V7 850 Sport purchase and upgrade observations

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

First, the buying experience.
I'm an existing customer at Erico Motorsports, having purchased my 2022 V7 Stone from there, but it's only been back there for service once as most of the bike's service has been while touring or at a nearer dealership, which I've not been satisfied with. I had been kicking around the idea of a V7 Sport and researching the differences in equipment, what quirks might be addressed, etc. Then while walking around near Erico with a friend before catching a Rockies game, we stopped into the dealership to check out the Vespas. There were a few Moto Guzzis on the floor, but no V7s. I talked with one of the sales people, got a card, and was told that for the most part they order them as requested and then find out if there's one in the area that they can get, or if it will be built and shipped from Italy. A few days later, I placed a deposit for a V7 Sport over the phone on July 7, finally deciding that I liked the slight changes to the bike, and I love riding my V7 Stone but the bike is unfortunately haunted or was built on a bad day at the factory [1, 2] and I would like to re-roll the dice on a new Guzzi with a more extensive warranty despite my V7 Stone now being sorted out as far as I can tell.

Erico received the V7 Sport on Aug 20, completed PDI on Aug 21, and then I picked it up early the next week on Aug 25. Living ~50 miles from the dealership and wanting to have a bank check made out for the full OTD amount, I had a lot of trouble going back and forth on the numbers a new sales person I was working with where I was sent photos of different prices depending on what packages I might buy, rather than a line by line quote for the packages I had requested and the taxes all calculated out. He was polite... just not very helpful. To my relief, when I called the day of picking up the bike I learned that sales person had moved on to a new opportunity, and the next sales person I worked with was much more direct and easier to deal with. I got a clear updated quote, addressed a price difference between what had previously been communicated, got a number, and then went to my bank and had a check made out. When I picked up the bike I found out there had been a slight error made in the final OTD calculation, carried over from an earlier version of the quote, so the check would have had change, and they applied that remainder to my account for future parts & service payments.

I ended up purchasing the 2027 V7 Sport, a 36-month "Northstar Sport - Diamond" warranty that covers wear-and-tear items that the standard warranty does not for $994, and the dealership's "Pit Crew" maintenance plan for the first 6 maintenances or 36 mo for $1,999 , with one of the selling points being that it includes a loaner bike when I drop the V7 Sport off for service, which eases the fact that the dealer is just over 50 miles from me. Both of those packages would have paid for themselves with my 2022 V7 850 Stone. I wanted the OEM accessory heated grips on the V7 Sport, and they wouldn't throw in the install, but assured me a reduced rate for labor on them, and knocked $100 off the price of the bike to go toward the parts or labor for the heated grips which I ordered separately at the parts counter and am waiting on, hoping to bundle the install with the first service if they arrive in time.

Total for everything OTD, with the $1k deposit factored in, was $16,571.41

When I picked up the Sport, there were two other Verde Legnano V7 Sports alongside it on the dealership floor, which they'd received together. The other two were also marked as sold.

I rode the bike home ~70 miles taking a slow-ish route, and stopping twice along the way, first for a meal, then for ice cream, but ultimately with the reason of letting the engine cool and complete a few heat cycles.

When I got home, the final drive oil drain plug was wet with oil. This almost drove me up a wall, but I snugged it up just a little, maybe 1/32 of a turn, and it hasn't returned yet.

The next day I took off work to swap parts between the Stone and Sport so I could ride the new sport, on a non-interstate route, to the Colorado Moto Guzzi Rally for most of its break in miles. I took a lot of breaks, so it took me much of the day to move accessories over and pack for the trip.

Here's what I moved over that was compatible between the two:
Hepco & Becker rear rack and side racks, though the side racks for the Flash 30 require narrower turn signals in the rear and a license plate frame trimmed of the reflectors on the side. I had already sorted those parts out on the V7 Stone, so I moved over my Euro turn signals and plain Aprilia license plate frame that fit. The Sport already has nicely updated modern LED turn signals, but the USA ones are still larger and longer than the Euro market ones.
The factory accessory USB port carried over, which I use as an ignition switched power trigger for a Tusk 3-Way Compact 12V Accessory Power Harness that I also moved over to run power to my Garmin XT3. On the Stone I also used that to power Koso heated grips, but with the V7 Sport I have ordered the OEM heated grips and am hoping those are warm enough because the integration looks much nicer.


Things that don't interchange:
The seat. I had no reason to swap seats between the bikes, but wanted to check, and the 2022 V7 Stone E5 seat does NOT fit the 2027 E5+ bike. It doesn't latch into place in the rear, as the ECU moved into the way. The newer bike's seat is also more carved out for the ECU, possibly resulting in less pillion comfort, but I haven't had a passenger on the Sport yet to know. The seat is still not very comfortable for me, so I moved my AirHawk seat pad over, will use that on longer rides until I eventually cave in to buying a different seat or having mine modified for comfort.

The mirrors. The V7 Sport is missing stalk mirror holes since it has bar end mirrors. The bar end mirrors on the Sport are very usable and much clearer (less vibration) than the stalk mirrors, and they look slick, but unfortunately I simply don't like them after having given them a try for a few hundred miles. The right one is awkward to hang my helmet from, and the left one gets bumped when I try to mount the bike with the steering turned to the left. They also reduce my confidence with lane filtering (legal in CO, and boy do I appreciate it regularly!), as they make the bike wider.
I'm ordering a front brake side perch, which is just the U-bracket. For the clutch side it's a whole different perch than on the prior generation, so I'm ordering the clutch lever assembly, as well as the bar ends, from the E5+ Stone.

I have OEM accessory adjustable hand levers on the V7 Stone, didn't bother moving them over to the V7 Sport because it came from the factory with an adjustable front brake lever, and that's the only one I really desire to adjust the reach on.

I also didn't try to migrate my OEM accessory "touring" windscreen, as I had an Isotta tall one I wanted to try. It does look like windscreens that tie into the instrument cluster shroud bolts, front blinker mounts, and/or headlight mounts, should interchange just fine though, despite the Sport having a new aluminum headlight/turn signal bracket. The Isotta Tall windscreen I tried seems kind of "meh" to me. It's a good looking windscreen, but functionally it seems about the same as the OEM accessory touring screen. It keeps bugs off the back of the instrument meter/gauge ("clock" as some of you call it), and some wind off the torso, but probably causes more buffeting than its worth having. I continue my struggle of finding an aesthetically pleasing yet functional windscreen for this bike, despite knowing the easy solution is a big barn door one.

Despite this page saying it doesn't fit, I was able to get this leather document bag from my E5 Stone moved over to the E5+ Sport without issue. When I originally received it, it included the wrong size screws to install it to the seat. The same screws used on my E5 Stone worked on the E5+ Sport.
https://www.francocuoio.it/product/001-tasca-porta-documenti-nero-guzzi-v7/
I don't know that I would recommend this though, as it does set the bag on the ECU and the maker of it says it shouldn't fit.

I have a Pyramid Fender Extender (applied with 3M tape) on my Stone, didn't move that over to the Sport. The front fender is different and there is a new version specifically for the Sport, which I may skip out on as the brackets for it look a bit out of place to me. https://pyramidmoto.co.uk/blogs/news/extenda-fenda-extra-for-the-moto-guzzi-v7-sport

Some other thoughts:
The new handlebar switches are blocky and less appealing to me aesthetically, but they're functional, and I haven't had to use contact cleaner on a flaky starter switch yet on the new assembly. *knock on wood*
The Sport has a different fuel tank than the Special/Stone and a fuel level indicator. A nice feature considering entry level Honda mini motos also have a fuel gauge, despite it not being a necessity.
Moto Guzzi seem to have switched the gear position indicator to one that reads the physical position. On the E5 Stone I wished the bike didn't have a gear position indicator because it reported the wrong gear for me most of the time when the clutch was pulled in or you had just made a shift. It seemed to calculate gear position based on wheel speed and engine RPM, which was a flaky implementation.
The throttle-by-wire has a lighter return spring than the manual throttle cable setup. Because of this, I've felt no need to use the Throttle Rocker I used on the V7 Stone, or the cruise control. It's comfortable on my wrist so far, and I've been varying speed/rpm as much as possible anyway during the break-in.

The bike has 90 degree valve stems! That was a mod I had on my V7 Stone, with valves from a prior model V7 Stone, so I'm happy to see they are standard equipment.

I haven't adjusted the suspension yet, and haven't felt a need to. My V7 Stone's rebound can be a bit annoying on some roads while loaded down, haven't had that issue on the Sport yet.

The final drive on the V7 Sport has a fill plug marked "MAX 130cc" to *hopefully* address the overfilling issue.

The air filter definitely look more involved to get to than on the prior generation, but the fuse box now looks to have better weather protection.

Other accessories/mods I have planned:
Will try the OEM engine protection bars, I have Hepco & Becker ones on the V7 Stone and have no complaint about them, but figure the OEM ones are nearly the same style
Will install SW Motech 1 inch Sweep Back Bar Riser Set, same as I've used on the V7 Stone, to provide some comfort to my arms/shoulders, and sit me a little bit more upright which results in me being further back in the seat, and that rider triangle adjustment keeps my legs a little further from the cylinder heads for more comfort in the summer.
I have Agostini long exhausts on the V7 Stone with the baffles installed and the UpMap tune. I don't think I will bother with aftermarket exhaust on the Sport. The Agostinis sound great, but I'm appreciating the bike being quieter and reserving its bark for when you're giving it the beans (haven't really yet, since it's still being broken in). The open-loop UpMap tune also reduced MPG. Not a big factor to me on a motorcycle in terms of cost, but I am enjoying the range improvement on the Sport so far. I went just over 220 miles on the first full tank and the fuel gauge still displayed 2/6 bars. That's likely to change once I'm doing interstate miles, but still the range difference seems worthwhile to me, especially for riding in the mountains where fuel stops can be more spread out.
Moto Guzzi now offer two different styles of tank protector knee pads for the V7, so I need to decide between the older style I have on my Stone, or the modern looking ones. I hug the tank quite a bit with my knees, especially when I stand to ride either to stretch or down unpaved roads (lots of washboard dirt/gravel roads in the CO front range), and without them the tank will likely scuff over time.
I doubt the upgraded aluminum intake covers I have on my E5 Stone will carry over, but I would prefer them to the plastic ones on the V7 E5+ which appear to be the same ones as on the V85, so I'll have my eye out for better looking covers.
The exhaust stud nuts on my E5 Stone got rusty and ugly so I replaced them with the stainless acorn nuts from the V85TT (2B007821). I'm ordering 4 of the same to swap them out on the Sport. I'm only a little disappointed the newer V7 E5+ Sport didn't already come with those, would have paired well with the other slight updates to the bike and it's an existing OEM part.

For now I think I'll keep the V7 Stone through the winter, but will likely prep it for sale in the spring. If anyone has any curiosities between the two bikes and would like for me to check parts or send photos, just let me know.

Here are some photos of the Sport.

Three Sports on the Erico floor


Factory turn signals, mirrors, and switch controls. I wished they had a new Stone or Special to compare on the floor.









MAX 130cc final drive (rear transmission) fill plug



First stop and heat cycle


Every time I see this little cowboy it gets a chuckle out of me


Waiting for the engine to cool at Bridgewater Grill in Golden


Rode the bike through the Coors factory tunnel for good luck



Second heat cycle and a cool down for myself in Boulder



A brief stop at my local muffler man in Longmont


Two generations of V7s



Wet final drive drain plug in need of an ugga dugga



Had to pull the cover off the back of the instrument meter to get to the front turn signal plugs when swapping for the Euro ones


The updated airbox and fuse box


OEM accessory USB installed


Tusk accessory power harness installed. Note that it needed to be double-sided taped a little higher on the battery for the body panel to fit over it, I just didn't retake the pic after moving it



V7 Stone E5 seat on top, V7 Sport E5+ seat on bottom with foam showing for ECU cut-out


With document bag installed


I get a kick out of both generations of V7 using duct tape on the seat construction


More photos in https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=125827.0

[Guzzidad]

    I just installed that same set of bar end mirrors on my 2017 Bobber. They give me a MUCH better view of what's behind me. I also have them on my 2020 V7 Racer.

[MikeP996]

Nice post, great info!!  I have to admit that in pictures on-line the "Sport" colors don't appeal to me.  I have never seen one in real life but in your pics I think it looks pretty nice!! 

Re bar-end mirrors...I'm of the same mind.  I've tried them three different times over many years on different machines with the same results.  Certainly they give a better view behind but FOR ME they make the bike too wide and they require a "look" that is out of my "line of sight."  So every time I installed them, I removed them within a month or two.  But I'll probably do it again at some point!  Hmmm... they say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results!!   ;)

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

Thanks. The color was something I was briefly hung up on before putting a deposit down. If the Sport were offered with a brushed silver/aluminum tank, that would have been my ideal choice. It was between Rosso Monza and Verde Legnano, but figured I already have other red bikes, and the Verde Legnano is more appropriate to the heritage of the V7 Sport. A red frame would have been even better. The Verde Legnano is growing on me. I think it looks best in the sunlight, which isn't represented as well on a computer screen or dealership floor.

[DoubleGuzzi]

At a bike meet a couple of weeks ago, a green V7 Sport could easily be spotted in a line of about 40 bikes.
A standout colour! 

[It still annoys my OCD happiness that they don't call the 850 a V85 or V8/V9, with appropriate suffix. Reminds me of what BMW did with the F650.]

[Double Edit]
May I suggest using clear "knee pad" protection, rather than obscuring the tank shape & colour? For example (though I'd prefer smooth):
https://speedo-angels.com/product/bloq-motorcycle-tank-grips-for-moto-guzzi-v7-stone-2021-premium-clear
Perhaps this:
https://motorcycles-protect.com/product/moto-guzzi-v7-850-special-paint-protection-film/

[Vagrant]

Just for grins rotate the mirrors from horizontal to vertical. It's a lot narrower that way.

[DoubleGuzzi]

Just for grins rotate the mirrors from horizontal to vertical.

When I had bar-end mirrors on my last Breva, I'd spin them around 180deg when I knew a run would take me through dense(r) traffic. Otherwise, they did limit how quick/effective I could travel through lines of cars.

[Rons]

Congratulations!

I picked up a ‘26 in the green last November. Rode it a bit and it got stuck at the dealer for the heated grips to be installed. I picked it up I’m April and I’ve got about 1200 miles on it so far. You’re correct that the color really pops in the sunlight. Hard to see this in pictures. I like that it’s a distinctive color, and it ties to MG history.  The blackout treatment that Guzzi used on most of the bike makes it look special also, IMHO. Although a red frame might be cool also. The original V7 had that triangle part near the side covers, and I’m not sure the new V7 worth a red frame would look as cool.

I’m really liking the bike.  The engine punches above its specs for sure. My 2014 Bonneville 865 had roughly the same hp specs, and felt anemic on the highway. The V7 cruises with little effort. Must be the torque.

Thanks for the detailed post and please let us know what other accessories you add. Valuable info for us V7 Sport owners.
I’m considering the SWM crash bars and maybe one of the MG accessory seats.  You will be pleased with the factory heated grips, they get plenty warm, and are easy to use once you master the menu.

[MikeP996]

Re Crash bars...My '21 V7 special had chrome crash bars installed by one of the three previous
owners*.  I don't like the look of the chrome bars - they call too much attention to themselves.  So today I ordered a set of black SW Motech bars which don't protrude as much and are almost unnoticeable. 



* I've always wondered why the bike had 3 owners in 4 years...  Maybe they knew something I don't or found something I haven't...

[faffi]

My BT1100 came with aftermarket bar end mirrors that were way too small. Installed the stock ones and happy for it.

My Roamer V9 came with 90-degree valve stems from the factory.

Fenda extenda is a great idea, but it would be much better if bikes came with a proper fender from the factory. The ono on my BT1100 is stupid short.

Oh, congrats with your new bike!

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

I ordered the V85tt stainless exhaust acorn nuts, tank protector knee pads, MG crash bars, aluminum valve stem caps, and the Stone's stalk mirror perches and standard bar ends from AF1. Received some items, waiting on others with an ETA into November for the exhaust nuts and clutch side mirror mount. Not unexpected as when I had the dealer look up the parts for a mirror swap, some had no ETA listed.

I was ready to drop the V7 Sport off for first service right after the Colorado Moto Guzzi Rally in Hotchkiss last month, but when I called to schedule a drop-off of the bike they were going to schedule it for last week, then when I mentioned that I'd be taking a loaner bike it got bumped to this week. No worries as I have other bikes to ride including the 2022 V7 Stone for now. I will note that the break in was brutal for me, coming from a broken in V7. Keeping the bike under 4,500 rpm for 900 miles as recommended in the owners manual put a max speed at 65-70 mph depending on conditions, I varied speed as much as possible though I did cruise 55-70 quite a bit riding out to Hotchkiss and back for the rally. It felt like the opposite of mechanical sympathy, and though I haven't seen a dyno chart for the bike, from my other V7 it feels like 4,500 is right when the bike is about to make some power and be in its sweet spot. I know many ignore the break-in recommendations, and I have for other bikes, but with reading some experiences of others with oil consumption and such, I felt it best to try to go by the book as well as my own preference of heat cycling the engine a few times just taking long breaks riding it home from the dealership.

For anyone wondering, the maintenance indicator came on screen exactly at 900 miles. I mention this because some metric bikes, it actually comes in at the KM value listed in the manual instead which results in some odd number of miles. If your dealership is 50+ miles away, this can be good to know for planning the first service drop off.

I let the Sport sit just shy of 900 miles for another week, then today dropped it off for an expected pick up on Saturday. I learned that their loaner pool of bikes (offered with their pre-paid service package) is the demo bikes. They just sold some Triumph Speed Twins, which is what I was expecting to get, but instead I got a Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle. Not at all joking, I was very happy with that and only would have been happier to get a Vespa 310. For now, they don't have any demo Vespas... so I'm hoping that might change in time for a future service. I owned a 2016 Ducati Scrambler and some of the changes over the years I like, others would steer me away from a newer model. For all the complaints about the winged single offset digital "clock" on the modern V7s, you should see the rectangular screen that Ducati engineers tried to fit into a circular gauge pod on the Scrambler. Yikes! Square peg, round hole.

The V7 Sport has addressed most of my "I would like..."s from the V7 Stone, but to air my own first world problems and petty complaints which may or may not have some overlap with the personal preferences of others, there had been two other features I desired the V7 to have:

1) A solution for the gas cap when filling. What do you fine Guzzistis do with the cap while fueling up? I set mine on the ground and feel that is not the right solution, but it's also what I've done on some of the vintage bikes. A tethered fuel cap would lead to dripping fuel on the tank, the cap being hinged would change the aesthetic... I am thinking I may need to 3D print a fuel cap holder and tuck it somewhere off the frame or luggage rack maybe.

2) Tool bag/document storage. The bike comes with a tool bag equipped as sparsely as most other modern bike's tool kits, but still it comes with one and I put my laminated insurance and registration cards in that pouch. The manual suggests throwing it under the seat without much detail. Sure it fits there, but there's no compartment nor elastic band to designate a specific place to hold it. The older V7 Stone had an awkwardly shaped inner wheel arch to set it on, the Sport with its new ECU location has a small area above the fuses and air box where it can rest, but clearly not designed with fitting it in mind. Realistically, I carry tools in a pannier. Still, it seems like if a bike comes with a tool pouch they should have a good spot to keep it. Some of my bikes with similar compact tool rolls have cut out an area of the seat pan and used an elastic band to hold them to the bottom of the seat.

Now after riding the loaner Ducati Scrambler another desire is added to my list, a hydraulic clutch. The 2016 Ducati Scrambler I owned had a cable operated clutch and it was in need of frequent adjustment, Ducati forums were full of grievances of the same issue for the Scrambler, Monster, and Hypermotard, and the aftermarket (Ducabike) offered a solution of a hydraulic clutch conversion that was very successful. Then, Ducati updated the equipment to come with a Brembo hydraulic clutch setup. My V7 Stone already has the nice adjustable Brembo front brake lever, if Moto Guzzi went to a hydraulic clutch on the V7 they could run the matching Brembo clutch setup - as the Ducati Scrambler does. A real nit pick there, but I feel that hydraulic clutches are a technological advancement I am onboard with, it would make the equipment match better left to right, and the V100 and Stelvio already have hydraulic clutches so it seems like it wouldn't be out of reach for MG to implement it on the lower end bikes as Ducati have done. In theory, it could also reduce the risk of owners and dealerships setting (or neglecting) a poor clutch adjustment.

Dropping off the V7 Sport and picking up a loaner Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle flat track style bike


Erico Motorsports service side


The same two (sold) V7 Sports that were when I took delivery of mine. Who are these people waiting weeks to pick up their bikes?! They could have ridden out to Hotchkiss and back by now. Sheesh.


The V85 really comes in some great color schemes. Other brands should take note. Especially as Honda flood the USA market with matte black bikes, while delivering the fun color schemes to other markets.


I stopped by the RevZilla store next to Erico Motorsports where they had their Dumb and Dumber scooter on display. This one went to Aspen 2-up!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-WgGh9lvx4

The Ducati Scrambler gauge that couldn't land on being one shape or another.


The loaner in front of my local muffler man. Because it was a demo bike with only 200 miles on it, I felt too guilty to haul interstate back home and instead took the slower scenic route more appropriate for a bike still being broken in.


The Brembo hydraulic clutch setup on the Ducati Scrambler, would suit the V7 well and match its front brake setup.



Bonus photos.
My 1992 Ducati 907ie at a bike night last night. A reprieve from riding the other Italian motorcycle at low RPM for hundreds of miles.



And a beautiful V85TT Guardia d'Onore at the same show. Not a great angle, but that is my favorite livery on the V85.

[DoubleGuzzi]

Boo: you went with the standard MG tank pads.
I reckon if I had the offset winged clocks on a bike, I'd just have to fabricate (hacksaw, drill & file, aluminium) a replacement instrument holder. 

P.S. Always liked the looks of the Duc Paso etc. - best of the all wrap fairings, IMHO - but those desmo valve checks/adjustments I could do without.

[SIR REAL ED]

Great thread Enzo.  Thanks for posting.  Excellent information for those of us who often contemplate buying a new Moto Guzzi.

I have put Pyramid Fender Extenders on several bikes.  Great product.  While the mounting tape probably is sufficient, I always add a couple stainless steel button head cap screws for peace of mind and a bit of bling.

The color looks great.

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

Boo: you went with the standard MG tank pads.

I haven't installed them yet. Do you have a suggestion for alternate tank pads? :)

The single gauge being offset doesn't bother me as much as I first expected when buying my prior V7, as it being on the left leaves room for a Garmin on the right. I have seen brackets on the market for a centered setup though. A potential downside to those is that the ignition lock cylinder is also offset, so it likely needs to push the gauge a littler farther forward to fit it. The lowered symmetrical bracket might be the solution to that visually. https://www.reversomoto.it/products/staffa-strumentazione-simmetrica-v7-850-e5/

The "Paso" is very impractical, but great fun to ride :D
Having owned a modern Ducati Scrambler - I would say the same about it. They're relatively affordable to buy, but desmo service and short lived consumables (chain, sprockets, rear tire) make for a high cost of ownership to put miles on one.

[DoubleGuzzi]

Do you have a suggestion for alternate tank pads?

I did mention clear options. Though not intended for grip, I hand-cut clear pads onto the sides of my missus' Speed 400. Similar to MG, the Triumph ones are thick, black and obscure the colour(s) and to a lesser degree the tank shape. Here's an extreme example (to my eyes):



The Speedy is languishing at the back of the garage but I'll try to take a pic of the tank, when in the garage tomorrow, if interested. Sorry, I don't recall where I sourced the clear sheet, though likely generic paint protection film.

P.S "Staffa strumentazione simmetrica" @74Euro = ahh, bliss. 

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

Got the text that my V7 Sport was all set and ready for pick up. I tried calling just to give a heads up that I'd be picking it up so someone could roll it out of the way, but got voicemail so I headed out anyway knowing from prior visits they were open until 6pm. 52 miles later on the loaner Ducati Scrambler and I showed up, walked into the shop and found the service dept was closed. Egad! The sales floor was still open though and a salesman I'd talked to a few times before was gracious enough to make a call, explain I rode a ways to pick up the bike, and got me cashed out. He said the service hours had just changed at Labor Day and now that dept closes at 5pm. The service plan I bought covered the first service (and the next 5) so I only paid for the remaining labor on the heated grips install. Parts were paid for when I ordered them.



Returning to the V7 Sport from the Scrambler, I like the V7's power delivery much more overall though the Scrambler is good fun at lower speeds. The V7's seating position also feels more upright, which reminded me of my prior observations owning a Scrambler that it really wasn't a purpose-built Scrambler or even road Scrambler, but a spin-off of the Monster with an 18" front wheel instead of 17". IIRC, wheelbase, rake, and trail are all the same. My hands went numb from vibration on the Scrambler on the ride over, and I was tired of the stock seat much quicker than that of the V7. The Scrambler also had throttle-by-wire, but no cruise control. The V7 Sport has a great sounding stock exhaust, but the Scrambler Full Throttle model has a Termignoni that had a decel pop rumble that I enjoyed.

It was too hot out to give the new heated grips a thorough test, but I did validate they worked, and found the interface to be intuitive. Without a manual in hand, first I tried pressing the starter button while the engine was already running, as that's how some integrated heated grips activate (e.g. Ducati). That did nothing. Then I pressed the mode button until I found the new heated grips option, held the mode button to toggle between off/1/2/3. Easy enough.

Got the bike home and no wet oil on the final drive drain plug this time. I did encounter the fun Italian language software bug that apparently goes with the OEM accessory heated grip dealer activation. Everything on the instrumentation is still in English besides the ride modes. With the heated grips installed, the ride modes went from Road, Rain, and Sport to Strada, Pioggia, and Sport. I learned two words in Italian and am not bothered by it to want it fixed, just found it interesting and worth sharing.






While I was waiting for the first service to be done, my Iron Butt Saddle Sore 1000 cert came through from a ride in June on my V7 Stone. I ordered a plate frame with it, so now I have to decide if the Iron Butt plate frame goes on the V7 Stone that completed the ride, or the V7 Sport. Maybe the V7 Sport needs an unofficial thousand miler to earn it, should be easier with cruise control!

Here's a photo showing the Garmin mount position I have, which has worked out well with the offset gauge on both my V7s.

[Vagrant]

Did you find an accessory wire under the seat somewhere? The book said there were two 30 amp fuses for them but I didn't see it.

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

I did find and use one accessory wire (pair) under the seat. When I moved accessories over from my V7 Stone to the Sport, one of them was the OEM accessory USB port which has a 2-pin connector. I found that connector somewhat loose (not clipped into place anywhere like the red-capped diagnostic plug is) under the seat on the Sport. In this photo, it was tucked somewhat below the two green 30A fuses.

[Vagrant]

I totally feel like a Dumb S...! I was so busy looking for a buried connector (like they and Kawasaki usually do) I over looked that one thinking it was a computer hook up.
Thanks

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

I had the advantage of having already traced and unplugged the USB kit from my V7 Stone. The first time I saw that capped 2-pin connector on my V7 Stone, I wasn't sure it was what I was looking for either. On the Sport I also wasn't sure what this 6-pin connector with 4 wires to it was, but after studying a wiring diagram PDF purchased from AF1, I believe it's to connect an accessory TPMS kit.





On that note, I fitted the aluminum valve stem caps, but they didn't cover the threads all the way as the factory plastic Bridgestone caps did, so I went back to the factory ones and will use the aluminum ones from AF1 on something else. They are extremely light, probably not far off from the plastic ones though I didn't weigh them.

[Rons]

I found that you can “reset” the riding modes by going into the menu ( only accessible when stopped) and selecting English. When you use the heated grips again, the riding modes will revert to Italian.
My riding modes have been English all Summer, but soon, they will be Italian again……..

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

I tried the language change and it went exactly as you described. Thanks for the info!

Went to install the OEM accessory engine guards on the Sport today. Got the left one fitted and decided it wasn't to my liking. The Moto Guzzi guards (apparently made by Segis, per the stickers on them) are a bit lighter duty than the Hepco & Becker ones on my Stone, which means they look sleek on the bike, but the deal breaker for me is that they're sloped quite a bit on the top bar. I sometimes rest my feet up on the crash bars, due to a lack of highway pegs, and they wouldn't work for that. The SW Motech ones, as great as they look, also lack that feature for me, so I have ordered a set of Hepco & Becker guards.




"Highway bars" after a hike in Arches National Park last year on the V7 Stone.