EICMA 2015 - New V7 Roamer/Bobber and MGX-21 Bagger The photos are rolling in.

[Dogwalker]

The more I look at this, the more I realize that it IS the V7II frame & swing arm.

Already seen on the spy shots. The swing arm is different, although, having been done to fit to the same engine and frame, it's probably "plug & play" with the V7 II gearbox.

[Chuck in Indiana]

20 years too late... the Ippo would have been a world beater in the 90s.. 

[oldbike54]

Here is my photoshop attempt:
v9 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr

It definitely has the "Brat Style" look with the fat tires.  It's  not bad looking, but, I prefer the V7.
Those fat tires have got to be a lot of unsprung weight.

Add me to the list of people hoping that this engine finds its way into a more traditional V7 looking bike.

With this change of lighting levels, you can clearly see that if it isn't the current small block frame, it certainly evolved from it.
Look specifically at the frame tubing around the side cover.

 The black rims make the tires appear larger than they are . I had the same reaction to Rocker's V7 until he pointed that out .

  Dusty

[Vasco DG]

(Sigh!) Another step down the slippery slope towards abjectly awful. What a shame that Piaggio have chosen to turn Guzzi into a parody of what it once was.

[Orange Guzzi]

(Sigh!) Another step down the slippery slope towards abjectly awful. What a shame that Piaggio have chosen to turn Guzzi into a parody of what it once was.

Pete, you know they are famous for that.  How long did we have the Tonti frame?  Early 70's thru 2013?

[johnr]

A couple of items I'd love to have explained to me.

[pauldaytona]

1. I don't know if he leaves them in as the engine is running. Else it is a great choke.
2. is the shockabsorber reservoir.

[blackcat]

"No, stylistically I find the V9 better in every way from a Nevada, even if not as stunning as a Griso or even a V7."

The V9 is definitely better, in fact vastly better than the Nevada, but it still has that look. The new tank is just the transition from that previous look but I'm hoping that they include the V7 hardware on another version of the new bike, as that will sell.

After all, how many people walk into the local Guzzi dealer, look at the V7 and wish it looked like a European version of a Sportster?

[oldbike54]

[quote thor=Orange Guzzi link=topic=79195.msg1259672#msg1259672 date=1447355366]
Pete, you know they are famous for that.  How long did we have the Tonti frame?  Early 70's thru 2013?
[/quote]

 Well , like the B52 , why replace something that still works ?

  Dusty

[jas67]

Moto Guzzi aren't the only Italian moto company to make such a monstrosity.   Ducati saw Guzzi's Nevada, and raised them with ugly wheels.


Both kind of remind me of the early Honda Shadow, and some of the other "chopper parodies" of the 80's.

[Xlratr]

The picture looks like some one grabbed up an XS650 and stuck a small block Guzzi motor in it.

And what's wrong with that?

What I like about the V9 is that it looks "right". The lines are good. The Ippo may have had great potential, but the look was all wrong (IMHO). The V9 just looks like a no nonsense motorbike.
It's a good thing we all have different tastes though otherwise we'd all be riding the same bike. :-)
John

[johnr]

I do not like it Sam-I-Am! I do not like green eggs and ham!

Tank is awful and has an obvious lack of capacity (range).

Side covers are ugly and need to be completely restyled.

Mud guards (fenders) are supposed to guard you from mud! They need to be longer to do that with any effectiveness.

Thinner front wheel a vast improvement on the other one and would be much better on gravel roads too, but I hope there is a spoke version. I like spoked wheels.

Rear tail light assy looks like it was tacked on as an after thought. It's messy. It needs to be cleaned up and mounted solidly on a longer guard.

Seat looks far to thin to be of any practical use for any distance. Also, no room on it for a passenger.

How do you mount a decent set of saddle bags on this bike?

Bars look weird and strangely mounted.

Single instrument? Bet it still stops the whole bike if it fails though! Now let's see, what other ways can we create possible breakdowns?

Front wheel is a vast improvement on the other one and would be better on gravel roads too, but I hope they have a spoke wheel option. I like spoked wheels.

Steering head area is ugly with lots of stuff flapping about.

Engine sounds like it might be good, and are those better rear shocks I wonder?.

I realise that this is a test bed bike but as it stands though, it would be a non starter for me.

[Chuck in Indiana]

It's a good thing we all have different tastes though otherwise we'd all be riding the same bike. :-)
John

true, true. 

Single instrument? Bet it still stops the whole bike if it fails though! Now let's see, what other ways can we create possible breakdowns?

Got a giggle out of that one. Sad, but (probably) true. 

Both kind of remind me of the early Honda Shadow, and some of the other "chopper parodies" of the 80's.

Hey! Quit picking on Indiana! 

(Sigh!) Another step down the slippery slope towards abjectly awful. What a shame that Piaggio have chosen to turn Guzzi into a parody of what it once was.

As much as I hate to, I have to agree.. 

[ScepticalScotty]

I'm just waiting for the V9 Stone. 

[Moz]

nope not fer me as is - leaving aside what looks to be heron heads again?? presumably bored out a little more and still comparatively gutless (just sayin') and the lack of modern suspension, it is currently styled for hipsters with the short seat, tiny tank, fat wheels and high bars.. 

Now I could be dead wrong about the engine - I hope so - and if re-styled then sure it's got some potential    but it seems to me the dream of a truly updated iconic transverse twin mid-size engine, sitting on modern suspension and running gear is still a loong ways off   

[Orange Guzzi]

Well , like the B52 , why replace something that still works ?

  Dusty

I agree.  If memory serves me right, the Tonti frame design became the standard for Japanese motorcycles.

[Orange Guzzi]

Moto Guzzi aren't the only Italian moto company to make such a monstrosity.   Ducati saw Guzzi's Nevada, and raised them with ugly wheels.


Both kind of remind me of the early Honda Shadow, and some of the other "chopper parodies" of the 80's.

So we have three bikes named after U.S. States.  What would the Kentucky look like? Or an Idaho, it would sound like, potatoe-potatoe-potatoe. Or is that sound patented?

[Penderic]

Maybe the girls at the EICMA show will make up for the styling.


Hope the Guzzi girls put the Ducati girls to shame!
 

[rocker59]

I like it.  It's awesome.  Great little roadster.

I like how the foot pegs have been lowered even more than the V7-II.

New lower frame rail and foot controls on the V9 will surely make it more comfortable for those with longer legs.

My 2014 V7 Special really folds my legs up.  Once I pass 250 miles, I start feeling it.

I also like the fuel tank.  Sure, it's smaller.  But, it has some style!  It reminds me of the Hurricane of the '70s.  Not a bad thing.

[oldbike54]

I like it.  It's awesome.  Great little roadster.

I like how the foot pegs have been lowered even more than the V7-II.

New lower frame rail and foot controls on the V9 will surely make it more comfortable for those with longer legs.

My 2014 V7 Special really folds my legs up.  Once I pass 250 miles, I start feeling it.

I also like the fuel tank.  Sure, it's smaller.  But, it has some style!  It reminds me of the Hurricane of the '70s.  Not a bad thing.

 Ya know , a slightly enlarged SB with some modern heads with that styling ... I'm in 

 Craig Vetter's first paying design job , although the original says BSA , which is what the Hurricane really is  and has shorter forks and the good twin leading shoe front brake .

  Dusty

[Kev m]

I'm coming around to that Rocker... More and more.

[bad Chad]

the thing about the ill fated Ipo is, like the Centaro, it was ahead of its time.   I don't think the styling, and type of clean standard would have sold very well 16 years ago.  However, now this type of bike is hot, though I think they should have gone with a more modern rear suspension, but you can't have everything.

[tiger_one]

I think the drive shaft and the physics limit rear suspension travel design.  Don't think you will ever see 7 or 8 inch travel.

[rocker59]

I think the drive shaft and the physics limit rear suspension travel design.  Don't think you will ever see 7 or 8 inch travel.

Not many streetbikes of any kind (including ADVbikes) have that much rear travel.  It's usually about 6" on those.

Twin shocks are definitely limiting, if you want to keep seat height below 35",  but the shaft doesn't have to be limiting.

Just look at the 1980s Guzzi PD bikes.

[pyoungbl]

Stelvio NTX
front wheel travel 6.69"
rear wheel travel 6.1"

not too shabby.

So, you can have decent suspension travel with shaft drive but the small block swingarm geometry is a challenge.  With the V7 (at least my '13 model) the 4.5" of travel translates into about 3" of shock stoke.  In order to get something like 6" at the rear wheel you would need about 5" at the shock.  That's going to translate into a really long shock and it's not a really large space.  I suspect the PD bikes put the shock at an even greater angle so maybe 4" shock stroke could = 6" or 7" of wheel travel.  I'd have to mock this up on cardboard to get more specific but it looks unlikely that Guzzi will be meeting my desire for a smaller Stelvio.  Damn!

[Penderic]

I would make sure the tank and seat from the current V7 could be used on the new V9 series.  Maybe even the side covers and suspension would be easy to swap with a few mods needed.

That would be an incentive for the new buyers - the ability to change the bike looks and suspension later on, without having to refab and weld. Easy Peasly swaps please!

I want that tank pad! All the good stuff for the V7 should be able to fit the V9.

[Vasco DG]

The one with the fat tyres looks like the sort of thing you see with kids sitting on it on a fairground attraction.

I understand people wanting that 'Style' of bike, (Well I don't, but if obsolete styling and technology floats your boat that's fine.) but why can't it go hand in hand with something that will actually work for something other than carrying your beard grooming products back from the vegan cafe?

Pete

[oldbike54]

 Oh Pete , we all know you are a closet hipster 

  Dusty

[Vasco DG]

Well, I've got silly hipster wheels on the Griso!

Pete

[rocker59]

I would make sure the tank and seat from the current V7 could be used on the new V9 series.  Maybe even the side covers and suspension would be easy to swap with a few mods needed.

That would be an incentive for the new buyers - the ability to change the bike looks and suspension later on, without having to refab and weld. Easy Peasly swaps please!

I want that tank pad! All the good stuff for the V7 should be able to fit the V9.

Dang!  I want that tank pad, too.  Where?  How much?