New V9 Moto Guzzi Roamer love/hate fest

[Kev m]

And slightly longer rear shocks will add a little more ground/cornering clearance PLUS should quicken/lighten steering a little, even on the Bobber.

Fwiw 130/150 series tires aren't that fat and a lot will come down to particular brand and profile.

I mean our Duc wears 120/160.

Now our sporty was 100/150 stock and I changed both brands (Dungflop to Metzeler, which alone changed things for the better) and sizes to 110/140 which made for better balance/braking up front and slightly quicker break over with the rear.

To be honest I always preferred a little more tire up front for traction.

I think a couple of tweaks to the Bobber setup would be fruitful.

[mgmark]

I also prefer the look of a horizontal top frame rail. It just looks "right" to me. Something I don't like is the trend for newer bikes that have a tall gap between the rear tire and fender. It is the only thing I didn't like about the Ducati Sport Classics. The V9 looks to have maybe a 16" rear wheel with a very tall sidewall tire. I much prefer the look of a taller rear wheel with a shorter sidewall tire.
It might be just me but I have never like cruiser style bikes, which to me is large front wheel/smaller rear, an upward slant to the frame rails, forward foot controls. I've never liked riding anything with a feet forward riding position. But then I have always leaned more towards sport than cruising.

Mark

[jas67]

And slightly longer rear shocks will add a little more ground/cornering clearance PLUS should quicken/lighten steering a little, even on the Bobber.

Fwiw 130/150 series tires aren't that fat and a lot will come down to particular brand and profile.

I mean our Duc wears 120/160.

But, the tires on the Duc are a lot lower profile (120/70).  What makes that 130 series on the front look so big is the tall sidewall.
A 130/90 tire (just guessing at the profile here) has a 30% taller sidewall than a 100/90.

I'm sure it handles fine, esp. for the mission this bike is intended for.

[bpreynolds]

Any ideas if the V9 alternator will have a higher electrical output than the V7?

[jas67]

Any ideas if the V9 alternator will have a higher electrical output than the V7?

I would doubt it.

Did the V7II even get more electrical output with the addition of ABS?

[Kev m]

I feel like output actually went down with the wet alternator, but I'd have to check.

Still, does the V7 not produce enough?

I never have problems with heated gear when I run it. But I don't have a GPS, extra lights, etc.

[Steph]

Caption contest:     

[bpreynolds]

I feel like output actually went down with the wet alternator, but I'd have to check.

Still, does the V7 not produce enough?

I never have problems with heated gear when I run it. But I don't have a GPS, extra lights, etc.

For your regular rider I absolutely think it's fine.  For me, well I need more testing.  It's not even remotely a "grave" concern with me and my 2015 (wet alternator?) but after addressing the tire issue (were over inflated - my fault) it's the closest thing to a concern I've had.  But as stated, I need more and better testing to see. 

On my Deal's Gap trip I started off with a fully charged battery.  I used my GPS the whole trip and the heated gear (jacket liner and attached gloves) only in mornings during the 3 days there and then only at about 1/2 to 3/4 power on dial, followed usually by lots of riding while not running it.  BUT.  BUT I SAY.  I was also stopping, taking pictures, restarting the bike sometimes 15 or more times in a day and sometimes only a mile or two or three between stops (so possibly no chance for the bike to get recharged between many of the stops until the end of the day that usually found me riding continuously for 30, 45 minutes to an hour).  At night temps dropped while the bike was outside with no charger.  On the way back to Louisville I ran the heated gear at 2/3 power and GPS as well for the majority of the 300 plus miles home and that was interstate driving at 75-85 the whole way.  Because of the latter, I expected to get back to the house, put the bike on the charger, and it barely need much time there.  Instead, it took a full 3 hours or more to get back to charged.  This surprised me A LITTLE.  But lots and lots and lots of factors here that would certainly not warrant any sort of serious concern.  AND, just to test this a bit I ran the GPS and heated gear (at 2/3) for my 17 mile commute to work and back yesterday.  Getting home I plugged the bike into the charger and the battery was more than fine, taking only about 20 minutes to get back to flashing green even. 

[rocker59]

No telling what the V9 has, yet.

But, as I recall the V7's dry alternator was like 350 and the wet alternator went down to something like 280.

We've discussed it in the last year, but I didn't take the time to search up the thread.

[Scud]

Caption Contest Entries:

"Man, when you slow down to 5MPH, it feels like you're walking."

"I'd rather push a Guzzi than ride a Harley."

"I thought this thing had a 1 gallon reserve - I guess it was a 1 gallon tank."

[Kev m]

I run heated gear so rarely it's not an issue.

But if I did, I'd likely look into an LED headlight to free up some Watts.

[Kev m]

Caption contest:     

Maybe Guzzi has gone too far copying Harley

[bpreynolds]

I run heated gear so rarely it's not an issue.

But if I did, is likely look into an LED headlight to free up some Watts.

Never thought of that.  I will definitely check it out.  Thanks! 

[Kev m]

Never thought of that.  I will definitely check it out.  Thanks! 

Check with Jay, I believe he's done it on a V7 (his racer).

[rocker59]

Maybe Guzzi has gone too far copying Harley

Nah...

[LongRanger]

Caption Contest Entries:
"I thought this thing had a 1 gallon reserve - I guess it was a 1 gallon tank."

:1:

[oldbike54]

Caption contest:     

  How far to the next Starbucks ?

  Dusty

[jas67]

I feel like output actually went down with the wet alternator, but I'd have to check.

Still, does the V7 not produce enough?

I never have problems with heated gear when I run it. But I don't have a GPS, extra lights, etc.

I don't know about my current 1TB V7's, but the V7C, the headlight would dim with the cycling of the heated gear.
I use LED headlights now, which have built in regulation, so, they won't dim, even if the voltage drops.
And, they only use 20/30 watts (low/high), thus free up a little power for charging and heated gear.   I have LED tail lights as well, which saves about 7W (every little bit helps with charging).

Yes, it does the job, but, it is marginal.    You wouldn't want to run extra lights too, at least w/o changing the headlight to an LED.

I'm using the ADVMonster "Mesh Monster" LED in both my V7's.
http://stores.advmonster.com/h4-mesh-monster-led-headlight/

The ADVMonster H4 V2.0 (which preceded the "Mesh Monster") doesn't fit in the V7 headlight bucket.

I had previously used the Cyclops.  It had very poor cutoff such that I didn't like using it at night or in rain or fog.
There are now newer versions of the Cyclops that look very similar in design to the ADVMonster, so, they are likely better.

[jas67]

Caption contest:     

OMG, seriously?     That doesn't bode well for the reliability.

Here is your caption:

"I'd rather push my Moto Guzzi than ride a Harley."

[bpreynolds]

Caption contest:     

"Dude, where/how are we gonna get these bikes setup before riding?  I swear this dealer was open just last week.  How far to the next one?  Two hundred miles!???"

[Steph]

Caption contest:     

The nightmare slogan:
"Walk the Talk, Go Guzzi in '16 !
-Going out of Business Since 1921..."

[oldbike54]

Caption contest:     

 Ted told his brother that is was mile per gallon , not miles per liter . His brother always had trouble with that .

  Dusty

[Adan]

Caption contest:     

"Are you sure the saying is 'it's more fun to push a slow bike fast?'"

"this is absolutely the last photoshoot I do for Moto Guzzi, cheap bastards!"

[Penderic]

With a Moto Guzzi ......

You

Can.....


and at the same time!
 

[Sasquatch Jim]

Maybe Guzzi has gone too far copying Harley

Do we have to wear all this ATGAT stuff when we're pushing them?

[ohiorider]

Moto Guzzi V9  -  So retro, we've retained the running start!

[Dogwalker]

Caption contest:     

Once they had brought the bikes, prepared the set, dressed us, you would expect someone remembered the keys.

[ohiorider]

Copied and pasted and attempted to adjust size of bikes to be equal.  Might help when trying to visualize ergonomic differences. 

Vertical lines left to right:
1. edge of rear tires
2. end of Roamer saddle
3. front of Roamer saddle
4. V7II brake pedal
5. Roamer brake pedal
6. Axle to axle
7. edge front tires

[Kev m]

But, the tires on the Duc are a lot lower profile (120/70).  What makes that 130 series on the front look so big is the tall sidewall.
A 130/90 tire (just guessing at the profile here) has a 30% taller sidewall than a 100/90.

I'm sure it handles fine, esp. for the mission this bike is intended for.

And that's what I meant by brand and profile.

[Kev m]

Nah...

You missed the joke.. It was because they are pushing the bikes.