$2k to rub into a V7 stone special

[Psychopasta]

Hi, I have a 2024 v7 stone special, the black one with red pinstripes, red rear shock coils and the Arrow exhaust.

I may have ~$2k to spend on upgrades, and so naturally thought of the suspension. What would you guys do with my bike and budget?

-Pasta

[jcr]

im tempted by Shock factory in France myself
https://shock-factory.fr/en/1083-v7-iv-850-2021-22
their shocks are quite highly spoken of by Guzzi riders.

[blu guzz]

In my experience, upgrading the suspension on any non-electric adjustable suspension pays the largest dividend.  It usually also takes the largest bite out of your budget, but I have found it an excellent improvement every time.  Wind management is also very helpful.  If you don't like the stock seat, a seat upgrade helps.
I have not mentioned performance or luggage upgrades as my opinion is that I like to get the comfort level right before anything else. 

[Perazzimx14]

Hi, I have a 2024 v7 stone special, the black one with red pinstripes, red rear shock coils and the Arrow exhaust.

I may have ~$2k to spend on upgrades, and so naturally thought of the suspension. What would you guys do with my bike and budget?

-Pasta

Lets start at the beginning. Is the bike paid off or is there a loan balance. If its the latter the 2K goes towards paying the bike off, end of story! If it is paid off and you own the bike outright, what are you hoping to happen by spending 2K on it? Do you even have to spend $2,000 on it or do yo want to. Is the suspension lacking, if so I'd direct my money that way. If not and you find the OEM suspension adequite why throw money at it?  What about luggage? Are you going to use the bike to touring, travel, errand runner or a stripped down just bar hopper??

If you have 2K to spend and the bike in its current condition is doing everything you need why spend a penny on it Just enjoy it as is and possible save up for a second or 10th bike then you can have some diversity. Riding the same bike all the time for me gets boring. I like to have a bit of variety. 

[Tkelly]

I had no complaints about the suspension on a 24 Stone I rode,way better than the 13 v7 we owned.

[bronzestar1]

I have a '23 V7 Stone Special Edition, with a bunch of mods done to it:  Agostini full-length reverse cone mufflers with the dB killers removed; UPMAP tune; open airbox lid kit; Euro-style tail light; red pinstripes on the wheels; tinted windscreen; dual Hella disc horns; sump guard; engine guards; red valve covers; solo seat with custom cover; probably a few others I can't think of right now. 

For $2K, I'd go with the Ago mufflers / tune / airbox lid, maybe a set of valve covers too (they really pop on the bike).

[guzzisteve]

You are somewhat close to GT in Malibu. He has some higher quality suspension products. Close for shipping & he could use the $ for fire rebuild. Helping out another Guzzista.

[Bulldog9]

Lets start at the beginning. Is the bike paid off or is there a loan balance. If its the latter the 2K goes towards paying the bike off, end of story! If it is paid off and you own the bike outright, what are you hoping to happen by spending 2K on it? Do you even have to spend $2,000 on it or do yo want to. Is the suspension lacking, if so I'd direct my money that way. If not and you find the OEM suspension adequite why throw money at it?  What about luggage? Are you going to use the bike to touring, travel, errand runner or a stripped down just bar hopper??

If you have 2K to spend and the bike in its current condition is doing everything you need why spend a penny on it Just enjoy it as is and possible save up for a second or 10th bike then you can have some diversity. Riding the same bike all the time for me gets boring. I like to have a bit of variety.

You pretty much said everything I was going to say.

I've not ridden this model specifically but from what I've seen it looks pretty good out of the box.

 

[moto]

I rode the same bike for nine days of fast touring through Sicily last fall. On the fourth day, I regained my old abilities from California, and was able to slide both tires at will around corners. The bike has instant throttle response, and if you keep the revs up it will surprise  any rivals.

Until you bring yourself to tire-sliding levels of performance I don't think you're going to need any better suspension. You're in a great spot in San Diego, so go for it. Here in Wisconsin I can't won't ride fast because of deer and the prevailing cover for them.

[Psychopasta]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the replies. Bike is paid off, and I’m just wanting to indulge myself. I definitely find the stock suspension not plush enough. Hit a San Diegan pot hole and the whole bike tells you. It’s fine on well made roads.

The bike won’t be used for touring much, it’s mainly used for mountain roads where I start from home and end back at home same day. No end of good roads here. I could use more information on:

Specific recommendations for rear and front suspension
More info about the guy in Malibu, I don’t know who he is, but I’d always prefer a Guzzi specialist in SoCal
More info on the UPMAP tune.

I’m happy with the seat, it suits me fine, and I’ll keep the Arrow exhaust, it sounds great

[Psychopasta]

And also more about the air box lid thingamajig

[Psychopasta]

I found gtmotocycles and they say they are not ‘accepting’ new customers with stock bikes, so that was nice

[Kev m]

I found gtmotocycles and they say they are not ‘accepting’ new customers with stock bikes, so that was nice

I suspect you already know that you dodged a bullet...

[bronzestar1]

"More info on the UPMAP tune."  https://www.af1racing.com/gcv85upm-up-map-t800-for-moto-guzzi-v85s-v7-850cc-e5-gcupmv85 

"And also more about the air box lid thingamajig."  https://www.af1racing.com/gcv73-10-sprint-filter-with-airbox-lid-eliminator-bracket-for-for-v7s-gcv73-10

"...I’ll keep the Arrow exhaust, it sounds great."  I had the dealer replace the OEM Arrows with the Agostinis before I took delivery of my SE.  They installed the UPMAP tune and airbox lid kit at the same time.  The Ago mufflers do not have cats in them, unlike the OEM Arrows or most of the aftermarket mufflers.  The bike sounds like a proper Guzzi should now (with the dB killers removed). 

https://www.af1racing.com/amv7850vn-agostini-full-length-slip-ons-black-for-v7-e5-850cc-amv7850vn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYK5Qh-BCME



 

[Dirk_S]

I would donate it to Parashootist.

[Perazzimx14]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the replies. Bike is paid off, and I’m just wanting to indulge myself. I definitely find the stock suspension not plush enough. Hit a San Diegan pot hole and the whole bike tells you. It’s fine on well made roads.

The bike won’t be used for touring much, it’s mainly used for mountain roads where I start from home and end back at home same day. No end of good roads here. I could use more information on:

Specific recommendations for rear and front suspension
More info about the guy in Malibu, I don’t know who he is, but I’d always prefer a Guzzi specialist in SoCal
More info on the UPMAP tune.

As for the suspension you could install the best suspension money can buy and it may not make a huge difference. The big problem is standard length suspesnion. It just cannot soak up bumps like a long travel suspension. Think of the desert race trucks with 30" of travel as you watch the video f them it looks like they are gliding ove washboard or rutted

I’m happy with the seat, it suits me fine, and I’ll keep the Arrow exhaust, it sounds great

While a top of the line suspension will help because you have a standard length suspension it is limited in what it can do. Long travel suspension soaks up bumps, ruts etc far better as there is just more travel too work with. Think of desert race trucks with 36" of travel. As you watch them race the suspesnion is working like crazy but he truck looks as though its gliding over the rutted, washboars surfaces. Imagine taking away 50  or 70% of that suspesnion travel and what the ride quality would look like. Of course there are trade off. LT suspension usually means longer components that can flex more also longer mean the bike typically sits higer and/or hgher center of gravity.

While ther is no free luch after riding bikes with LT suspension I am hard pressed to go back to bikes with standard length suspension. For the few negatives the LT suspension has, the positives of ride quality and overall comfots are enoght to keeep me comming back.

[Psychopasta]

Thanks again peeps!