My V7-II rant

[Clancy]

For the last 20yrs I’ve only had 2 bikes – a ’78 CX500 followed by a ’91 VX800.
Both V-Twin and both shaft drive.
For a lot of that time, these two bikes were my only means of personal transport. Thus they had to serve a multitude of functions.
I used to jokingly say my bike was a two wheeled station wagon.

When the time came to get a new bike I was having some trouble.
For the first time ever I wanted new, not second hand.
I wanted ‘standard’ seating.
I wanted more than 500 but less than 1000.
I wanted V-Twin. I wanted shaft drive.
And I didn’t want it to look like it had leapt out of a Japanese Manga movie.
I couldn’t find it. No one was making them!

Then I remembered the Moto Guzzi V50 Monza that the owner had stored under a share house I was living in back in the early 90’s.
I wondered what Moto Guzzi was offering now, if anything.

One look at the V7-II on the MG website and I knew it was the one.
But I’m older now. I’m not compulsive. I’d test ride it first.

One test ride and I was absolutely hooked.
From the hands/feet/bum locations to the way the engine behaved & felt. Everything was right.

The new bike arrived at Pete’s at the end of April.
I got it just in time for our first frost of winter. While everyone else was putting their bikes on battery tenders, I was commuting on the V7 at 6am in temperatures down to -6DegC and loving it. Spring is now here (sort of) and I am still falling for this machine.

It does everything. It’s my new fun two wheeled station wagon.
And I can add ‘good looking’ to that old description.

I rode the bike to Sydney & back last weekend. 3Hrs of 110Km/Hr highway/freeway that ends in a festering cesspit of traffic.
The V7-II happily cruised along at 120 and I never found myself short of power.
It was just so damn happy.

I got caught on the north side of the harbour with the bridge closed for an event and everything squeezing into the harbour tunnel.
The bike dealt with that nightmare like it was born to do it.

A weekend opportunity free of family arose a few weeks ago.
I normally avoid the King’s Highway from Canberra to the coast as much as possible.
It’s a 2hr 100Km/Hr stretch that gently sweeps its way east before dropping into 50km of beautifull twists & turns, and it’s usually choked with nutters from Canberra racing to the waves.
Amazingly, that day was virtually free of any traffic so I had the hills & curves to play with.
The bike was so damn eager.
I’m convinced it had a bigger smile on it than even I did!

When I can escape work early enough, I can easily turn my 20min commute home into an hour of grins in the Brindabella Range on the edge of town.
I’m not fast but the bike is so flickable - it’s a blast at the end of the day.

Apart from the rear suspension, there’s not really anything I want to change.
I’ve added a H&B rack and a Dart screen.
I actually like the stock exhausts, a lovely ‘burble’ that isn’t loud enough to piss off my retired neighbors when leaving before sunrise.
Even the mirrors work well for me (and I had end bar mirrors on the VX800).

And I love that the model that spoke to me, with the matte black finish and the alloy wheels, was also the cheapest!

[mwrenn]

Yep, the small blocks are addictive, so easy to become passionate about them.  Fun times to be had on that bike for sure!!
Cheers, welcome to the Guzzi Famiglia!

[rboe]

Your rants are too long....... 

[Lannis]

Glad to see it was THAT kind of rant ... I was ready to read that YOUR tappets had disintegrated and you were dropping the bike into Sydney harbour ....

Sounds like you've found the bike to match your lifestyle.   Not everyone gets to have that experience .....

Lannis

[oldbike54]

 Roper bikes always seem to work  Glad you are happy 

  Dusty

[Kev m]

Wait, a rant without a single gripe, WTF?   

[Adk.IBO]

Nice "rant"!

Stay safe, John

[vstevens]

Nice rant!  I'm having much the same experience... In fact, I find the V7 just gets better the more you ride it!

[jas67]

Welcome to the Smallblock family!

[malik]

And it's just new! It only get better! Guaranteed.

Mal

[tonUPRacer]

I demoed a Indian Scout and a Ducati Diavel today just for the heck of it. While they were both fun and better "on paper" than my Racer, I can honestly say I like my bike better. Maybe because they are cruisers, but I was ready to think I might be feeling some draw to one of those bikes but my little V7 is more than the sum of her parts. enjoy!

[rocker59]

My rant:  Only 51 mpg after a 120 mile run at speeds of 70mph to 90mph on my 2014 V7 Special.

 

[jas67]

I demoed a Indian Scout and a Ducati Diavel today just for the heck of it. While they were both fun and better "on paper" than my Racer, I can honestly say I like my bike better. Maybe because they are cruisers, but I was ready to think I might be feeling some draw to one of those bikes but my little V7 is more than the sum of her parts. enjoy!

I demoed a 2016 GSX-S1000 on Friday, also just for the heck of it (local Ducati shop also sells Suzuki and Kawasaki).     I rode my Monster 796 that day.

The GSX-S1000 was like "Wow!" and "Meh." in the same bike.    I was impressed with the power, not just top end, but, low end torque that pulled like a freight train from 3,000 on, and had very good parking lot/slow traffic manners at 2,000 RPM where my M796 is bucking and snorting like a race horse in a parade.     6th gear roll on at 55 MPH got you to 90 MPH in a hurry.    But, the sound, and overall experience is "Meh", albeit, a fast "Meh."

It, of course, has the same old boring I4 exhaust note.   They did a good job of the "buzz" of the I4 not being transmitted to the bars, pegs, or seat, but, at the end of the day, I like my M796 and V7R MUCH better.    I like the 90-degree V-twin experience much better.    Also, I think with a bike like the GSX-S1000, I'd find my self effortlessly going way too fast way too often, which is why my Monster is a 796, and not a 1200.

I got back on my M796 and had a very happy 3 hour ride, not at all missing the additional power of the GSX-S1000.