Another V7 mk1 vs V7 iii question

[cowtownchemist]

Another comparison question which might be specifically targeted at Kev M as I know you have both bikes and have made the modifications I am thinking of...

So this weekend I test rode a V7 iii rough edition at my local used bike dealer, mainly to listen to its Agostini exhaust in person which I must say was phenomenal sounding.  I want to change the stock exhaust on my 2014 V7 to the Agostini but needed to hear first to justify the $$.  But this is beside the point of my post.

What I did not expect when riding the V7iii was how much more comfortable it is compared to mine.  I believe this is mainly because of the lower footpegs on the V7iii and what seems to be a softer seat.  So my question.  If I were to lower the footpegs on my V7 and upgrade the seat, would it match the comfort of the stock setup on the V7iii rough which I rode?

[Kev m]

Another comparison question which might be specifically targeted at Kev M as I know you have both bikes and have made the modifications I am thinking of...

<snip>

What I did not expect when riding the V7iii was how much more comfortable it is compared to mine.  I believe this is mainly because of the lower footpegs on the V7iii and what seems to be a softer seat.  So my question.  If I were to lower the footpegs on my V7 and upgrade the seat, would it match the comfort of the stock setup on the V7iii rough which I rode?

More or less - a qualified YES.

All butts are different. I can't stand the stock seat on either my I or III. The Corbin was the best answer for me and I use it on both. I also have a III seat that's been modified to add even more height. It might be bordering on too much height, but it's good.

Yes the slightly larger seat-to-peg difference on the III made it more comfortable than the I stock. And yes, dropping the pegs on the I has certainly matched or exceeded that for me.

I think there may be another difference between the III and I in terms of comfort in a slightly better shock or different geometry on the III.

And I definitely feel a noticeable power difference between the two.

That said, I have come to notice a slight Instability in the III if I allow myself to shift too far back in the seat (unloading the front wheel a little bit). I get a deceleration shake that is similar to what Sarah Greer noticed some years back but I, on the stock seat for the III, had not at that point.

I'm starting to think that Guzzi realized they'd made a mistake with the chassis on the III and corrected it on the 850 models. If I were to upgrade THAT would be the biggest reason I would upgrade again.

So again YES, I think the MK I can be as comfortable as the MKIII. And I wouldn't change to a III just for that.

Hope that helps.

[cowtownchemist]

Excellent!  Thanks for the response.  And a follow up question on the footpeg lowering.  Did you do 2 inches or 1.5?  And because the gear pedal and brake pedal cannot be lowered more than 1 inch to match, do you find it annoying or is that difference in height barely noticeable.

[Kev m]

Excellent!  Thanks for the response.  And a follow up question on the footpeg lowering.  Did you do 2 inches or 1.5?  And because the gear pedal and brake pedal cannot be lowered more than 1 inch to match, do you find it annoying or is that difference in height barely noticeable.

IIRC it's a 2" drop peg set. Bought second hand cause Guzzi you know.

I didn't adjust the pedal/shifter and instead added drop adapters to the toe pegs and that worked out almost perfectly.

[cowtownchemist]

Good call on the drop adapter for the toe pegs.  I didn't even think of that as being an option.  I will look some up unless you happen to have a link.

[Kev m]

Good call on the drop adapter for the toe pegs.  I didn't even think of that as being an option.  I will look some up unless you happen to have a link.

I got them from a small batch that a guy in this board had made. I don't know if he has anymore, but it's worth an inquiry. If nothing else he could help you figure out how to make you own if need be. It was KingofFleece (https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=14996)

[cowtownchemist]

AF1 racing offers a Knight Design manufactured 1.5" toe peg extender.  Unfortunately, the V7 did not make the Fitment List

https://www.af1racing.com/kd182243-1113-toe-knight-design-1-5-eccentric-toe-peg-silver

[kingoffleece]

I don't have any left.  When I moved I lost access to a fantastic machine shop I used.  I'll look in some bins to see if there is anything there but I don't think so.
If memory serves almost 35 members here purchased a set.  I'm sure one or two have moved on.  Maybe ask if anybody kept them and buy a take-off.  They were so ridiculously overbuilt they will never wear out.

[faffi]

Does lowering the pegs further reduce the already limited cornering clearance of the Mk I?

[kingoffleece]

A little bit

[Kev m]

Does lowering the pegs further reduce the already limited cornering clearance of the Mk I?

Well DUH but a couple of things to consider:

* The MKI and MKII pegs have more ground clearance (by an inch or so) than the lower ones on the MKIII and 850 and people aren't crashing them left and right because of it.

* You can always put slightly taller shocks and/or tires on it to help compensate.

* Body English - most of us don't use as much as we can, so you can always compensate that way a bit.

So yeah, but to quote Bill Murray in Caddyshack when he eats the floater from the pool "It's no big deal".

[Roebling3]

It seems very few V7 owners, of any vintage - any model, seldom improve their front suspension. As in most any brand mc: doing the minimum, where it doesn't show is the factory cheap way out. I've been riding nearly 75 years. For about 25 yrs. I've swopped front ends for better handling & improved braking.

When I talked about a V7 3 (racer) w/Jim Hamlin I asked for a K-Tech, fully adjustable suspension system and shinny blk. bars It took a few 100 miles to sort it - but it was easy and worth every Nickle. - - - - as were better brakes. I wanted all the built in entities of the racer: adjustable foot controls, metal fuel pump/filter, cast wheels, TGK plug caps, chrome tail rack. It wasn't the complete paint job that added so much weight - but I knew, at close to 8c# it was a real danger for this old guy.   Good fortune,  R3~

[faffi]

Absolutely agree, Roebling3 - good suspension will transform any motorcycle that comes with basic units to the much better.

[cowtownchemist]

As an update.  I bought and installed the Knight Design 2" lowered footpegs directly from Knight Design.  They arrived quickly, were a breeze to install, are good quality and definitely make the ride more comfortable.  The only little thing is that every once in a while, when stopped at a stoplight, I can feel the bike shimmy around a bit through the footpegs due to the engine vibration.  Likely because the mounting pin for the Knight Designs is a little longer than stock, so there is room for a tiny bit of movement.  It caught me by suprise at first, but is really no big deal at all.

For the shifter and brake toe pegs I bought some of the Woodcraft manufactured "Universal" eccentric folding toe pegs.  Be aware that Woodcraft states these are universal to any of their rearsets, not any rearset.  However, I knew this going in but could not find any other source for an eccentric extender which would seem to fit.  So I got them installed but it took a little modification.  The supplied eccentric bracket has a tiny aluminum pin on the back side which is designed to allow for adjustable drop by moving the pin into the corresponding hole on the Woodcraft rearset.  Since my V7 has the stock rearset, I needed to remove the pin.  This was done fairly easily with a Dremel.  After that, I just need to buy a slightly longer M6 bolt to attached the extender.  It was supplied with a M6 x 14mm bolt, I went with a M6 x 18mm to make sure it fit all the way in.  I added blue loctite to all fasteners as directed by the instructions and all seems to be working well. 

I will update if anything changes!

[kingoffleece]

Well done.
I had a MK I V7 (2015) for 6 years.  Great bike-really wish I could have kept it.  Anyway, I used the Knight pegs with the rubber insert (1 1/2 drop IIRC) and built my seat up an inch and a half.  Worked perfect for me.  Needed just that extra bit of legroom-surgical knees and all that, mind.

[sign216]

For seat comfort, try the Airhawk air cushion.  For touring it's terrific.  Day trips I stick w the stock seat, but when carving miles I go Airhawk.   It's not too expensive, so if you don't like it you haven't lost too much $ (unlike a custom seat).

The key to the Airhawk is to use almost no air.  Really. 

Joe

[kingoffleece]

Airhawks work well.  Didn't solve the tight knee issue though for me.  Not an issue for some.

I also had Hamlin install a RaceTec Gold Valve front end.  Huge bang for the buck.  Remapped too with Agostini pipes.  I can still hear that glorious sound.............. ..............