Got my 2nd Moto Guzzi - V7 Classic

[MerleLowe]

After more than a decade pondering Guzzi ownership I bought a V85TT late last year.  The V7s still tugged at me but I really did not want to budget for a new one. 

Lo and behold, along comes a 2010 V7 Classic that is both relatively close, and nearly equal to the cash I had on hand.  By the documentation, it's only covered 129 miles since July 2016 so I have some work ahead of me.  Tires, tubes and lube of course, and already found an issue with the neutral switch.  The 1st owner printed out a lot of maintenance and repair info and no surprise, some of it was from this forum.

One of these days I'll learn to tie a bike down properly, but since they are almost always running, I don't get much practice.

[Kev m]

Awesome - have fun!

[mhershon]

That bike looks great! Between the information you got from the previous owner and the folks on this forum - there's almost nothing about that bike you can't learn. Enjoy your V7! I love mine...

[tommy2cyl]

".......relatively close, and nearly equal to the cash I hand on hand." 

Done.       

Congrats.  Nice looking bike.

[Dave Swanson]

Nice score!  I always thought that Classic paint scheme was very sharp looking.  Enjoy.

[chuck peterson]

Score! Good thinking…

There’s going to be a lot of those small block v7’s showing up from now on, based on a new purchase from the dealer going about 5-10k miles, 10 yrs or so, and then…..


Parked.

There’s a dark reddish burgundy version of this model that’s a killer too

[MerleLowe]

The Sportster I bought was similar - 24k miles with like new 8 year old HD branded Dunlops.   Likely had regular use then a new owner, new tires then parked shortly thereafter.

[MerleLowe]

Changed the oil and drained/refilled the gas tank.  Went for about a two mile ride.  Will need to replace tires and tubes before going very far.  They were mounted in 2016 and the rear is leaking slowly.  Battery hold-down is missing.

[guzzisteve]

Is that the one for $1800 for sale around here?

[MerleLowe]

That's the one.  Just happened to look at the listings the other day. 

[guzzisteve]

Wow, nice one! I would change fuel filter w/the fuel that old.

[SmithSwede]

Splendid little bikes.  I enjoyed the heck out of mine.  Have fun with it

[Fredrik]

1800$? Is not that very very cheap? 

[MerleLowe]

Pretty affordable, but if they don't immediately move under their own power, it's hard to get much.

[s1120]

Sharp looking bike!!  Enjoy!!

[MerleLowe]

Wow, nice one! I would change fuel filter w/the fuel that old.

Just saw a video about the fuel filters.  Looks like Mahle KL145 is the part.  I'll get that ordered.  I get to drain it again Yay!!!

[twowheeladdict]

Congratulations!  Keep those wheels polished. Condensation got on mine and pitted them some.

[brider]

That style isn't on my radar, but I know that $1800 even if non-running is a score. Congrats!

[Scout63]

That’s a sharp looking bike. I’m surprised I don’t see more V7s around here. Good daily riders are surprisingly inexpensive.  Eat of luck with it MerleLow.

[MerleLowe]

So, my first big question of V7 ownership is... do they all lean this far over on the side stand?   

Fresh BT46s should be here today.

[jrt]

So, my first big question of V7 ownership is... do they all lean this far over on the side stand?   

Fresh BT46s should be here today.

Yes.  I have about a 1" lift 'puck' welded or otherwise affixed to my side stand. 

[Jack Straw]

For the side stand foot use a hockey puck trimmed to shape and glued with JB Weld.  A perfect inexpensive home fix. My Enfield, V7, and Ducati Monster all wear the puck.

[Kev m]

So, my first big question of V7 ownership is... do they all lean this far over on the side stand?   

Fresh BT46s should be here today.

Some more than others. I feel like my V7III was way worse than my V7I.

I wound up installing a Euro side-stand (yeah, the lean is for some stupid US spec) on the V7I. I also did this because the US spec stand would foul the center stand in some sequences of deployment/retraction.

On the V7III I added a jigsawed puck made from cutting board.

Before:



After:

[MerleLowe]

I seem to have an interesting problem.  The battery hold down bracket (part # GU32418210) was missing so I got one off eBay.  Was from a 2009 V7 Classic.  Went to bolt it on today and it does not fit.    It's not quite long enough.  Also, the airbox does not look quite the same as what I see in the parts diagram or in the used examples on eBay.  The one corner is cut away and there is a raised shelf that the battery rests on compared to what I see online.  Any ideas?  Were there variations in these parts?

Also found the PO had installed a YTX14-BS instead of YTX14AHL-BS.  Its a bit too wide and too short. 

Ebay sample:





From the parts catalog:





Mine:

[MerleLowe]

Got back from Hilton Head yesterday.  Finally got around to fabbing up a battery hold-down strap this morning so I could get a little seat time on my new toy. 

No surprises, feels just as I expected.  Little vibey spot around 3.5k rpm, smoother at 4+.  Might have to start looking around for exhaust but what I've seen so far was a bit pricey.

[inditx]

 
inditx

[fotoguzzi]

One of these days I'll learn to tie a bike down properly, but since they are almost always running, I don't get much practice.

I never tie down with the SS down. Just think about what might happen going over a railroad crossing or big bump. bend the side stand or break something.?
I don’t use the CS either. Just tie without cranking down the forks all the way and let the bikes suspension work a little.

[John A]

I never tie down with the SS down.  :thumb:Just think about what might happen going over a railroad crossing or big bump. bend the side stand or break something.?
I don’t use the CS either. Just tie without cranking down the forks all the way and let the bikes suspension work a little.

What he said. Leave it in neutral, the slight back and forth is unnecessary wear if it’s in gear. Brakes off too.
Nice bike! The problem with Guzzis is they will attract another one, sort of like Volkswagens did back in the day.   

[MerleLowe]

Forgot to put the side stand up after lashing it down.  The bike was upright with the stand a few inches off the deck anyway.

[MerleLowe]

I got the MG soft saddlebags in the deal but thinking about fabbing up Givi monkey mounts to fit the existing soft case mounts.  Have a pair of Givi E21s that I could use.