2015 Moto Guzzi V7 II merged threadfest

[kevdog3019]

I've had my V7R over the ton several and never noticed anything untoward about it. Works fine!
Bare

90 feels plenty fast on these little guys. Upgrades are upgrades, but the REAL upgrade would be the heads. You can only change clothes so many times before people realize that the essence of what's under them is exactly the same thing they had in the little Breva/Nevada back in the early 2000's. Those couple bits get expensive after awhile. I sold my Breva back in '06 after buying new in '04. Why in heavens name would I buy any newer small block since that time because it simply looks different. They certainly don't run better since mine ran great cold. There's been a 1hp upgrade. Woohoo!!  Single throttle/double throttle who cares? I never had to mess with those. It's all seemed pretty pointless to me because the ONLY reason I sold it was because it was a bit mundane for me. Great bike don't get me wrong!  I'm not the only one that feels this way however.  Change mundane to exhilarating and you have a real upgrade. I have the SB bike I want now so I don't really care what they keep toiling with to make it appear they are upgrading. It just rattles my chain when I see these silly bits thrown on it. If I want to look at it glass half full I guess I'd say they are preparing for a newer engine they have in mind that needs a slight bit more room for the rider mated with a new trans. and they are making those changes earlier rather than later. One can only hope!
Kevin

[Kent in Upstate NY]

Kev M, "baited breath"? Been eating anchovies have we?

[bad Chad]

You are repeating what I have read here more times than I want to recall.  But think of it from Guzzi's perspective.  The v7 line is there largest volume seller, and they certainly have a plane to keep it that way.   They came out with the bike around 09, I recall, and it immediately started to sell well.  Then they changed to a steel tank, then a major engine make over, that as I understand it did not increase max power much, but did give it a noticeably wider power band, now they have tweaked the ergonomics and given it an all new 6 speed gear box.   Why would the bike need a new transmission?  Maybe it was just time, as the old box certainly is a bit agricultural, or maybe it's because a new heads are coming!   If they brought out the v7 with 4v heads 4 years ago, they would have sold a good many and then what?  We would be sitting around saying, what the hell, they have had this 4v head motor out for years now and it's not making any more power than it did when it first arrived, what a POS.

I would be willing to be the farm, a more powerful motor is being worked up, and will makes it's debut within two years.

[kevdog3019]

You are repeating what I have read here more times than I want to recall.  But think of it from Guzzi's perspective.  The v7 line is there largest volume seller, and they certainly have a plane to keep it that way.   They came out with the bike around 09, I recall, and it immediately started to sell well.  Then they changed to a steel tank, then a major engine make over, that as I understand it did not increase max power much, but did give it a noticeably wider power band, now they have tweaked the ergonomics and given it an all new 6 speed gear box.   Why would the bike need a new transmission?  Maybe it was just time, as the old box certainly is a bit agricultural, or maybe it's because a new heads are coming!   If they brought out the v7 with 4v heads 4 years ago, they would have sold a good many and then what?  We would be sitting around saying, what the hell, they have had this 4v head motor out for years now and it's not making any more power than it did when it first arrived, what a POS.

I would be willing to be the farm, a more powerful motor is being worked up, and will makes it's debut within two years.

I happen to be saying an engine upgrade once every 30 yrs. is what I'm talking about.

[M0T0Geezer]

If the new tranny keeps the  overall (final) drive ratio the same, then 6 speeds only mean more shifting. Less performance & more work for the rider.

Hopefully Guzzi will make the new 6th a little bit taller overall than the old 5th.

Anyone know what the overall drive ratio is on the 5 speed V7 line?

[Vasco DG]

As I've said elsewhere I'm betting that the gearbox internals, give or take the primary ratios, will be very similar I'f not identical to the six speed used on the CARC bikes and the Cali 14. That will mean deleting a whole major component and amortising the cost of development and building a separate component which in turn will equal savings which can be passed on to the customer or used for further product development.

I just don't get it? I really don't. It doesn't matter what Guzzi/Piaggio do it'll never be right or good to some people. I reckon all you moaners are bonkers.

Pete

[Kev m]

As I've said elsewhere I'm betting that the gearbox internals, give or take the primary ratios, will be very similar I'f not identical to the six speed used on the CARC bikes and the Cali 14. That will mean deleting a whole major component and amortising the cost of development and building a separate component which in turn will equal savings which can be passed on to the customer or used for further product development.

I just don't get it? I really don't. It doesn't matter what Guzzi/Piaggio do it'll never be right or good to some people. I reckon all you moaners are bonkers.

Pete

+1 Bazillion!

[Kev m]

This article says; "Seat lowered, Engine lowered 10mm, Footpegs lowered 25mm".
http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news-new-bikes/revealed-new-moto-guzzi-v7-with-traction-control-and-abs/25596.html

Both then, eh?

Kev M, "baited breath"? Been eating anchovies have we?

It's all about the sushi!

[rocker59]

  6 speeds only mean more shifting. Less performance & more work for the rider.
 

Less performance ? 

6-speeds is the current standard in motorcycling.  Every high-end sportsbike is running 6-speeds.

How do you think the extra gear will hurt performance?

[roadscum]

..........
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I just don't get it? I really don't. It doesn't matter what Guzzi/Piaggio do it'll never be right or good to some people. I reckon all you moaners are bonkers.

Pete

It's the interweb, and some have nothing to contribute but a bitch. Sad really.

Paul

[kevdog3019]

Less performance ? 

6-speeds is the current standard in motorcycling.  Every high-end sportsbike is running 6-speeds.

How do you think the extra gear will hurt performance?

What are most 40hp bikes running?

[rocker59]

What are most 40hp bikes running?

Well, for one, the 30bhp Ninja 250R is running 6-speeds.

I know, I know.  A motorcycle doesn't need more than two or three, and four is more than plenty.   :winer

[kevdog3019]

The hope is that they're "gearing up" for something bigger. A bit excessive for an entry level bike like this to me. I simply don't see a need. Put it on the "racer" only and tell folks to compare to other racers.  More sales to the gullible. ;)

[Dogwalker]

Honda NC700 (manual and auto) and Kawasaki W800 both have six speeds.

[pyoungbl]

From the owners manual since I have one of each

'13 v7 gearing:
2.3636
1.6429
1.2778
1.5056
.9

rear 8/33=4.825

'12 Stelvio NTX
2.2353
1.7
1.3478
1.1154
.9677
.8621

rear 12/44=3.6667

So, the current 5 speed and the current 6 speed both end up with a slight overdrive at around .9  Each starts out with close to the same ratio.  The V7 rear has a higher ratio in order to compensate for the much lower torque.  Using the existing (just changing 1st) 6 speed we get more gear choices but not much else.  Guzzi benefits by seeming competitive and now can use one transmission across all bikes, less the 1400.

Peter Y.

[Phang]

Well, for one, the 30bhp Ninja 250R is running 6-speeds.

I know, I know.  A motorcycle doesn't need more than two or three, and four is more than plenty.   :winer

My first 6 speeds bike in 1989, a Kawasaki AR80.

I always lost count of the gear positions, basically moving off in first and up shift as fast as I can all the way to the top and cruise.

[rocker59]

From the owners manual since I have one of each

'13 v7 gearing:
2.3636
1.6429
1.2778
1.5056
.9

rear 8/33=4.825

'12 Stelvio NTX
2.2353
1.7
1.3478
1.1154
.9677
.8621

rear 12/44=3.6667

So, the current 5 speed and the current 6 speed both end up with a slight overdrive at around .9  Each starts out with close to the same ratio.  The V7 rear has a higher ratio in order to compensate for the much lower torque.  Using the existing (just changing 1st) 6 speed we get more gear choices but not much else.  Guzzi benefits by seeming competitive and now can use one transmission across all bikes, less the 1400.

Peter Y.

8/33 = 4.12

[bpreynolds]

I've looked for a sixth gear many times, and I'm sure the motor makes enough power to drop revs a couple hundred rpm on the highway.

 :+1  I don't own a V7 but I've now ridden like 3 or 4 different ones, 2 of those including the "new" engine so to speak.  I thought they were wonderful machines and damn near purchased one.  In fact, the main reason I didn't was the feel of the engine at 75 or so, just slightly too busy for me for highway use.  It's a personal preference of mine, not the bike's fault - it could run at that speed all day no problems.  For me, a sixth gear would have leveled that feeling off a bit and much to my preference likely.  The Tenni green Stone with maybe a brown leather seat and six gears, please.  

[Hellgate]

What are most 40hp bikes running?

It makes even more sence for low hp bikes in that you can always have the motor in the correct rev range to take FULL advantage of all 40 hp.

Lemme guess...you still drive an auto with a two speed gear box? I mean that three on the tree stuff is unproven and fandangled.

Buggy whips...

[sib]

Personally, I don't WANT a bike with a bigger engine.  If I did, I would look for a bigger bike.  I like the the V7 engines, especially the newer ones that are more reliable, have plenty of torque spread throughout the rpm range, and don't burn oil.  What's not to like?   The V7 II bikes seem to be a nice refinement of already very good bikes.  Six speeds?  Sure, will probably result in lower rpms at high speeds in top gear.  ABS/TC?  Why not, you never know when you might unexpectedly need it, and I'm sure it doesn't weigh much.  More leg room?  Great.  But bigger isn't necessarily better when it comes to engines.  Why carry around another 100 lbs of engine that you only take advantage of rarely, and burns more gas all the time?  Sometimes I think that the folks who are always hungering after bigger equipment are trying to compensate for some personal deficiency in that department (no slurs intended).

[pyoungbl]

8/33 = 4.12

I'm just reading the manual, not saying the numbers are  correct.

[Tazturtle]

Stop improving things! I like B&W TV just fine. No man needs more than a rotary dial fixed line telephone. 16" front wheels are all I need on my SB...

Thank goodness Guzzi are selling V7s by the truckload and aren't relying on curmudgeonly old whingers for their financial wellbeing!

The current package with possibly a factory 850 heron-head and adjustable forks would be my perfect bike. (But of course the whingers would complain it only had 65 hp!)

 I am sure Guzzi will continue refining and improving the V7 for a long time to come. They haven't put a foot wrong yet with any of the evolution of the V7 range. Forza Guzzi!

[jas67]

What are most 40hp bikes running?

My 30 HP 1989 Honda VTR250 had six.

Vintage bikes:
1975-1977 CB400F, about 30 RWHP, six speeds
1974-1976 CB360T, about 27 RWHP, six speeds
1973-1975 RD350, about 33 RWHP, six speeds
1976-198? RD400, about 37 RWHP, six speeds

[jas67]

:+1  I don't own a V7 but I've now ridden like 3 or 4 different ones, 2 of those including the "new" engine so to speak.  I thought they were wonderful machines and damn near purchased one.  In fact, the main reason I didn't was the feel of the engine at 75 or so, just slightly too busy for me for highway use.  It's a personal preference of mine, not the bike's fault - it could run at that speed all day no problems.  For me, a sixth gear would have leveled that feeling off a bit and much to my preference likely.  The Tenni green Stone with maybe a brown leather seat and six gears, please.  

The V7 engine is happiest above 4,000 RPM.    A sixths gear, with the current gear spacing would require 80 MPH before it would be happy.    For me, at least, that isn't the mission of the V7.

That said, one of the articles mentions closer gearing.    I'm guessing low and high gear are the same, just closer gear spacing.    Will it mean anything to the performance of the bike?     Maybe, maybe not.    Less chance of going a speed that is too fast for one gear and too slow for the next one.

Do I think that either of my V7's needed another gear?    No.

Would I be happy with the new model with 6 speeds, ABS, and traction control?    Absolutely!    Will I trade up my 2013 V7R for one?   Probably not.    I felt that the refinements that came with the 2013 model (2012 for the rest of the world) were worth trading up from my 2009 V7C.     I'll be holding onto my 2013 V7R for a while though.

[rossw]

What are the chances of breaking the rear tire loose under acceleration on a small block Guzzi?  :-\

The Stewart Ave level crossing in Newcastle in the rain. All too easily.

Really though, I like idea of the 6 speed gearbox, if the lubrication now works properly and they've fixed the tendency to make that horrible noise ;D.

[Kev m]

The V7 engine is happiest above 4,000 RPM.    A sixths gear, with the current gear spacing would require 80 MPH before it would be happy.    For me, at least, that isn't the mission of the V7.

Although the 1tb V7 motor is indeed happy around 4k, I'm not sure I agree it's "happiest".

As I've said, I've looked for a 6th gear instinctively many a time. I would think that high 3k rpm at 70 would be just fine.

[sib]

Although the 1tb V7 motor is indeed happy around 4k, I'm not sure I agree it's "happiest".

As I've said, I've looked for a 6th gear instinctively many a time. I would think that high 3k rpm at 70 would be just fine.

As often happens, I agree with Kev M.

[roadscum]

If you're happy with only a 5 speed, don't bother shifting into 6th, simple really!    :beat_horse

Paul

[Phil_P]

Doing a bit of scale measuring from the side view photo, I reckon the seat height could be 31 1/4 inches. Does that sound feasible?

Phil

[kevdog3019]

Enough Kool-Aid being tossed around to satisfy an army.  Anyhow... I'd love to see you guys still buy this iteration of the V7 II when the eventual new heads are added to a new engine some day.  Lets say they keep the V7 II and add a 60 HP SB bike with head design similar to the BB that weighs just a hint more than the V7 II and looks the same and also added a second disc brake up front.  I'm curious if you'd stand proudly by your V7 II or jump ship for this?
-Kevin