2024 V7 850 vs 2026 V7 850

[Kev m]

I found that the MG DEALER doesn't know what's available!  I am thinking of buying another Guzzi to keep/ride in the US - my '21 V7 Special "lives" in the UK.  I contacted an MG dealer in the town where we live in the USA and he couldn't tell me what options were available.  Several things he said were at odds with the current on-line info from MG.  Best example was that he said the current Special had the option of dual gauges.  So it seems that if I want a more current V7 I'm stuck with that digital gauge :( 

I don't know what your experience is with Moto Guzzi and US dealers, but in my short (two decades plus) involvement with the brand I have found there are VERY few truly enthusiastic dealers for the brand in the US. In that short period of time as many of the true enthusiasts have gone out of business as there may still be on our shores. The rest are corporate dealers often just forced into taking the brand in order to get other products from Piaggio. And I don't think Piaggio NA is much of an ally with regards to providing them timely information or support.

[PeteS]

Piaggio is the problem. Talking to local dealers, one who sold Aprilia and quit and the other who wanted to become a dealer but they wanted him to floor way too many bikes. They have become like Harley and BMW.

Pete

[MikeP996]

"The rest are corporate dealers often just forced into taking the brand in order to get other products from Piaggio."

Based on my observations/conversations with two dealers, I think that is EXACTLY why they are MG "dealers."  :(

[Moparnut72]

I can't say with absolute certainty but the parts books and the images I've seen of the earlier 850s all LOOK like the cats are in the mufflers and NOT the crossover. I've read that's changed with the new exhaust on your bike.

The 24 and 25's in the US and probably all of NA (maybe even worldwide) still used the cable driven Marelli MIU G4 combination ECU/Throttle body.

https://www.af1racing.com/v7-e5-850cc-oem-parts-catalogs

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.af1racing.com/ProdImages/st3/ZGUKZUEA.pdf

The change to the V85 11 MP throttle body didn't occur until the new 26 models. And that brought the RBW, and the cruise, and the different exhaust systems and a whole bunch of other changes.

Thanks Kev that's what I believe. The cat on the '26 is like the V100's, a big can underneath the bike. I wasn't sure about RBW and Cruise as some on here said that the '25's were and the cruise was activated by the start switch like the 1400's used the start switch for something else, I don't remember what though. I sold my Audace a few years ago.
kk

[davethewelder]

I just bought a 2024 V7 Stone Ten and recently sold a 2022 V85TT.   The V7 fueling is way better, got usable power from upper 3000 rpms right up to about 7000.   Sounds real good for stock.  Plus it has a very easy throttle unlike my V85TT which really needed Cruise Control.  Buy the new one, if the money is no problem and dont think about resale values, cause we know at least in the SW Florida there hard to sell.

[Dirk_S]

Florida has a southwest region?

[msullivan]

I have decided on a 26 now which color.. theee both stunning

[Kev m]

I have decided on a 26 now which color.. theee both stunning

V7 Sport, no if, ands, or buts....

[msullivan]

V7 Sport, no if, ands, or buts....

Due to the Chrome??  Or the options that r left off the Special ( Fuel Gauge, Cornering ABS , reversed forks.) I hate the mirrors and a few other bits on the Special.. I just think the color is cool and some other chrome could be changed out.. if needed.

But again the Sport is damn cool in its own way.. and fully loaded.. Guzzi did mess up the pricing structure of those two..

[Bulldog9]

Due to the Chrome??  Or the options that r left off the Special ( Fuel Gauge, Cornering ABS , reversed forks.) I hate the mirrors and a few other bits on the Special.. I just think the color is cool and some other chrome could be changed out.. if needed.

But again the Sport is damn cool in its own way.. and fully loaded.. Guzzi did mess up the pricing structure of those two..

All that plus a few other things, most important dual discs (if that matters to you).  I recently saw the Sport in Grey that looks great too.  I'd only go for the yellow if it had a red frame.

[Clifton]

Two good choices. Personally I'd like the Sport but with the Special's exhaust, or a Special with the Sport's wheels.

[Kev m]

Due to the Chrome??  Or the options that r left off the Special ( Fuel Gauge, Cornering ABS , reversed forks.) I hate the mirrors and a few other bits on the Special.. I just think the color is cool and some other chrome could be changed out.. if needed.

But again the Sport is damn cool in its own way.. and fully loaded.. Guzzi did mess up the pricing structure of those two..

Chrome sucks....

USD forks and dual discs FTW!

BET it will run nice with my wife's Ducati.

I want one ..I will figure out a way to add one.

[msullivan]

Chrome sucks....

USD forks and dual discs FTW!

BET it will run nice with my wife's Ducati.

I want one ..I will figure out a way to add one.

Yes chrome does suck!! I hate cleaning it.. but that tank on the special sucked me in and tried to make me forget about the Chrome 😂..I’ll probably end up with the sport .. but it’s still close..  The Dual disks and the USD forks are a nice feature …not a deal breaker but they do make the front end look better..

[Kev m]

Yes chrome does suck!! I hate cleaning it.. but that tank on the special sucked me in and tried to make me forget about the Chrome 😂..I’ll probably end up with the sport .. but it’s still close..  The Dual disks and the USD forks are a nice feature …not a deal breaker but they do make the front end look better..

I get it,

Chase YOUR bliss.

Mine IS the Sport!

[MikeP996]

Sadly, I don't care for any of the current color/trim schemes.  Prettiest V7 850 to me so far is the blue Special circa 2021/dual gauges - which is why I bought one a month ago!  ;)   But if I was forced to buy a current model it would probably be the black Special! 

[faffi]

I also find the 21 Special in dark blue metallic to be very nice, although I am not overly excited about the brown seat. For me, the best looking V7 is probably the 2016 750 II Special in blue with the white stripes that mimic the design of the original 750 S3. But taste is like butts - split. And I personally would not let a color decide what I'd buy, function is more important to me.

[Moparnut72]

I got a white Special a couple of weeks ago. I have always liked white bikes. The rims are painted black, I would have liked chrome but I suppose the black rims will be easier to keep looking good.
kk

[MikeP996]

"And I personally would not let a color decide what I'd buy, function is more important to me."

Wish I was that practical.  I have to admit that I won't buy a bike that doesn't first "catch my eye."  For example, a few years back I bought a new green/white Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe because of how it looked even though the standard Kawasaki Z900 would outperform it in every way.

That being said, it can "catch my eye" but subsequent research/test ride before purchase might dictate it wouldn't work for me.  That has occurred with a number of motorcycles over the years.  Nowadays I have a personal reluctance to purchase any moto weighing more that 226 Kg/500lbs wet.  So the Mondello, gorgeous as I think it is (in red) is off the table for a "Guzzi in Texas."  So probably another V7 Special of some yet-to-be-determined year/color. 

[PeteS]

You really need to ride them all before you decide. All my other current bikes are lighter than the V100 but you don’t feel that weight. The V100 is very nimble and rides like its on rails. You just have think about going around a curve. Very little effort required.

Pete

[Moparnut72]

The Mandello really isn't all that heavy, 515 lbs wet. It became too tall for me as I am old and getting older. It got away from me three times this past year. When it started to fall I couldn't keep it from going all the way down. My new V7 850 is working just fine.
kk

[faffi]

The Mandello really isn't all that heavy, 515 lbs wet. It became too tall for me as I am old and getting older. It got away from me three times this past year. When it started to fall I couldn't keep it from going all the way down. My new V7 850 is working just fine.
kk

I hear you. Arthritis impair mobility, reaction time increase, coordination suffer - the older we get, the better we were. I am 61, and today I did one deadlift set of 10 rep with 160 kg / 353 lbs with ease, which is not THAT far from what I did 35 years ago. However, in real life situations, I am much weaker due to aches and pains and reduced mobility. Hence I very much prefer lighter bikes. My 475 lbs (wet) Roamer is heavier than I would prefer, and moving my son's 395 lbs MT07 is a joy in comparison. Ideally, I would like my next bike to be less than 300 lbs wet. More fun to ride, and utterly easy to control in just about every condition.

[mhershon]

If you plan to ride the new bike any intercity distance, buy the model with cast wheels. If you flat, you can often repair a puncture by the side of the road. If you have wire-spoked wheels and you suffer a rear wheel flat especially, you'll be standing on the roadside waiting for a tow truck. 

[Dirk_S]

If you plan to ride the new bike any intercity distance, buy the model with cast wheels. If you flat, you can often repair a puncture by the side of the road. If you have wire-spoked wheels and you suffer a rear wheel flat especially, you'll be standing on the roadside waiting for a tow truck.

…or removing the wheel, tire, and patching the tube because you were responsible enough to bring a kit…

…or repairing the tire with a standard tubeless plug because you had sealed the rims to run tubeless tires ;)

[Clifton]

…or removing the wheel, tire, and patching the tube because you were responsible enough to bring a kit…

I sure wouldn't want to have to pull the rear wheel off a V7 on the side of the road and deal with replacing or patching a tube.

[Dirk_S]

I sure wouldn't want to have to pull the rear wheel off a V7 on the side of the road and deal with replacing or patching a tube.

Well, then Option #2 in my comment is right up your alley :)

[MikeP996]

" It got away from me three times this past year. When it started to fall I couldn't keep it from going all the way down. My new V7 850 is working just fine."

That is probably the most useful piece of information for me re the Mondello!!!  NONE of the glowing reviews ever discuss things like that.  The closest thing is usually something like "It's heavy but once underway you don't notice it."  I have dropped motorcycles twice in my life; both times I was standing still so the comment above is more meaningful/useful to me than "it feels light once under way!"  ;)

Re patching tires on the side of the road.  I've done that a few times in years past, fortunately not recently even though of the five bikes I own, 4 have spoked wheels/tube tires!  The one with tubeless tires, I seldom ride!!

In each case I patched them without removing the wheels.  Find the puncture location, lever one side of the tire off with tire irons, pull the section of the tube out with the puncture, patch it, put it all back, add air.  Of course the biggest issue with patching a tire is carrying the tools and having air.  I don't carry any of that stuff nowadays so if I did have a puncture I'd have to do the "modern repair" ... call somebody for help... ;)  Back then you couldn't "call somebody" unless you were near a pay phone!

[Moparnut72]

I will say that two of the times I fell I had loose footing but my supporting legs just aren't able to be out far enough to be able to give me much leverage to keep the bike up. Also I had quite a bit of camping gear on the bike and unfortunately due to the design of the bike some of it is quite high on the luggage rack. To me the design of a lot of bikes today have the back end of the body work so high that with any kind of load puts it quite high raising the center of gravity higher. In the bike's defense I am quite old and getting older so I don't have the strength I used to have. My body parts are probably getting shorter to boot. It was a great bike but just not for me anymore. They are great machines however.
kk

[Clifton]

Well, then Option #2 in my comment is right up your alley :)

Nope, it's been option 3 never buy another street bike with inner tube wheels.