Currently own a 1989 Moto Guzzi Mille GT 1000 cc that I have had for 20 years. Once took me 120 miles on one cylinder at highway speed when one spark plug wire crapped out on a Sunday morning with no shops open. At almost 70 years old it has gotten too heavy to maneuver in and out of situations. Purchased a 2013 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone at more than 100 pounds less wet weight. Absolutely love it. Will stay with Moto Guzzi for the rest of my riding life. I have owned BMW, Laverda, Ducati, Moto Morini, Triumph, BSA, Zundapp, Indian, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Cagiva and loved them all for different reasons, but the fact that I can physically handle the weight of a bike that will cruise (illegally) at 85-90 mph for as long as I need, looks good, is reliable and affordable and unique, why shop anywhere else?- -Mike Battle
Great video, greetings from a very warm NZ. Waiting on delivery of V85tt (my 4th Guzzi), now lucky enough to have the time (and money) to own a second bike, think this video made up my mind, couple of low k ones for sale here at the moment. Thanks guys.
Love the review at 6'4" ive no issues fitting on my V7iii and love its ease of maintenance plus the ABS and reliability it still can put on a turn of speed or just cruise all ive done is upgrade the suspension most fun ive had since airhead beemer days without the reliability issues.
Pipe sounds great but looks rotten. I don't care how much weight it saves, I couldn't live with that thing. I agree with Dave when he said that the RE is great but he wouldn't buy one (neither would I) Do you want to open the garage door and see a Guzzi or an Enfield???.....Great video, really enjoyed it.
I had the V7II Stone and I rode my friend's V7 Classic. I currently own a 1975 V7 850 GT, V7 III Special and V7 850. My favourite of all is the V7 III Special, although the seat is very low. The oldtimer looks and feels a lot bigger, as it has a longer wheelbase. At 6ft3" I probably look like a monkey indeed on these bikes, but I am still sitting comfortably on them. I had and have many other Guzzi's (and other bikes), but the V7 is my favourite bike.
I have a V7III Stone and it is my favourite bike. When the 850 came out I was hoping it would be like the 750 but with a bit more power . When I test rode one I was disappointed. Seemed to be smoother ,revvier ,less side to side rock, not as flexible as the III. The III just seems able to hold on to a high gear at very low speeds in a way that the 850 did not seem to do. Seemed less flexible, less flywheel effect. Maybe it was the Euro 5 fuelling? Is it just me ? Since you own the 750 and the 850 ,what do you think.
Looks great guys. I just bought a V7III 2017 with after market cans (made in NZ). It's black with the turquoise stripes, spokes, and is utterly gorgeous. And, cos of life getting in the way, I'm waiting for it to be delivered to me from a town down south a wee ways in a few days. I can't bloody wait. Had a VII50 way back in the day on my OE and rode it everywhere in England and Wales then across Europe to Israel. Always wanted another MG. Cool review. Love from NZ. Stay safe and ride safe guys.
Thanks for the video. I have had 3 Guzzis: a California EV, a 750 Breva, and a 1200 Norge first gen (2 valves per cylinder, engine similar to the 1200 Breva). The roughest one was by far the California : awfully clunky gearbox with vicious false neutrals occuring when changing gear in bends, a good coupled braking system whose goodness was killed by the need to put the right foot high upon a weird stump of peg above the foot-board. I adapted well to the agricultural character of this bike because the engine itself was wonderful. In my mind, it revved like a Messerschmidt (of course I never seated even close to a Messerschmidt). I got an accident with the EV, accident to which the weird position of the foot upon braking contributed a lot since a could just brake and blocked the front wheel upon a greasy diesel-painted tarmac. Thereafter I got the Breva: it was a nice ride solo, but it had no real guts and was far too asthmatic to deliver a pleasant riding with my spouse as pillion. Then I got a Sportster XL 1200S, nicely equipped for touring (winscreen, nice dual seat, luggage rack with a small back rest , big leather panniers). The engine was a bit smoother than the EV's at low rev, but it was much less interesting to rev a bit than the EV. I sold it because it was difficult to fit it with decent tyres for all-weather riding, the choice being limited to hard Dunlops and treacherous Metzeler Marathons. The Norge was my last Guzzi until now and I loved it. Heavy but OK for my size (1.76m) and with much more character and grunt than the Breva, which has the same block as the V7 until recent times. After fitting its suspensions with decent Hyperpro springs, the Norge was very nice to ride solo as long as the asphalt was decent and one did not brutalize its engine and gearbox. It was decent with pillion and full luggage although the engine appeared a bit lazy in such conditions. Of course the badly engineered and plasticky fairing precluded it from claiming to be a classic bike, but mechanically speaking, it was. The problem with the small block was the limitation to 47HP that almost continuously existed since the V50. I have read it was because of both the unefficient Heron flat cylinder head and the gearbox/shaft drive combo that was not able to bear much power. I test rode the 850 roamer and found it gave no more impressions than the 750 Breva. Truth it is that they re-enginneered the whole stuff (engine gearbox and shaft drive) upon designing the new V855TT, and probably only now the 850 V7 becomes the true heir of the famous 850 T3. Maybe the last gen of 750V7 III luckily fitted with hemispheric head initiated the return to authenticity ? As a whole, I liked my Guzzis, but I strongly dislike Guzzi's marketing trying to convince potential buyers than the recent V7 gens were heirs of the superb V7 700 and 750 Special. For me, this is just bullshit, they were just the lineage of the tiny V35 and V50, and kind of toads trying to pass for the oax. Now I am riding a very japanese Versys 1000S, liking its sure-footed manners and the strength that hides behind its smoothness, liking certainly less its weigh and height. What is nice in you video is that the truth of modern V7s pertains to the (relatively) lightweight character of the V50 lineage rather than the pretended inheritance of the original V7. Then, ride these bikes for what they are and throw Guzzi's marketing into the wastebasket. To some extent, the marketing of Honda or Kawasaki is much more honest in comparison. It is a pity because many Guzzis are amongst the most pleasant bikes to ride ... in a classical fashion. Greetings from the other side of the Channel !
Owned a V7ll Stone, and although she's a looker also at 6ft too small for me and prefer a bit more performance so moved on to a Monster 696+ and now a Monster 1000ie, loving your channel thanks.
I had a Guzzi V7 III Rough with The Agostini slip on exhaust, traded it for my Triumph Speedmaster ( which I love ) but I miss that Moto Guzzi so much. Wish I never let it go ! Great Channel Guys !
@@RVRCloset I had the dealer move the foot controls to center like the bobber, its an easy alteration. Then I swapped the handlebars to T120 handlebars . To swap the bars they had to also swap out the clutch and brake cables , the original ones for the beach bars are too long and would kink. Cost a bit but was worth it to me! 👍
I test rode a V7II. It was very much an old bike brought up to date to meet modern regulations. In contrast, the Enfield and the Triumph equivalents felt a lot more like modern bikes made to look old.
Good choice (in my opinion). I've got one with nearly all the same mods (including a remap by BSD in Peterborough) and I love it. It will be buried with me! You're welcome to try mine anytime.
The paint job makes your bike better looking than the Special. Really sharp, I prefer the Stone with your paint job because the Stone has mag wheels and tubeless tires. Great Looking bike!!!
i have a V7 ii special and i love it. it is definitely a classic style bike and has that feel about it that the best if the classics have. its interesting how similar your northern winter landscape looks , its like our post - bush fire scenery here is Australia.
I looked at one of these a few years back and admittedly thought they looked good but couldn’t figure out what MG skipped to keep the price down I always wanted or thought I wanted a LeMans of the 70’s vintage but one of these may be a viable alternative Good review
This reminds me of my v7 rough. Arrow pipe, canvas pannier and fly screen, plus classic Guzzi stripes. I loved it, sadly I felt too cramped on it. Swapped it for a 1200 sport with panniers etc. That thing had more grunt than a truffle pig, but was a nightmare in winter. But, I might go back to a nice v7, funnily enough this one's for sale as I write...
I have a V9 too, it’s just that some ADV bikes are just so massive nowadays it sometimes feels that way. I tried an Africa Twin one day it was ridiculous, too big.
@@Theophilus1968 Fair play. Each to their own. I have an old type Bonny and a very nasty 1970’s old school Ducati 900 caff racer, the right bikes for twisty English country roads.
@@philiphawley2915 I live in the northwest coast and we love our curves too. I had an air cooled triumph scrambler (Beatrice). I loved her but Giatta the Guzzi would eat Beatrice for dinner on the curves. 😜
The pipe looks and sounds great and the paint is a big improvement over the satin black original. I lusted after the 1000 S with those same colours . Your "Classic bike alternative" is a really interesting concept.
Australia here. I almost bought a new 1000S back in 1990. It would have taken four months for delivery so I bought a 1990 Le Mans MkV straight off the showroom floor. The 1000S is basically a naked Le Mans MkV. I owned the MkV 11 years. Best bike I've ever owned.
I like your comparisons of classic and modern classics. I own a 2012 V7 Special and am 6’ tall, no major problems for me though. Also a classic 50s to 70s Triumph rider so interesting to hear what you think. Keep it up as great watching. Regarding the rear set footrests, can you advise the brand or any details please?
I had a 2017 V7 Special for about a year. At that point I had a 1974 Honda CB750 and figured I should have a modern bike as well. It was a fun motorcycle but I ended up selling it because I picked up a 1964 Triumph TR6 and I only had room for 2 bikes. I guess I just like vintage bikes better.
New Stornello tires front/ rear That would be Radial rear, and Bias front. Made by Goldentyre.. Bad combo f you followed the factory pick. Radial front with a different design is a huge improvement. and can work better in many ways over fitting the popular Conti RA-3 radials.. 6 speed gear box in the last years of the V7ii is one of the best Fitted to any motorcycle . At Least running Motul 300V 75/90 full syn. There are subtle changes that can make a huge difference in the perception this Motorcycle. Even how you mount the lugguge from C-bow mounts and luggugged used can be tottally different from what you came up with using the arrow pipe.. On, and on The Stock Stronello Mapp is different then the Guzzi V-7 standard, and works very well for me..
Thanks, you've made some interesting points there. Re the Stornello tyres, you're absolutely right, the feel from the front on damp roads is not good so they will be changed in a couple of thousand miles when worn out. There is also a bit of a weave above 85mph which may be (partly?) down to the front/ rear tyre imbalance you've mentioned. Thanks again.
What is a classic bike? Hmmm? I’ve been riding since 1964, when my friend was silly enough to let me ride and drop his brand new Honda 50. I’ve had all 4 of the big name brand Japanese bikes, and the odd Harley chopper in the 1970s and a BMW in the 1980s. Currently I have a 1986 BMW R80 RT (800cc), a 1999 Harley Sportster 1200 Custom, and a 2001 Harley Electraglide “Classic”, which Harley no longer makes. Only the Standard and the Ultra exist in the current line up. None of my bikes have ever had tech. No wide screen TV screen on the handlebars to offer more options to control my bike than I want or know what to do with. No fuel injection. No ABS or Traction control. No USB port for my cell phone. No fuel gauge. Well, the Electraglide has a fuel gauge which is wildly inaccurate. I ignore it.Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against tech. It’s great when it works in my car. It’s expensive when it doesn’t work. But any bike with any level of tech, including a fuel gauge is not a classic. A retro, but not a classic. So for me, any bike that doesn’t have tech is a classic bike. Any bike that requires you to know what it’s range is, before you run out of gas, without being told by an electric signal, a classic. Any bike the requires the rider to have some vague idea how it works, so you know it’s a good idea to check the air in the tires before a ride, without a light popping on, on the big screen TV is a classic. Any bike that needs you to show it some love and take care of it, because it’s not too complicated to understand how it works, is, in my humble opinion, a classic. That said, I have my eye on that new Yamaha Tracer 9GT. That bike really Flicks my Bic! To quote a 1970s American classic cigarette lighter TV commercial. I have room for one more non-classic bike in my garage. I’m going to be 70 this year so some ABS and Traction Control might not be a bad idea! Keep up the great videos and hopefully you find more Lemon Drizzle Cake in 2022! Ride to Eat. Eat to Ride.😎👍
the main reason the V7 feels like a classic guzzi is that it IS a classic Guzzi; there's very little change between the V7II and the first 750 small blocks. They, in their turn, were very similar to the V35/50 series. the v85, V7 850 and so on are quite different but the V7 750 are more more less a V50 in big trousers. The V7 850 gets hemi heads and a different bottom end (see the V85 too), but the V7 is just a modernised old bike.
@@stewartellinson8846 have you seen our other Guzzi videos ? We have done a T3 Cali and my old Griso (Dave had a Griso as well that features in the video) I am Guzzi less at the moment and missing them but filming our local V100 launch tomorrow night
My '14 V7 Special makes about the same power my '67 TR6 did. The Guzzi's a little heavier but has actual brakes and starts on a button. It'll sit on 75 or 80mph for mile after mile without shedding parts or blowing bulbs. I loved that Triumph but I don't want another one. A V7 is a more than acceptable alternative, I'd say.
Hi Maynard, thanks for your thoughts which I totally concur with. I love my TR6C but it's nice to have good brakes and a button to press rather than jumping up and down on a kickstart with dodgy, worn out knees! I feel like I'm already acquainted with you and your V7 thanks to your enlightening magazine articles which I always enjoy. I'm quite envious, I get the impression that you're always bend swinging in glorious weather on beautiful mountain roads in the U.S. on your Guzzi, but that's probably because it's often grey and miserable here in the UK! Take care and keep up the good work. Richard
@@richardayton3556 Richard, I WISH! Freezing rain today here in Colorado, can't even walk outside! Thanks for the kind words. I'm a LDG subscriber, enjoy every video. I wish I wish I'd been with you on that ride around the TT course. Just a dream for me...
@@MaynardHershon Glad you're enjoying the videos Maynard, we do them for fun and it makes it worthwhile when people appreciate them. You're always welcome to join us on a ride whenever you're in the UK! Take care Richard and the LDG
The heavier the flywheel and clutch, the more a Guzzi feels like a real Guzzi of old.... Last of the proper heavy flywheeled bikes were pre V11 and 1100 Sport. I owned both an early V11 and a Centauro (in BRG), regretting selling both, but none had that pull from 1500 rpm and proper shudder that only the 60-70-80-90's bikes had. Still have my highly modded 89 Cali 3...
I've owned two Moto Guzzis. A 1984 Le Mans MkIII and 1990 Le Mans MkV. I had the MkV for 11 years from new. Many owners lightened the flywheel in the Le Mans. You could actually buy prelightened flywheels off the shelf. I kept mine standard. It's a wonderful feeling riding the bike 'off the flywheel'. Using the flywheel's inertia to keep the bike moving forward. What was interesting about the MkV, maximum torque comes in at around 6000rpm and at those revs, you're doing 180kph in top gear (fifth). Fifth gear is geared at 30kph per 1000rpm. The bike feels incredibly strong between 5000rpm and 8000rpm redline. It would burst through brick walls. It's 'natural' cruising speed is around 180kph. No point in changing into top gear unless you're doing at least 120kph.
Exhaust and handlebars give the impression that it's a trail bike to me. 850T3 was a bugger to pick up off a wet road. (feet would slide out half way up).
my guzzi was 600 cc, a v50 with a factory bore-out. terrific bike great handling and fast enough. current models are porky, over-complex and look like the designer was working from a japanese comic book. carry-on lads, there's lots of sensible machines still to cover.
Nice bike. I owned a Le Mans Mk1 and then a Mk3 back in the 80's, loved them. My idea of the modern classic is the Triumph Street Cup. Have you tried one? It reminds me of the MK1 Le Mans to ride. Great video, cheers. 🍻
I had a Street Cup, and enjoyed it, they sound great even with stock silencers, it was a smooth comfortable ride. However it was never a bike that I truly loved, as I felt it lacked something even though I couldn't specifically fault anything. I currently have a Bonneville, Ducati Monster 821, and a Guzzi V7II. The Guzzi V7 is a very agile, fun, comfortable bike, with superb handling for its style, and always puts a smile on my face. If you put Mistral silencers on the V7 they sound fantastic without being annoyingly loud, and they improve the looks too. I always find it difficult to overlook the Guzzi when selecting a bike for a ride.
@@jfro5867 tested the z650rs a few weeks ago and it was simply fantastic. I'm a noob so I don't know better but it just felt fast, rigid in a good way, and confidence inspiring. Also beautiful and lovely engine sound when revving properly
@@Victor-vf1fi Well, tbh I think you should get that because you clearly enjoyed it. The V7 is not going to ride like that, it’s a very different experience.
Hi guys I own a Breva 750 which I like a lot except for the short travel and stiff rear suspension so watching those Hagons made my eyes wide open, are they long travel and soft or at least moderately hard ? Most of our roads are wavy rather than flat like yours, greetings from Yucatan.
Hi to you all , seriously thinking about one of these Richard says I think, he said he put the stripes on the tank and side covers himself is this correct, where did they come from. is this a standard thing for Moto Guzzi ? enjoy you videos, Thank you
Guys, your videos are brilliant. Now would you please make a video of another brilliant bike. One that is engineering, technologically and race proven to be one of the best motorcycles ever built. The Honda VFR750F. Preferably the Gen 3 or Gen 4. Thanks guys.
So are we, waiting with baited breath 👍 as soon as we can get hold of one we will give it a thorough review as you can see we have a lot of Guzzi experience Rich has had about 5 and Dave about 10 of all generations
I may have missed it in the video, but where did you get the paint done? My V7 III Carbon has matt satin black paint and it's constantly showing marks, plus MG seem to have sprayed it on and then taken 50% off again it's so thin.
+A13BKD Hi Brady, sold the Griso to my brother (if you watch the Griso video he is riding it in the Picos in Spain) he then sold it and bought a V85TT it now lives in the south of England but I do miss it Yes I was very happy with it had it for 6 years the only thing my brother disliked was the weight of the bike at low speed its a bit of a lump, but once moving its a joy to ride
@@LemonDrizzleGang Hi yes I had, rewatched it after I’d posted the question 😂. Thanks for answering! It’s just a niggle I have being 6’1. Is it a bit small or are just so many new bikes really big?
Peter k, I’m 6’2”, all legs, had my Interceptor 2 1/2 years. That was one of my concerns, which a test ride quickly put to bed. Absolutely love it, suits what I want from a motorcycle. I love the look of the v7 & seriously considered one but just too small, shame.
