Well lookee what lobbed in......

[AGRO!]

 Hey Vasco im Not sure if your talking to me but the rear sets I bought are genuine MG.
The spline shaft that goes through frame from gear lever to gear box linkage is to short.
The shaft for the v2 needs to be longer.
If you have the older model it is the right length.

[Vasco DG]

That makes sense. There are frame and mount differences. Perhaps the vendor didn't check part numbers. I've made the same mistake occasionally. Thing is there is a lot of really bad aftermarket stuff out there and some people seem to confuse their choice with factory fault. I had a horrible experience witha Stucchi fairing that a bloke wanted to fit to a 'Racer'. It was awful, cost me hours and hours and still didn't work. I can't work for nothing to pander to people's vanity.

Pete

[AGRO!]

The Australian guzzi importer had no idea of the changes so he contacted guzzi Italy and apparently they were unaware of the problem.
All seems a bit strange to me but that's the story they told me.

[Cam3512]

The USA 2015 V7 models have the wet alt. not just the II's.

And my '14 does NOT.

[pauldaytona]

I think nothing was changed to the V7II engine from modelyear before it. only gearbox, frame, abs was changed. 

[Vasco DG]

And a few lines of code in the MUIG3 that allow for traction control. Shouters are already shouting about that  :D

Pete

[pyoungbl]

Pete, are you serious about traction control?  The V7 already has that...ie. so little power it can't spin the rear wheel.

Peter Y.

[Kev m]

Pete, are you serious about traction control?  The V7 already has that...ie. so little power it can't spin the rear wheel.

Peter Y.

 ::)

Don't ever drop your bike in the rain... we'll NEVER let you live it down.

[kevdog3019]

No drifting on this rocket.  :P

[Vasco DG]

Pete, are you serious about traction control?  The V7 already has that...ie. so little power it can't spin the rear wheel.

Peter Y.

This is something I was recently sneered at on another board about. "Why would such a 'Weak' bike need TC?" Well, in all honesty it is unlikely that most people who ride a V7 on sealed roads will ever need it. But as has been mentioned here before by people way more computer savvy than me if you are using a RBW system adding a TC controller to a bike already equipped with ABS requires nothing more than a few lines of code in the EMU. Why not do it.

Also the ability of a bike to spin it's wheel has nothing to do with 'Power' and everything to do with 'Torque'. The coefficient of friction betwixt tyre and road surface is also paramount.

FWIW I took the bike I have here for a quick strop up the corrugated, be-potholed dirt just up the road from the workshop to test the hypothesis put forward elsewhere that the TC and ABS are so crude as to make the bike a 'Bad Proposition'. Well, all I can say is it seemed OK to me. I obviously don't travel in the rarefied atmosphere breathed by the demigods who make such observations so I'll just have another beer and tomorrow enjoy riding a new bike I haven't experienced before.

From what I've experienced so far the thing that will let it down most is its Poverty Pack suspension.

Pete

PS. Kev, I used to drift a Honda 50 step-thru through roundabouts! Easy! I don't do that stuff any more and was never good at it but power is not a requirement to drift, only youth and stupidity!

[pyoungbl]

RE traction control....OK, points well made.  TC is probably nice to have in low traction conditions.  More importantly, it's a smart marketing tool that probably adds nothing to the cost of manufacturing the bike.  Rather than lose a sale to a competing bike that does offer TC, why not throw it in.  Of course that logic leads to cruise control but let's let that dog sleep.

I totally agree that the suspension on the V7 is the real wart on its nose.  Oddly enough most buyers don't agree so they spend their money on loud mufflers and ride happily into the sunset.

Peter Y.

[sib]

RE traction control....OK, points well made.  TC is probably nice to have in low traction conditions.  More importantly, it's a smart marketing tool that probably adds nothing to the cost of manufacturing the bike.  Rather than lose a sale to a competing bike that does offer TC, why not throw it in.  Of course that logic leads to cruise control but let's let that dog sleep.

I totally agree that the suspension on the V7 is the real wart on its nose.  Oddly enough most buyers don't agree so they spend their money on loud mufflers and ride happily into the sunset.

Peter Y.

Moreover, if you are so inclined, you can disable TC alone by momentarily holding in the starter button with the engine running (don't worry, the starter won't run), or you can disable both TC and ABS by pulling the fuse.

[Vasco DG]

Moreover, if you are so inclined, you can disable TC alone by momentarily holding in the starter button with the engine running (don't worry, the starter won't run), or you can disable both TC and ABS by pulling the fuse.

Now that is interesting, I still haven't had a chance to read the handbook but if that is the case it actually makes one criticism of the bike utterly irrelevant.

Pete

[kevdog3019]

This is something I was recently sneered at on another board about. "Why would such a 'Weak' bike need TC?" Well, in all honesty it is unlikely that most people who ride a V7 on sealed roads will ever need it. But as has been mentioned here before by people way more computer savvy than me if you are using a RBW system adding a TC controller to a bike already equipped with ABS requires nothing more than a few lines of code in the EMU. Why not do it.

Also the ability of a bike to spin it's wheel has nothing to do with 'Power' and everything to do with 'Torque'. The coefficient of friction betwixt tyre and road surface is also paramount.

FWIW I took the bike I have here for a quick strop up the corrugated, be-potholed dirt just up the road from the workshop to test the hypothesis put forward elsewhere that the TC and ABS are so crude as to make the bike a 'Bad Proposition'. Well, all I can say is it seemed OK to me. I obviously don't travel in the rarefied atmosphere breathed by the demigods who make such observations so I'll just have another beer and tomorrow enjoy riding a new bike I haven't experienced before.

From what I've experienced so far the thing that will let it down most is its Poverty Pack suspension.

Pete

PS. Kev, I used to drift a Honda 50 step-thru through roundabouts! Easy! I don't do that stuff any more and was never good at it but power is not a requirement to drift, only youth and stupidity!
[/quote]

But... drifting requires no ECU interruption (correction) of said activity.  ABS/TC will certainly not like drifting.

[Vasco DG]

Valid point but I'll be buggered if I'm going to try and experiment! Especially on a customer's brand new bike! :o ;D

Pete

[kevdog3019]

Valid point but I'll be buggered if I'm going to try and experiment! Especially on a customer's brand new bike! :o ;D

Pete

Downside of TC is I can't do donuts in my truck in the winter.  :)

[Vasco DG]

Moreover, if you are so inclined, you can disable TC alone by momentarily holding in the starter button with the engine running (don't worry, the starter won't run), or you can disable both TC and ABS by pulling the fuse.

Yup, you nailed it.

Customer picked it up today.





He is a happy little Vegemite!

I took it out for a few Km test ride and apart from the poverty pack suspension it really is a nice little bike. The gearbox is superb and it definitely feels more sprightly than the five speeder.

Didn't have a chance to have a real good look but the breathers now go to a condensor box under the frame spine and the return has a one way valve in it.

Pete

[pete mcgee]

How good are you?
You've managed to sell a Guzzi to someone without grey hair and presumably under 40 years of age.
There is hope after all.
Well done.

[bpreynolds]

Pete, as per that sixth gear option, did you run the bike up into speed enough to comment on how differently the bike feels in sixth at speeds of 70-80mph (not sure what km this translates into) as opposed to the previous fiver?  In my several test drives of the previous models I never remotely felt the bike was taxed but on many occasions I did yearn for a sixth gear at those speeds and I'm just curious.

[Kev m]

Pete, as per that sixth gear option, did you run the bike up into speed enough to comment on how differently the bike feels in sixth at speeds of 70-80mph (not sure what km this translates into) as opposed to the previous fiver?  In my several test drives of the previous models I never remotely felt the bike was taxed but on many occasions I did yearn for a sixth gear at those speeds and I'm just curious.

We've heard reports here that the motor runs just slightly slower, about 150 rpm calculated, 200ish observed.

But considering how tight my V7 felt at highway speeds for the first couple thousand miles, I wouldn't put much into early impressions.

[ChuckH]

So what's the answer to this "poverty pack suspension"??  I'm assuming the changes are a set of GT Emulators, stronger springs and different fluid up front and a decent set of shocks in the rear.  I had to do these things to my 650 Strom to get it ready for my touring needs.  Is there anything else that would need to be done?

[ChuckH]

I just ordered my 2016 V7II Stone (red) today, immediately after my dealer was informed that MG USA is ready to take orders for May delivery....

Sib,

Do you have confirmation that Red is actually a V7 II Stone color for this year?  I thought the options for the US were Flat Black and some other combination this year.  Or -- Guzzi NA could come up with a "Special Shipment" of the Red, like they did with the original Norge bikes back in '07-'08.

[bpreynolds]

We've heard reports here that the motor runs just slightly slower, about 150 rpm calculated, 200ish observed.

But considering how tight my V7 felt at highway speeds for the first couple thousand miles, I wouldn't put much into early impressions.

So what are your thoughts on this?  Most of my Calis have not had tachs, but one did and they all seemed in a nice sweet spot on the big roads around 4300-4600rpm.  For me that usually equaled about 70-80mph in 4th, 80-85 in 5th.  Obviously, very different engines here so my analogy is kinda pointless, but still.  Right now, on a broken in V7, what is it usually turning around 75mph? 

[Vasco DG]

Pete, as per that sixth gear option, did you run the bike up into speed enough to comment on how differently the bike feels in sixth at speeds of 70-80mph (not sure what km this translates into) as opposed to the previous fiver?  In my several test drives of the previous models I never remotely felt the bike was taxed but on many occasions I did yearn for a sixth gear at those speeds and I'm just curious.

Mate? It's a customer's brand new motorbike. How would you feel if the bloke who sold you a bike took it out on its first test ride and thrashed the living piss out of it? :D

Top speed will effectively be unaltered, it's the spread of the ratios that will change the machines character. That and the fact that the six speeder changes sweeter and has a shorter lever throw.

Pete

[bpreynolds]

Mate? It's a customer's brand new motorbike. How would you feel if the bloke who sold you a bike took it out on its first test ride and thrashed the living piss out of it? :D

Pete

Properly prepping these bikes, giving gentle test rides, what's next, appropriately greasing them?  Pete, you are clearly not following Guzzi mandate of uncrate, sell immediately if tires not falling off.   ;D  You are spoiling these chaps for future MGs.  Like having Sophia Loren as your first girlfriend, every lady after will seem like she wasn't raised correctly. 

[pyoungbl]

So what's the answer to this "poverty pack suspension"??  I'm assuming the changes are a set of GT Emulators, stronger springs and different fluid up front and a decent set of shocks in the rear.  I had to do these things to my 650 Strom to get it ready for my touring needs.  Is there anything else that would need to be done?

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.

[sib]

Sib,

Do you have confirmation that Red is actually a V7 II Stone color for this year?  I thought the options for the US were Flat Black and some other combination this year.  Or -- Guzzi NA could come up with a "Special Shipment" of the Red, like they did with the original Norge bikes back in '07-'08.

You are absolutely correct.  My dealer called me back to tell me that, so I'll be getting a black one.  I was misled by the info on the AF1 Racing site, which also shows the wrong pricing.  http://af1racingaustin.com/new-page/

[Jim C]

Do you have confirmation that Red is actually a V7 II Stone color for this year?  

I have been looking at this for the past five MONTHS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhlA4LV8WDs
And now I find out that the only 'colors' available are black and gray? I don't think so! Those aren't even
'colors'. Black and gray? Forget it...so, no new Goose for me this year, I guess. Maybe I'll look at Triumph
instead.

Jim

[Kev m]

So what are your thoughts on this?  Most of my Calis have not had tachs, but one did and they all seemed in a nice sweet spot on the big roads around 4300-4600rpm.  For me that usually equaled about 70-80mph in 4th, 80-85 in 5th.  Obviously, very different engines here so my analogy is kinda pointless, but still.  Right now, on a broken in V7, what is it usually turning around 75mph?

I ride too many different bikes to answer that rpm without looking it up or checking.

I'll say this to make it simple, it feels completely different from my Jackal or Breva did at highway speeds, so much so that comparisons are probably useless.

PS, I should add that broken in or not a V7 engine would be turning the same rpm at any given speed, so any observations I made in the past should still be true.

However, it's possible the motor now feels more willing to do it, which MIGHT be a misperception or might mean it takes less throttle/fuel to do it. But that also varies with ambient conditions.

[kevdog3019]

On the old B750 (same bike) 75mph was actually 80 on the speedo as they are about 5mph too slow to actual speeds. 80 from my memory is somewhere in the 5500rpm range in 5th. So it would be around 5300 with the new gearbox. Would be nice if they simply added another gear on top for overdrive. Shift less/get more.