V7 Cafe Classic

[Kraz]

Not gonna lie... kinda stoked.

[veefer800canuck]

Very elemental. And the color is great.

[JamieK]

Yours? If so Congrats! I've been eying the V7 Cafe since it came out, nice motorcycle.

[WitchCityBallabio]

I love the Guzzi small blocks. Such fun bikes to ride. I love that Cafe' Classic. Just gorgeous.


Congratulations and welcome to the sickness.

[Kraz]

Yep!  Just got it today...  

Third Guzzi - Had a V11 Sport and a '74 Ambo before this.  

What I don't understand is the hatred for Smallblocks... so much trash talk out there...

[Pete Roper]

If you'd had to work on 'em for as many years as I have and had seen some of the 'Bad' years you'd understand the skepticism some people have about them. Having said that most of the problems seem to have been ironed out of the last itteration 750's. It's not that the smallblocks are a 'Bad' bike but they are, by anyones standards, primitive in their technology and underpowered when compared to the opposition. What they are is a very enjoyable and fun bike to own and ride if you aren't going to ride hell-for-leather the whole time and are willing to love it for what it IS and not try and make it into or say it is something that it isn't. It is VERY hard to pull extra perfoemance out of smallblocks, mainly due to their herron  head top end but that doesn't mean that they aren't a thoroughly enjoyable little motorbike.

Most of the 'Hatred' will actually come from the sort of mouth breathers and mono-neurones who think that any sub-litre bike is a pooftermobile, ironic really as that sort invariably seem to be the ones who are conspicuously uneasy about their own sexuallity  

Ride it. Enjoy it. Fit a sump extension!

Pete

[Kraz]

The older I get - the slower the bikes I buy, yet I don't think I have any less fun nowadays.

I used to have a 155hp sport tourer, but now a KLR is the other ride, so V7 doesn't exactly FEEL slow.    If all else fails, go for a mountain bike ride, hit some dirt, or go ride in heavy traffic and pretty much any bike feels like it's got more power than is usable.

Anyway, thanks for the input.

[Orson]

And the color is great.

I agree  

while other manufacturers seem to specialize in black, blue or gray, Guzzi always seems to hit the mark with offbeat colors.

I loved the pale green and maroon colors of the V11 Sport.

[atadaskew]

Fit a sump extension!

Beautiful bike and please do the above!  (Oil capacity stock is under 2 qts?)

[SLK50]

  Wow, I can't believe how much that reminds me of my '75 CB400F.

The similarities are remarkable.  Even the color is close.

[Rincewind]

She is an absolute beauty, Kraz.  Big congrats.  

[Dean]

Fit a sump extension!

Pete

Get one here:

http://forum.guzzitech.com/

Ed Milich
ed@guzzitech.com
PO Box 5
Torrance CA 90507


Dean

[Blunder]

Sump spacer specifics-

http://www.guzzitech.com/store/Sumspacer.html

 

[radlefty]

Congrats, beautiful bike.

[Kraz]

Now with mistral pipes and bags!

Some say the bags don't belong, but I got stuff to bring to and fro work.      And I figure bags ALWAYS belong on ST.N.  






EDIT: Hit up Palomar Mtn the other day - had a great time - bike did quite well.  I ordered a O2 manipulator to richen the bike up at lower throttle setting to match the exhaust.

[Biking Sailor]

I'm with ya on needing the bags verses not wanting them to spoil the purity of that great looking bike.  Consider some bar end mirrors.  They will look cool and actually do their job well!

I know you are enjoying it much  

[falconati]

Video with sound is required, I think  

[Biking Sailor]

Video with sound is required, I think  

+1, especially with those Mistrals on it!

[Kraz]

I'm with ya on needing the bags verses not wanting them to spoil the purity of that great looking bike.  Consider some bar end mirrors.  They will look cool and actually do their job well!

I know you are enjoying it much  

I really think bar end mirrors would look the shit - the only concern I have is that I lane split everyday, and I really don't want to get wider... I think there are some bar ends out that that fold in that are made by CRG - not sure if I'm gonna play that game or not though.

RE: the bags - they're small and match well enough for the bike, and they got mounted close to the bike, so I'm really happy with the way they turned out and are growing on me more and more.  I can't think of a single top box I've ever thought looked good - so it was a no brainer for me.  Plus, E-21's are under $200 for the pair!  



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXrRlFnVnso

[Kraz]

Looks like a dude got a few pics of me on Palomar - I bought some Deals Gap pics, so I'm willing to pay, but this dude charges $20 PER JPEG!    Sorry, Rick, no F'in way...


FAQ states:
Q: Do you have any deals on pictures?
A: Yes, I will email one persons photos for the day for $60.00. This does not apply to weddings or portraits. Call or contact me by e-mail if you are interested in this option.

Sounds like a killer deal for my 3 photos.    Besides - that helmet reallllly stands out in an awkward way.     Safety first I guess.  

Anyway - rant over.







EDIT:  Spend 10 minutes in MS Paint.

[Orson]

A Japanese helmet on an Italian bike?  

 

[falconati]

I love that exhaust.  Thanks for making the video!

[Kraz]

Installed a Guzzitech O2 optimizer, which richens the bike at lower throttle settings - this made the bike rideable throughout the RPM range, not just mid to high.  Gotta say I really love this bike now - the ride is really enjoyable and the sound is unbelievable.

Got the ol' gal back from the dealer (GP Cycles in San Diego - did great work - I recommend, and I usually HATE dealers).  600 mile service cost $153, and I had them fix a tank overpressurization problem under warranty.  All work done is less than a day and the bike came out cleaner and with more gas than I left it with.  Bike now runs better, backfires little, and starts better, shifts much better, brakes don't squeek... I'm so happy.    Overall, the bike's really been getting smoother and faster just from breaking in...

Ordered some fork gaiters today... bar end mirrors might be next.  A nice screen wouldn't hurt... but where to even start...

[mugwump58]

Very nice!

[sammyseaman]

 Besides - that helmet reallllly stands out in an awkward way.     Safety first I guess.  

She sure looks purty I and love the color    The jacket and helmet? Not so much  

[Kraz]

She sure looks purty I and love the color    The jacket and helmet? Not so much  

What's funny is that I have a solid silver helmet that is newer and fits better that I wear daily - not sure why I took the ricky racer out that day - both are Shoei X-11's.  

I love the jacket though - won't give that up.  Hi-Viz just plain works.  

[sammyseaman]

What's funny is that I have a solid silver helmet that is newer and fits better that I wear daily - not sure why I took the ricky racer out that day - both are Shoei X-11's.  

I love the jacket though - won't give that up.  Hi-Viz just plain works.  

They should integrate a Hi-Viz jacket w/deer whistles. Now that would be a great invention.

[falconati]

Let me know when you're done with it  

[Kraz]

I'll probably deploy at the end of this year and may end up selling b/f I go; if'n I do decide to sell, it'll be one of those easy / impossible to sell.  Unless someone wants THIS BIKE, it's impossible, but if someone wants this bike, she totally sells herself.  Anyway - I'll burn that bridge when I get to it.

[blackbuell]

Damn, Kraz, it's a good thing that bike has good ground clearance!

Jon

[Kraz]

Let me know when you're done with it  

I'm done.  Bidding starts at $1...    I do love her, but I'm buying my wife something nice, so I'd like to free up some cash... I love her more.

Not really sure what a good price is... that will probably depend on if the buyer wants pipes and bags.  I'll prob put up an ad soon, if I can find the heart to do it.  Mileage is at 830 and being ridden daily.  Factory warranty is 2 years and I think it started this last December.

[falconati]

Yikes, seriously?!  That's too bad

I want it, but I probably can't pay what you need.  Feel free to PM me a price if you end up being serious.

PS if the price is $1 I call dibs

[Kraz]

I want it, but I probably can't pay what you need.  

Well... you can only have so many Italian beauts... they get jealous you know.

This was bike number 15 for me, so I'm over attachments.  Just time to free up some cash - I'll have another Guzzi someday.    

Today I put money down on a YZF600R to replace the goose... just gotta have 2 bikes... just in case.  Besides, if I can get the YZF lookin' good, I might make a couple 'a bucks, which is nice.

There's a another fella that I'm talking with about the sale off this site, and there is another another quasi-interested party here locally.  It's a really easy sell for those who have the need, but an impossible sell to someone who just wants "a bike"... the numbers don't add up for the masses.  Anyway, I'll throw out some PM's and an ad if these roads go nowhere.

-m

[nevinfs327]

Mine  

[Rincewind]

Mine 

I can't wait for the ride reports.   

[nevinfs327]

I can't wait for the ride reports.   

I can't wait for the rides.  Just need to retrieve it from my cousin's now...in San Diego.

Kraz - a pleasure doing business with you  

[Rincewind]

I can't wait for the rides.  Just need to retrieve it from my cousin's now...in San Diego.

Kraz - a pleasure doing business with you  

A cross-country first ride on a V7 Cafe?  I like this idea.    Are you keeping your Kawi W650, too?

[nevinfs327]

A cross-country first ride on a V7 Cafe?  I like this idea.    Are you keeping your Kawi W650, too?

I'm relocating to CA this summer, so more likely to have a CA ride report.  Keeping the W650 and Street Triple.  Hawk GT probably goes.  

[sammyseaman]

I'm relocating to CA this summer, so more likely to have a CA ride report.  Keeping the W650 and Street Triple.  Hawk GT probably goes.  

   

[scotteroni]

I'm done.  Bidding starts at $1...    I do love her, but I'm buying my wife something nice, so I'd like to free up some cash... I love her more.

Yeah, but you cant' ride new kitchen cabinets and countertops after a hard day on the job

[Kraz]

Yeah, but you cant' ride new kitchen cabinets and countertops after a hard day on the job

My wife can thrive on status symbols all day long.    Bikes are status symbols for many as well.    I have other bikes - they're all fun.  

Hope you love the bike, Nevin!  Can't wait for a ride report.

[Rincewind]

That is one heck of a ring, congrats Kraz!  

Does the Cafe Classic come with pillion pegs, or do you have to buy the pegs and a different seat if you want to ever carry passengers?  I assume the peg mounts are still there with this model?  Thanks.