V7 Racer review by MC USA

[Rincewind]

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/195/11403/Motorcycle-Article/2011-Moto-Guzzi-V7-Racer-First-Ride.aspx

[R Doug]

 

I don't feel cool enough to ride that bike (and I'm not taking about temperature).  

[Rincewind]

The only cool you need is a cool $10k.  I would love a cafe bike like this in my garage.

[Rincewind]

The main Moto Guzzi US site links to http://v7racer.com/ now to showcase this new V7 sub-site.  I'm glad to see them showcasing this series.  The video under the 'history' link is well done and covers the whole range.  

I must say I really like the new V7 Racer with the black tank and red accents over last year's version with the chrome reflective tank.  

[Orson]

Apparently they can be tuned to more than 49 HP, as they are beating Triumph Thruxtons in classic bike races in Italy  

[vitaminC]

They are certainly beautiful bikes that sound incredible, but the price to performance ratio of this one is a little off...

[coho]

They are certainly beautiful bikes that sound incredible, but the price to performance ratio of this one is a little off...

Price to performance would depend on what, exactly, is meant by performance.  If it's something like bhp per dollar it's unlikely that any Italian motorcycle could compete in that case.
I'm leaning toward the V7 because I suspect that its price to fun ratio is probably pretty good and motorbikes are supposed to be fun.

[Hambonee]

Price to performance would depend on what, exactly, is meant by performance.  If it's something like bhp per dollar it's unlikely that any Italian motorcycle could compete in that case.
I'm leaning toward the V7 because I suspect that its price to fun ratio is probably pretty good and motorbikes are supposed to be fun.

+1  

[Orson]

I rode a V7 Classic on a twisty mountain road and had a whale of a time  

so light & nimble, it's great fun to hit the apex then just pin the throttle to the stop  

but I could see how it might seem lacking in places where there aren't many twisty roads.

I think i prefer the classic, as I think clipons are wasted on a 49 HP bike  

[sammyseaman]

I rode a V7 Classic on a twisty mountain road and had a whale of a time  

so light & nimble, it's great fun to hit the apex then just pin the throttle to the stop  

but I could see how it might seem lacking in places where there aren't many twisty roads.

I think i prefer the classic, as I think clipons are wasted on a 49 HP bike  

Yeah but this:

Apparently they can be tuned to more than 49 HP, as they are beating Triumph Thruxtons in classic bike races in Italy  

[Orson]

whut duz he know?  

besides, there are whispers of a 1200cc "sport" model coming soon  

[nevinfs327]

I rode a V7 Classic on a twisty mountain road and had a whale of a time  

so light & nimble, it's great fun to hit the apex then just pin the throttle to the stop  

but I could see how it might seem lacking in places where there aren't many twisty roads.

I think i prefer the classic, as I think clipons are wasted on a 49 HP bike  

The V7 Cafe is my big displacement, slow, heavy bike  

Weight and HP are sorta irrelevant.  It is fun.  I don't find the clips ons the least bit aggressive or uncomfortable.  I try not to cruise at speeds higher than 80mph, and it has no problems up to that point.  The Street Triple is much quicker, and can definitely maintain a higher speed, but the wind blast starts taking away from the fun around 80mph anyhow.  

The bike I'm daydreaming about riding first as soon as I can ride again is the because it'll be such a pure motorcycling experience.

[Rincewind]

The bike I'm daydreaming about riding first as soon as I can ride again is the because it'll be such a pure motorcycling experience.

Is the...?  V7?  W650?  Streetie?  

Sorry to hear you are injured.  Was it a bike accident?  

[nevinfs327]

Is the...?  V7?  W650?  Streetie?  

Sorry to hear you are injured.  Was it a bike accident?  

Ha - I didn't intend to create such suspense.    Meant to say the V7.

Mountain bike accident.  Managed to partially cut my Achilles tendon so no weight on it for a few weeks and can't risk the motion required to shift. Should have a full recovery and ride again.  Hoping the 70s and sunny weather we've had for the last month holds at least into November.

[Rincewind]

Ouch - Bummer.  I would offer to exercise your V7 Cafe if you lived closer.  

[nevinfs327]

Ouch - Bummer.  I would offer to exercise your V7 Cafe if you lived closer.  

Generous  

I'm thinking the weekend of the 12th I'll be able to ride.  Walking comes first though...

[ConPilot1]

I think it's a hot looking Guzzi. Be better if it had a cafe bullet fairing on the front. I'd hit that no doubt.

I rode one Guzzi, a V65 Lario and that thing was a blast.

[sammyseaman]

The V7 Cafe is my big displacement, slow, heavy bike  

Weight and HP are sorta irrelevant.  It is fun.  I don't find the clips ons the least bit aggressive or uncomfortable.  I try not to cruise at speeds higher than 80mph, and it has no problems up to that point.  The Street Triple is much quicker, and can definitely maintain a higher speed, but the wind blast starts taking away from the fun around 80mph anyhow.  

The bike I'm daydreaming about riding first as soon as I can ride again is the because it'll be such a pure motorcycling experience.

My under powered thruxton is one of the most funnester bikes I've had in a loooooong time  

[Hambonee]

I really want a smaller, zippy , commuter, zoom around around bike after done paying off the Norge...

Would be a hard choice between the V7 and the Thruxton.

[sammyseaman]

I really want a smaller, zippy , commuter, zoom around around bike after done paying off the Norge...

Would be a hard choice between the V7 and the Thruxton.

Sounds like a fun problem to have  

[Hambonee]

Sounds like a fun problem to have  

Yep  

As much as I love the Norge I do miss how light and fun the Kawi 650R was...besides..a nice simple air cooled is easy to work on etc..

[vitaminC]

Price to performance would depend on what, exactly, is meant by performance.  If it's something like bhp per dollar it's unlikely that any Italian motorcycle could compete in that case.
I'm leaning toward the V7 because I suspect that its price to fun ratio is probably pretty good and motorbikes are supposed to be fun.

Not bhp per se, but for 10k I would want to accelerate a bit faster, that's all. I had a Breva 750 for a while, and while it was beautiful and fun, acceleration was a bit more leisurely than what one might expect from a relatively lightweight 750cc machine- especially at $10k.

[Rincewind]

Purportedly the new V7 Racer - the Racer X - from the EICMA show    What is that, a front drum brake?  

[ConPilot1]

Purportedly the new V7 Racer - the Racer X - from the EICMA show    What is that, a front drum brake?  

Oooooyeah, now we're talking. That fairing is EXACARY what that bike needed. I'd hit that HARD.  

I'd like to see that with the cast wheels and the overall flat black with that oldschool bullet fairing.  

[coho]

Purportedly the new V7 Racer - the Racer X - from the EICMA show    What is that, a front drum brake?  

Just think of it as ABS without all those pesky electronics.

[Orson]

Purportedly the new V7 Racer - the Racer X - from the EICMA show    What is that, a front drum brake?  

that looks like it may be an aftermarket accessory exhibitor, not the official Moto Guzzi exhibit.

I could be wrong though  

[Jeff]

Just think of it as ABS without all those pesky electronics.

ABS = Anti Braking System

[st2sam]

ABS = Anti Braking System

 
That there's funny, I don't care who you are.
Jeff, now go and see if you can get whats ever in your little girls eyes out!    

[Rincewind]

I'll just leave this here...  



 

[guzzinut]

Be better if it had a cafe bullet fairing on the front.

Mine has the Stucchi fairing made especially for the V7 Cafe.
I think it looks more authentic that the one on the V7 Rcer pictured above, which looks a little Japanesey to me.
It's a great bike by the way.

[Rincewind]

Stunning bike, Guzzinut.  The fairing really compliments the bike.

[guzzinut]

Stunning bike, Guzzinut.  The fairing really compliments the bike.

Nice to hear.
That's what I thought when I saw the pre production prototype on the Stucchi website.
On the subject of the bike itself, by far the biggest criticism of the V7 series bikes is their relative lack of power in relation to price.
It was my only reservation before I took the plunge, without the benefit of a test ride, but all those doubts fizzled away the moment I pulled out of the dealers forecourt.
A good spread of torque stops the engine feeling laboured and in all honesty, on the twists and turns in the rural roads I ride, I'm not going any slower than on any other bike I've owned, which have been mainly big cc in line fours.
Only out on the motorways does the bike start to feel wheezy but only after 90mph.
I suspect top speed is somewhere around 110mph, possibly a bit more if the winds blowing in the right direction but I'm not particularly bothered about finding out.
If you're the sort of rider who's happy cruising at 70-80, then you honestly wouldn't find this bike lacking in any area other than possibly luggage carrying ability (and of course pillion).
The biggest surprise if gas mileage.
Even ridden enthusiastically, I'm getting 55mpg (Imp) and have had over 60mpg on a constant speed 80mph motorway run.
On that score I did notice a definite improvement after fitting the fairing.
I don't know about your side of the pond, but over here there is a big move towards this type of bike by people like me.
That is to say, exprerienced riders, late middle age, who have grown weary of the power obsessed world that motorcycling has become.
The little Guzzi is a highly entertaining, involving bike to ride.
A breath of fresh air sounds like a cliche, but I really cannot think of a better way of expressing my feelings towards my stuning little Cafe Racer.

[Rincewind]

Guzzi now sells their very own fairing kit for the bike.

The Record kit comes with a front fairing and a single-seat unit, with kicked-up spoiler fin and a memory foam seat.  The kit is simple and easy to fit on any Moto Guzzi V7 Cafe or V7 Racer. The fibreglass front fairing uses the existing headlight assembly, while the single seat unit is a straight swap for the standard seat with no modification necessary.

The kit can be fitted to the V7 Classic, V7 Stone and V7 Special but a set of Moto Guzzi factory clip-ons are required. The V7 Record Kit costs £1400. Any Moto Guzzi dealer can provide details.



http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/New-bikes/2012/March/mar2312-moto-guzzi-record-kit/

[crispiegee1]

Mine has the Stucchi fairing made especially for the V7 Cafe.
I think it looks more authentic that the one on the V7 Rcer pictured above, which looks a little Japanesey to me.
It's a great bike by the way.

This is my favorite. I don't like the "tail spoiler" on the new Guzzi fairing kit.

I also like the drum brake on the front of the Racer X bike. On a 49 hp bike, a properly adjusted drum brake could stop you just fine, in my opinion. My dad's friend bought a disc brake equipped Eldorado in 1974 and claimed that it had more stopping power than my dad's drum brake model. But after they did a series of stopping tests, they found that could both be stopped in the same distance.

(And having been on the bike when my dad clamped down on the brakes, I feel very strongly that a drum brake - again, properly adjusted - can bring you down from speed plenty quickly in normal, non-track riding. Would I put one on a Hayabusa? Of course not, but for buzzing around on a V7, it wouldn't bother me in the least.)

[atadaskew]

With that fairing and pipe you are at Griso SE money....

[crispiegee1]

With that fairing and pipe you are at Griso SE money....

Seriously? Yikes!  

But still, the Griso's looks just don't do it for me. I know everyone says it's a great bike, it just reminds me too much of that Ducati Diavel, which I never understood.

I still like my idea for a 1200 Eldorado. That's a retro bike I'd buy.

[coho]

If you put the  cafe racer kit on the Stone would it become a StoneR?  

[atadaskew]

Seriously? Yikes!  

V7 Racer is $9990
Fairing is 1700 UK which is about $2500.
Pipes are about $1000

Griso SE is $12690.

[Rincewind]

If you put the  cafe racer kit on the Stone would it become a StoneR?  

Very punny!  

[guzzinut]

With that fairing and pipe you are at Griso SE money....

This is irrelevant.
For the price of a Griso SE, you could buy a multitude of bikes that'll blitz it's ass.
And so on.

[atadaskew]

This is irrelevant.
For the price of a Griso SE, you could buy a multitude of bikes that'll blitz it's ass.
And so on.

Of course you can, but I was staying w/in the same marque.  I didn't say you could buy a CBR600RR etc.
Ignoring the motor, the Griso gives you much better brakes, suspension, frame, wheels.
It may be an eye opener to some who have not realized the Griso has been given a huge price cut for 2012.  It's about $3K less than the 2011 model.

I really like the new V7 - the one that supposedly will show up in the US in 2013  - especially the Stone model.  It is such a nice bike for the money.  The problem I have with the Racer model is that it actually does not improve on the base models in any way - in fact its handling is worse - but it costs so much more.

It is pretty though.

[auggius]

How did I not notice this bike the last 4 years? I guess because I don't normally pay attention to retro bikes but this one has seriously caught my eye. I like the look of the 2011 model with the chrome tank though. Next time I'm in the city I am going to check it out. Of course my wife doesn't take me seriously anymore.  

[guzzinut]

Of course you can, but I was staying w/in the same marque.  I didn't say you could buy a CBR600RR etc.
Ignoring the motor, the Griso gives you much better brakes, suspension, frame, wheels.

I guess there are lot's of examples of better value for money within the same marque.
I mean in the UK, Mark 1 Lemans are going for significanlty more than the price of a new 8V Griso and 1200 Sport.
Which do you reckon is going to have the better suspension frame and brakes ?
At the end of the day we buy bikes with our hearts, and not our heads because if it were the latter, we'd all be riding around on Honda Deauvilles.

[Orson]

Deauville bashing reported to moderators.

[coho]

Deauville bashing reported to moderators.

[atadaskew]

At the end of the day we buy bikes with our hearts

And do not post in the "What's the smoothest.." bike thread..