2015 Moto Guzzi V7 II merged threadfest

[sib]

Not quite until 2016; my dealer told me that US import will be begin in the last quarter of 1015 and they'll be marketed here as 2016 models.

[Tazturtle]

I've never understood the rationale for the long US delays.

Is it about the length of time to get approval for your state and national standards?

Is it about testing the bike to ensure the manufacturer isnt subject to litigation?

Is it about protecting The Motor Company?

Australia gets the new versions within a couple of months of Europe and our sales are roughly half the size of the US for Guzzi.  Very puzzling.

[rocker59]

I've never understood the rationale for the long US delays.

Is it about the length of time to get approval for your state and national standards?

Is it about testing the bike to ensure the manufacturer isnt subject to litigation?

Is it about protecting The Motor Company?

Australia gets the new versions within a couple of months of Europe and our sales are roughly half the size of the US for Guzzi.  Very puzzling.

It's always been that way.   

If anything, Guzzi has gotten better under Piaggio.  They have been doing a good job of getting bikes to The USA sooner than they ever have.

[roadscum]

I've never understood the rationale for the long US delays.

Is it about the length of time to get approval for your state and national standards?

Is it about testing the bike to ensure the manufacturer isnt subject to litigation?

Is it about protecting The Motor Company?

Australia gets the new versions within a couple of months of Europe and our sales are roughly half the size of the US for Guzzi.  Very puzzling.

It's because they view the US as their dumping ground for NOS!  ;)

Paul

[Chuck in Indiana]

Holy Cow.

Go faster. Go slower. More power. Less power. Five gears. Six gears. Faster. Faster still. Can I go faster? Do you want to go faster? Why? Why not?

I have a 2013 V7 Stone with the Kaifa forks. My question, to any who may know the answer, is - will the V7II have Kaifa forks or something better?

I have four bikes, including the V7, and they're all pretty good bikes. Of them all, the V7's suspension is ... in the greatest need of enhancement.

I realize I have options to improve the V7's suspension and I fully intend to implement one of those options. Or maybe there is only the Matris option for the forks ... I haven't been able to absolutely pin that down.

But I only want to do this once so I would like to know if the V7II will introduce new and better options for up-grading my forks? And if the V7II has Kaifa forks just like the 2013 and 2014 V7 bikes, what are the odds that additional companies will offer up-grades to those forks? Cuz the stock Kaifa sorta suck. I've ridden worse. But not since about 1978.

I really like this bike but the suspension has just got to be improved or the bike will never live up to its potential. Unless your idea of potential is scaring the living daylights out of yourself in some cranky washboard corner with a come-hither guard-rail on the outside.

Appreciate your thoughts, folks. Chill the flame, please. I'm just old biker trash who seeks a 21st Century suspension for his latest cool scooter.

Welcome to WG MRL. I was hanging out with Todd yesterday, and had a look at his sorted V7. He can fix your suspension. All it takes is money.
Ping Todd@Guzzitech.com  tell him I sent ya.
and yes, it *needs* to be upgraded if you are going to be canyon scratching.

[lucydad]

Wow, interesting discussion.

I am with Kev on his points.

[Tazturtle]

Trust me. Don't skimp on the forks if you are gong to push on!

[Chuck in Indiana]

Trust me. Don't skimp on the forks if you are gong to push on!

Absolutely.

[john fish]

The fact remains that you and others complain on a thread about a bike you don't own and apparently have no intention of buying. It's all a bit bizarre! By the standards of modern sports bikes, wouldn't the HP of an EV and in fact every road Guzzi ever made make them "girl's bikes"?


Kurt

And it's Kurt for the win.  Nicely, and humorously, said.

[pyoungbl]

Guzzi is a boutique motorcycle manufacturer. These are hand made machines, fine Italian craftmanship.  With that said, I wonder if it is possible for the factory to have a 'custom' program.  In a perfect world the customer could order, say, a V7 with green frame (like my '73 1000S), black tank, and Ohlins suspension.  Even if we only got the option of better suspension, I think the end result would be a winner.  Just look at all the angst created by the current suspension, which has been built down to a price.  The reality is that most of us are 'mature' riders and are choosing to ride a smaller motorcycle due to the weight and performance; as opposed to the thought that the V7 appeals only to entry riders.  I'd spring for better suspension from the factory, knowing that I would still have to dial it in for my weight.

Peter Y.

[bad Chad]

Im not sure exactly what qualifies as a boutique mfg.?   But to me, a boutique mfg. would be producing a few dozen to a few hundred machines a year, certainly no more than a thousand.

Moto Guzzi will make over 6000 bikes this year, truly small numbers for a modern player, but to my mind far above the boutique level.   

Perhaps it's just semantics, but at some point the line is drawn, and I would call Guzzi a low volume manufacture, which is a whole different connotation than boutique to me.

[Tazturtle]

Cheers John  :BEER:

And I hear you Peter, some more factory options would be nice.

Though, I guess everyone makes a bike their own anyway and it's a lot of fun modding to please yourself. And nice when others appreciate it too.

[Eunos9494]

Speaking as the "new rider" and someone coming to riding late in life, I can say that when I purchased my 2013 V7 Special this spring, what attracted me was a bike that was fun to ride and one that was accessible to me as a new rider.  I visited shops and viewed brand after brand of bikes that were 10s, if not 100s of lbs heavier.  No thanks.  I looked at bike after bike that promised bleeding edge horsepower, acceleration, and performance.  As a new rider, those words sound more like "danger, danger, and more danger".  But after finding a used V7 at a local shop, I knew I'd found the right bike that balanced being accessible to a new rider and had room to grown into.  I immediately contacted a dealer about buying a new one.  I just wanted a simple standard bike and this felt right.  Now with close to 5000 miles on my Guzzi in my first riding season I'm absolutely certain I made the right choice for my first bike.

Looking at the addition of traction control and ABS to the next years models...I'm not sure it would have changed my opinion much.  It wasn't a feature I was looking for, I wanted a bike I could relate to mechanically, not a computer.  But anything that gives Guzzi a bike that can get people into the brand is a good thing in my book.  Without the V7 and without the current specs of the V7 I wouldn't have spent my money on buying a Guzzi.  Now that I've have one, I can't wait to get another.  I can't wait to spend more money on the one I have customizing it.  Maybe if Guzzi offered performance part options for their bikes to that people who wanted to upgrade, they could.  But changing the V7 into a different bike seems like it cuts off a certain segment of riders that *are* spending money with them.

[sib]

Speaking as the "new rider" and someone coming to riding late in life, I can say that when I purchased my 2013 V7 Special this spring, what attracted me was a bike that was fun to ride and one that was accessible to me as a new rider.  I visited shops and viewed brand after brand of bikes that were 10s, if not 100s of lbs heavier.  No thanks.  I looked at bike after bike that promised bleeding edge horsepower, acceleration, and performance.  As a new rider, those words sound more like "danger, danger, and more danger".  But after finding a used V7 at a local shop, I knew I'd found the right bike that balanced being accessible to a new rider and had room to grown into.  I immediately contacted a dealer about buying a new one.  I just wanted a simple standard bike and this felt right.  Now with close to 5000 miles on my Guzzi in my first riding season I'm absolutely certain I made the right choice for my first bike.

Looking at the addition of traction control and ABS to the next years models...I'm not sure it would have changed my opinion much.  It wasn't a feature I was looking for, I wanted a bike I could relate to mechanically, not a computer.  But anything that gives Guzzi a bike that can get people into the brand is a good thing in my book.  Without the V7 and without the current specs of the V7 I wouldn't have spent my money on buying a Guzzi.  Now that I've have one, I can't wait to get another.  I can't wait to spend more money on the one I have customizing it.  Maybe if Guzzi offered performance part options for their bikes to that people who wanted to upgrade, they could.  But changing the V7 into a different bike seems like it cuts off a certain segment of riders that *are* spending money with them.

Kindred spirit.  I also came to riding late (72 years old) and was attracted to the Guzzi V7 precisely because it's light, powerful enough for me, and I could actually enjoy riding it instead of wrestling with it.  Who wants to ride a brahma bull when a well-tempered horse is an option?  Only a rodeo bull rider.  Same with bikes.  I've put 10k enjoyable miles on it over the last two seasons.  I've locked the rear wheel once or twice, fortunately only briefly, so as not to cause a high sider.  I'd appreciate ABS to minimize that worry.

[Bill Hagan]

Kindred spirit.  I also came to riding late (72 years old) and was attracted to the Guzzi V7 precisely because it's light, powerful enough for me, and I could actually enjoy riding it instead of wrestling with it.  Who wants to ride a brahma bull when a well-tempered horse is an option?  Only a rodeo bull rider.  Same with bikes.  I've put 10k enjoyable miles on it over the last two seasons.  I've locked the rear wheel once or twice, fortunately only briefly, so as not to cause a high sider.  I'd appreciate ABS to minimize that worry.

Speaking as the "new rider" and someone coming to riding late in life, I can say that when I purchased my 2013 V7 Special this spring, what attracted me was a bike that was fun to ride and one that was accessible to me as a new rider.  I visited shops and viewed brand after brand of bikes that were 10s, if not 100s of lbs heavier.  No thanks.  I looked at bike after bike that promised bleeding edge horsepower, acceleration, and performance.  As a new rider, those words sound more like "danger, danger, and more danger".  But after finding a used V7 at a local shop, I knew I'd found the right bike that balanced being accessible to a new rider and had room to grown into.  I immediately contacted a dealer about buying a new one.  I just wanted a simple standard bike and this felt right.  Now with close to 5000 miles on my Guzzi in my first riding season I'm absolutely certain I made the right choice for my first bike.

Looking at the addition of traction control and ABS to the next years models...I'm not sure it would have changed my opinion much.  It wasn't a feature I was looking for, I wanted a bike I could relate to mechanically, not a computer.  But anything that gives Guzzi a bike that can get people into the brand is a good thing in my book.  Without the V7 and without the current specs of the V7 I wouldn't have spent my money on buying a Guzzi.  Now that I've have one, I can't wait to get another.  I can't wait to spend more money on the one I have customizing it.  Maybe if Guzzi offered performance part options for their bikes to that people who wanted to upgrade, they could.  But changing the V7 into a different bike seems like it cuts off a certain segment of riders that *are* spending money with them.

Great posts.

Appreciate you saying all of that, and suspect you speak for many here and also those just out there riding their V7's.

Best wishes for many miles of smiles.

Bill

[blackcat]

In a perfect world the customer could order, say, a V7 with green frame (like my '73 1000S), black tank, and Ohlins suspension. 
Peter Y.

I assume you mean 93? Geez, you've gone off the deep end. How many Guzzi's do you now own? Is this three or four?

[pyoungbl]

I assume you mean 93? Geez, you've gone off the deep end. How many Guzzi's do you now own? Is this three or four?

You could well be correct about the year.  I still dream about my '73 Norton so maybe that's where the year came from.  There is a story about the 1000S, bear with me.  I was still living in Germany when my brother (in VA) wrote to tell me that he was getting this really neat bike, a 1000S.  He also knew about another one in CO that was coming on the market.  If you can't trust your younger brother who can you trust?  I said I'd take the second bike (green frame, black tank with green stripes).  My next duty station was in Tampa so I flew up to Roanoke to pick up the bike.  Thus, my first ride on the bike was from Roanoke to Tampa...in the rain.  It did not take long, maybe 200 miles, for me to start to question my sanity.  The seat was rock hard, the riding position was 'committed', and the side stand was an accident waiting to happen.  On the other hand it was the most beautiful motorcycle I had ever seen.  It took me about 4 years to finally fall out of love with the 1000S.  Like a red headed nymphomaniac who owns a liquor store, nice to date but not to marry.  Now I only have the Stelvio and V7 Special ...OK, also have a R75/6 but she's a hanger queen.  I still miss the 1000S and might even make my Special look like one.  Damn, that was a pretty bike!

Peter Y.

[Tazturtle]

They sure are! I ride with this one most months.

Kurt

[Jim C]

Hey, everyone,

I'm back after a very long absence.

I was thinking about what Piaggio's motivation is behind
showing the MG V7 II so early.

I was thinking about getting one of the green 2015's but I think I want
6-speeds and the 'extra leg room' (I'll take what I can get). I wouldn't have
thought that way until I saw the new V7 II.

As it is, I'll still probably have to get riser/barbacks for it. My current V7
Classic (2009) causes a pinch in my right shoulder (no, I'm not holding
the throttle too tight) and risers should fix that.

My point is: It seems to me that some potential customers might want to
wait a year or so to get the other bike with the 'extra leg room', the 6-speed
transmission, and the other goodies, so ultimately introducing the new bike
this early might dip into 2015 sales.

Since the bikes are already being produced, I don't know why on Earth Piaggio
makes North America wait a year, since customers like me are choosing to wait
for the 2016 V7 II.


Jim

[Penderic]

If it turns out to be a basic marketing boo boo, then the manager in charge is gonna get a talk to from Vinnie, you know what I mean?

[Kev m]

This shouldn't have to be said to the most of us, but for those who still aren't thinking about it when they complain the Piaggio shows bikes early and makes North America wait let's remember that I believe it is both a pricey and a lengthy process to get EPA and CARB certification. WHY on Earth would they rush that for what turns out to be barely 10% of their world market?

MAYBE if their sales in NA grow and they are looking at more of a return then that will get more attention... then again, maybe not.

[Cam3512]

This shouldn't have to be said to the most of us, but for those who still aren't thinking about it when they complain the Piaggio shows bikes early and makes North America wait let's remember that I believe it is both a pricey and a lengthy process to get EPA and CARB certification. WHY on Earth would they rush that for what turns out to be barely 10% of their world market?

MAYBE if their sales in NA grow and they are looking at more of a return then that will get more attention... then again, maybe not.

This. And remember, Europe will have them MUCH earlier then us in the States.

[Vasco DG]

I don't think its only that Kev. There is also the fact that any problem that occurs is far more likely to become a huge *Issue* in the US than it is in many other markets. Your market is a lot less accepting of any problems that may of been overlooked by during testing while at the same time being populated by many more, proportionally, who are either incapable of or simply choose not to research a purchase.

I'm not defending poorly developed products released before they should be but its that logic that probably means that the companies involved prefer to release their bikes elsewhere and delay their sale in the United States. If the shit hits the fan in say Australia or France it will be less damaging than if there is a huge, public panty-wadding episode in the US. YOMV.

Pete

[Kev m]

I don't think its only that Kev. There is also the fact that any problem that occurs is far more likely to become a huge *Issue* in the US than it is in many other markets. Your market is a lot less accepting of any problems that may of been overlooked by during testing while at the same time being populated by many more, proportionally, who are either incapable of or simply choose not to research a purchase.

I'm not defending poorly developed products released before they should be but its that logic that probably means that the companies involved prefer to release their bikes elsewhere and delay their sale in the United States. If the shit hits the fan in say Australia or France it will be less damaging than if there is a huge, public panty-wadding episode in the US. YOMV.

Pete

I would say not that the population is in any way less capable, just lest tolerant and why should anyone be tolerant?

Not to mention it's not just the distance from the factory, but the dearth of dealers to handle such problems if they should occur.

The EU must certainly have a much more effective dealer network.

[jas67]

I don't think its only that Kev. There is also the fact that any problem that occurs is far more likely to become a huge *Issue* in the US than it is in many other markets. Your market is a lot less accepting of any problems that may of been overlooked by during testing while at the same time being populated by many more, proportionally, who are either incapable of or simply choose not to research a purchase.

It isn't like Moto Guzzi actually DOES anything about any major problems their bikes have, unless it is a safety recall issue.    Take the Breva/Sport 1200 (Norge?) dash problem for example.   >:(

Or how 'bout their exploding clutches on early CARC bikes, and, IIRC, other big-block clutches, circa 2000-2006.

[Dogwalker]

Factory kits will be available for the V7 II (and earlier versions). Cafè Racer, Dark Rider, Heritage and Scrambler. The single elements (90 different pieces) of the kits could be bought separately and mixed.






http://www.motociclismo.it/moto-guzzi-v7-ii-ecco-come-va-e-arrivano-4-versioni-speciali-moto-60096

[rocker59]

Thanks for the info!   ;-T

[Loftness]

Edit:  Found link to pics  ;D

As for the info, if this is oem stuff, we were just talking about how Guzzi needs to try to do something like this.

[Dogwalker]

Edit:  Found link to pics  ;D

I've been told that the location for the pictures is: "somewhere inside the Mandello factory".

[Semper-guzzi]

I like that scrambler. Not over done. Looks good. If the front fender was a bit higher, I think it would be fine for riding down some nice fire roads and gravel roads.