Hunt for my first bike Ep 3 | Moto Guzzi V7 850 | Test Ride | Motorcycle POV | RAW Sound 

Been riding over 50 years on and off manly British machines and owning the 850 stone has been a real pleasure,shaft drive now is a must have.

When I test rode one I too had high hopes based on some great reviews. After the first 1/4 mile though, I thought the vibes might be too much. After a 1/2 mile I thought, hmm, maybe they're not that bad. After 1 mile I was addicted to them and the character of the bike, and over a year and approximately 6,400 miles of smiles later I absolutely love my '22 Stone! I also ride a 2012 Kawasaki Concours, and the two bikes are so different from one another in so many ways that they enhance my pleasure in riding both. After all, I was after something smaller, lighter, and just plain different from my Connie just for variety and they are the perfect counterpoise to one another. Oh, and don't think the vibes will be too much after an hour or so. I find the way they're distributed, in combination with the great seat, very relaxing and comfortable and have enjoyed many 200+ mile rides, which by the way are easily done on a single tank of gas due to the large tank and excellent mpg. The Stone's matte finish and wheels also make it super easy to clean. All that said though, I imagine these bikes with their "mechanical" feel could put new riders who've only been on docile small bikes off a bit.

I came to Moto Guzzi from a 150 PS GSX-S1000. My First Guzzi was a V7 III in 2019. I changed to the 850 in 2022. And compared with the latter, the V7 850 has been improved, especially in terms of riding comfort, suspension and stability of the frame. Furthermore, the engine runs a lot smoother compared to the old 744 cc one. There ist just one issue regarding the engine: It lacks some torque from 2500 to 3000 RPM. And yes, it feels heavier than other bikes. But: I get very relaxed when riding my V7 850, every time. This bike decelerates you, your mind etc..., you are never in a hurry. It also has no color TV as a cockpit. No messages, no calls, no media overkill, you can just enjoy riding a beautiful looking motorcycle. Also, it has a very comfortable Seat and riding position, as i got to know through several tours across Germany. And no, it is definately not the orientation of the engine which makes the bike feel heavy. If that had been the case, every BMW would also have felt heavy, but they definately don't. If you wonder abpout this issue, i would recommend you to test the V100. It feels way lighter and is, compared to the V7, nimble. But the best thing about the V7 is its great looks. No actual motorcycle even comes closely! The V7 ist the best looking bike in the world. OK, the pipes are a bit huge. Because of that, i will replace the originals with short Agostini ones...

It's a peculiar bike. I own the exact model and colour you rode. I find it very maneuverable for the weight it has. Low center of gravity. Clunky gearbox is ok, dry clutch is annoying but you can get used to it. The bottom line is if the bike speaks to you. And it clearly didn't and that's ok. I felt like the bike made me happy at 20, 30, 70 mph. No need to go crazy on it. The vibrations have a low frequency and I love them so much. Chose the V7 standard as it has tubeless tires and a lovely headlight. Sone people hate the headlight. It's a very interesting bike no matter how you look at it.

Appreciate your honest opinion of your experience . This is also on my watchlist as a beginner rider from a 125 to my first big bike. And what you told here is probably what i would feel too and is not told in other reviews because they are indeed tested by more experianced riders who have a different view.

I had a Honda CB500F and I traded it on the Guzzi. The Honda is more nimble, slicker shifting, easier to bend around a tight bend and feels more responsive. It feels modern, which it is. The Guzzi is much more stable at speed. It feels slightly awkward at low speeds and can take more effort to maneuver. It feels like an older style of bike, which it also is. However on a 320km highway ride; the Guzzi rolls down the highway in a comfortable effortless fashion that the Honda can't match. At highway speeds the Honda requires more concentration to ride. It's not that the Honda isn't good on the highway; it feels great and I really enjoyed my 300km ride, but after that 300km I felt tired (I'm old). The ride home on the Guzzi was much more comfortable, the seat is vastly better and I wasn't even slightly fatigued. It's a more relaxed cruiser and that stability greatly reduced fatigue when long distance cruising. It did take some time to adjust to the difference; but once I did I was thrilled. However, I've been riding a long time so I can really appreciate an older design of bike that has been perfected. One is not better than the other. They're just different. It's what speaks to you that is important.

To each his bike, honestly. I personally own a ‘22 Stone. Wasn’t THAT thrilled after a little spin. Then had a second crack at it and loved it. The more I ride it, the more I like it. Hopefully, you find the right fit for your liking.

Moto Guzzi V7 Stone & V7 Classic is The best looking bike out there in the market ! The gearbox transmission also exquisite 😎

hired a v7 stone last week in Mallorca. yes it had quirks, but i ended up really loving it. i ride an africa twin and a speed triple normally. im now consuming online content about guzzis....might end up getting one

I love mine still after two years with it, every outing feels like a treat. I wasn't too sure to begin with, love the look but it did take a little while to really gain confidence, although that was probably more to do with me being a newish rider. Now i'm more experienced it oozes confidence with just the right amount of go to be able to exploit it fully when you're in the mood. I was all for changing the pipes but think the stock ones have matured over time and sound nice to me now.

it's visible you are not connected with V7. I think it's ok and you'll find your bike.

Interesting opinion. I've had a Sportster 883 since 2012 and I'm thinking of changing it. I've tested the Nightster 975, Transalp 750, Bonneville T100, Indian Scout, Tenere 700, KTM 790 Adventure, and the Guzzi 850. Of all of them, the Guzzi was the one I liked the most, and despite having 'only' 65 horsepower and less torque than the others, it felt like it pushed just as hard or even more than some of them. I loved it. At the moment, I'm convinced it will be my next bike, God willing.

Each ride is better than the last.

I have the Special version, in grey. Bought October 2021. I agree that the footrests seem too far apart and get in the way when your feet are down. The starter button, you have to hold it in 'til it goes, not just jab at it. One other thing that annoys me is the very short twistgrip travel, just a quarter of a turn. Crazy. Have to concentrate to keep the revs steady. Try using the mode button and it lurches all over the place. Re the torque reaction (pulling side to side), with experience you get used to that, then not notice it anymore. But you need to be smooth with it, smooth throttle action, smooth clutch usage and gear changing.

I tried the Interceptor 650, the T120 and the V7. I'm short (5.5) and my choice goes definitely to the V7. The bike is alive, it gives you a lot of sensations, I've found it really easy to ride. The weight is very low, and I’ve never been intimidated by it. At the opposite, the T120 was too nimble, 1st gear is too long, I didn't get a good feeling on it. Even if the seat height was the most adequate. The Interceptor is not for me. The weight is too high, my riding position was not good, I didn't feel confident.

It's definitely not a sport bike that tips effortlessly into every corner, that's for sure, but it's a more maneuverable bike than you think it is. The V7 demands that you use your whole body weight to effectively master it. Once you get comfortable doing that, you'll see the bike in a whole new light, trust me.

Forgive an older rider, But i am sure the gear changes could be less clunky, If timed a bit better / Quicker, I had to " learn " to ride a BMW K100 for 10 years, After being on power in a lower gear, Shut off , Clutch in, and Snick next gear, All in a split second ?, Going down the box , Blip the throttle. Good Luck.

The way you describe the handling I'm wondering if the tire pressure was low ? My impression from a test ride was very positive .

I'm probably in a similar boat to you where the looks and sound of the bike really appeal to me but it definitely isn't as effortless to ride as the Triumph, Enfield or a Japanese bike. That said I loved the feel of the V85TT which uses the same engine and is a taller and heavier bike - in particular I think the engine is tuned to get smoother as you rev more with the V85, with the V7 it shakes more with more revs and the way the engine pulls the bike to the side just throws me off a bit. Maybe I'd get used to it with more riding but I couldn't justify buying one at full price to work that out.

I'm told this one (and the v9) looks just like Guzzis did in the '70s and '80s. I imagine they've done what they can to make them feel like the '70s too (without being dangerous), so the clunkiness and heavy feel would appeal to that type of rider. You might be better served by something Japanese. The Yamaha XSR700 comes to mind.

I have a V7 and my appeal to it is its personality. It's not the easiest bike in any way, but the engine, the feeling, the sound, the looks... it's so much different than any other bike out there. If you want an easy and overall good A2 bike, buy a Yamaha MT-07.

I’ve owned T100 a few years ago, then went Adventure style with an F850GS but now, definitely going BMW R9T, just can’t decide if I want the Scrambler style or Classic/Pure. Are you trying the R9T? Far better than anything else on the market now.

You and this bike must go out to lunch more often, and get to know each other better.😉

Ouch 😂 I guess this is a "marmite" motorbike then. I feel your disappointment. The things you don't like are the bikes unique "characteristics" that more experienced riders seem to like. Clunky gears being another "characteristic". And here's the thing. Reviews are subjective and we shouldn't pin our hopes on them. It's been a very popular bike to review of late and you'd be lead to believe it's the holy grail sometimes. Just shows that everyone is different and are looking for something for ourselves. It's been on my wish list ever since Freddie Dobbs reviewed it and most other channels I subscribe to have glowing reviews, some with one or two reservations, and one channel has recently bought one. The modern console on this version ruins it for me, the twin dials on the "special" look so much more in keeping with the style of the bike. I also prefer the blacked out components opposed to the chrome on the "special". Anyway, thanks for your review because it's valid , especially for newer riders. Lately I've been looking at more modern bikes, sports tourers, but, older models, just as a stepping stone, around the 650cc mark. The RE350 range is off my radar now as a main bike, just because of what I need a bike to do (basically everything until I'm in a position to have two bikes 😂). So tastes also change, but until I start test riding, I could be like you on this one, hyped up then disappointed ☹️ Keep on with your search, it could be a wild card that changes everything 😎

Would you say this could fit a more experienced rider to make it more pleasant? Most people I've seen reviewing it praise it quite a lot, but none of them seem to be beginners.

Just goes to show you shouldn't buy something on looks alone,having seen the 650 SHOTGUN RE I'm torn between the two

Where did you get this thin gloves layer? How can I get one too? :)

You are riding all wrong this bike needs to run at higher revs, you are lugging the engine. Maybe you should ride for a couple of years longer before you do reviews.