V7 world beater?

[lonerockz]

"I never met anyone on a KLR that was having a good time."  ;D

I have, and I know that some people love them... I just know that I don't.

Well I've pretty much made up my mind that the V7 is the tool of choice. Just need a test ride and then... I just have to sell my Versys and K1200R. Man I hate selling bikes.

Thanks for all the words of wisdom... and other words too  ;D

[Kiwi_Roy]

The only spares I would take on the bike would be a couple of wheel bearings, that's all that's let me down on the road.
A spare throttle & clutch cable in situ ready to swap out
A set of plugs
Fuel filter No ,just backflush the old one
Air filter

[Zinfan]

The only spares I would take on the bike would be a couple of wheel bearings, that's all that's let me down on the road.
A spare throttle & clutch cable in situ ready to swap out
A set of plugs
Fuel filter No ,just backflush the old one

Replace stock one (at least this is what was in my '13 Stone)

With an all metal filter.

[canuck750]

I made a trip to Alaska in 2012 on my 2012 Super Tenere, I met and talked to lots of bikers on various bikes from KLRs, to your GSAs, even a couple of R1200Rs from Australia.  I never met anyone on a KLR that was having a good time.

One dude was sponsored by lots of companies with stickers all over his KLR.  He had replaced the engine twice and was still burning oil at a rapid rate.  He was pissed but determined to finish.

Really ??? ???

Of all the bikes  have owned and still own, my cheap old KLR650 has taken me more places across North America from the Arctic Circle to Central Mexico and most place in between, never been apart, never broke down



I am buying two more beaters to take my two sons with me back to Inuvik this summer, I laughed at these things 10 years ago, then rented one to ride from Whitehorse up the Dempster to Inuvik and back in 4 days, then I realized what a great distance bike they are.

[Kev m]

I am buying two more beaters to take my two sins with me back to Inuvik this summer, I laughed

Not so fast on the edit.... I laughed too!

[canuck750]

 :-[ :-[

Talk about a Freudian slip...The devils children they are, 26 and 27 love them to the end, they get to be more fun the older they get :BEER:

[lonerockz]

KLRs are good bikes. Don't get me wrong. Just that I read far to many ride reports that feature the phrase "dropped my bike". Knocking the seat height from the KLRs 35" to something I'd feel comfortable on... say 31" not really an option. And by the time you do that... it probably has less clearance that the V7!

[Kev m]

:-[ :-[

Talk about a Freudian slip...The devils children they are, 26 and 27 love them to the end, they get to be more fun the older they get :BEER:

I figured it was just awesome auto correct. :D

[SeanF]

If you want minimum (bike-related) drama on such a trip, do take a DR or KLR. I used the former on my big trip, and it never missed a beat. Next time, I think I'll spice things up and use a Guzzi v7, maybe a Royal Enfield Bullet.

[everiman]

Wow, did not expect this thread to stir so many folks in different ways. So a few replies...

My first 100% adventure ride (Argentina back to the USA) is scheduled to start in December 2020. I'll have 5 years to make sure I know how to fix it and to have ironed out all the kinks.

I rode a KTM 640 from California through Central America and South America. The only countries I did NOT ride through were Belize, Venezuela, and the three Guianas. A V7 should be able to do it, and you are thinking correctly re size weight and power needed and common tire sizes. You may want to google for guzzi dealers in any countries you plan to visit, one reason I went with KTM, they are pretty international.   
Here are some observations of someone who has done it, once you leave the USA if you are on anything over 250 cc you will have the biggest bike on the road pretty much where ever you go.  Outside of the Mexican toll roads, your average speed will be closer 60 kph than 60 mph until you reach Argentina.  You are going to have a hard to impossible time finding premium gas or synthetic motorcycle oil when you need it.  The trip will be hard on any bike you take, but the bikes that will stand up the best will be '10 dollar timexes' not '10K rolexes' if you catch my drift.  Most of the bikes you will see from Mexico down will be Chinese, horrible little things, but they tolerate an incredible amount of abuse and just run forever on anything you feed them.  If I was going to do it again I would buy a bike down there, a disposable chinese bike.  And I would skip Central America altogether, unless I was more fluent in Spanish and more skilled in dealing with out of control bureaucracy and corruption.

[Matteo]

http://guzzigalore.nl/

V7 doing it ;-T

[Steph]

I'd take a V7 'round the world if I could.
I remember going from London to Lake Como in Italy on my old Monza and that was fine.
On any new bike, I would want to ride it at least 5000-10,000 miles before a cross continent trip, just to get to know it and also to break it in.

I just got back from a business trip in Saudi Arabia.
Talk about culture shock! Being open minded helps discovering different cultures even if you don't agree on how things are done.
Would I want to go back as a holiday? No.
Do I regret going? No


Edit: 3 days ago in the Saudi desert

[sturgeon]

I'd take a V7 'round the world if I could.
I remember going from London to Lake Como in Italy on my old Monza and that was fine.
On any new bike, I would want to ride it at least 5000-10,000 miles before a cross continent trip, just to get to know it and also to break it in.

I just got back from a business trip in Saudi Arabia.
Talk about culture shock! Being open minded helps discovering different cultures even if you don't agree on how things are done.
Would I want to go back as a holiday? No.
Do I regret going? No


Edit: 3 days ago in the Saudi desert

London to Lake Como? That'd get you about 1/3 the way across Ontario Canada. :D

[Matteo]

London to Lake Como? That'd get you about 1/3 the way across Ontario Canada. :D

Yeah but I bet the food was better. :BEER:

[Steph]

London to Lake Como? That'd get you about 1/3 the way across Ontario Canada. :D

Hey, check your math. :D
In Google map directions:
Ottawa to Thunder Bay : 1358km
London to Lake Como: 1265km