New Moto Guzzi Door Mats Available Now
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
I'd jump head first in the deep end for a 60 or 70 bhp 8v small block V7 Classic.
OMFG that's like claiming a hamburger sucks because sometimes I like a good filet.Look, I could see where a 60 hp/dual disc, and while we're at it USD fork V7 III would be awesome.I'd probably buy one (wait, more than probably).BUT, I'd probably keep my Stone too.Kinda like how I'm toying with selling the Buell...it's got better brakes, better suspension, more than double the power of the Stone, and let's be honest, for anything I might do it handles at least as well, just doesn't FEEL as nimble.But sometimes more is just more, and I ride the Stone instead...ok more than sometimes, just plain often.
The 4 biggest gripes I've never heard about the small blocks:1. It needs traction control2. It needs ABS3. It needs a 6 speed gearbox4. It needs to have it's jugs 4mm forward and 1mm down-Kevin
And the biggest complaint, power, goes unanswered...
How to salve the pangs of spending way too much on modding an old SB.Whine about the new ones!!!
Nope, just know more now and wish the same for others who have mentioned it. Not knocking the current bikes, it just annoys the hell out of me that Guzzi keeps making these updates that aren't really what folks are asking for. They did the single throttle body vs. the dual TB and these iteration of bikes seem to stumble more when cold than my older B750's. I don't get the big "upgrade" with this?? They've upgraded the price right with it a good bit! The V7 line is appealing visually no doubt so they did well there. They had a chance to completely steal the show with the racer and introduce an upgraded engine and didn't. That would have been icing on the cake, but no... The only bike I'd consider buying new from Guzzi is an updated sb motor because I know how wonderful they can be in this frame. I prefer smaller bikes. I was hoping this next iteration would go in that direction but sadly I'm wrong. I sure have heard a lot of rumblings about folks wanting a little more output through the years, but maybe all that's gone now. We all get to dream differently. Kevin
Not knocking the current bikes, it just annoys the hell out of me that Guzzi keeps making these updates that aren't really what folks are asking for.
They have updated the motor with the single TB model. I also don't understand what you are griping about. ???The single TB model is a vast improvement. It is the first EFI small block that could come close to my V65 engined Monza. In fact on a comparison run it bettered my fuel consumption by almost 10%. :o I'm not an EFI guy but I'll tip my hat when it is due. :BEER: I can tune carbys so mine was running fine. :P Given the better fuel consumption and the 22 litre steel fuel tank I see the Stone as a real winner. I won't buy one as my Monza fills that role but I can at least acknowledge the improvements. The V65 revs better too due to 10mm shorter stroke. 6 speed gearbox? Logically that will depend on the ratios but as a marketing tool it is a definite positive. ABS? Its the way of the world. All bikes are slowly going that way as are most activities. Technology used to replace skill or lack of it. I find it amusing that the SB engine cops so much flak. Sure it is a heron head but so was the VW beetle and look how long that survived. Cheaper to produce, cheaper to sell and it is very fuel tolerant. Mine will happily consume any (petrol/gas) fuel that can be legally sold out of a bowser. Great if you like going to remote places. I thought about a smaller lighter bike about 10 years ago for the same reasons Pete described. I was fortunate to get my Monza and a SessantacinqueGT for a good price and I've had them ever since along side my LM 3. It hasn't been until the Stone came out that Guzzi had a bike with the same range as the LM 3 (500km). Once again, I tip my hat. This EFI stuff is finally starting to get in the groove. Rod in Oz.
I find it amusing that the SB engine cops so much flak. Sure it is a heron head but so was the VW beetle and look how long that survived.
With the single TB bikes with the MUIG controller or whatever its called the way it was explained to me is that although it looks like a conventional, cable controlled, butterfly in the throttle body it is in fact a sort of hybrid 'Semi-ride by wire' system.Yes, when you twist the throttle it turns a cam on the side of the throttle body but the actual 'Physical' twist only opens the throttle plate a small amount, this is to allow the bike to still be able to limp home if something goes wrong with the controller. When everything is working correctly though once past this stage of very small opening the cam plate and shaft simply activate the demand sensor in the same way that is done on the full RBW machines although on those the demand sensor is located remote from the throttle bodies. From there using all the inputs available the ECU, (Also integral to the MUIG unit.) calculates the position needed for the throttle plate and it is moved there and an appropriate amount of fuel and spark advance is delivered.Now I hasten to add that this is how it was explained to me very early in the piece by the tech boffin at the importer but that was very early days. This explanation was contradicted by Mike Haven who believed it was a 'Conventional' butterfly control. I have never had the opportunity to examine one closely, much less tear one to bits unfortunately!As for the idle control? Well, the single TB bikes don't have a separate stepper motor, nor do they appear to have any reference made to an air-over-idle speed control. The way the engine behaves when started is also extremely similar to the Cali 14 which IS a full RBW system. Press the starter button and the engine will fire up and race for a second before it drops back to a slightly erratic idle that then should stabilise over a few seconds as the ECU adjusts the timing and mixture decay figures.I'd love to be able to get to the bottom of this and find out definitively exactly how it works, problem is that quite simply the factory doesn't tell US grunt-level types very much and that makes it very frustrating. We are just told 'Plug in PADS and if it says something is FUBAR replace it.' GAKKK! Sorry, I can't work like that!Pete
Can't wait to see the full report on changes/new models.You wouldn't kill me if I ended up selling the V11 (Lemon) LeMans to get a V7 II... would you Chuck? :D ;)I wonder if they'll just slap the required ABS onto the Griso or if they'll replace/upgrade that model as well? All of the other BB Guzzis already have it.Edit: I also like how they brought back the "II" as in Lemans II, Imola II, etc. etc. When was the last time they used that scheme?
I'm getting pretty worn out on the black fenders. I'm sure it saves a few pennies to only have fenders in one color, but come on ?!?!?! The Specials should have color matched fenders...
They could use some silver wheels for some of the models too. I like black wheels, but not on every single model.
