New bike..tomorrow! V7 Sport 850

[Scott Carpenter]

Went for a test ride yesterday on a V7 850 Sport, and liked it. Yes its more laid back than the Breva 750, but thats fine with me and even limited to 4000rpm then engine felt stronger than the 20 year old Breva. I actually liked the instrument cluster/lcd screen. And had no problems adapting to the bar end mirrors. I'm only 5 foot 3 so I can't flat foot it, but then I have not flat footed any of my road bikes since 1995 so that's not a worry! My only concern is manoevering it in and out of the bike enclosure, and I will just have to deal with that. To make a short story longer than it could be, I put a deposit down yesterday and pick it up tomorrow.  I have 2 accessories on the way - factory screen and factory centrestand. I will also get HB racks and hard bags for it.

If it wasn't going to be this 2025 model V7 (either Sport or Stone) I would have plugged on with the Breva for another few years. I very much am a "Guzzi nut" having only been on one since 2004, and the larger bikes are just too big for me, attractive as they are.

[blackcat]

Good luck with your new bike.

[Dave Swanson]

We'll be looking forward to pictures! 

[moto]

Congratulations! Looking forward to your report, and especially of the throttle responsiveness when in sport mode. Does it seem as good as a physical cable would?

[JJ]

We'll be looking forward to pictures!

YES!!!  Photos please!! (Congratulations, by the way!) 

[jcctx]

Without pics it didn't happen???????

[Scott Carpenter]

First days impressions - 123 miles. Picked up the bike at 11 this morning, and that was a relatively painless process. It had 7 miles on the clock. Then rode to Kingsbridge along a dual carriageway and some back roads to meet a BMW riding friend for lunch. I believed that the bike was in Road mode - turns out I was wrong. Anyway, first impressions were the bike looks very well finished, and when started up there is a fair bit more rock than a B750. The sound at idle is excellent, clearly a lot of thought had gone into that. Along the motorway I thought the throttle response a bit jerky compared to the B750, and the suspension clearly is firmer. When I got a chance at a twisty road without traffic the bike was noticeably less twitchy and more "planted" than the Breva. Instruments easy to read.

Had lunch and Graham my BMW friend commented on how good it looked. Then I filled the tank and rode up onto Dartmoor. While getting there I did the first overtake on this bike with intent, as a Suzuki Swift was dawdling. As I did this the screen started saying "MGTC Disabled" and kept flashing all the way to Princetown where I did a pitstop at the Fox Tor Cafe to.......READ THE MANUAL.  One milkshake and some reading later I was none the wiser - the manual is not super clear. When I started the bike to go the warning did not return, AND I pressed "a button" not sure which one and I learned I had been in Sport mode, so I changed it to Road mode, and set off for the Warren House. Much better smoothness, just as strong (certainly during this running in period). Then it was a cool drink in the shade at the Warren House and a ride home which was super enjoyable. Doing over 62mpg. Seat is comfortable. Clutch light, controls easy but there is still some getting used to it after 20 years on the Breva.

Throttle response in SPORT is to my feel very different from ROAD. I have not tried RAIN.

I think I have definately made the right purchase. 

PS - this is by far the most sophisticated by I have ever owned, and I think it would help if there was a Youtube video showing how to change the modes (its not the button marked MODE!), how to turn off on and set the traction control, and various other things.  Of if the dealer was able to run through these things.

[DoubleGuzzi]

IIRC, counterintuitively pressing the starter button whilst the engine is running "does things" - ya better check though.

[Kev m]

I'm so jealous I could die. Enjoy!!!

I recently spoke with a new 850 V7 Sport owner who said the engine stop/run switch and starter button are all integrated into a 3-position switch now. And that the button just below the red starter/stop switch on the right handlebar is a "mode" switch and not a starter button.

Did I mention I'm jelly, totes jelly!

[blu guzz]

I agree with you about the modes.  my bike has rain, tour, sport just like goldilocks, tour is the way to go, sport is too abrupt unless you are really looking to attack the road.  I am anxiously counting the days until we can get them sport in the states.

[Scott Carpenter]

Another 66 miles done today and this time instead of dual carriageways or tourist clogged Devon lanes, I was able to ride some of my favourite local twisty roads. Really had one of my best short rides of the year, the temperature was perfect in the early evening, roads dry, and I was much more in tune with the bike. This thing really handles and is a big step up from the Breva. It took sections of the "Torpoint Twisties" with a far more settled ride than the Breva does. The sound is great. Little children point and make the "rev it" sign. Adults take a second look - never really had a bike that did that before.....

Almost 200 miles done and therefore 1/5 of the way to the first service and the full mumbo. 

Will likely have to wait until next weekend to ride it again. Can't wait.

[Buddy Shagmore]

Congrats! How about a pic?
You may need a magnifying glass to read the owner's manual...lol. You can set the traction control back on. My '24 Stone 10 is on "2".
Enjoy the break in miles. After that you can also change the shift point warning that will flash on the dash, if you over rev during break in.
Great bikes these 850s are, I love mine.

[Cam3512]

When you park the bike somewhere, do you turn and look back at it as you walk away?  That the true indicator.

[Clifton]

A nice review of your new bike.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYETovmL0GM

[Frulk]

I find it hard to believe that the reviewer in the video said the V7 850 would ‘ spank’ his Griso’.

[Scott Carpenter]

At last a few pics! Up on Dartmoor at the Warren House Inn on the day I got it. And my two bikes (yes I washed the Breva for the first time after getting back from Scotland!). They look good together, but there can only be ONE. So the Breva has to go.

[DoubleGuzzi]

So the Breva has to go.

Yours has the lower seat too. 

[Scott Carpenter]

Hi DG, I think my Breva still has the standard seat - long story this is my second Breva. First one 2004-2022. This one 2022-now. I did get the ladies seat for this Breva but its in the garage and the vinyl has cracked, so around 2015 I put the brand new seat I had never used, the standard one, on the bike. But I do have the low seat, just not on the bike. The bloke I bought it off in 22 was not a shorty like me!

[DoubleGuzzi]

Hi DG, I think my Breva still has the standard seat..

Interesting. It is my understanding that the lower so-called Lady seat is recognised by the 'crease' between rider and pillion. Your comments have made me question the one on my Breva.

[Scott Carpenter]

I'll go out and have a look tonight.

[DoubleGuzzi]

I'll go out and have a look tonight.

Awaiting the update. 

[Cam3512]

They are nice bikes.  I wish they had gone with a red frame, stainless fenders, and replicate the horizontal shark gill pipes.

[YellowDuck]

Does anyone else feel like it's inevitable that they will eventually put the V85 motor in the Sport?  At 80 hp it would be pretty compelling...

[Dave Swanson]

Does anyone else feel like it's inevitable that they will eventually put the V85 motor in the Sport?  At 80 hp it would be pretty compelling...

My WAG is no.  The expense to Euro 5+ certify (and EPA etc) the V85 engine in the V7 platform would be a major investment.  The payback on that investment may be negative considering the current certified platform sells quite well.

[Clifton]

I'd think in the long run it'd be simpler certification if all 850's used the same rather than 2 different motors.

[Kev m]

The biggest issue is the cost of the motor and the differential price point of the products.

The V85 is positioned higher in the market and demands a higher price. The V7 Sport is getting close to that, and probably the closest they WANT to get.

The new V7s ARE more expensive to build since they've got the upgraded throttle body now. But there are still mechanical differences to AT LEAST the valve train and lubrication systems that add cost to the V85 and POSSIBLY still to the crankshaft and con rods.

It all adds up.

[Scott Carpenter]

My gut feeling (and as the late great Carl Sagan said "I try not to think with my gut - prefer to think with my brain") is that they will launch a heritage type Le Mans model maybe next year with the full chat V85 E5+ motor, lower bars, fancier mudguards, seat hump, rearsets and a little headlight fairing. This might be aimed at collectors and poseurs rather than riders. I personally would not buy one as my bike has to do long days in the saddle and rearsets and low bars are not my jam and have not been since about 2004.....And this bike has all of everything I would ever want.

Looks like Saturday could be a good day to put another 100 miles on her, and then on Sunday is a branch ride out - destination a mystery but likely to be Cornwall and the Atlantic Coast, and likely to be wet a bit.