Author Topic: Who has Bitubo shocks on their V7? (Read 10846 times)

raul · « **on:** June 04, 2015, 02:19:48 PM »

I'm still trying to get my suspension right. I found Bitubo shocks for the V7 for a decent price. Who has them? Like them? Hate them? Please tell me about them.

tonUPRacer · « **Reply #1 on:** June 04, 2015, 03:18:05 PM »

I like mine Now. The stock one's were over-sprung for my weight (135lbs) so I had RaceTech install weight-rated springs and now they actually work. Are they as good as some of the other aftermarket gas res shocks out there? Probably not, but I didn't have to spend a cool grand either and I'm not that picky, I just wanted my suspension to do what it's supposed to do. Two new springs installed was about $250. Have you tried setting sag etc? On my stock BiTubos' I couldn't get any (0) preload sag, so the stock springs had to go.

RickTReloaded · « **Reply #2 on:** June 04, 2015, 03:52:14 PM »

I got my Bitubos from AF1 and noticed recently, their price went WAY up!?? I'm 175lbs - probably 190lbs in full leathers geared up. Was able to set sag properly and am really enjoying my V7 now. The biggest difference, though, was the fork work done.

Anyhow... Keep up posted on what you decide to do. Good luck

raul · « **Reply #3 on:** June 04, 2015, 04:43:16 PM »

What I'm trying to do is smooth out the ride. Sharp bumps in the road like the expansion joints in Iowa highways are hammering my back. I need to get something that I can adjust the compression and rebound damping with. The Bitubos seem like they would be the ticket to do that. How does your bike ride now with them?

Frulk · « **Reply #4 on:** June 04, 2015, 06:08:49 PM »

Raul....I have the stock MG Bitubos that the 2014 V7R came with. Not sure if those springs are spec'd differently than aftermarket versions. Most complaints I've read related to these shocks are from guys on the lighter end of the weight range. I'm approx. 235 pounds with gear and have the preload set where I have a little over an inch and about a quarter of adjustment left. I fiddled with the rest of the adjustments once (maybe twice) and I'm satisfied with their performance. We have some stretches of road in Utah with concrete expansion strips that are noticeable due to our winter thaw cycles but I can't say they really bother me at highway speeds. If I have a complaint about them at all it's the safety stickers they come with. Almost impossible to get the things off.

kingoffleece · « **Reply #5 on:** June 04, 2015, 07:51:11 PM »

Guess I'm the oddball. I had them on my 15 Stone from the get-go and took them off 400 miles later. Could never get anything like acceptable performance out of them. Spent the better part of two days working on set-up and no deal. I'm 198 without gear.
Had Ohlins make me rears-I did NOT want to spend that much-but now it's a rideable bike. RaceTech Gold valve front end, too.
I'm a bit picky, I know, but I want what I want.

RickTReloaded · « **Reply #6 on:** June 04, 2015, 08:31:31 PM »

Quote from: kingoffleece on June 04, 2015, 07:51:11 PM

Guess I'm the oddball. I had them on my 15 Stone from the get-go and took them off 400 miles later. Could never get anything like acceptable performance out of them. Spent the better part of two days working on set-up and no deal. I'm 198 without gear.
Had Ohlins make me rears-I did NOT want to spend that much-but now it's a rideable bike. RaceTech Gold valve front end, too.
I'm a bit picky, I know, but I want what I want.

Curious... Did you replace the stock shocks on your V7 Stone with Bitubos before getting the Ohlins? Also, did Guzzi return to Marzocchi forks for the 2015 bikes? Because as I understand it, RT gold valves fit only the Marzocchi forks and not the Kaifa forks which I believed were on all 2013-up V7s.

kingoffleece · « **Reply #7 on:** June 04, 2015, 11:45:44 PM »

Yes. Dealer installed Biturbo prior to delivery as he's done every bike I've had and knows how I like my bikes. I rode a demo 15 Stone stock and did not care for it ride wise.

As for the forks they are Marzocchi.

RickTReloaded · « **Reply #8 on:** June 05, 2015, 01:02:15 AM »

Quote from: kingoffleece on June 04, 2015, 11:45:44 PM

Yes. Dealer installed Biturbo prior to delivery as he's done every bike I've had and knows how I like my bikes. I rode a demo 15 Stone stock and did not care for it ride wise.

As for the forks they are Marzocchi.

Photos of your setup? Thanks!

raul · « **Reply #9 on:** June 05, 2015, 08:23:27 AM »

I just ordered the Bitubos. I hope I'm not going to hate them and then have to spend the big bucks on Ohlins or something comparable.

jas67 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 05, 2015, 08:42:15 AM »

Quote from: RickTReloaded on June 04, 2015, 08:31:31 PM

Curious... Did you replace the stock shocks on your V7 Stone with Bitubos before getting the Ohlins? Also, did Guzzi return to Marzocchi forks for the 2015 bikes? Because as I understand it, RT gold valves fit only the Marzocchi forks and not the Kaifa forks which I believed were on all 2013-up V7s.

Are the forks marked somewhere to know which ones you've got?

I'd like to upgrade the front suspension on my V7R.

pyoungbl · « **Reply #11 on:** June 05, 2015, 09:09:50 AM »

Quote from: RickTReloaded on June 04, 2015, 08:31:31 PM

Curious... Did you replace the stock shocks on your V7 Stone with Bitubos before getting the Ohlins? Also, did Guzzi return to Marzocchi forks for the 2015 bikes? Because as I understand it, RT gold valves fit only the Marzocchi forks and not the Kaifa forks which I believed were on all 2013-up V7s.

My '13 Special came with Kaifa forks. I installed RT emulators (gold valves) and .80 springs from RT. You need to drill out the metering rods and drill two added holes in the emulators...all per RT...and do some adjusting for air gap and preload, then the front end works fine. There is a casting mark on the wheel side of the forks to indicate which brand forks you have. To see this mark you will have to remove the front wheel and then the fender (as I recall), maybe the fork brace too.

Peter Y.

RickTReloaded · « **Reply #12 on:** June 05, 2015, 10:48:59 AM »

Quote from: pyoungbl on June 05, 2015, 09:09:50 AM

My '13 Special came with Kaifa forks. I installed RT emulators (gold valves) and .80 springs from RT. You need to drill out the metering rods and drill two added holes in the emulators...all per RT...and do some adjusting for air gap and preload, then the front end works fine. There is a casting mark on the wheel side of the forks to indicate which brand forks you have. To see this mark you will have to remove the front wheel and then the fender (as I recall), maybe the fork brace too.

Peter Y.

Hi Peter. Yes, you're correct - the RT emulators "can" be made to work with the Kaifa forks, but not without the mods you mentioned as they're designed as a straight forward application for the Marzocchi.

As for determining what forks one has... I took a small ball of silly putty and placed on top of the inside-leg marking on the fork, pulled it off and could easily read the impression left... a "K" in my case.

Cheers!

kingoffleece · « **Reply #13 on:** June 05, 2015, 12:30:53 PM »

Photos? They look like the Biturbos except color. Seen one Ohlins seen them all, I'd figure.

I like my Gold Valve front end but I hear great things about the Matris(?) which offers adjustability. I have Gold Valve on my Tiger 1050 and like that I could fine tune the front after installation. Not possible on my V7 with the Gold Valve.

RickTReloaded · « **Reply #14 on:** June 05, 2015, 01:54:08 PM »

Quote from: kingoffleece on June 05, 2015, 12:30:53 PM

Photos? They look like the Biturbos except color. Seen one Ohlins seen them all, I'd figure.

I like my Gold Valve front end but I hear great things about the Matris(?) which offers adjustability. I have Gold Valve on my Tiger 1050 and like that I could fine tune the front after installation. Not possible on my V7 with the Gold Valve.

I've not seen a V7 with Ohlins shocks and was curious to see how it looked. But yeah, you're right - who cares.

The Matris kit simply offers convenient, external preload adjusters - but that's it. You're RT front end with the emulators is better.

raul · « **Reply #15 on:** June 05, 2015, 02:34:23 PM »

My bike got the gold valves and springs last fall. I can't tell for sure, but it feels a lot better. I still have the Hagons on the back, so the ride still is harsh. Luckily, I found a good deal on the shocks. Newport Italia has them for $429 plus $20 shipping.

My order has been cancelled. They didn't have enough stock to fill the order.

kingoffleece · « **Reply #16 on:** June 05, 2015, 07:58:00 PM »

Cool. Only rode a V7 stock or with Gold Valves.
Didn't mean to sound "bad" on the Ohlins-they look like, well, you know! I'll try to get you a pic. They are mounted reverse with the reservoir toward the front as I have the Ventura rack system on the bike and the bracket dictates the shock mount. Looks ok to me.

Put 150 miles on the bike today-the Ohlins are really all that, and more. HATE the price, love the performance.

raul · « **Reply #17 on:** June 06, 2015, 09:14:49 AM »

Yesterday, after my order was cancelled, I called the guy that did my forks and who still has my stock shocks. He's busy and easily distracted, so he hadn't worked on them. He has a test rig that needs repair, so when he gets that finished, he's going to test one to see where to start with the damping pack. I have no idea how long that will take.

He works on dirt bike racing suspension and is a Race Tech installer or whatever one would call it. He comes highly recommended and I'm convinced he can do a good job, just a matter of when.

As to Newport Italia, they were selling an "old" version of the shock, the "new" version is the same price as everyone else, $799. Call me skeptical, but it looks like a simple price hike to me.

Guzzistajohn · « **Reply #18 on:** June 09, 2015, 05:10:50 PM »

Got 'em on a LMIII, like 'em fine. But I've ridden over those Iowa slabs. Not sure if this would be the fix, but the handling is great!

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Author Topic: Who has Bitubo shocks on their V7? (Read 10846 times)

RickTReloaded

Frulk

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