Distance from dealer

[Hope 4 V7]

Hey,

I’m back after nine years. Currently have a Bonnie T120, and looking to finish my riding years on a Guzzi. I had a V7 II in 2016 that had the right cylinder valve stem come out from the rocker arm. I had to trailer it over 400 miles to get it fixed. (I didn’t know how to fix it at the time). In any case, I’m currently in the market for a new (2026) V7, maybe the Sport, but I was looking at the Special as well. My concerns are that my closest dealer is about four (4) hours away. I could probably maintain the bike easily enough, but I wouldn’t be able to update the ECU if required. Does anyone have any thoughts on that? Thanks for any advice.

Jim

[TN Mark]

My nearest Moto Guzzi dealer is a 7 miles away. Would I use them to service my 2016 Eldorado 1400? Not a chance. They've only been a somewhat disgruntled Guzzi dealer for about 2 years. I'm not sure if they ever sold a Moto Guzzi. So, they've likely never seen or heard about an Eldorado 1400.

The nearest Moto Guzzi dealer I'd trust is Cadre Cycle which is about 360 miles from me. If need be, I'd strap the Eldo to a U-Haul bike trailer to get it their.

No, that doesn't bother me in the least. My other bike is a Victory Hard-Ball, I have a dealer within 30 miles of me. After this year, they'll likely stop any support of Victory anyway.  Fortunately, my Victory bikes continue to be 100% reliable 100% of the time for over 150k miles so far.

The 2016 Eldorado is new to me but it only has 2000 miles on it. It's too early to know if it will also be 100% reliable 100% of the time. My previous Guzzi biles were all that reliable.

Ride what you want, but worry about it much less. If a servicing dealer is a must have pretty much anywhere you are or could go: your only real option is a Harley-Davidson. There’s nothing wrong with that option as they’re making great motorcycles today.

[kingoffleece]

I went 405 miles each way to Hamlin Cycles.  A nice day ride.
Think of the fun you'll have for major service if you need it.  Call, ride up, service, ride home.  If it's bad-trailer.  But it won't be.

[Hope 4 V7]

New bike, new dealer, which is why I was asking.
I’m going to buy a new V7 Sport. I sam totally enamored with them for some reason. Those bikes just appeal to my soul.

TN Mark,

I have absolutely nodesire for a H-D. Both of my brothers have them, and it’s just not my thing. I have plenty of people here that could probably fix it, if I needed them to. My only concern is finding someone who can do the diagnostics on it if needed so I know what’s wrong with it if anything happens (but it won’t).

kingoffleece,

I have a little farther to go, but not much. I will try to find someone in my area, or maybe get a diagnostic tool if needed, if there’s one available.

Thanks for the replies, as it’s much appreciated.

Best regards,

Jim

[Vagrant]

The new v7, v85 are very well refined. I'd say there is only a 10% chance you will need a dealer. If so there is a 95% chance you can ride it there to put it on his computer.
Best of luck and post pics and review.
If it was me I'd drain the rear end and trans into a clean measuring glass then refill with the right amount. Not sure on the v7 but the v85 is now 130cc.

[Tom]

Dealer?.......?  What's dat???      No such animal out here.   

[bronzestar1]

I went the complete opposite direction..sold my '23 V7 Stone Special Edition and got a '26 Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory.  Then traded in my '24 V100 Mandello Aviazione Navale on a '25 Triumph Street Twin 1200.  I'll be moving down to NC at the end of the year, and having a dealer "close by" is what made me divest myself of the Guzzis.  Right now, the closest Guzzi dealer is about an hour and a half away.  After I move to NC, it will still be the closest dealer, but now it'll be about 4 hours away.  There are Triumph and Aprilia places much closer, so that was the deciding factor.  I also have a '25 Suzuki SV650, but there are Suzuki dealers all over the place, so that wasn't part of the equation.   

[Vagrant]

It would be interesting to hear how the the SV and Tuono compare. On paper and reality are I bet quite different.

[bronzestar1]

It would be interesting to hear how the the SV and Tuono compare. On paper and reality are I bet quite different.

I had the break-in service done on the Tuono a few weeks ago, and that bike's down at my "retirement" home in NC.  So right now I only get a couple of days a month to ride it, weather-permitting.  I have the SV here with me in Newport News, still breaking that one in, so I'm keeping the rpms to 5K and below.  The Tuono is an absolute beast for a 660, that thing flies on the backroads, stops on a dime and gives you change, can flick it side to side with very little effort, etc (it has full Ohlins suspension).  The engine's fairly smooth, but I like how the SV's v-twin feels more "mechanical", kinda like how the air-cooled Guzzis feel (but not quite to that degree!).  And the v-twin sounds better than the parallel twin, that's for sure.  The Tuono is more "revvy" than the SV, and one can immediately tell the Tuono has more power (105 hp versus 75 hp).  But, it's not all about the power, but how the bike gets it down on the pavement and handles itself.  Once I get the break-in service done on the SV, I'm going to take it on this route where I can more easily compare how the bikes perform.  I know on the short straights the power of the Tuono would leave the SV in the dust, but I'm interested to see how they compare in the corners. 

The SV would definitely be the better bike to compare to my V7 Stone as far as power and such.  It's a more nimble bike, and with dual discs up front, it brakes a little better than the V7's single disc.  It feels lighter as well, a little more manageable in the corners.  But the SV's v-twin has nothing on the big Guzzi lump rocking side to side!

2026 Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory:




2025 Suzuki SV650:


       

[bad Chad]

It'a all relative, like most everything else about this hobby/Sport/Passion, take your pick.   Some dudes like Tom, have no clue what a dealer is or would be use for, others, can't imagine owing a bike that closest dealer was 40 miles away!   Luckily, for the majority of us, Guzzi are pretty reliable, assuming they are set up right from the get go.   But there can be times when a good dealer is needed, or a Good Guzzi Guru, and we need more of both.  In the mean time, ride your Guzzi!

[kingoffleece]

You'll need to take a nice trip every now and again to the dealer for updates.  It's a ride.  Make it fun, make it an event.
99% of us who do our own service just keep track and ignore the little wrench light, which is EASY to do, unless you're OCD.  If that's the case, you have bigger fish to fry anyway.

Like I said, my 400 mile trip each way was a blast.  Took all the back roads, found great places to eat, and saw stuff I'd never see otherwise.