Rocker59's V7 Special Thread

[rocker59]

Thought I'd start a thread on the V7 Special I picked up last weekend down at RPM Cycle in Farmers Branch Texas.

Wade, Bill, and Boris were great to work with and seemed like real enthusiasts.  It was good fun hanging out in their dealership for a couple hours on Saturday!

Guzzi's aggressive customer cash deals were more than I could resist, and I dragged this beauty home for $7,000 OTD.



The silver/grey/black scheme on this Special is really classy, and looks great in the sun! 

I really enjoyed the 2010 V7 Classic I had for awhile in 2012.  So, with these current incentives on leftover 2014s, I decided to take the plunge and put another V7 in the garage.

The bikes are nice as-is, but every bike can do with some upgrades.  Last night I ordered the following items:

-Dart Flyscreen.  (Just enough protection)
-Norman Hyde M bars.  (lower cafe-style handlebars)
-Custom heavy chrome bar ends. 
-Hepco + Becker bag mounts and luggage rack.  (I have a full set of Junior bags)



Things on "The List":

-Euro turnsignals  (chrome bullet turnsignals that look much better than the black stockers)
-Fork boots from the Stone  (they just look right)
-Sump extender (may do this at the first service)
-Agostini engine guard.
-Agostini mufflers  (Because, baby, just because)
-Suspension upgrades  (the OEM suspension could benefit from a few Benjamins thrown at it)
-Brembo Snowflake front rotor, and possibly a 4-pad caliper.
-Centerstand.
-Stone or Breva cast wheels  (may look at doing this when the OEM tires are done)
-A seat!  (Why doesn't Corbin have something for these bikes?)




 

[Guzzistajohn]

Congrats on you're new purchase Mike, I'm sure you'll love it!

[pyoungbl]

Mike, I think you will find the '14 to be an improvement over your old bike.  If nothing else, the steel tank and single throttle body are winners.  On the suspension side, I'd recommend RaceTech springs and emulators on the forks.  For shocks you can choose your poison.  I had problems with shocks hitting my HB mounts until I mounted the RT shocks upside down.  You scored a great deal on a super bike, now to make it fit...enjoy!

Peter Y.

[Cam3512]

http://www.af1racing.com/store/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=61524

Contemplating doing same with the Stone wheels.  Price is decent too.  The spoked aluminum black rims are not bad if you can live with tubes (I can).  IMO, Breva wheels on these bikes just don't look correct.

[LongRanger]

Very nice! Congrats. That was a steal of a deal!

[Kev m]

Ha ha, interesting turn of events... Enjoy!

[blakebird]

that's a very good looking bike - I can't keep my eyes off the V7 Special in red on black

not sure I would have been able to pass up a deal like that myself!

[rboe]

I really liked the V7 when I took it for a test ride, but my gangly frame fit the CB1100 better. sigh, It had a very high grin factor too. Well done! 

[lucydad]

Rocker,

Blessings for many safe and trouble free and especially fun miles!!

Lovely machine indeed.

Interested in details on your front brake mods. 

[rocker59]

Interested in details on your front brake mods.

The front brake on the V7 is not bad, but Brembo has better.   
 
"Snowflake" rotor has a 5mm thick blade and a light aluminum carrier.  These rotors give really good brake feel.
http://www.guzzitech.com/store/product/brembo-snowflake-rotor-gold/

"4-Pad Caliper" is the premium Brembo caliper with 65mm mounting.  The four individual pads give really nice feel.
http://www.guzzitech.com/store/product/brembo-4-pad-caliper-lt-2/

[sib]

Congrats, and enjoy your new bike.  I'm sure you will.

However, I'm puzzled.  If you're thinking about putting on Stone cast wheels and fork boots, why didn't you just buy a Stone?  Those are the only significant differences between the Special and the Stone, and the Stone's over 1K cheaper than the Special.

[kingoffleece]

Pat Mitchell at www.astechseats.com can do a fine job on your seat-he did a great job on my 15 Stone.

[rocker59]

Congrats, and enjoy your new bike.  I'm sure you will.

However, I'm puzzled.  If you're thinking about putting on Stone cast wheels and fork boots, why didn't you just buy a Stone?  Those are the only significant differences between the Special and the Stone, and the Stone's over 1K cheaper than the Special.

Paint.  If I bought a Stone, I'd have to paint it.

Other than the solid white, there really isn't a Stone paint job I like. 

And, I don't want to hassle with getting paint work done around here.

Here's a V7 with Breva wheels:

 

[Kentktk]

Good looking color combo, I like it!

[davevv]

Congrats on the new bike!  I had a suspicion of what you might be doing down here in my neck of the woods when I saw your comment in the Motus thread over on ADV.  I'm not at all surprised you liked RPM.  That's my favorite bike shop.  Kind of a throw back in that it's owned by an ex-roadracer and staffed with people who know their business and really are enthusiasts.  They also have the best parts department of any non H-D shop in the area.  Great place to do business.

I don't post much here anymore since I"m Guzziless at the moment, but I do drop in occasionally.  Enjoy the new bike, it's a beauty.

[Cam3512]

Again, just my opinion but the 3-spoke Breva wheels look to modern for the retro V7.  Spokes or Lemans style are the way to go.

Agree with the paint.  Easier to change other stuff.  I had a choice of the two Special colors in '14, and the silver/black was it.   Just wish they had run the stripes over the top of the tank.   I remember calling around to dealers in 2013 asking if the 750S painted bikes were coming to the US.  Most dealers said no, or didn't know.  Typical Guzzi...

[blackcat]

Again, just my opinion but the 3-spoke Breva wheels look to modern for the retro V7.  Spokes or Lemans style are the way to go.

I agree, the bikes look better with spokes.

[tonUPRacer]

Congrats! Nice to do list as well. I'll be interested to hear about your brake upgrades as well.

[ChuckH]

Good for you Mike.  You're fortunate the '14 V7 fits your riding needs.

I'm not quite that lucky.  I rode over to the Dealer in Robinson, IL today (290 miles round trip) to check out the new V7 II Stone they have in stock.  They also have three '14 V7 models in stock, one that is exactly like the one you purchased. 

I have "test sat-on" the '14 and previous V7 models and have always decided they were too short from the seat to foot pegs for my leg length.  I was hoping the V7 II would be enough different in that dimension so I could consider one for a future purchase.  No such luck.  Granted, that dimension is a little greater on the latest model but not enough for my legs to be comfortable in their folded position.

Too bad.  IMO, Guzzi has made some very nice, sensible changes to that model.  It is just not for me.

[rocker59]

Thanks everyone.  I hope it makes for a nice little all-arounder.

As similar as it is to the '10 V7C that I had, it does feel different.  The throttle "feel" is different.  The engine feels different, and seems to run better at lower RPMs.  And, the suspension definitely could be better.

Today after work, I took the V7 out for 35-miles of mostly county backroads and realized that suspension may be getting moved up to the top of the list of things to do!  It's pretty harsh over small imperfections.  Damping issues, I guess. 

[vstevens]

Super!  Just bought a white 13 stone last month and am really enjoying it. 

[SmithSwede]

Beautiful bike.  Congratulations.   I love my 13 Stone.

The essential mods for me were better rear shocks and a lower set of bars.    Don't like the "sit up and beg" riding position the stock bars force you into. 

May get more aggressive brake pads when the stock ones are worn out.    Hey, they are good enough to use up.   Don't want to needlessly spend money.

[paulbr]

I've upgraded my 2014  stone to Ikon shocks a few weeks ago. I should have done it earlier, it makes an enormous difference.

Not sure whether to do anything with the forks, most of the options seem to be for the Marzocchis rather than the Kaifas.

I'll also be interested in your brake upgrades - do you expect to need to change the master cylinder for the different caliper?

[jas67]

Thanks everyone.  I hope it makes for a nice little all-arounder.

As similar as it is to the '10 V7C that I had, it does feel different.  The throttle "feel" is different.  The engine feels different, and seems to run better at lower RPMs. 

I had a 2009 V7C prior to my 2013 V7R, and yes, that is my observation of the difference between the two engines.

And, the suspension definitely could be better.

Today after work, I took the V7 out for 35-miles of mostly county backroads and realized that suspension may be getting moved up to the top of the list of things to do!  It's pretty harsh over small imperfections.  Damping issues, I guess.

Yep -- same here.    The Racer's Bitubos work pretty while, but, the fork is harsh.    I'm planning on putitng Gold-valve emulators in it at some point.

[bad Chad]

I not a fan of the three spoke wheel in general.  They have been in the line up for a long time, and I feel there time has past.  My BB Breva has them, and they look ok on that model, but on your v7II, not so much.  To me, they look clunky.

But in matters not what I think, if you like them, that's what counts!  Enjoy your new v7II, wish I was you!

[Birch71]

Looking forward to all the progress you will be making.

I've always really liked the V7, but I'm 6'3" and look and feel like a bear in the circus kinda experience. At least the Griso is long 

[gerryp]

Thanks everyone.  I hope it makes for a nice little all-arounder.

As similar as it is to the '10 V7C that I had, it does feel different.  The throttle "feel" is different.  The engine feels different, and seems to run better at lower RPMs.  And, the suspension definitely could be better.

Today after work, I took the V7 out for 35-miles of mostly county backroads and realized that suspension may be getting moved up to the top of the list of things to do!  It's pretty harsh over small imperfections.  Damping issues, I guess.

On My 2015 Stone I have the Biturbos on the rear and the front has been re-done with RaceTech components.

I'm also running a GIVI V46 top case and Guzzi Semi-Rigid  side bags as "Sophia' has been set up to function as an ST
bike.  I replaced the stock seat with the Racer seat and the stock foot pegs with rearsets as for me at 170 lbs and 29" inseam) that was the more comfortable set up.

Regards,

Gerry
Gerry

[jas67]

On My 2015 Stone I have the Biturbos on the rear and the front has been re-done with RaceTech components.

Keep in mind that some 2013-2014 bikes have different forks ( Kaifa vs. Marzocchi )than the earlier and later bikes.
http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=66391.0

IIRC, RaceTech only makes their emulators for the Mazocchi.

[Loftness]

Today after work, I took the V7 out for 35-miles of mostly county backroads and realized that suspension may be getting moved up to the top of the list of things to do!  It's pretty harsh over small imperfections.  Damping issues, I guess.

Dial back the stock setting first to see what that does for you.  I'm ~170lbs and the stock setting throws me up off the bike on smaller bumps.  Dialed it back a few notches and it's great now.  Doesn't mean I won't upgrade at some point, but I don't *need* to upgrade.

[rocker59]

Keep in mind that some 2013-2014 bikes have different forks ( Kaifa vs. Marzocchi )than the earlier and later bikes.
http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=66391.0

IIRC, RaceTech only makes their emulators for the Mazocchi.

The the forks are Kaifa.  Matris makes kits for them.

Available in the USA from AF1 and Guzzitech.+

I need to double-check mine for the Kaifa "K" mark on the fork leg.  Build date for my 2014 model V7S is 7/13.