V7 Stone - 4 years ago today

[jas67]

.....
The Street 3 was a fine machine-well made and all that-if I lived in the WV area I may have kept it-or not.  But it would be fun there.
So, my comments are subjective to me and where I live.  Hope that clears t up a bit for you.  I should have been more specific.

If I lived in South Jersey where it is flat and most roads are straight, I'd likely not bother owning my Ducati Monster.   In fact on visits to Kev M, given the choice between his V7 Stone and Jenn's Monster, I chose the V7.    I'd be frustrated riding the Monster w/o curves to lean into and steep climbs to enjoy the power on (for longer than you can on flats).

Thankfully, I live where we have twisty mountain roads.   

[sdcr]

Aquired my 1983 Moto Guzzi Le Mans III from a friend in 2012. Brought home on my trailer.



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Pictured here this past summer after much rehab work. Almost every rubber component has been replaced, and the top end rebuilt  by Charlie Mullendore's shop, Antietam Classic Cycles. Runs and sounds very nice with laFranconi Competitione mufflers.

[ohiorider]

I think some of the small-block comments in this thread might explain why I like the way my 1200 Sport 2v makes hp vs how my sadly-departed 8vSE Griso produced power.  (Still miss that old girl!)   Granted, the 2v doesn't have the kick-a** torque of the 8vSE 1200ccc engine, but ...... for some reason, the older (still in the stable) 2v Sport makes power in such a linear fashion, and exhibits no surprises ...... it just pull all the way to redline.  While making those Chevy V8 sounds!

Amazing .... it does it with pushrod valve actuation, too.

[Kev m]

Ah this thread took an interesting turn with which I fully agree.

I don't fault the guys who want the big power and performance bikes. Have at it.

Me, I joked for the first 20 years of my riding life that I wasn't yet "mature enough" for a sport bike. During that time I'd flirt with the idea, I'd demo them, borrow them, ride press bikes - anything from a Vmax or Suzuki Bandit, or Buells, to the early K1200RS or K1200GT.

I bought bikes that were some compromise between touring and sport in my mind, like an R1100RS, Breva 1100, and eventually even a Buell S3T to try and quell that curiosity.

Now maybe it would have turned out differently if, like Jay notes, I had wound up in the Poconos 2 years ago instead of the flat Jersey Pine Barrens. If I was riding the Buell it was just flat and straight and WOT for no apparent reason. With no real curves to challenge me, I found instead I was constantly succumbing to the temptation to just go fast. 

And I wasn't here all that long before I realized as much as I liked the Buell (like the B11 and R11 before it, but the Buell even more so because it was such a unique, mostly hand built, bike that felt like a production club racer) that in the end it just wasn't "me". And 9 out of 10 times I was choosing a V7 or Sportster over it. Heck, I really like Jenn's Duc, but I rarely ride it too.

I realized that I was never going to be mature enough (read that as disciplined enough) for a Sport Bike

So I sold the 100 rwhp Buell, and delighted in doing more with less.

The occasional romp on a high hp bike aside, I really do prefer to ride a slow bike fast rather than a fast bike slow.

[jpv7]

Ditto for me...sold my Monster 1000 (rode it on the street way too fast), and my 916 track bike (yes I cried...) and got a V7ii Special.  I love to ride it hard, but find the suspension very poor.  Working on fixing that, and she will be perfect for me.  Plus the insurance is a LOT cheaper. 

The best part is that I can now ride it slow too, and it doesn't bother me like on the faster machines.

[ponti_33609]

The day I got her and where we are are today. Still fiddling.  Two years.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[stevet]

Kev, check your WG inbox for a PM.

Thanks,
Steve.

[Kev m]

Kev, check your WG inbox for a PM.

Thanks,
Steve.

Replied - I'd seen it over the weekend, but it was too much to type on a Droid lol.

 

[lorengo70]

My V7 II purchased on May 2016. This pic is from the first ride I took after picking her up from the dealer (seems like ages ago).




photo uploader


This pic is after adding a back rack, dart marlin flyscreen and engine guard. Just put her away for her winter sleep last week end. Rode her for for 12k km since I got her last spring. She is being greatly missed already. Cant wait till next spring.

[darkstar1269]

I got my 2015 V7 Special about 4 months ago, the girlfriend has a V7R and it was just too much fun to pass on with the great deals they were offering on this bike over at GP Motorcycles - http://gpmotorcycles.com/ - (shameless and unsolicited plug for a great group of guys in SoCal) - So I took the drive from Phoenix and bought this gem for myself. I have just recently sold my MV Agusta Dragster which was great, but still I did not enjoy it as much as this bike. I also have a 2017 Indian Chieftain, but I continue ride this daily and even on some longer distance trips. So easy to work on, so easy to ride, and this bike is only as limited as your creativity allows, and the stock is still beautiful. That is what I love about the V7, modified, not modified, it's still super sharp and just a bunch of fun. I look forward to many thousands of miles on this bike that will likely look very differently over the years.



You know what this bike looks like stock...this is today.

[paulbr]

A couple of days old



A year old - ikon shocks, dart screen, h&b rack, centrestand



Last weekend, just over 2 years. New rear tyre, not much change otherwise



I'd still like to improve the forks, brakes could be better and maybe lower bars

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[Kev m]

More great contributions.

Interesting too how many smallblocks.

Someone hit on something about the smallblocks which ties in to I believe their success, and the success of the Bonnies, and the success of the Scramblers, and I daresay the success of most Harleys but especially the Sportsters. They are all blank canvases (most inexpensive enough to let you play and enjoy without breaking the bank).

Motorcycles (especially in this $8-10k category) are adult Tonka Toys - they're like Jeeps (but cheaper), with tons of options to play and do with it what you want.

 

Keep em coming!