[flintweld]

Anyone here own one? Have ridden one?
When I first espied one (on this forum) it triggered my gag reflex,
but lately I've become mesmerized. (how does that happen?)

Anyhow, what say y'all?

[PhilJ]

The V7 Classic ..... thumbs up!

[rideOn]

i always dig moto guzzi's. like to have a cali vintage. the v7 looks terrific. sounds like a good commuter

[t120rbullet]

I've been looking at one since I sold my Harley.
Only thing that is stopping me is Guzzi is not the most stable company out there right now. From what I understand they closed the original factory and moved it to the factory of the parent company Aprilla.
I don't know if there is any truth to all that but when HD closed the Milwaukee factory the quality went down for years.
Aside from that it's #1 on my list right now just a bit ahead of the Triumph T100.
CJ

[rideOn]

i've been digging the aprilia shiver 750 also...plain basic bike with different look. but from what i understand, aprilia and moto g are more like sister companies owned by piaggio, an old company also. the aprilia rsv factory is winning on the track, so that should be good advertising for that entire family of bikes.

[UncleErnie]

Earl says the V7 is about flawless.  He didn't want to, but ened up in love. 
I think it looks like if you're over 6' tall, you might be a little cramped?  It's a compact bike.
If I got one, that strap on the seat would have to go- it ends up in a wrong place if you lean into the wind.  That's about the only bad thing I could say.

Saw a Triumph yesterday I didn't know existed- a STREET Triple.  A 3 cylinder 650.  Not especially vintage, but still interesting.  I like the 650 size, too. 

[ace.cafe]

I "sorta like" some of these newer bikes, to a certain extent'

But they just don't "do it" for me.

If i were gonna buy a new bike, it would be something from Molnar and they are pretty expensive, and I'm not likely to be able to afford them unless I win the lootery.
But, they are gorgeous!

Here's a Molnar Manx



That's my pick for a new bike.
Since they are not road legal for new regulations, and made for the track, I'd have to buy an old Norton Atlas or something with a featherbed frame, and change the registration numbers over to the Molnar.

[Geirskogul]

Molnars are awesome, except for the godawful ugly headlight assembly.  Looks like it melted.

[ace.cafe]

Molnars are awesome, except for the godawful ugly headlight assembly.  Looks like it melted.

It's actually just that little fairing/flyscreen on there, which is the same one as on the original Manx.
It's the standard Lucas headlight assembly underneath, when it has a headlight on it. The fairiing/flyscreen can be easily removed in about 5 minutes.

[birdmove]

        I like the V7 very much, but have never had the chance to test ride a Guzzi. I have heard stories about major difficulties getting parts.

    Uncle Ernie, I recently noticed the Triumph Street Triple also.If you like that motorcycle, you may also like the Kawasaki ER6N.650cc, similiar styling,"casette" transmission (can be removed without splitting the cases via an engine cover), single shock, but linkless, which I prefer if I have to have a single shock. No bearings or bushings to wear out and need rebuilding.Its also a naked motorcycle like the Street Triple. At least Kawasaki dealers are easy to find.

    jon

[Cabo Cruz]

Br. Flint, the V7 ranks very high on my very short list... Google all the European and American V7 Classic reviews and you'll be able to confirm my previous statement... I have sat on a V7 and it's a very light and well balanced motorcycle... I made all the right Guzzi v-twin sounds while on it in the showroom... (I couldn't ride it because the one my nearest dealer has is not a demo)... he hopes to get a demo bike soon... and I'll write a report as soon as I get to ride it.   

[t120rbullet]

I think it looks like if you're over 6' tall, you might be a little cramped?.

That is a concern for me. One of those things you find out about 400 miles into a 1,500 mile trip.
The parts thing and Marelli EFI keep coming to mind too.

I really like that Manx, but then since stimulus ain't knocking on my door yet it's back to reality.
CJ

[Cabo Cruz]

"That is a concern for me. One of those things you find out about 400 miles into a 1,500 mile trip."  t120rbullet

Br. CJ, having sat on the V7 I can tell you that it's not any smaller than a Bullet.  In fact and since the gas tank is longer and the seat is higher on the V7, it feels roomier than a Bullet.  I think that if you fit on a Bullet you should fit on a V7... you can't go by me because, remember, I used to 5'9" on a good day; now that I'm 62 years young, who knows?! 

P.S.  I look tall when I'm on Perla running at 65mph, 'though! 

[Blue Ridge Wheeltor]

   The Bonnevilles I saw at the cycle show 2 yrs back seemed fat to me, and turned me off.
   When Uncle Ernie and I went to the Guzzi dealer a few weeks back, I had the opportunity to sit on a black V7. At 5'11, 32" inseam, I was able to flat foot the bike, but it didn't seem crampted at all. It seemed larger than the Enfield, smaller than the Bonneville, and better balanced than both. It felt a lot like my '71 Bonneville.
   While the health of the Guzzi marque is of concern, I think most of the components of the v7 come from the common parts pile and its' demise shouldn't be of grave concern.
   At $8500, is it $2100 better than the C5? That is the question.

[UncleErnie]

Good grief- they're 2 entirely different bikes.
If you're only considering (retro) looks- maybe not.
If you're a serious rider, then yes.  Definitely.

[Blue Ridge Wheeltor]

Good grief- they're 2 entirely different bikes.
If you're only considering (retro) looks- maybe not.
If you're a serious rider, then yes.  Definitely.

I am not debating whether or not it is a better bike, but rather if it is $2100 better.

[ace.cafe]

I think the V7 would be better suited to 2-up long distance touring with luggage and stuff..

I think the C5 was a much better job of retro styling.
The V7 retro styling looks to be a half-hearted effort, at best.

IMO, Guzzi should make an exact duplicate of the old 1976 LeMans 1 model, as faithful as they can do. Oval barrels and heads on it too.
Put new electronics behind the old-style gauges and covers, and EFI to pass emission requirements, and give us a real classic that meets modern expectations.
That's a bike I could buy.
That's actually the bike that made their name. I can't for the life of me understand why they keep making odd variants that they name after it, but don't just make the real thing.
People don't buy Guzzi bikes to beat Japanese bikes on the racetrack. They buy them for their looks and feel and heritage. It doesn't have to be fast. It just has to look exactly like the old LeMans 1, and have improved reliability and meet Euro 3.
If I owned Moto Guzzi, that's the first project that I'd do.
It would sell like hot cakes.

The next one that I'd do would be an exact replica of the El Dorado, done the same way, with modern electronics and EFI hidden behind the old style bodywork.
That one was popular with the "bagger crowd" and would fill the retro touring market very well. Even though I personally actually prefer the 850-T3 for that, I think the El Dorado is more popular overall.
That's all they'd have to do.
Those 2 bikes, real "modernized in a hidden way" duplicates of the LeMans 1 and the El Dorado, would out-sell everything else they make now.

[t120rbullet]

Br. CJ, having sat on the V7 I can tell you that it's not any smaller than a Bullet.  In fact and since the gas tank is longer and the seat is higher on the V7, it feels roomier than a Bullet.  I think that if you fit on a Bullet you should fit on a V7... you can't go by me because, remember, I used to 5'9" on a good day; now that I'm 62 years young, who knows?! 

It's the leg room that gets me. With a bum knee I need every place I can get to stretch out my leg. I have a "highway peg" on the Bullet that fulfills that goal very well.
The Guzzi has a cylinder there.

At 6'1" I have been told I look like a chimp on a tricycle when I ride the Bullet. It fits me just fine though.

Now if I could design my own bike I'd have a carbed C5 engine in an old Bullet frame with G5 wheels on it.

[Cabo Cruz]

From t120rbullet:

"It's the leg room that gets me. With a bum knee I need every place I can get to stretch out my leg. I have a "highway peg" on the Bullet that fulfills that goal very well.  The Guzzi has a cylinder there."  I understand, now, Br. CJ.

"At 6'1" I have been told I look like a chimp on a tricycle when I ride the Bullet. It fits me just fine though." 

"Now if I could design my own bike I'd have a carbed C5 engine in an old Bullet frame with G5 wheels on it."  Hey, brother, how did you get a hold of my very short list for the next motorcycle?