Bring on the Bobber?

[chuck peterson]

I wonder why the Roamer version hasn’t garnered as much attention?? Same motor

[TN Mark]

One of my Ikons leaks but I am having both rebuilt by the factory in PA.The bike doesn’t have a center stand and if I remove both shocks do I need to worry about the rear end somehow collapsing?Should I make some kind of support to install until I get the shocks back?

If you have (or can borrow) a front wheel chock and a scissor jack you’re golden. The scissor jack under the engine allows you to adjust the height of the back of the bike to make shock removal and installation a breeze.

I saw the Bobber last week at Reina in Brookfield, WI. It’s gorgeous. I also love the fat front end look. Plus the increased tire contact patch is a huge advantage.

[Guzzidad]

   A few thoughts about my new to me 2017 Bobber. I thought at my age, 73, I would enjoy riding a bike with more upright riding position. I also have a 2020 V7 Racer. The V9 has significantly more power at low rpm's. Today was my first ride of any length, 100 miles. Perfect day, 80 degrees and sunny skies. I'll have to get used to the riding position. I don't know why, but my thighs are a bit tired. They felt relaxed all day. Middle of my back is a bit tired too. Guess I'm just not used to sitting straight up all day. That stuff is just conditioning. Butt didn't get sore until the last 3 miles. To be fair, I don't have the padding back there I used to. It does have the Guzzi Comfort seat.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The V7 encourages me to ride about 20 mph over the speed limit. The V9 is happy at the speed limit, or maybe just a little over.                                                               In the end I just want to keep one bike in the garage. It might take me a couple of years to make up my mind.                                                                                                   But one thing hasn't changed in the last 40 years I've been riding Guzzi's, the build quality.

[Dirk_S]

   A few thoughts about my new to me 2017 Bobber. I thought at my age, 73, I would enjoy riding a bike with more upright riding position. I also have a 2020 V7 Racer. The V9 has significantly more power at low rpm's. Today was my first ride of any length, 100 miles. Perfect day, 80 degrees and sunny skies. I'll have to get used to the riding position. I don't know why, but my thighs are a bit tired. They felt relaxed all day. Middle of my back is a bit tired too. Guess I'm just not used to sitting straight up all day. That stuff is just conditioning. Butt didn't get sore until the last 3 miles. To be fair, I don't have the padding back there I used to. It does have the Guzzi Comfort seat.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The V7 encourages me to ride about 20 mph over the speed limit. The V9 is happy at the speed limit, or maybe just a little over.                                                               In the end I just want to keep one bike in the garage. It might take me a couple of years to make up my mind.                                                                                                   But one thing hasn't changed in the last 40 years I've been riding Guzzi's, the build quality.

I mean…there is a solution for your V9 if you don’t like the seating position ;)

[Zimmermichaels1ea]

50 degrees F, bright, sunny and very little wind for a northeast Wisconsin Sunday in late November demands one to bring on the Bobber!

Rode 340+ miles to the State Capitol and back, an absolutely glorious day to ride....at least until the sun began to set! 

[faffi]

That is serious mileage on a Bobber seat

[Tkelly]

50 degrees on a naked bike for 370 miles is cold ,snowmobile suit ,heated grips and vest?It was a little warmer down in SW WI but I had hippo hands,heated vest and leathers and was glad I did.

[Zimmermichaels1ea]

I also use Hippo Hands, they make all the difference, I take them off for picture time.  I ride in wool long John's and have an insulated jacket.  If I start getting cold, I put on my rain suit, which blocks the wind nicely.  Started out the day dressed like that, then took it off when the temp around Madison climed past 50.  Put it all on again about halfway home, as i was getting cold again.

I find the stock Bobber seat pretty comfortable.  But my break stops come more frequently as the day goes on, and the last hour or so I'm scooting all over the seat trying to stay comfortable. 
But dang it all.....it was a beautiful day for a fun, long ride!!

[Zimmermichaels1ea]

For those perusing this thread and wondering if the Bobber can travel.....I'm here to say that YES, the Bobber can travel!

Here's my Bobber earlier in the year packed up for a moto-camping trip to Platteville,  WI.  Since I was going to be riding with my son who has a '25 Kawasaki Eliminator (the Bobber and Eliminator are similar in fuel tank size,) I figured why not load it up and camp with it?

I strapped on my V7 Special bags and off I went.  I can't lie, the Bobber is a bit cramped with all that gear on it, so frequent stops were in order.  Would I do that again?  Most likely no.  I'll use the V7 as my long distance tourer.  But for short trips it sure fun.

[Guzzidad]

    Is that not the Guzzi "Comfort" seat?

[Tkelly]

Lose the bunji cords,buy RokStraps.

[Zimmermichaels1ea]

Guzzidad,
I have no idea if that is the comfort seat or not.  I bought the bike used.  FWIW, the dealer had another 2021 Bobber in Centenario livery with the same looking seat on it.  All I know is that the seat is comfortable for a day long ride...IF...I can scootch around on it from time to time.  When I'm locked into one seating position, then as the day goes on I'm actually glad that the bike can only go about 125 miles before I need gas and a break from the seat!

Tkelly,
Maybe one day I'll pick up some rokstraps, for now, I've done several thousand miles with bungees and haven't yet had my load loosen...knock on wood.  The bungees only hold down my sleeping pad and sleeping bag.....though it would suck to lose either....outside of my Bi-PAP machine those are the two most expensive pieces of gear I carry!

[blu guzz]

Zimm:

You make a true point about the flat seats and being locked in.  All of my old Asian bikes from the 80s and the Euro bikes too had those great, flat seats you could move around on.  When I got my first BMW, an 84 100RS, it came with 3 seats.  Stock, which was essentially flat, Corbin which was dished for your butt and allowed very little movement and the single seat sport saddle which allowed some movement.  The Corbin was the most comfortable for about 2 hours, then the lack of movement started to take its tole, even on my late 30s year old body.  The stock probably would have been best, but it also likely needed rebuilding which I didn't know about then.  The next was a 97 1100RS with a stock torture seat.  Ironically, cured by a Corbin Gunfighter which was not as locked in as the one on the 84, but really one of the best I have owned.  It was with my 2004 RT that I really learned about locked in as that was a real stepped seat.  I tried 4 seats including standard BMW (10 minutes)  and Comfort (20 minutes), Corbin, Sargent and finally CeeBaileys which was good for about 2 hours.  I was just too cheap to got the full Day Long route although looking back, I should have. 
I have wanted to love the new V100s bit the "locked in" seat is one reason I have not been able to.  If I had the seat built up to where it was flat with the back piece, I would not be able to flat foot the bike.  Since I am ranting, I hate the "ass in the air" look of most modern bikes today except the Adv. bikes where it looks correct to my eyes.
happy thanksgiving.

[faffi]

The Guzzi Convert and Suzuki GS1000 probably had some of the best stock seats ever to be put on a motorcycle. Flat to allow free movement, firm but thick foam that give supple enough support without compressing too much. If a seat is to lock you in, it will need a very big platform to rest your butt on.

[Tkelly]

I rode for Around 10 years before I got a 750 Honda,never riding farther than50 miles from Chicago.I did 2 750 mile days,back to back and never found th seat unbearable,I guess it was uncomfortable compared to my car but I just thought it was part of the deal,same with a Kaw900.All my Guzzis have had stock seats except the stock 1100 scooped ones that hurt my back untilI had them built m up.