Well lookee what lobbed in......

[sib]

Assuming a nominal tire circumference of 79.13 in. for the 130/80-17 rear tire, 80 mph in top gear will be at 5085 rpm with the V7 5-speed gearbox and exactly 5000 rpm with the V7II 6-sp gearbox.  The overall ratios (engine revs/wheel rev) in top gear are only 1.68% different.

[organfixsing]

G'day SIB
I make it 1.216 lower engine revs for the V7 II at the same speed in top gear. The reason for the difference in calculation is that the final drive ratio has changed.
                        V7                           V7 II
Final Drive          4.825:1                    4.125:1

Cheers    Ride safe

Brian    :)

[Vasco DG]

G'day SIB
I make it 1.216 lower engine revs for the V7 II at the same speed in top gear. The reason for the difference in calculation is that the final drive ratio has changed.
                        V7                           V7 II
Final Drive          4.825:1                    4.125:1

Cheers    Ride safe

Brian    :)

Errrr? No.

Final drive ratio is the same. GU32354610

[canuguzzi]

Too bad the new owner isn't on the board, he could probably answer all those questions nicely and he'd know.

:pop

[sib]

Too bad the new owner isn't on the board, he could probably answer all those questions nicely and he'd know.

:pop

Well, I'm a new V7II owner since last Friday, as well as the owner of a '13 V7.  The bevel gear ratios are identical for the V7 and V7II, 33/8 equals 4.125.  Overall top gear ratios feel nearly identical for the 2 bikes, at least I can't discern the 1.68% difference.

[SmithSwede]

Sib--you own both models?  Please give us you opinions as to how they compare. 

[sib]

Sib--you own both models?  Please give us you opinions as to how they compare. 

Yes, I got a '13 V7 Stone in May 2013.  It was my first bike after a riding lapse of over 35 years (my last one was a Honda CB77!).  I've put almost 12,000 very enjoyable miles on it.  But I know I'm not the greatest rider and my reflexes aren't getting any sharper at my age, so I just got the V7II Stone primarily for the ABS.  I've written up my initial impressions in another thread here (http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=76308.msg1200560#msg1200560).  I've put 250 miles on the new bike since Friday.  There's not a great deal of difference between the two bikes, despite the 6th gear and the slightly different ergos.  But I am starting to appreciate the extra gear and extra legroom.  In the earlier thread, I commented on how the Pirelli tires on the new bike seemed to lead into turns more abruptly than the Metzlers on the old bike.  However, once I discovered that the dealer had filled the Pirellis to 40+ psi and I lowered them to the correct 36 psi, the difference largely disappeared.

[Kev m]

Yes, I got a '13 V7 Stone in May 2013.  <snip> I've put 250 miles on the new bike since Friday.  There's not a great deal of difference between the two bikes, despite the 6th gear and the slightly different ergos.  But I am starting to appreciate the extra gear and extra legroom.

There was a discussion on the V7II merged thread whether or not the legroom was just amount of space in front of the knees to the cylinder heads, or if there was any additional distance between the seat and pegs. Would you mind terribly settling that speculation for us please?

[sib]

There was a discussion on the V7II merged thread whether or not the legroom was just amount of space in front of the knees to the cylinder heads, or if there was any additional distance between the seat and pegs. Would you mind terribly settling that speculation for us please?

I haven't taken any measurements (yet), but, yes, I would say there's a bit more distance between the seat and the pegs.  So, it's still speculation until I get the tape measure out.  Stay tuned.  The so-called knee room for me is more accurately described as shin room.  When I move my legs toward each other, my knees contact the flares on the fuel tank rather than the cylinder heads.  I think that the extra room between the heads and my upper shins makes riding more comfortable on warmer days like we've had here in RI since I got the V7-II.

[Kev m]

Thanks in advance!

[sib]

I haven't taken any measurements (yet), but, yes, I would say there's a bit more distance between the seat and the pegs.  So, it's still speculation until I get the tape measure out.  Stay tuned.  The so-called knee room for me is more accurately described as shin room.  When I move my legs toward each other, my knees contact the flares on the fuel tank rather than the cylinder heads.  I think that the extra room between the heads and my upper shins makes riding more comfortable on warmer days like we've had here in RI since I got the V7-II.

There's no accurate way I could work out to determine the distance from the seat top to the pegs.  In the end, I measured the length of the tape from one peg, up and around the lowest and narrowest part of the seat, and back down to the other peg.  The distance was 45.5 in. for the V7 and 46.5 in. for the V7-II.  That comes out to a half inch difference in seat top to peg.  I'll leave it to others to decide whether that's significant.

[Kev m]

There's no accurate way I could work out to determine the distance from the seat top to the pegs.  In the end, I measured the length of the tape from one peg, up and around the lowest and narrowest part of the seat, and back down to the other peg.  The distance was 45.5 in. for the V7 and 46.5 in. for the V7-II.  That comes out to a half inch difference in seat top to peg.  I'll leave it to others to decide whether that's significant.

Well that IS a difference and makes sense from the specs we were told about.

Thanks...

[raul]

Chuck, the stock suspension on my '13 V7 Special was so harsh it would actually launch my ass off the seat when I hit a bump.  My solution was to get much softer springs, emulator, and 10W oil in the front end; RaceTech emulsion shocks on the rear..set to be more compliant.  Now I have reasonable travel at each end.  Man, I wish Guzzi would offer an option with Ohlins, like what Ducati does with the "S" versions.  You would still need to modify for rider weight but at least you'd already have quality parts to start with.

I did the RaceTech springs and Gold Valves in the fork legs along with Hagon shocks.  I'm not happy with the Hagon shocks.  They were only $240, though, so not too much of a problem.  Over all, its better, but I have an issue with my neck and I can't ride it longer than about an hour before it gets painful.    The guy that helped me with the suspension took the stock shocks apart and said they were not bad and that he could rebuild them, but that was last fall and I forgot to get back with him.  I need to do that.

[kirkemon]

I'm not happy with the Hagon shocks. 

I don't have a V7, but I've always had good luck with Ikon shocks. They might cost a little more than the Hagons.

[Gammason]

Is it possible those "penises" are oil overflow indicators?  I've got a Vespa GTS 250 and it has a couple of little nubs that'll fill up with oil if filled too much.  The case breather is hooked to the airbox for this purpose.  Makes a mess of your air filter.  I bought the bike with one of them filled up.

Sweet bike.  I hope to own one in the near future!

Scott

[sib]

Well, the inaccurate low fuel indicator seems to be fixed.  On my '13 Stone, the light comes on at about 160 mi. after a fill.  On the new '16 Stone, it came on at about 195 mi.  Figuring 40 mi. of reserve, this seems closer to the truth.

It will be interesting to see if the inaccurate maintenance interval indication was also fixed.  On the '13, the MAINT notice came on at 7500 km (4660 mi.) intervals, owing to a failure of the manufacturer to update the instrument panel software to the newer recommended interval of 10,000 km (6214 mi.).

[Penderic]

That is good to hear. One of most common complaints with the bike was that gage mis-function.

The V7 is growing up!

[sib]

That is good to hear. One of most common complaints with the bike was that gage mis-function.

The V7 is growing up!

Well, there you go, there mustn't be anything more serious to complain about.

[Clancy]

Too bad the new owner isn't on the board

He is now. I took that as an invitation :)

he could probably answer all those questions nicely and he'd know

Sounds like Sib is the right person here for comparing "Apples to Apples", I can only compare it to my old VX800.

How good are you?
You've managed to sell a Guzzi to someone without grey hair and presumably under 40 years of age

Thanks! But no :( I'm only a couple of birthdays away from 50.
But I have a young wife, and your only as old as........well you know the saying ::)

I've only had the bike for a couple of weeks now.
Thanks to a run of crappy weather and family commitments, I haven't been able to do any riding outside of the daily 40km round trip commute.
I can say that this week it's been between -4 and 1DegC at 5am when I leave for work and the bike has started easily and run well.

I can take 2 routes to work. One skirts the city and is almost traffic-light free, being 90km/hr limit almost all the way.
The other is through the burbs, with many traffic-lights, roundabouts, 60 - 80 km/hr limits.
Due to the time that I leave, I take the suburb route to work to avoid all the roos playing chicken on the country roads at that time of the day.
Home bound is by the country run (roos are lazy buggers & just lay around all afternoon).
Surprising, both ways are FUN on this bike.
I'm very happy with my choice to replace the old bike.

[Chuck in Indiana]

He is now. I took that as an invitation :)
Sounds like Sib is the right person here for comparing "Apples to Apples", I can only compare it to my old VX800.
Thanks! But no :( I'm only a couple of birthdays away from 50.
But I have a young wife, and your only as old as........well you know the saying ::)

I've only had the bike for a couple of weeks now.
Thanks to a run of crappy weather and family commitments, I haven't been able to do any riding outside of the daily 40km round trip commute.
I can say that this week it's been between -4 and 1DegC at 5am when I leave for work and the bike has started easily and run well.

I can take 2 routes to work. One skirts the city and is almost traffic-light free, being 90km/hr limit almost all the way.
The other is through the burbs, with many traffic-lights, roundabouts, 60 - 80 km/hr limits.
Due to the time that I leave, I take the suburb route to work to avoid all the roos playing chicken on the country roads at that time of the day.
Home bound is by the country run (roos are lazy buggers & just lay around all afternoon).
Surprising, both ways are FUN on this bike.
I'm very happy with my choice to replace the old bike.

Welcome to WG Clancy.. ;D congrats on the new bike, and I'm glad you're lovin it.

[Kev m]

He is now. I took that as an invitation :)

Thanks! But no :( I'm only a couple of birthdays away from 50.
But I have a young wife, and your only as old as........well you know the saying ::)

 <snip>

I'm very happy with my choice to replace the old bike.

Hmm, sounds really familiar so far (age, bike, wife hmm), so high to me... ;D

[Vasco DG]

Nah, you're a butt-load uglier! ;D

Pete

[Kev m]

Nah, you're a butt-load uglier! ;D

Pete

Entirely possible... ;D

[Sheepdog]

Really a nice bike...evolutionary .  The flat black color scheme works.

[Loftness]

Finally got the chance to prep and jump on our demo unit yesterday.  I was only able to put a few miles on it so this is very much a first take, though it's from a 2013 V7 Stone owner.  Quick initial impressions:

Walk around:
-surprised at how much I like the matte silver color.  Wish the other color wasn't matte black again.
-I generally like blacked-out bikes, but they went a little far with the amount of 'blacking' on the Stone.  Bars, levers, light housings, FI covers, springs, mirrors, etc.  I feel like they're trying to differentiate the Stone from the Special a little more and they did it with blackness?
-there's an immediate difference in the look of the engine and where the cylinders rest. 
-there's more space underneath, and I'm not sure that's a good thing.  The wires behind the sump look exposed and sloppy; the frame itself as well looks odd, like it was chopped.
-sitting on it the bike seems a tad lower to me.
-the hose and wiring setup under the tank is better organized
-evap can is nestled up in there

Ride:
-smooth.
-transmission and power more refined. 
-2nd gear is a pleasure for around town, a nice improvement from the previous model.
-overall shifting was smooth, and seemed a little more exact than newly prepped previous models.  Finding neutral was easy.  Clutch pull and shifting out of the box was perfect.  I usually have to adjust the clutch on PDI of previous V7s.
-no cold start issues
-the bike seemed smaller in some way
-didn't seem as feisty as before and doesn't seem pull as hard (only slightly). 
-certainly would make a great first bike for a confident new rider

Granted I'm used to riding my own well-broken-in V7, but I also do prep and ride new previous models all the time, and overall I'd say this new version is...nicer.  As in Honda-nicer.  Seems to be better behaved out of the crate, like it's given up a tiny bit of it's grunt.  Not sure how I feel about that, but I'm sure many people will like it.  Don't get me wrong, it still shakes and rumbles like Guzzi.  It just seems like a more mature, slimmer, older brother.