How to up-armor a V7?

[El Pescador]

My wife got her motorcycle license in May of last year after taking the BRC.  As a present, I bought her a new V7 special.  She put around 50 miles puttering around the neighborhood before she dropped it at the end of our driveway, putting a nice ding in the tank. She hasn't been on it in a year, but she's ready to give it another go in a local parking lot.

We would like to put as much protection on it as possible, since we would obviously like to avoid any more damage. 

Other than an engine guard (recommendation on the best performing  appreciated), what other parts can we add to keep it beginner resistant?

If this is a hopeless task and a beater is the best option, that is a distant second. 

Your help is appreciated.

[canuguzzi]

There might have been something about the driveway that caused the spill. It is true that many drops happen right in driveways. They are usually sloped, their is a tight turn into and out of them and often there is a car or something else in the driveway too. All that contributes to the spills.

Put some inexpensive side bags on it, that can help keep the rear end of things clean. Bar end spongies can help with a tip over as can cheapo plastic mirrors. The engine guards you have already thought of.

Unless you were going to repaint the tank and unless you want it pretty, do a linex on it. They make it in colors and in some parts it is a new rage for urban bike looks. Makes it ding and dent proof cause they can be pulled easily and resprayed to look fresh.

A different look but they have a nice flat back and there are more and more bikes running around that way.

[Triple Jim]

I have a daughter who recently got her motorcycle license.  Knowing that she's small and light, I got her a somewhat dinged Kawasaki Ninja 250 that's 10 years old.  It's not much over 300 lbs, and quite low at the seat, and cost me $1,100.  She's glad it's not a new, perfect bike, and it lets her relax and not be overly worried about damaging it.  So far, the only mishap is that she dropped it while stopped on a sloped grass shoulder, and we just picked it up and continued on our way with no negative emotions expressed. 

Every situation is different, and I certainly don't know your wife, but something similar to gain experience on might make riding more pleasant for her, and when she's ready for the new bike, you could sell the "practice bike" and probably get most or all of your money back.  The Ninja 250, by the way, handles great, has plenty of power to go highway speeds, and is smooth and quiet in its stock form.  The seating position is definitely not aggressive, and my daughter has no trouble riding 100 miles at a time with me.

[oldbike54]

 Are you looking for a real answer ?


  Dusty

[Loftness]

Are you looking for a real answer ?


  Dusty

Thank you

[El Pescador]

Are you looking for a real answer ?


  Dusty

I don't know exactly what that implies, but your input is welcome as long as it is respectful.

[oldbike54]

I don't know exactly what that implies, but your input is welcome as long as it is respectful.

 Respectful yes , because motorbikes are my life .

 If it took your lovely wife a year to approach a motorcycle after a driveway tipover , that is more of an issue than how much protection the bike needs . Addressing this is the more important problem .

 So... how do we handle this . well , a beater dirtbike and hours riding in the dirt until your wife attains some level of skill and confidence . No traffic , reduced chances of causing her or the bike harm , and skills learned in the dirt are invaluable .

  Dusty

[El Pescador]

Respectful yes , because motorbikes are my life .

 If it took your lovely wife a year to approach a motorcycle after a driveway tipover , that is more of an issue than how much protection the bike needs . Addressing this is the more important problem .

 So... how do we handle this . well , a beater dirtbike and hours riding in the dirt until your wife attains some level of skill and confidence . No traffic , reduced chances of causing her or the bike harm , and skills learned in the dirt are invaluable .

  Dusty

That was very respectful thank you.  I shouldn't minimize her crash. Our driveway is a good long slope and she hit the ground really hard. It was more than just a tip over. It was a bonified crash. I've thought about a dirt bike and have her ride it until she's more comfortable, but she has zero interest in riding in the dirt so that's a no go. 

[O]

Dusty is getting to the heart of the issue, but for bike protection, I strongly recommend these:

https://www.af1racing.com/store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idProduct=60959

For wife protection, perhaps an Aerostich suit:

http://www.aerostich.com/jackets-pants

Good Luck!

[mwrenn]

Inexpensive side bags, engine guard, and go ride...parts are readily available, tanks, handlebars, mirrors, turn signals.  Even with a tip over, it will be ok...
I hope she does well and is comfortable on it.  You might want to be sure she can stand flat footed with it, so it's not too tall for her.
I don't have a specific recommendation for an engine guard, quite a few to choose from, I like the look of the ones MG cycles has on occasion.  I'm not sure who makes them.
http://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=172_180&products_id=4565

[oldbike54]

That was very respectful thank you.  I shouldn't minimize her crash. Our driveway is a good long slope and she hit the ground really hard. It was more than just a tip over. It was a bonified crash. I've thought about a dirt bike and have her ride it until she's more comfortable, but she has zero interest in riding in the dirt so that's a no go.

 Has she ever ridden in the dirt ? Most of the fastest racers in the world train in the dirt , greatest learning tool available . Sorry that her crash was fairly serious , and a crash early on in the developmental stages can be hard to overcome . More than one budding rider has stopped after an incident , and we don't want that to happen here . Once again , skill and confidence are the key here , no better way to gain both of those than a few days in the dirt . We are pulling for her .

  Dusty

[guzzinka]

I can also vouch for the protection offered by some well stuffed, decent sized soft saddlebags - saved a couple of my bikes from any mid or rear damage.  The bigger the better!  Best of luck to you both.

[sib]

You can't really consider yourself to be a motorcyclist until you've dropped bikes a few times.  I have Hepco & Becker side cases and a crash bar on my V7 Stone.  The hard side cases really do protect.  On the several drops I had while (re)learning how to ride, there's been very little damage to the bike (a couple of clutch levers, a mirror, and a brake lever stop bolt), and only a bruise and a sprain to myself.  Lessons learned.  Knock wood, no drops in the last 10,000 mi.

[rocker59]

If she's having trouble handling the V7, I recommend getting her a well used 250 Honda Nighthawk, or similiar, that can be bought for $1500 or less, and serve as a "throw away bike" for her to learn the basics on.

[charlie b]

I second the cheap side cases and engine guard.  I'd try and find some actual crash bars for up front.  Both of those items kept me from dinging up my first bike.  When it fell over nothing would get hurt on it and I'd keep riding.

Depending on what can hit when it falls over you might get spare clutch, hand brake, foot brake and shift levers.

My T5 is black because after the second time it dropped I figured what the heck.  Pulled out the dents in the tank and sprayed it with flat black rustoleum.

PS I agree that the wife side of this is more important.  The bike is secondary.

[ogsurf]

Can she flatfoot the Guzzi. If not perhaps lower seat might make her feel more in control.

[Guzzistajohn]

Just my opinion, and that's not worth much I know <SHRUG>

But NOT learning to ride small motorcycles on loose uneven ground before street riding is like starting to play a musical instrument without an understanding of notes.

My dirt bike riding skills are used every time I throw a leg over. I'm glad I had the opportunity to learn in the dirt. I know it's saved my ass MANY times!

Thank you JC Penney and Briggs and Stratton! 

[canuguzzi]

No one needs to fall in a motorcycle mishap to be a motorcyclist, like saying you need to get in a car accident to be called a driver. The only people saying that are the ones who dropped or fell, plenty never have and probably never will. Its one of cliches that just gets repeated.

OP said his wife doesn't want to ride in the dirt so that is out. Dirt riding doesn't make anyone a better rider anyway and falling in the dirt isn't any less dangerous unless you have perfect loam and a perfect jump off strategy.

The wife fell but so long as she is able and has the desire to continue to ride, get her into one of the rider education and skill builder courses. They work and will take her from start to finish.

The rider education and skill builder courses also provide the bikes and she doesn't have to worry about damaging them so that takes care of the uparmor problem in the immediate future. She'll learn the right way from people who teach the skills all the time and sometimes having a non related person do the teaching is better anyway.

A few bucks to make sure she has the good riding gear and then the small expense of the education and skill builder course will do far more than making a tank for her to ride or getting some other bike, it will be provided.

Then let her take it at her own pace. Sure, do the engine guards and such to help protect the machine but the more stuff you hang onto and off of it, the less of basic bike it becomes.

[oldbike54]

 Uh , go right on believing training in the dirt isn't safer and a great way to develop skills there NP .

  Dusty

[rocker59]

Dirt riding doesn't make anyone a better rider...
 

quoted for posterity.  You do not hold the majority opinion on that one, that's for sure.  That's for dang sure... 

[oldbike54]

 

Uh , go right on believing training in the dirt isn't safer and a great way to develop skills there NP .

  Dusty

 Yeah , if we believe Kenny Roberts , Colin Edwards , Nicky Hayden , Marc Marquez , Barry Sheene , Freddy Spencer , Eddie Lawson , Ken Maely , Dick Mann , and our own KRGlorioso , training in the dirt is one hell of a good way to develop motorcycle riding skills .

  Dusty

[krglorioso]

 Yeah , if we believe Kenny Roberts , Colin Edwards , Nicky Hayden , Marc Marquez , Barry Sheene , Freddy Spencer , Eddie Lawson , Ken Maely , Dick Mann , and our own KRGlorioso , training in the dirt is one hell of a good way to develop motorcycle riding skills .

  Dusty

I also developed a lot of broken bones and 7 months in hospital.  But thanks, Dusty, for my 15 seconds of fame!

Ralph

[oldbike54]

I also developed a lot of broken bones and 7 months in hospital.  But thanks, Dusty, for my 15 seconds of fame!

Ralph

 Ralph , pretty sure that you are the only member of WG who was written about in the MC press because of abilities on on a
race bike 

[Rough Edge racing]

 Hmm, I don't exactly what to say.....But my opinion is new riders who drop bikes in low speed maneuvers need a lot of practice or maybe they are not the person who should be riding...
   How does the person drive a car? Are they a smooth in traffic and able to thread their way through without hesitation? Not afraid to use a bit of speed in the turns?  If not, they may never have the confidence to handle a bike safely.
 
   

     

[sib]

No one needs to fall in a motorcycle mishap to be a motorcyclist, like saying you need to get in a car accident to be called a driver. The only people saying that are the ones who dropped or fell, plenty never have and probably never will. Its one of cliches that just gets repeated.
....

Well, OK, there is a group of motorcyclists who never drop their bikes, the ones who never ride them.  Nice and safe in the garage.

And maybe one more group, those with poor memories.

[biking sailor]

While sliding a bike in the dirt definitely helps get one used to the inevitable low traction situation, if she had something like a used Yamaha XT 250 (low seat, weight, power, and cost), she could ride it around on the street or nice easy trails and develop the muscle memory for clutch/brake/throttle/shifting duties.  I have noticed novice drops happen a lot due to over or under doing one or two of the fore mentioned controls.

If she is good with the whole two wheel thing (think much bicycle experience) and the clutch work is a daunting factor, her enjoyment may be higher on a scooter. Since everyone is different and situations are different, I can't be 100 percent sure but does sound like taking a year to get back on the horse is a confidence issue and another dump on the V7 could end her MC desires forever, despite how well she and it are protected.

Good luck to both of you.

[Rough Edge racing]

Well, OK, there is a group of motorcyclists who never drop their bikes, the ones who never ride them.  Nice and safe in the garage.

And maybe one more group, those with poor memories.

 Dropping a bike during a low speed maneuver is a lot different than when riding off road or hitting a bad spot on the road while at speed...
 

[sturgeon]

Well, OK, there is a group of motorcyclists who never drop their bikes, the ones who never ride them.  Nice and safe in the garage.

And maybe one more group, those with poor memories.

Trying very hard to stay out of this one (although, for the record, I'm with Dusty on the dirt bike training). But I take issue with this "never dropped a bike, never rode it" thing. I've been riding for over 50 years, both street and dirt. Perhaps closing in on a million miles. Sure, I've dropped dirt bikes more times than I can count. Playing in the mud is part of the fun. But I've never dropped a street bike in all that time. I average around 30,000 km a year on roads, in town, touring, commuting, you name it. I have lots of friends with lots of similar experience, dirt and street, most of whom have never crashed a bike on the street. Hell, I've been rear-ended twice at stop lights on city streets and not dropped the bike.

I'd rephrase that as "those who've never dropped their bikes, and those who've had insufficient training and practice, starting with small low-powered light-weight bikes, and working up gradually as they get better". In my mind, there's really not much excuse for just "dropping" a motorcycle on the road, other than perhaps getting hit by another vehicle out of the blue.

[oldbike54]

Trying very hard to stay out of this one (although, for the record, I'm with Dusty on the dirt bike training). But I take issue with this "never dropped a bike, never rode it" thing. I've been riding for over 50 years, both street and dirt. Perhaps closing in on a million miles. Sure, I've dropped dirt bikes more times than I can count. Playing in the mud is part of the fun. But I've never dropped a street bike in all that time. I average around 30,000 km a year on roads, in town, touring, commuting, you name it. I have lots of friends with lots of similar experience, dirt and street, most of whom have never crashed a bike on the street. Hell, I've been rear-ended twice at stop lights on city streets and not dropped the bike.

I'd rephrase that as "those who've never dropped their bikes, and those who've had insufficient training and practice, starting with small low-powered light-weight bikes, and working up gradually as they get better". In my mind, there's really not much excuse for just "dropping" a motorcycle on the road, other than perhaps getting hit by another vehicle out of the blue.

 Simply no way to explain the dirt factor better 

  Dusty

[Gian4]

My RX for this situation.  Smaller (lower to the ground) light beater bike like a Honda Rebel, Buell blast, or Kawi.  Repeat MSF course.  Practice, practice, practice.  Short rides in controlled environments(ie.  not to technical with minimal traffic).  But before any of this, a good honest heart to heart is she doing this because she really wants to ride or is it more because you want her to ride???
My 2 cents.
gian4
PS I agree with Dusty about dirt riding but if she won't then my above suggestion from my experience should work for her if she really wants to learn and really enjoys riding.