Can you guys help me pick a new bike

[diamondseries]

I have been riding a Shadow 1100 for a few years now and I am thinking about getting a new bike.

I have been attracted to the v7s and the audace/eldorado. What are the pros and cons of each bike in your opinion? Why do you like Guzzis? 

Personally, I really like the v7s but when I sit on one they seem a bit small compared to what I was riding. However, you cant beat the gas mileage/range. I am not a speed freak but I do like to move, and I am not sure what the transition will be like for me coming from an 1100 moving to a 744cc machine.

 The eldorado/audace is a great looking bike and closer to what I had before, but its expensive. Also, it doesnt have nearly the gas mileage/range that the v7s have. My normal commutes are about 40-50 minutes and I dont love the idea of filling up every other day. That being said I dont want to sacrifice a possible great bike just for that reason alone.

There is a guzzi dealer right by my house. The owner is a great informative guy, but i thought I would get your opinions.

Thanks guys for helping me out! 

[jackson]

Two totally different bikes.  Lots of weight difference in addition to the hp of each.  You really need to ride each one to see which one will appeal to you.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Indian Scout. 

[Lcarlson]

According to the latest performance index in Motorcycle Consumer News, the performance parameters of the big Shadows and the V7s are about the same.

[charlie b]

Indian Scout. 

ditto

If I wanted a cruiser seating position it's what I would get.

[bad Chad]

Hey if you have a great Guzzi dealer right buy your house, then get over their, show him your serious, and ask for a couple test rides.   Definitely go for a Guzzi, the v7 and big blocks share a lot, but are very different from each other.

Screw the Scout, just another Johnny come lately if you ask me.   A Guzzi, that the real deal.

[diamondseries]

Hey if you have a great Guzzi dealer right buy your house, then get over their, show him your serious, and ask for a couple test rides.   Definitely go for a Guzzi, the v7 and big blocks share a lot, but are very different from each other.

Screw the Scout, just another Johnny come lately if you ask me.   A Guzzi, that the real deal.

I appreciate the feedback. I have given them test rides. The problem is riding them for long periods of time. Its easy to fall in love with the bike when I ride it for a brief amount of time, but I dont know how they will be on long rides, or whether an expensive bike like the Audace is worth it in the long run.

[fotoguzzi]

to me the Audace does not seem like a very good commuter bike unless it's all highway.. have you considered the Stelvio?

[Aaron D.]

V7 is likely the best commuter.  Good range, light, and inexpensive. Long running history too. Easy recommendation.
 
The 1400 is wonderful, handles beautifully for a 750 lb bike. Pricey, complex, and eats rear tires. They aren't cheap tires either. My friend gets 3000 miles out of the OEM rear, just put on a ME880 so maybe that will help.

Scout-fantastic bike, geezer grumping  aside, but fuel range no better than the California if that is important. Simplest to maintain. Riding position is adjustable to be similar to the California. I have ridden mine a few miles this year...

What don't you like about the Shadow? That might help.

[canuguzzi]

The person who knows best what bike to get is you. No one knows how your ride, his often, your ergos and things you don't like on a bike.

Asking others what bike you might like is like asking others who you should pick for a spouse. Its hard enough for people who know each other, impossible for those that don't.

You have that dealer close to you, take some rides. Visit different brand dealers and test ride there too. Read the forums and see the common problems people have with the different brands and models knowing that you are getting filtered stories from a very small population if the total that ride them.

Make up your wants and must haves and see how the bikes stack up. That is the paper part. If you don't work on you own bikes, check with the service departments to see what their rates are for typical non-warranty services. For example, just because the valves are easy to check and adjust doesn't mean a thing if doing it more often costs the same as the bike with a much longer service interval. That can be important when it comes time to ride and you run up against a service check period. That is why how often you ride becomes important.

Check for accessory availability. Some brands and models don't offer a lot of choices. If you want to accessories the bike, waiting for parts or not being able to select from a variety of types and so on can be a big deal.

Check insurance rates. My Norge is ridiculously inexpensive to insure, full coverage, low deductable. Something else might not be.

Best way is to narrow it down to two candidates and then ride them again knowing either would be good for you. Then it comes down to which one calls you best.

Good luck in your search, right now you have choices, once bought you live with it. Picking out a bike though can be lots of fun. Take your time but most important, make it your choice because how much you like the bike.

[lucydad]

Once you go Italian, you never go back...

Get a V7 small block:  great commuter, very flexible, and reliable. 

[Kev m]

You've already gotten great advice.

Here's my take.

I've had a ton of bigger and faster bikes. I sold two big block Guzzis (both faster than a Shadow 1100) to get a V7.

Hell, last year I sold a 100 rwhp bike and kept the V7.

The V7 is the slowest bike in my fleet, yet it's the one I road yesterday, and today, and it's the one I ride the most.

I like the Cali 1400, but it's a completely different animal and unless I'm doing a lot of highway or two up, I'd take the V7.

Good luck choosing, of course there isn't a bad choice.

[Perazzimx14]

I think you need a low mileage 2012 V7 Racer w/ two sets of wheels. Wait a minute....... I just happen to know where such a bike is and I think its for sale.

[rboe]

I felt the V7 was a tad small for me too; ended up with a Honda CB1100. Good deals on those if you can find one and an excellent bike.

The Eldo seems to be a very nice bike too, I hope to check one out in person some day. But the Griso would have to go to make room for it.

I just got back from a 1000 mile trip on the CB and it performed better than I expected. It's a keeper. I'm still intrigued by the V7, but I can't see doing real long rides on her - for me (just too tall).

[slowmover]

Get you one of them Urals.

[diamondseries]

V7 is likely the best commuter.  Good range, light, and inexpensive. Long running history too. Easy recommendation.
 
The 1400 is wonderful, handles beautifully for a 750 lb bike. Pricey, complex, and eats rear tires. They aren't cheap tires either. My friend gets 3000 miles out of the OEM rear, just put on a ME880 so maybe that will help.

Scout-fantastic bike, geezer grumping  aside, but fuel range no better than the California if that is important. Simplest to maintain. Riding position is adjustable to be similar to the California. I have ridden mine a few miles this year...

What don't you like about the Shadow? That might help.

It's not that I don't like the shadow. It's eight years old now and I have started to have problems with it. I live on my own so I need a bike that is reliable. I've had two breakdowns recently. It handles well albeit it has very weird weight displacement. It can be weird around turns. I love the pep it has tho.

It could have better mileage tho...

[jas67]

Ride both the V7 and the 1400's, and buy what calls to you.

Oh, and ride the Scout too.    I love the motor, but, the cruiser ergos don't suit me.   If you're OK with the cruiser ergos, definitely try the Scout!!

[Farmer Dan]

If I had the money I would go for the 2016 Eldorado.  Having to fill up the tank every couple days is no big issue for me.  I have to pass 3 gas stations to get out of town any way.

[SDC]

I have a California (admittedly an old one) and I love riding it, but I don't like commuting on it. I prefer something smaller and nippier to commute in traffic. If your commutes have heavy traffic I'd be thinking the v7.

[Perazzimx14]

It's not that I don't like the shadow. I live on my own so I need a bike that is reliable. I've had two breakdowns recently.

What were the causes of your breakdowns? Just because a bike is new/er doesn't mean its immune from mechanical failure.

[boatdetective]

I would warn that Guzzis should come with a full set of factory wrenches. To own one is to accept that you'll be fiddling on it.  I'm OK with it and the new bikes are really quite good.

Having said that- I would think the V7 would be OK, especially if you are shorter than 6' and less than 200lbs.  Don't expect oomph on the highway- especially going uphill.

The 1400 is a wonderful, smooth ride with tons of torque. The handling is much better than it has a right to be. However, it could be a bit of a beast in a parking lot. Although off topic- if you want an inexpensive, Swiss Army Knife bike- you might consider a Triumph Bonneville. The seat is a killer, but the engine is reliable and handling decent.   

[Randown]

... My normal commutes are about 40-50 minutes ...

Pick one with a motor that come up to temp quick otherwise too much time spent riding with cold oil. Just a thought.

[Kev m]

I would warn that Guzzis should come with a full set of factory wrenches. To own one is to accept that you'll be fiddling on it.  I'm OK with it and the new bikes are really quite good.

Having said that- I would think the V7 would be OK, especially if you are shorter than 6' and less than 200lbs.  Don't expect oomph on the highway- especially going uphill.

The 1400 is a wonderful, smooth ride with tons of torque. The handling is much better than it has a right to be. However, it could be a bit of a beast in a parking lot. Although off topic- if you want an inexpensive, Swiss Army Knife bike- you might consider a Triumph Bonneville. The seat is a killer, but the engine is reliable and handling decent.

To balance Boat's comments.

1. I've found my V7 to be essentially flawless (as long as I let it warm up a minute or two after a cold start). In contrast my two previous Guzzis were a little more needy. I suspect more than not a new V7 will be a completely trouble-free experience, but there's always a possibility of some niggle that needs to be worked out. Of course the OP said he's got a dealer nearby. If they're any good, he should have no worries.

2. I'm 5' 10" and about 230# these days. The V7 isn't a 2-up bike for me, but as a solo bike it's go is fine. As someone else said the Shadow 1100's that MCN (M Consumer News) have tested were no quicker, but it should be noted they are generally a couple hundred pounds heavier which changes the feel on the road. Some prefer one over the other.

3. I have a long history of enjoying bigger bikes, hell even my Sportster is about 600#, my Road King was 700# and I know they CAN hide their weight well. That said, the Cali IS BIG...not just weight but width and wheelbase. I could enjoy one for sure, but it's more an open road bike than a commuter to me. Of course if the OP is thinking lots of touring or 2-up too, then it's a no brainer Cali over the V7 TO ME.

4. Bonnie is an excellent alternative - the air-cooled or potentially the new one. As reliable as my V7 has been, I'm not sure I would count on a Cali to be as stone axe reliable as a Bonnie tends to be.

Peraz also makes a good point - what are/were the problems? Can you handle the minor things that may creep up with any bike?

Here's my observation over 20+ years of riding and working in the repair industry. Modern bikes are pretty damn reliable, BUT some moreso than others, and EVEN THE BEST don't hold a candle to the reliability of a modern automobile. If I had to rely on my bike for commuting again I'D DEFINITELY OWN 2... and if it had to be just ONE bike without a backup of a car or even public trans, then I don't think it would be a Guzzi.

[Joe A.]

Indian Scout. 

nice bike, 3.3 gal tank may be an issue.

[Loftness]

I would warn that Guzzis should come with a full set of factory wrenches. To own one is to accept that you'll be fiddling on it.  I'm OK with it and the new bikes are really quite good.

To own a 'vintage' Guzzi is to accept that you'll be fiddling on it.  Then again to own anything vintage is to accept you'll be fiddling with it.  It's completely false to warn someone that if they buy a new model Guzzi they should expect to have to do a bunch of home maintenance and repairs to keep it running.  They have been the most trouble free new bikes we've sold.

*unless by 'fiddling' you're saying they're easy to do your own general maintenance on, in which case you're correct.  They are very easy to work on.

[slowmover]

Had a 2010 Classic for 2 years and did zero fiddling.Now I have a 2013 Stone that I got new and have done zero fiddling.As a matter of fact I keep going around trying to tighten something and nothing is ever loose.In my mind they are trouble free.

[canuguzzi]

If a Moto Guzzi can't be ridden 40 minutes and come up to temp, enough to avoid problems then that is a problem.  A bike that can't be used to make a run into town and back now and then is rather worthless.

A 40 min commute can be 30 miles.

 

[Calijackalbob]

Get a Ural with a sidecar. Best bike in the world. 

[Randown]

If a Moto Guzzi can't be ridden 40 minutes and come up to temp, enough to avoid problems then that is a problem.  A bike that can't be used to make a run into town and back now and then is rather worthless.

A 40 min commute can be 30 miles.

 

The OP said "commute" which is different than a run into town now & then. Some Guzzis have oil coolers but no thermostat.  For those don't expect oil temps to get hot enough to start evaporating condensation in cool ambient conditions.  I'd guess the V7 is better in this regard, maybe an owner will remark.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Can you guys help me pick a new bike

No. Make that hell, no. 
Can you pick out a bike that "I" would like?




Didn't think so..