The V7II in stock form has a very stiff and rough riding suspension. It does a good job and the bike handles well if the going is smooth, but hit a manhole cover, railroad crossing or just some rough pavement in a corner and it is a different story. I found it to be both bone jarring and also easily unsettled in the corners.
I did a little snooping around and ended up trying the K-Tech Razor rear shocks from Guzzitech. They are a little less expensive than many other options (under $800), and Todd at Guzzitech recommended them to me when I said I wanted a shock that would be good for dirt roads as well as paved.
The shocks came adjusted for my weight. They have adjustable rebound damping that I haven't messed with much yet, and also a lot of spring preload adjustment. They seemed soft out of the box, but compared to the stockers anything softer than a steel rod would. After the first ride, I increased the preload 3 turns (out of what looks like about 100 in adjustability) to firm them up a bit. I have since backed off one turn, which seems about right. I have a few hundred miles on them now and here is the short summary:
-definitely more comfortable and compliant than the stockers. They ride SO much better! The bone jarring is gone, and they stay composed even on washboard dirt roads. They really shine at soaking up the bumps and staying composed.
-On decent pavement, handling seems about the same, but you don't have to worry about hitting a rough spot. The stock shocks were so stiff that I think the wheels lost contact with the road when rough. These hold the road much better in these conditions.
I am not a suspension expert, but the difference is profound. If you are thinking about new shocks I can highly recommend these.
