New V7 Stone for Wife?

[alienbogey]

Hi, new guy here.

I'm researching different bikes on behalf of my wife who is thinking of upgrading from her first bike.  She has narrowed the list down to a Harley Street 750, Bonneville Street Twin, and the Guzzi V7 II Stone.

First, the decision is 100% up to her, I just do most of the research.

Background:  Last summer she finally got tired of looking around my fat head from 2-up and got her endorsement and her first bike, a Suzuki S-40 pocket cruiser.  She's put about 1000 miles on it and dropped it twice, both times coming to a stop in a parking lot, and it royally pissed her off both times.  Anyway, she's a cautious but good and improving rider.

Lately she's been coming to the conclusion that she doesn't care for the feet-forward cruiser position, and is thinking that she'd like to go to a standard/UJM feet-under-you type.  She's not sold on more horsepower, but I think that once she test rides a twin of moderate power she'll appreciate the smoothness and acceleration capability as compared to her current 650 thumper.

She thinks my Sportster, and anything of that general size is too big.  The S40 is too small now.  The Street 750, which she has sat on but not ridden, is the Goldilocks size. 

All three on the short list will likely make her happy, but we've been discussing the relative merits. 

When it comes to style points, panache and originality we rank them 1. Guzzi 2. Bonnie 3. Harley.  When it comes to customizability and dealer/parts availability the ranking reverses  1. Harley 2. Bonnie 3. Guzzi.  Customizing is important to her from the standpoint of making the bike fit her via bars, grips, seat, pegs, etc.

Really, I think she's most interested in the Guzzi, but we're wary about support, given that you can hardly get 50 miles from the nearest Harley dealer in the U.S. but, what, 500 from the nearest MG?  I had no idea Guzzi was such a small outfit until in the course of my research I found out that they build maybe 6,000 bikes a year.  Heck, HD sold 60,000 Sportsters alone last year.

Anyway, I've lurked and read tons of threads, online reviews, and watched Youtube videos, even some in languages I don't speak.  I'm hoping that the Guzzi fans here will mention things we haven't yet considered.  Go ahead, convince us to go Guzzi.   

(P.S.  Yes, she will ride each of the three contenders and, yes, it's her call.)

[gerryp]

God luck.

Just wondering where you are located?

[Guzzistajohn]

I sure like those Bonneville's and the dealer nearby. 

[alienbogey]

God luck.

Just wondering where you are located?

I just updated my profile to show location.

Triumph dealer is 12 minutes away, HD 15 minutes, Guzzi about an hour + 10.

I've been to the Triumph and Guzzi dealers to sit on the Street Twin and Stone, wife has only been to HD so far to try the bike on in person.

[twowings]

I think she will love it...basic motorcycling at its very best....

[Kev m]

Don't forget the Ducati Scrambler too!

I love my Sportster, as my love it and her other Sportster before me.

But once Jenn got her Ducati 696 Monster she never looked back.

I love my V7 Stone, though that Street Twin (I finally checked out in person last week) was A VERY nice bike too. I don't think you could go wrong either.

As a long time Harley rider I understand the draw of the easy accessories.

But let's be real, you only have to many a bike fit YOU once (as long as you get it right). And even then you generally only need a seat, maybe different bars (and unless there's something weird about them there should be lots of sources of bars), and maybe some shock changes (lots of aftermarket options for all brands).

Grips? Nah, that's farkles. Like chrome and other bling.

Anyway. I wouldn't shy away from the Guzzi for fit items. They just don't offer as much BS bling.

Now that said, the V7 is the lightest of the 3 and that tends to make women riders happy. Though the Street and Street Twins do sit lower and may feel lighter.

I'm just not sold on the design quality of the HD Street.

Anyway, good luck.

[Dave Swanson]

Since you are blessed to be fairly close to a great Moto Guzzi dealer I would recommend the V7 over the others.  Your wife already prefers the style, and I have a good feeling she will bond with the bike more-so that the others.   

If you weren't close to Moto International I would probably say go with whichever of the other 2 she likes the best.

If you look around on the forum you will find V7 owners performing many modifications to make the bike suit them.

Also Moto International has a very good sale on the 2015 V7  Special.  Worth looking into.

[guzziownr]

You are only an hour from Moto Int?  I bought a new leftover bike from them sight unseen.  I live in NYC.  That should tell you something about their reputation in the Guzzi world.

The street twin is a very nice, well-developed bike that won a recent magazine comparison between the three bikes you list.  This is a Guzzi forum so enough about that 

 I have another proposition for her.   Get a used V7 Stone/Classic/Racer and ride it for a couple of seasons.  You can get a really nice one with low miles for small money.  If it doesn't tickle her fancy flip it and move to the next bike on the list.  If she loves the Guzzi get a 2018 V7II with all the trimmings.

My wife learned to ride on a Guzzi V50, the grandfather of the current V7II. Great handling and brakes and enough power to ride comfortably on the highway.  It was a 1979 model.  Imagine what they have accomplished since then.

[canuguzzi]

Keep the peace. Let her ride each and take her pick. Then it's your job to figure out accessories and such.

You buy the bike once, you can change seats, grips and so on every year if you like. You can get seats and ergo stuff all over but Harley is one stop shopping.

[stevet]

Keep the peace. Let her ride each and take her pick. Then it's your job to figure out accessories and such.

Why would it be his job "to figure out accessories and such"?  Should we not wish her the excitement of determining how she would want her motorcycle outfitted, like we men have for ours?

Man, if my wife and I were in their positions and I took charge of outfitting her chosen motorcycle with accessories I felt were the right choice, there would be hell to pay, and there would be a motorcycle sitting in the garage unridden.  A gal is going to make her own decision, and you better not cross her on it.  Keep the peace, show the respect, and let her outfit her own bike.

Steve.

[alienbogey]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Accessories?  No, not my job, not if I want to maintain domestic tranquility.  I read her the answers to this thread over dinner, and when she heard the part about who gets to pick the accessories for HER motorcycle she just said, "SWMBO".

We have talked about possibly putting a toe in the water with a used last generation Stone, but I'd kind of like her to have ABS and she agrees.

The Guzzi is definitely the early favorite before she actually rides any of the final three, but scarcity of dealers and parts is our biggest concern there.

Heck, I want her to get the Guzzi because if I borrow her bike that's what I'd rather ride.   

[canuguzzi]

UMM, not YOU pick the accessories, SHE picks them, you make sure they get on the right way.

Division of labor, she does the picking, you do the getting.

[swordds]

Perhaps they each have ABS now, I don't know but when I bought my V7II last December that was a major factor for me. I also considered the shaft drive a major convenience over a chain. My nearest MG dealer is about 3 hours away but I have had no regrets, I love my V7II Stone.

[v7john]

When I read the heading I immediately thought "That's a fair swap!"

[Adan]

You're only an hour and change away from one of the best Guzzi dealers anywhere, so proximity to expert assistance really shouldn't be near the top of your list of concerns.

They're all good choices, and she'll be able to test ride all three.  Her feelings after riding are far more important than anything we can say.

[oldbike54]

You're only an hour and change away from one of the best Guzzi dealers anywhere, so proximity to expert assistance really shouldn't be near the top of your list of concerns.

They're all good choices, and she'll be able to test ride all three.  Her feelings after riding are far more important than anything we can say.

 Best advice so far  :1:


 Psst , don't buy the Sportster 

 Dusty

[Tkelly]

bought my wife a 13 v7
and she will ride it to alaska this summer.6000 miles so far no problems.

[sign216]

When I read the heading I immediately thought "That's a fair swap!"

God knows I paid more to get rid of my exwife. 


And it was worth every penny.

[canuck750]

When I read the heading I immediately thought "That's a fair swap!"

Yep.

I would really like to get a new V7 but I really should hang on to my wife.

[alienbogey]

A major reason that we can afford what motorcycles we want is that I kept my first wife.....and she kept me.   



I may cheat a little and get her to ride the V7 first, then ask her if she really needs to ride the other two.   

@ Dusty:  Don't buy the Sportster???  The Sportster is mine, and it's the most fun I've had with a bike in ages.

[oldbike54]

A major reason that we can afford what motorcycles we want is that I kept my first wife.....and she kept me.   



I may cheat a little and get her to ride the V7 first, then ask her if she really needs to ride the other two.   

@ Dusty:  Don't buy the Sportster???  The Sportster is mine, and it's the most fun I've had with a bike in ages.

 Just poking a bit of fun at the fact that she would need an entire new wardrobe . OK emos aren't working , picture a smiling devil . Glad you are having fun with the Sportster .

 Dusty

[Bravo Sierra]

Bike for wife... My wife has inseam issues. She can ride her Bonnie fine but can't ride my V7, it's too wide. Moto International is a great dealer but I don't think you can get there in an hour, well maybe if you went in the middle of the night. He (Dave Richards) has leftover V7 and lowered V7's so you will get a better deal then on the other two. She may want to consider the BMW F800GT or F800ST (used). This comes in a factory lowered version that is really easy to find used.

My wife chooses the accessories, I buy and mount them. What a deal!

Wish her luck.

Bob

 

[canuguzzi]

My wife chooses the accessories, I buy and mount them. What a deal!

Wish her luck.

Bob

 :1: