A proper WG Sendoff to the V9 (R.I.P)

[faffi]

I think my Bobber Sport is my favorite Guzzi. Most of my rides are day rides under 100 miles with a few 150-200 mile rides a year. But the roads are shite here in Idaho and my love of dirt bike riding and just wanting a new bike every year got me to thinking I should have a V85. The Bobber Sport ran so good with a Beetle MAP and the Zard exhaust made a great sound. It pulled clean and smooth all the way to redline. But I hardly ever reved it close to redline as it was plenty fast for me. Now I even have thoughts of selling the V85 to get another Bobber. You don't know what ya got till it's gone.

 

Ohlins would do a world for comfort and handling, and you perhaps upgraded the fork as well? That would make the bike nice on "bad" roads.

While I am no fan of the handling that comes with fat tires in general and fat front tires in particular, I do prefer the look of similar diameter front and rear wheels. So for me, the Bobber looks better in this respect than the Roamer. Give the Roamer an 18-inch rear wheel, though, and it would be the business for me. Which is why I changed the stock 16-inch rear wheel on my Virago with an 18-inch rear wheel off a Seca. Primarily for looks, but also for handling and choice of tires.

However, these are all mostly personal preferences and not (always) related to real world performance. Each should do what they want for themselves, irrespective of what others say and think.

[Kev m]

Ohlins would do a world for comfort and handling, and you perhaps upgraded the fork as well? That would make the bike nice on "bad" roads.

While I am no fan of the handling that comes with fat tires in general and fat front tires in particular, I do prefer the look of similar diameter front and rear wheels. So for me, the Bobber looks better in this respect than the Roamer. Give the Roamer an 18-inch rear wheel, though, and it would be the business for me. Which is why I changed the stock 16-inch rear wheel on my Virago with an 18-inch rear wheel off a Seca. Primarily for looks, but also for handling and choice of tires.

However, these are all mostly personal preferences and not (always) related to real world performance. Each should do what they want for themselves, irrespective of what others say and think.

Ohlins were stock on the BS.

I dislike excessively fat tires, but I wouldn't assume slightly fatter tires on a small and nimble bike necessarily harm handling.

What's "fatter" the 130/90 and 150/80 of the Bobber or the shorter sidewall 120/60 and 160/60 of our Monster? I mean if fat is relative to height and part of profile?

The BS handles great btw.

[faffi]

I did not know about the special edition with Ohlins, Kev, thanks for the information.

[Caffeineo]

Do the Bobbers have a lighter feel and lighter handling than other Moto Guzzis?  From looks alone, I would think so.

It was very easy to flick side to side. Maybe because it sat so low???? Big round tires???? Biased memories of one of my favorite and most fun bike to ride?????

[Huzo]

It was very easy to flick side to side. Maybe because it sat so low???? Big round tires???? Biased memories of one of my favorite and most fun bike to ride?????

There’s a nice little conversation waiting for anyone who wants to suggest that low centre of mass contributes favourably to nimbleness.
It must be remembered that when a single track vehicle (read motorbike), is made to lean, the centre of mass is not pivoted above the point of support, it is the point of support (tyre contact patch), that is displaced from under the centre of mass.
It’s the analogy of the broom balanced vertically on your palm. The higher the centre of mass, the easier it is to move the point of support underneath due to the inertia higher up…
It’s just a fact…(Newton said so…).
Look at the line of bikes coming toward you as the riders flick from full left lean to right, their upper body stays more or less in a straight line and the bike moves under them.
If you strap a 100 kg lead mass under your bike engine and go for a ride on a twisty road, you’ll experience a certain level of flickability, if you then strap the same mass to the top of your tank, you’ll find the bike will change direction more readily.

[faffi]

The way I understand it, if the CoG is too low, the bike will handle sluggish, just as if it is too high. When Honda dropped the CoG on their NSR500 in 1984, the bike handled a lot worse, forcing them to revert to a traditional design. Also, stability suffer if the CoG is too low. I wish I could understand the physics behind this, but the mind boggles with the attempt.

[twowheeladdict]

They look like they were built for the Army…

And you see that as a negative?

[Caffeineo]

There’s a nice little conversation waiting for anyone who wants to suggest that low centre of mass contributes favourably to nimbleness.
It must be remembered that when a single track vehicle (read motorbike), is made to lean, the centre of mass is not pivoted above the point of support, it is the point of support (tyre contact patch), that is displaced from under the centre of mass.
It’s the analogy of the broom balanced vertically on your palm. The higher the centre of mass, the easier it is to move the point of support underneath due to the inertia higher up…
It’s just a fact…(Newton said so…).
Look at the line of bikes coming toward you as the riders flick from full left lean to right, their upper body stays more or less in a straight line and the bike moves under them.
If you strap a 100 kg lead mass under your bike engine and go for a ride on a twisty road, you’ll experience a certain level of flickability, if you then strap the same mass to the top of your tank, you’ll find the bike will change direction more readily.

Must have been my mAss on top of the low bike making it seem easy to flip flop.  IMNSHO the bike handled great and had more ability in the twisties than I have talent. 

[Dirk_S]

I’ve been told by racers that smaller tires (like the 16” on the Bobber) can dive pretty quickly on the track.

I think it’s safe to say there are multiple factors—hand position (high ape hangers wouldn’t allow a bike to dive better than flat bars or clip-ons, right?), tire size, body position (specifically the shoulder-arm-hand-grip relationship), rake and trail, et al.

[kidsmoke]

And, IMO, the Guzzi V-twin motor MUST have attention directed toward it, and despite the tank’s divisiveness, you can’t deny that it accentuates the heads popping out.

ya don't say?

[SIR REAL ED]

They look like they were built for the Army…

And you see that as a negative?

That is an excellent example of the reader conveying content to an earlier post that exists only in the mind of the reader!

All of us humans do it!

Fred:  "Joe, your wife and my wife look so much alike, they could be twins!"

Joe: "Fred, that was not a nice thing to say at all.  Shame on you!"

[kidsmoke]

[SIR REAL ED]

I’ve been told by racers that smaller tires (like the 16” on the Bobber) can dive pretty quickly on the track.

I think it’s safe to say there are multiple factors—hand position (high ape hangers wouldn’t allow a bike to dive better than flat bars or clip-ons, right?), tire size, body position (specifically the shoulder-arm-hand-grip relationship), rake and trail, et al.

Never forget "Wheels are gyroscopes!"

So are brake rotors, crankshafts and anything that is spinning!

[SIR REAL ED]

ya don't say?

Not sure why, but this photo just might be the sexiest photo I have ever seen of a Moto Guzzi.  Almost erotic!

I think this shows the person who designed the gas tank was a) a Moto Guzzi rider! and b) a genius!

[kidsmoke]

Not sure why, but this photo just might be the sexiest photo I have ever seen of a Moto Guzzi.  Almost erotic!

I think this shows the person who designed the gas tank was a) a Moto Guzzi rider! and b) a genius!

my thoughts exactly.

[SIR REAL ED]

Another great photo!

Amazing how a change of perspective can influence appearence.

This photo looks very 1950-ish hot rod bike to me.

[SIR REAL ED]

my thoughts exactly.

Is this your bike?

All the photos I've seen of this bike have a flat black rear fender.  If you painted the rear fender to match the gas tank, you sir, are an artist!!

I'd like to see a full top photo from about 9-10 feet showing the handle bars and the front fender.

Thanks.

[Dirk_S]

Is this your bike?

All the photos I've seen of this bike have a flat black rear fender.  If you painted the rear fender to match the gas tank, you sir, are an artist!!

I'd like to see a full top photo from about 9-10 feet showing the handle bars and the front fender.

@SIR REAL ED, @kidsmoke is providing shots of this custom build, one of my favorite treatments to a V9. That rear fender chop is on point!

https://thebullitt.com/2017/06/moto-guzzi-v9-bobber-moto-strada.html

[kidsmoke]

my personal favorite treatments to a V9.

same. This was done early in the life cycle of the V9, and changed my perception of the tank in relation to the bike entirely. Sadly, I did test ride a stock Roamer and couldn't get on with the ergo's...at least not that day, when, admittedly I was moving between bikes constantly. Within 2 hours I'd completed very spirited sprints on very twisty stretch of asphalt on Griso, CARC Stelvio, V7 850, V85TT, and the Roamer.

[SIR REAL ED]

@SIR REAL ED, @kidsmoke is providing shots of this custom build, one of my favorite treatments to a V9. That rear fender chop is on point!

https://thebullitt.com/2017/06/moto-guzzi-v9-bobber-moto-strada.html

Thanks!

Very nice.  I think both fenders may have been chopped a bit too much to be practical..... but practicality is not what customizing is all about.

[Huzo]

And you see that as a negative?

Not if there’s a war..

[Huzo]

ya don't say?

I’ll be extremely careful here, but I hope y’all see my point.
That chest (sorry, tank) and knees (sorry, cylinders) splayed at 90 deg, looking back in your direction, appeals in some primal way that is difficult to quantify without being banned from this site…
There is certainly some subliminal message that’s being passed on and it’s sort of saying..
“Would you like to go for a ride..?”

That is as far as I dare go..

[Alfetta]

with the V85, V7 and the V9 now all having the same engine, I understand MG dropping the low selling 9.
I could perhaps see the 7 getting "options" for the style differences, but that would have to be delt with at the dealer level, so.......   probably not.

[Kev m]

with the V85, V7 and the V9 now all having the same engine, I understand MG dropping the low selling 9.

Point of order - the V85 isn't the "same" engine.

Same basic block/architecture, but definitely another motor.

[SIR REAL ED]

I’ll be extremely careful here, but I hope y’all see my point.
That chest (sorry, tank) and knees (sorry, cylinders) splayed at 90 deg, looking back in your direction, appeals in some primal way that is difficult to quantify without being banned from this site…
There is certainly some subliminal message that’s being passed on and it’s sort of saying..
“Would you like to go for a ride..?”

That is as far as I dare go..

You have a gift my friend!  Especially when you speak English....   

[kidsmoke]

Point of order - the V85 isn't the "same" engine.

Same basic block/architecture, but definitely another motor.

Thanks, beat me to it.

[PJPR01]

ya don't say?

Ok ok...I'll take one!  Just to look at...it's a work of art, especially in this color.  How's the riding experience though?  I think I tested one at John Day in 2016...it felt underwhelming compared to my Norge.  It might be a great bike for inner city commuting, light weight and all.

[DoubleGuzzi]

Cheers for that pic./link of the custom bike.

Ok ok...I'll take one!  Just to look at...it's a work of art, especially in this color.  ... light weight and all.

That is the best angle that I've seen the bike from and totally changed my perception of it! That tank shape makes total sense now, along with the waspy waist.
Just a shame that it ain't no lightweight  (oh no, another can o' worms.)
I'm sorry but the raw & rough silencers totally cheapen that custom bike. Though the bobber look/ethos doesn't appeal to me, I can appreciate the work done on it. Pop on a dual seat (rather than appearing to be a sad loner) and practical mudguards, then ya got me.

[Kev m]

  I think I tested one at John Day in 2016...it felt underwhelming compared to my Norge.  It might be a great bike for inner city commuting, light weight and all.

Inner City?

I mean I don't think anyone would expect a smallblock to match the power of a big block. But if you were underwhelmed by the 2016 (that's the version that came closest), I don't know what smallblock you might like, maybe the 2025+ if that has a bump in punch again from the new throttle body.

[faffi]

Just a shame that it ain't no lightweight

I personally think 210 kg fully wet is quite acceptable for an air cooled bike with mostly metal parts all over, but it is a smidgeon heavier than a current 200+ hp race replica, and hence arguably not a lightweight. In relation to the competition, though - Sportster, W800, Bonneville, Interceptor, Bobber, whatwouldyousay - the V9 models are the lightest, though.