Possible new Guzzi owner, please advise

[CarolinaTim]

Hello WildGuzzi folks

I’m Tim and a possible convert. Moto Guzzis are calling to me. I do have a few questions. Any answers and advice will be appreciated.

I’ve been riding since ’79, starting with a Yamaha RD 400. My wife and I usually ride together/seperately and our current motorcycles are a 2015 Ducati Multistrada S, 2016 BMW S1000XR, Yamaha WR250R, KTM 790 Duke, and a 2024 BMW R12 nine T. As my wife seems to be in the process of swiping “my” R12, an opportunity has arisen. The WR and Duke are now on eBay Motors to free space and $$ for something that we hope will be as much or more fun and as much or more characterful as the R12. We ride the twisties of the SC mountains, western NC, and north Georgia almost exclusively, but at a bit slower pace these days.

I think the ideal Guzzi for me would be a V7 Special with dual clocks, tubeless tires, and the IMU rider aids and tech from the V7 Sport. But back to the reality of what’s actually available, how much of a performance difference is there really between the Sport and the Special?  Would we likely notice it?  It’s hard to ignore the huge difference in advertised prices too, as there are great deals (seemingly ) on Specials.

A concern we have is for reliability and warranty repairs. This concern is partly because the closest dealer (65 minutes away) is new to the brand. We hope they stick with it. They have several Guzzis in stock, but they may have not sold one as yet. We’re not sure about Guzzi’s requirements for authorized mechanics or whether they have any that dealership. The next closest dealers are 2-3 hours away and the idea of trailering a bike to a distant dealer is daunting and something, thankfully, I’ve never had to do.

I will be fine doing all the routine maintenance, plan to do so, and like the idea that it is straightforward. But I wonder what happens if I do need help.
Would Moto Guzzi refuse a warranty claim even if I have the receipts for oil, etc?   And here’s a picky one:  Are there service reminder lights to turn off?  For the BMWs, I am fine using a cable to the ECU, an OBD+ Bluetooth scanner and German software to reset lights and so forth. How are Guzzis on this?

Finally, we are also considering a 2025-26 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 RS. We both rode one recently and really liked it. It performs much like the R12, but with more polish and refinement, which to me is a slight negative. It also lacks some nice features we’ve been spoiled by such as cruise control and heated grips. It would also probably cost around $4k more than a V7 Sport and $5k more than the Special.  It will be tough to arrange a test ride on a V7 and may require a 2-3 hour drive and a test ride in an urban jungle. We prefer the sort of green jungle we live in!
 
Thanks for reading this. I will let you know what happens. It may take a couple of months  Meanwhile, Moto Guzzis will be calling to me.

[guzzisteve]

If you want a Convert, I'd look for an 86, last & best. I get it a converted rider to Guzzi, not the model. Enjoy & pick the one you like.

[bad Chad]

Steve, read the post before you respond!!

[John Croucher]

If you want a Convert, I'd look for an 86, last & best. I get it a converted rider to Guzzi, not the model. Enjoy & pick the one you like.

Funny, I thought the same thing.  Read the rest of the post a n thought who would replace a nice bike for a Convert?

Then re read the beginning of the post cause I new i was missing something.

Had  a convert for a while.  Definitely something different to ride.

[TN Mark]

Do you mean the dealer in Cleveland, TN or in Georgia?
I’ve been to the one in Cleveland, Tn numerous times and it’s always a pleasure. They’re very nice and friendly.

I’ve been to the one north of Atlanta once. I found them to be a Royal Enfield dealer with a couple Guzzis tucked away in a corner.

Unless you’re two very small people, two up on any V7 is, well, a challenge. The V7 Sport with UD forks and dual disks up front would be ideal for your riding area. I’m just south of Cleveland and find our area about as beautiful a riding area as one could find.

Have you considered a Moto Guzzi California 1400? They’re very under appreciated money wise and are, IMHO, the best motorcycle line Moto Guzzi ever put out.

All the best to you on the bike sales you currently have going on.

[CarolinaTim]

Do you mean the dealer in Cleveland, TN or in Georgia?
I’ve been to the one in Cleveland, Tn numerous and it’s always a pleasure. They’re very nice and friendly.

I’ve been to the one north of Atlanta once. I found them to be a Royal Enfield dealer with a couple Guzzis tucked away in a corner.

Unless you’re two very small people, two up on any V7 is, well, a challenge. The V7 Sport with UD forks and dual disks up front would be ideal for your riding area. I’m just south of Cleveland and find our area about as beautiful a riding area as one could find.

Have you considered a Moto Guzzi California 1400? They’re very under appreciated money wise as are, IMHO, the best motorcycle line Moto Guzzi ever put out.

All the best to you on the bike sales you currently have going on.

Thanks!  My wife rides her own (or snags my R12 nine T) so the small V7 is no problem. My closest dealer is in Greer, SC (greater Greenville). I have ridden up your way and it is fantastic. Need to get back up there.

[guzzisteve]

Steve, read the post before you respond!!

Yea, maybe I should

[Dave Swanson]

Sounds like the 2026+ V7 Sport ticks all of your boxes except for the dual clocks.  I think the bike is engaging enough that you won't be complaining about the single dash.   

I prefer the dual clocks also, but I got used to it. 

[Kev m]

Get the Sport.

Service it yourself.

If small wrench maintenance icon bugs you, buy an IcarSoft or OBDSTAR to shut it off.

[fotoguzzi]

If you really ride “at a slower pace” you’ll be fine with either. But the Speed twin will out perform in every aspect. I’ve never had a Brit bike but they have the goods these days.
Blasphemy I know, I can take the hits.

[MikeP996]

Re the "slower pace" and other things...
I bought my blue '21 V7 special a year ago for several reasons:

 I had never owned or even sat on a Guzzi in many, Many,  MANY years of buying/riding motorcycles and figured I should own one at least once.  I did the same with a Harley some years back but the Harley only lasted about six months before selling it - for more than I paid for it(!).  It was slow, heavy, had poor brakes and worse handling. OK, owning my third Ducati sportbike (a 916) at the same time was probably the worst possible comparo with a Harley Wide Glide!!!  Not sure what I was thinking...but at least I can say that I owned a Harley!

Anyway...In my Moto Guzzi V7 search I thought the blue '21 V7 850 Special looked really cool AND had dual clocks/spoke wheels, a requirement for me on a "retro" bike.  The other requirement was less than 500 lbs.  I had recently sold my Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe which fit nicely into those requirements but I really wanted to try a Moto Guzzi so the K had to go to make room.

AND...I figured it was time to enjoy riding at the "slower pace" mentioned in the first post.   

I figured wrong. 

I ride like I ride and don't care for what has been called "gentlemanly" riding.  I"M NOT saying I race around like a young maniac (as I once did) but thinking I was going to ride "differently" because I was on a lower powered "gentleman's" motorcycle was not the case.  I tried but I realized that, as Popeye used to say, "I am what I am..." 

So...I quickly (and happily!) discovered that although the bike will accommodate "gentlemanly" riding, it will happily rev to redline and it will give a very good account of itself in the twisties if you wish to do so.  So in that regard, it is a very capable "sporty-type" machine.  A dual purpose bike, so to speak!  :)

A couple more comments:

The earlier V7s 850s like mine do not have cruise control which is no issue at all for me but depending on how/where you typically ride, it may be.  My BMW R1200RS has cruise control and the only time I used it was once to see if it worked!  Re that, the longest I've spent on an interstate/motorway in the past 5-6 years was on the V7!  I picked it up on a rainy day and rode it home 90 miles on the Motorway in heavy rain which it handled perfectly well!!  I admit cruise control might have been nice that day!  But I'm almost never riding where I could use it for any period of time. 

Re the dealer/warranty thing - before buying my V7 I did a lot of on-line research and found what I thought to be an uncomfortably high number of warranty issues that required dealer intervention.  For that reason I decided I wanted a MG with at least 5000 miles on it.  My thinking was (is) that if it has that mileage on it and no current issues, any problems would have already been resolved.  I have always done my own motorcycle work so I wasn't concerned about having a dealer available ONCE the bike had been through whatever teething issues were necessary.

Dual clocks on a retro are a personal "thing" of mine and I'm disappointed to see that MG apparently no longer offers them on any V7 model.  I like polished or chrome spoke wheels on a retro and personally have no issues with tube-tires.  I realize many folks feel the opposite re tubes but they have never given me reason to worry about them over a LOT of years.  But that's just an opinion and you know what they say about opinions... :)

Good luck with whatever you decide!!!!




 

[blu guzz]

I would have a V7 sport in the garage if it wasn't for that darned clock thing that tells the speed.  I actually acquired a V9 Roamer with a white faced clock which I have always had a ridiculous desire to have on a Guzzi.  I'm not advocating for the Roamer on the whole as that would be another post and an article I wrote may come out in the Owners News some month.  The current V7s are far more sporty.

[bronzestar1]

I had a '23 V7 Sport Limited Edition and a '24 V100 Mandello Aviazione Navale.  Currently have three Triumphs:  '24 Scrambler 400X, '25 Speed Twin 1200, and a '26 Thruxton 400.  You could save some bucks by getting a "regular" ST1200 instead of the RS version.  I've owned seven Guzzis over the last 40+ years of riding, but with retirement looming at the end of the year, and with the lack of Guzzi dealers around, I made the switch to Triumphs.  I think a non-RS version of the Speed Twin 1200 will be a pretty good compromise, certainly better than a V7 of any flavor. 

[CarolinaTim]

Re the "slower pace" and other things...
I bought my blue '21 V7 special a year ago for several reasons:

 I had never owned or even sat on a Guzzi in many, Many,  MANY years of buying/riding motorcycles and figured I should own one at least once.  I did the same with a Harley some years back but the Harley only lasted about six months before selling it - for more than I paid for it(!).  It was slow, heavy, had poor brakes and worse handling. OK, owning my third Ducati sportbike (a 916) at the same time was probably the worst possible comparo with a Harley Wide Glide!!!  Not sure what I was thinking...but at least I can say that I owned a Harley!

Anyway...In my Moto Guzzi V7 search I thought the blue '21 V7 850 Special looked really cool AND had dual clocks/spoke wheels, a requirement for me on a "retro" bike.  The other requirement was less than 500 lbs.  I had recently sold my Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe which fit nicely into those requirements but I really wanted to try a Moto Guzzi so the K had to go to make room.

AND...I figured it was time to enjoy riding at the "slower pace" mentioned in the first post.   

I figured wrong. 

I ride like I ride and don't care for what has been called "gentlemanly" riding.  I"M NOT saying I race around like a young maniac (as I once did) but thinking I was going to ride "differently" because I was on a lower powered "gentleman's" motorcycle was not the case.  I tried but I realized that, as Popeye used to say, "I am what I am..." 

So...I quickly (and happily!) discovered that although the bike will accommodate "gentlemanly" riding, it will happily rev to redline and it will give a very good account of itself in the twisties if you wish to do so.  So in that regard, it is a very capable "sporty-type" machine.  A dual purpose bike, so to speak!  :)

A couple more comments:

The earlier V7s 850s like mine do not have cruise control which is no issue at all for me but depending on how/where you typically ride, it may be.  My BMW R1200RS has cruise control and the only time I used it was once to see if it worked!  Re that, the longest I've spent on an interstate/motorway in the past 5-6 years was on the V7!  I picked it up on a rainy day and rode it home 90 miles on the Motorway in heavy rain which it handled perfectly well!!  I admit cruise control might have been nice that day!  But I'm almost never riding where I could use it for any period of time. 

Re the dealer/warranty thing - before buying my V7 I did a lot of on-line research and found what I thought to be an uncomfortably high number of warranty issues that required dealer intervention.  For that reason I decided I wanted a MG with at least 5000 miles on it.  My thinking was (is) that if it has that mileage on it and no current issues, any problems would have already been resolved.  I have always done my own motorcycle work so I wasn't concerned about having a dealer available ONCE the bike had been through whatever teething issues were necessary.

Dual clocks on a retro are a personal "thing" of mine and I'm disappointed to see that MG apparently no longer offers them on any V7 model.  I like polished or chrome spoke wheels on a retro and personally have no issues with tube-tires.  I realize many folks feel the opposite re tubes but they have never given me reason to worry about them over a LOT of years.  But that's just an opinion and you know what they say about opinions... :)

Good luck with whatever you decide!!!!

Thought-provoking comments, thanks. What you’re saying does apply to me and probably also to my wife as to how our riding is evolving. Although I am reaching a point
where I automatically dial back the pace and calm my riding to account for slowing reaction time, a little slower processing of hazards, and so forth, these degradations have been arriving gradually and have not yet been enough to change my overall approach to riding.
As to the V7 Special, another perspective is to embrace the challenge of riding a less capable bike within its lower limits. I remember fondly chasing my riding buddies on a couple different F650 BMWs, and there was satisfaction from doing so. Besides, because I have ridden neither, it’s not clear that the limits of the Special (or Stone) are all that much lower than those of the Sport.
Like you, I have an occasional urge to sample a Harley, but the closest I’ve gotten is a couple of Buells. You may not have seen those across the pond. If not, imagine what the Sportster should be, but with poor reliability.

[Moparnut72]

I have gotten used to the single clock compared to the duals. I gives more info to boot. Moto Guzzi lack of reliability is more of an urban myth than reality. They are very reliable with a reputation for longevity. If you are really concerned buy a used one and if not satisfied flip it with little amount of loss.
kk

[Kev m]

I had a '23 V7 Sport Limited Edition

Does not compute.

23 V7 - there was no "Sport".

So what did you actually mean?

[mechanicsavant]

Personally being a gentleman of a certain age my BMW R1200r , which I loved was getting a bit much to handle @lower speeds & when moving it in & out of the shed . So in 2017 I bought a V7 II .What fun much easier to handle @ lower speeds & still capable of carrying all my rally kit..Then the V7/850 came out in 21 ! A test ride & I was hooked. So , I now have 2 small blocks ! No issues with either bikes ,just normal maintenance. That said I did upgrade rear shocks on the 750 , and fitted H/B bags & windscreens to both bikes . 40k Miles between the 2 so far & no regrets!

[kingoffleece]

They're motorcycles.  They are fun to ride.  Get one.
I've had almost everything.  Fun and feel matter way more than speed, or one or two c;locks, or whatever.
Sold them all, kept the Guzzi bikes.  They are the most fun.  If you know what you're doing nobody will dust you in the fun stuff.  If you need 125 on the straight Guzzi ain't for you.

[bronzestar1]

Does not compute.

23 V7 - there was no "Sport".  So what did you actually mean?

V7 Stone Limited Edition, the black one with the red tank stripes.  Stone, Sport, tomatoe, tomato...

[malik]

With two 750 V7s I may be somewhat biased, but with 240,000km on one & 170,00km on the other the distance to a dealer is pretty much a non issue. Especially as I've found that a subscription to a recovery plan (virtually unlimited tow service) has come in handy & well worth the couple of hundred dollars. I usually do my own fettling/mechanicing- Guzzis are not really that complex.

I would tend to advise the Special (I prefer the twin clocks aesthetically) and spend the money saved on aftermarket suspension (the Ohlins on the V7 III Racer were very impressive).

The 850 V7s do seem to have more usable power than the 750 versions, but the weight has risen too. The V100 has a similar weight & a similar wheelbase, so handling should be good. Cost is a other question. It's an option.

Take the time & effort to TEST RIDE any possible contender - that's likely to be the most convincing thing you can do.

Have fun.

[Moparnut72]

If high speed is desired the Mandello can do it no problem. I had mine up to a GPS 113 mph during an unusual situation and it was still accelerating strongly. However the V7 850 can do everything I need from it. Plenty powerful enough.
kk

[MikeP996]

Sort of aligned with "slowing down" as we get older and choosing motorcycles/options...

The major factor to me nowadays in motorcycle selection is weight.  That was the main reason I decided against a Mandello though I admit I was very interested in a "Wind Tunnel" version for a while.  The V7 is at the top end of what I prefer weight-wise.  Mine is a bit lighter than stock with Mistral mufflers (on the bike when I purchased it) though I added some weight back when I installed a center-stand - which, IMO, should be standard equipment!!!.  Several of our current bikes are heavier than my V7...but I hardly ever ride them!  The bikes I most enjoy riding are the V7 and the little Honda CB400F!!!

Another thing that has changed with getting older is I lost my interest in loud pipes. I would have been perfectly happy with the V7's OEM exhaust (which the PO gave me when I bought the bike).  I occasionally think about re-installing the OEM mufflers but the Mistrals are not THAT loud (dB killers in place).  Plus OEMs are quite heavy compared to the Mistrals, and I'm lazy!  Although I use to install aftermarket exhausts as a routine thing, I would no longer install an aftermarket (louder) muffler on a new motorcycle. 

Those are the primary things that have changed as I've aged.  My general attitude has not and although I am not comfortable dragging footpegs any more, I still like to push myself/the bike a bit and run it to redline in the first few gears several times on every ride.  Actually that's my only complaint about the V7, I'd like the redline to be higher - I find that I can easily bounce off the rev limiter in the first 3 gears if I'm not real careful at full throttle.  Oh well, that's what rev limiters are for!!!  :) 

[DoubleGuzzi]

..The V7 is at the top end of what I prefer weight-wise.  .. I added some weight back when I installed a center-stand - which, IMO, should be standard equipment!!!. 
Another thing that has changed with getting older is I lost my interest in loud pipes..

.. I am not comfortable dragging footpegs any more, I still like to push myself/the bike a bit and run it to redline ..

I can relate to this, so closely, with a few alterations.
For me, the driving force for aftermarket pipes/silencers is to reduce weight and get rid of the ludicrous catalyser. Emissions should be governed by efficiency of combustion, not trapping the results of it. (How on earth do the NC750 & 900 Street/Speed Twin get such a good economy, for example - rhetorical.)
I like the advantage of less powerful machines, whereby it's possible to explore close to the limits, without extreme terminal velocity. Gotta check the bikes's stability somehow. ;-)  I'll take dry smooth tarmac sweeping twisties any day of the week, preferably without mobile metal cage obstacles in the way. :-)
Can't help but "feel the need for speed" but MPG is a defining factor on my runs, given fuel costs.

[Kev m]

and get rid of the ludicrous catalyser. Emissions should be governed by efficiency of combustion, not trapping the results of it. (How on earth do the NC750 & 900 Street/Speed Twin get such a good economy, for example - rhetorical.)

Coming back from soccer tryouts with my son on Saturday morning we were running down the road in the little Jeep and I remembered there was a car show in town. I looked at Seamus and said "you smell that" and he nodded making a face. I said that's what the whole world smelled like when I was kid. Anytime you were running down the road with the windows open.

Sure enough when we caught up to the traffic at a light in front of us there was a beautiful old Chevy Chevelle and a relatively pristine 70's pickup truck heading into the parking lot for the car show.

No thanks man, my cat cons do the job just fine and they don't bother me at all. They also do something that you can't really do just with efficient combustion in the chamber.

Engineers today have developed fantastically efficient and more importantly CLEAN running motors.

And I don't know about you but my Hemi Head smallblock regularly gets 50-56 mpg even with those cat cons in place.

[Dave Swanson]

I agree with Kev here. 

Early on when catalytic converters were first tacked on as a band aid to help pass emissions I could agree with the blanket approach of removal.  Over the years they have been developed as essential part of a whole highly engineered system.   My stock V100S fuels so perfectly I would never dream of changing a thing.  Same with my V7-850 which has Mistral cat cans (db killer in). 

[DoubleGuzzi]

I'll just say that you can't compare stinking gas guzzlers, with a properly engineered engine and as a point of contention a catalyser has absolutely nothing to do with efficiency of combustion. To put it another way, removing a cat shouldn't change fuel economy, if the same back pressure is maintained eg. replace it with a baffle . Bad analogy: They are a sticking plaster over a bleeding hole and better to tackle the issue at source, such as protective gear.
Anyone stuck a gas analyser up the pipe of an extremely frugal Honda CG125? Just a thought.

/thread drift.

[Moparnut72]

A lot of classic cars have never been tuned properly. A carb from an aftermarket supplier is just slapped on and called good. A well running older engine is not necessarily a clean one. Nitrous oxide emissions are usually high which a proper cat can convert to more environmentally friendly compounds. My first visit to California in 1970 was awful in terms of my burning eyes. Those days are gone. Are things perfect now, no not by a long shot but much better. Cats are much better designed now and don't affect performance very much. My 2 cents.
kk

[Milosh]

I have a V9 Bobber that I had a love/hate relationship with...now it's mostly love. I had some issues (ignition, fuel pump, etc.) but around the - time where parts were very hard to come by. I've done all of the other maintenance myself and with the exception of buying a crows foot wrench for the oil drain plug, it's all pretty straightforward. Especially the valve adjustment.

But here's the deal. I commute on the bike; it's like 90% of my riding. And do I need more power? Not really. Do I need it to handle like a sportsbike? Nope. Could the brakes be a bit better? Maybe? Suspension? I don't notice.

Literally the only issue I have with my particular model is the tank. I can't grip it with my knees. I might upgrade to the V7 Sport. Apparently, the brakes are better and I can grip the tank with my knees. If Moto Guzzi made the Scrambler again, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

You can't explain how riding a Moto Guzzi is different than other bikes. It's like a steam punk whirlygig living set of gears and pistons. And it sounds amazing.

[Kev m]

I'll just say that you can't compare stinking gas guzzlers, with a properly engineered engine and as a point of contention a catalyser has absolutely nothing to do with efficiency of combustion. To put it another way, removing a cat shouldn't change fuel economy, if the same back pressure is maintained eg. replace it with a baffle . Bad analogy: They are a sticking plaster over a bleeding hole and better to tackle the issue at source, such as protective gear.
Anyone stuck a gas analyser up the pipe of an extremely frugal Honda CG125? Just a thought.

/thread drift.

You misinterpret my points of economy or power. I would never suggest it imply a cat-con increases them, that's duy 101.

What I meant by efficiency of combustion was maximizing the reduction of harmful byproducts WHILE still maintaining excellent economy and power. I.E. the minimization of the release of unburnt HCs and reduction of CO and NO2.

But I'll double down on my point. I can smell the pollution behind many modern bikes or cars where owners have remapped, decatted, and/or installed spoofers. 

Not everyone is completely ham fisted about it, but plenty still are and we're all better off that most are left stock. That's the contrast between what I smelled that day and what we don't smell every day anymore.

So I don't fix things that aren't broken least I end up helping to take us backwards.

[CarolinaTim]

This forum is enlightening!  Thanks for all the advice and discussion.
We went tire kicking again today and have decided on a v7 sport. But we have to be patient with some travel upcoming and a bike or two to sell. By late October, maybe the deals will improve a bit, too.
As to the last few posts about weight, cats, etc, I’m in the group who leave stuff as the engineers designed them. I will avoid buying bikes that don’t come with the equipment and specs I’m looking for, or that need to be modified to run right. Not a fan of loud pipes either, even the full Termignoni on wife’s Multistrada.
Climbing off the soapbox,
Thanks again