I have a fixed, not variable imagination.   

Bringing this back to motorcycles, the great thing is in one garage we can have "NYC" and "rural Iowa" and you could ride one for a 1/2 day and the other for a 1/2 day, or pick based on mood, etc. 

I have a V7 iii Racer (and a Griso, and my gosh a Quota!) ... and my one piece leather suit track day buddies are worried about me.      

And back to the OP, easy enough to get a test ride and see.

You're right - about the confused part....and the lack of imagination part. We gotta work on your imagination. 

Ok, thanks for setting me straight.

[Das]

I have two bikes to choose from.  My beloved 2013 V7 Stone (tachometer standard!), with suspension upgrade, Agostini pipes fitted with half length baffles, clip ons and rear sets, oh and a Beetle map.  My farkling may not be to everyones taste but it works for me.  My other ride is Honda's version of a Ducati, the VTR1000 released in 1998 as an alternative to the 996.  Ok, so it is not a Ducati however the engine has the same bore and stroke, power and torque figures as the 996.  With after market pipes it sounds pretty cool and can easily attain warp speed when asked. Thing is, I rarely ride it.  The V7 just does so much right. It rumbles and whines, looks slinky and unique but here's the thing.  There are horses and then there are horses.  Something about the blend of torque and power across the rev range most commonly used means that most of the time the sense of urge and propulsion is not missing. It may only have fifty horses on paper but each one is a thoroughbred. I have more fun riding the Goose because I get to use the whole of the bike on offer virtually every time I ride it.  More powerful bikes simply cannot be wound out on the road and stay legal and safe. Power is good in a straight line but when you hit the curves, skill and timing are what count. Crouched over the tank with the V7 on song, I can get through the twisties as quick as anyone(well, maybe not anyone, but you get the point) Equally, I can throw a bag on the back and head off for overnight trips and have a ball simply riding down the highway.

[Vagrant]

Fossil  wrote :  How do you define "long lasting"?


I've been running Commander II's on my Cruiser Bikes and getting near or better than  20,000 miles out of them.    Yes , REAR tires.

So

These Bubble-Gum 4 to 6 K mile tires seem like a cruel Joke in comparison .   The Avon AM26 RoadRider I just replaced had 8,200 miles on it (130/90-17)  .

then you will get 15000 + on conti attack 3

[alanp]

Only you can decide, but fully grasping the virtues of a V7 is not easily done on a test ride.  It took me 3 test rides and 2 years of pondering.  Then about another year of owning it before I really got it.  It is subtle, easy to ride, easy to maintain, calming and completely enjoyable in a whole different way than my other bikes have been.
I have had over 25 motorcycles and my V7II Stone is now among my favorites (I can't rank my bikes, they all have pros and cons, but the V7 is easily top 3 or 4).  For perspective, my current other bikes are a Motus MST and a Guzzi 1200 Sport.  The V7 is my go to bike unless I am touring or taking a very long day ride (200+ miles).  And I look forward to riding every time I get on it. 

[BedMac]

So I was able to do a VERY brief test ride today, on a V7 III Carbon Dark.  While I was there I also rode a Royal Enfield Continental GT 650.

There is no doubt the RE presents some serious value for the money...but it was just not for me.  I didn't want to be on my wrists that much - been there, done that.  Great transmission. Three year warranty and roadside assistance. The more upright version - I forget the name - just looked boring to me.

So yeah the Moto Guzzi was a new experience. The thing with crankshaft rotation causing the bike to rock was clearly apparent but no biggie.  I found the clutch a bit more clunky and getting the correct clutch release will take some practice but shifting went fine. I instantly fell in love with the riding position.  I had a spooky moment taking off from a stoplight; apparently there was oil on the ground (confirmed when I went back later) and my rear tire immediately slipped out and spun to the side out of the oil, but then it caught and off i went.  No harm done.

There were some sounds I wasn't sure about, and the ride was marred by a loose left mirror.  Oh well.

I totally believe the comments that a quick test ride won't tell you much, and the idea that the "get it" comes much later.  I'm still interested and plan to make the two hour trip to see for the first time the model I'm considering either tomorrow or Thursday.

On a side note: on the way over something odd happened. I was riding my Mulistrada to the dealer and as I was accelerating on the freeway ramp there was an obvious interruption in power.  I thought it was a fuel problem and it happened again.  Then I wondered if it was the chain. I decided to pull over on the freeway and sure enough the chain was real loose.  So I nursed it back home.  I had last adjusted the tension before some long trips I did, about 5,000 miles in the past three months.  After I got back from the trips I checked it again and it was great.  But my impression is the pinch bolts that clamp an eccentric hub on the single side arm that you rotate to make the adjustment had loosened or weren't properly torqued (by me) when I last did it.  So I adjusted it and tightened it back up and headed off to the dealer.  That has never happened to me before, but I couldn't help but think that it couldn't happen on a shaft drive...so maybe it was a message?

[alanp]

"The thing with crankshaft rotation causing the bike to rock was clearly apparent but no biggie."

It's funny.  I suppose Guzzis do that but I have been riding them so long I completely don't notice.  And when I ride a bike that doesn't have that arrangement I don't notice it not doing it.  It often gets mentioned in reviews, but it is completely inconsequential. 

Oh, and the loose mirror.  I had that problem on my test rides too.  Solved with a set bar ends that look and work much better. 

[kingoffleece]

I'm with Alan here.  I read about stuff like that in the reviews and think "what a dope" the reviewer is.  They are machines-we adjust to them over time-sometimes quickly and others over a longer period.

[jpv7]

So I was able to do a VERY brief test ride today, on a V7 III Carbon Dark.  While I was there I also rode a Royal Enfield Continental GT 650.

There is no doubt the RE presents some serious value for the money...but it was just not for me.  I didn't want to be on my wrists that much - been there, done that.  Great transmission. Three year warranty and roadside assistance. The more upright version - I forget the name - just looked boring to me.

So yeah the Moto Guzzi was a new experience. The thing with crankshaft rotation causing the bike to rock was clearly apparent but no biggie.  I found the clutch a bit more clunky and getting the correct clutch release will take some practice but shifting went fine. I instantly fell in love with the riding position.  I had a spooky moment taking off from a stoplight; apparently there was oil on the ground (confirmed when I went back later) and my rear tire immediately slipped out and spun to the side out of the oil, but then it caught and off i went.  No harm done.

There were some sounds I wasn't sure about, and the ride was marred by a loose left mirror.  Oh well.

I totally believe the comments that a quick test ride won't tell you much, and the idea that the "get it" comes much later.  I'm still interested and plan to make the two hour trip to see for the first time the model I'm considering either tomorrow or Thursday.

On a side note: on the way over something odd happened. I was riding my Mulistrada to the dealer and as I was accelerating on the freeway ramp there was an obvious interruption in power.  I thought it was a fuel problem and it happened again.  Then I wondered if it was the chain. I decided to pull over on the freeway and sure enough the chain was real loose.  So I nursed it back home.  I had last adjusted the tension before some long trips I did, about 5,000 miles in the past three months.  After I got back from the trips I checked it again and it was great.  But my impression is the pinch bolts that clamp an eccentric hub on the single side arm that you rotate to make the adjustment had loosened or weren't properly torqued (by me) when I last did it.  So I adjusted it and tightened it back up and headed off to the dealer.  That has never happened to me before, but I couldn't help but think that it couldn't happen on a shaft drive...so maybe it was a message?

Lol...what is it with demos and loose mirrors? Mine had the same issue.  I was moving the bloody thing into position the whole ride.  I did 2 test rides...on the second time out, the dealer let me have the bike for the afternoon.  So I headed to some twisty country roads where I could kind of "get it".  Also, make sure the clutch lever has the correct play in it before you leave the dealer.  So 2 things to check - mirrors and clutch...Lol

[Kev m]

Lol...what is it with demos and loose mirrors? Mine had the same issue.  I was moving the bloody thing into position the whole ride.  I did 2 test rides...on the second time out, the dealer let me have the bike for the afternoon.  So I headed to some twisty country roads where I could kind of "get it".  Also, make sure the clutch lever has the correct play in it before you leave the dealer.  So 2 things to check - mirrors and clutch...Lol

 

YUP and YUP.

I've tightened more than a few mirrors on demo rides.

I also pulled over and adjusted the clutch the first two times I demo'd a new Guzzi smallblocks (at two different dealers, almost a decade between the demos too). Both times clutch hadn't been touched or was set-up completely wrong with so much free play you couldn't get the clutch to fully disengage without an adjustment.

[LowRyter]

Lol...what is it with demos and loose mirrors? Mine had the same issue.  I was moving the bloody thing into position the whole ride.  I did 2 test rides...on the second time out, the dealer let me have the bike for the afternoon.  So I headed to some twisty country roads where I could kind of "get it".  Also, make sure the clutch lever has the correct play in it before you leave the dealer.  So 2 things to check - mirrors and clutch...Lol

Funny,  the left mirror on the V7 I rode was spinning like a top.  I couldn't tighten it with my hands.

[TimmyTheHog]

Funny,  the left mirror on the V7 I rode was spinning like a top.  I couldn't tighten it with my hands.

Mine left came loose while one of my longer trip thru a canyon as well as my initial test ride when bought the bike off my friend...

weird eh...

Lol...what is it with demos and loose mirrors? Mine had the same issue.  I was moving the bloody thing into position the whole ride.  I did 2 test rides...on the second time out, the dealer let me have the bike for the afternoon.  So I headed to some twisty country roads where I could kind of "get it".  Also, make sure the clutch lever has the correct play in it before you leave the dealer.  So 2 things to check - mirrors and clutch...Lol

100% with checking for freeplay of the clutch...I had to adjusted mine couple times when I first took her home before finally arrived at a sweet spot...

another weird quirk LOL...

[jpv7]

YUP and YUP.

I've tightened more than a few mirrors on demo rides.

I also pulled over and adjusted the clutch the first two times I demo'd a new Guzzi smallblocks (at two different dealers, almost a decade between the demos too). Both times clutch hadn't been touched or was set-up completely wrong with so much free play you couldn't get the clutch to fully disengage without an adjustment.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I had to stop to put gas in it - lol - but no big deal considering I had it for the afternoon.  But still, they didn't even look in the tank.  Maybe should have checked the oil, too?