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Great advice Mike and thanks.

About two weeks ago I had a chance to purchase a Ninja 250 at a great price (a two for one actually), so I decided it was about time to go sit on a few bikes.

Last week I tried really hard to get a leg over a DL650, but the dealers I visited did not have one. They are also harder to find in the used market than a lot of other models and most of the units that become available have a lot of miles. I think that Strom riders must love their bikes and this is a positive. I did sit on a Ninja 650R and a Versys and I liked the size and rider position of the Versys. I also sat on a CBR500R, in a gorgeous red paint, and it felt a bit cramped but I liked that bike. It is strange how some bikes can just grab you in the guts. The NC700X was a better fit than the CBR500R, but the bike did not do much for me emotionally. I have done some looking on line and I can get a used Versys with low mileage for a bit less then a new CBR500R. In the sub 6k price range, I would likely just use cash and plastic to pay for the bike.

The other option would be to finance a V7 Special with the plan of keeping it permanently in a two bike garage. I like this option a lot but I would need to wait at least a year until I am done paying for my pickup truck.

I have also been thinking about doing my own maintenance on whatever bike I get without regard to the model. I would get the shop manual. This would not be to save money but to get familiar with the mechanics of the motorcycle so that I would have a better chance of fixing problems on the side of the road. I would accumulate both tools and knowledge at the same time. From what I have read, Moto Guzzi bikes are quite dependable and fairly easy to work on. With a prudent choice of spare parts, the right tools, and a solid knowledge base, it might be just as safe to ride a Stelvio all over the country as a Super Tenere, but I just don't have the information to make an informed judgment about that question at this time.

Safe Travels,
Richard

Hanson wrote:Great advice Mike and thanks.

About two weeks ago I had a chance to purchase a Ninja 250 at a great price (a two for one actually), so I decided it was about time to go sit on a few bikes.

Last week I tried really hard to get a leg over a DL650, but the dealers I visited did not have one. They are also harder to find in the used market than a lot of other models and most of the units that become available have a lot of miles. I think that Strom riders must love their bikes and this is a positive. I did sit on a Ninja 650R and a Versys and I liked the size and rider position of the Versys. I also sat on a CBR500R, in a gorgeous red paint, and it felt a bit cramped but I liked that bike. It is strange how some bikes can just grab you in the guts. The NC700X was a better fit than the CBR500R, but the bike did not do much for me emotionally. I have done some looking on line and I can get a used Versys with low mileage for a bit less then a new CBR500R. In the sub 6k price range, I would likely just use cash and plastic to pay for the bike.

The other option would be to finance a V7 Special with the plan of keeping it permanently in a two bike garage. I like this option a lot but I would need to wait at least a year until I am done paying for my pickup truck.

I have also been thinking about doing my own maintenance on whatever bike I get without regard to the model. I would get the shop manual. This would not be to save money but to get familiar with the mechanics of the motorcycle so that I would have a better chance of fixing problems on the side of the road. I would accumulate both tools and knowledge at the same time. From what I have read, Moto Guzzi bikes are quite dependable and fairly easy to work on. With a prudent choice of spare parts, the right tools, and a solid knowledge base, it might be just as safe to ride a Stelvio all over the country as a Super Tenere, but I just don't have the information to make an informed judgment about that question at this time.

Safe Travels,
Richard

Great stuff, it sounds like you are truly doing your homework and will (I am positive) make a the right decision on which bike to get. The tip I can give you is to choose heart over head. If you go too practical then you may find yourself with what you wanted but it isn't that interesting of a bike overall. I did have that with my V-Strom 650, awesome bike, everything I wanted in a bike at the time, and while it was a true winner of a bike (as mention in bike mags and other riders, etc) it never really "grabbed me in the guts" as you would say. The Guzzi however, and the 82 Yamaha Seca 650R and 81 CB400T I had long before, did just that. So try to tuck that away in the back of your mind when making a decision.


My 1982 Yamaha Seca 650R. One of the bikes I've owned that really "grabbed me in the guts".

The Ninja 250 is a awesome first bike, those 250cc engines are getting better and better with each generation. Just be wary on full faired bikes, I did a coolant change on my wife's Ninja 650R and you have to take off the ENTIRE front of the bike! If it was a naked bike, I'd have been done in an hour, this one took me days! The Versys 650 is the same as the Ninja 650R, just with less plastic and higher suspension.

If you are indeed wanting to learn to wrench on a bike, you'll thank your stars for a naked one. If you can go air-cooled, less cylinders and easy engine access then you'll be laughing. Thankfully there are a few still out there and more used.

Mike

I was riding Mike's bike to work last week (as he said he was doing a coolant change) and you wouldn't believe all the compliments I was getting on it! I was parking it in my normal spot and the red Ninja was replaced with a black Guzzi and people just assumed it was mine. People that I didn't know knew that I rode a bike were even making comments!

It does still kind of smell like mushrooms too... but only if you lean in close after warming it up with a ride.

totalmotorcycle wrote:The tip I can give you is to choose heart over head. If you go too practical then you may find yourself with what you wanted but it isn't that interesting of a bike overall.

@Hanson - this is the best advice one can get when choosing a new motorcycle...

sunshine229 wrote:I was riding Mike's bike to work last week (as he said he was doing a coolant change) and you wouldn't believe all the compliments I was getting on it! I was parking it in my normal spot and the red Ninja was replaced with a black Guzzi and people just assumed it was mine. People that I didn't know knew that I rode a bike were even making comments!

It does still kind of smell like mushrooms too... but only if you lean in close after warming it up with a ride.

Aww, thanks! Yes, I think I'll have to replace that mushroom scent air freshener under the seat as it seems to be getting a little weak.


Despite my best efforts to find a "manly looking mushroom scent air freshener" I failed. lol

Mike

Update: 1210 miles.

So far, my Guzzi is cruising along, no issues, no problems, no complaints... well, maybe just 1 complaint, my MPG sucks. Now that could be down to the fact I do ride my Moto Guzzi to the limit (I love how rewarding the bike is under hard acceleration) but I'm only getting 125 miles on a 5.3 Gal tank before I hit reserve. Which seems to be about 1/2 the MPG I should be getting... could also be down to breaking in the engine as well as it's only been 1200 miles... or could be the aftermarket pipes (?).

I'd like to see it near the 200+ mark before reserve (300 miles TOTAL is the "average" others are getting).

I'll keep watching and hoping.

Mike

Hi Mike, hi everybody,

first off: Great review & blog on the Moto Guzzi V7!

I've bought a V7 Stone myself in June 2012. Living in a rural suburb of Hamburg/Germany, I mainly use the bike for getting me to office and back on sunny spring and summer days. A relaxed 20 mile ride on a country road along the Elbe river down to Hamburg.

Although I have not much of a comparison (except for a Triumph Bonneville), getting the V7 was one of the best purchases of my life. It's just perfect for smaller drivers with its low seat height, its relaxing and upright sitting position, and the overall light and agile handling while providing enough power even for more ambitious overtake maneuvers.
Add the great retro-look of the V7, the somewhat bad-boy flat black painting combined with lots of chrome, not to forget the incomparable Guzzi "gasping" sound of the engine and exhaust, and you have a motorcycle no Honda engineer could ever imitate.

I've added the original Guzzi luggage rack to my V7 as my wife was afraid not being able to hold on while riding as a pillion. The luggage rack is a great addition for that purpose, adding some extra chrome fitting the looks nicely, and being a comfortable solution combined with a top case (usable as a back-rest). If going on longer rides with a jumpy pillion, I can honestly recommend this option.
Below, you see a picture with the luggage rack and topcase mounted (our 1st weekend trip w/ the V7, it's been an unforgettable experience - even for my wife... )
Mike, one question for you: You've attached the Dart Flyscreen to the V7, a relatively small screen which doesn't compromise the look of the naked bike too much. Does it, however, work effectively as a screen, keeping away pressure from breast and (at least a bit) from head?
I'm thinking of getting one, since it's getting a bit rough beyond 75 mph. (the upside: I don't race myself to death, but some more comfort wouldn't hurt)


Regards from a fellow Guzzi rider in Germany!

John

Hi John,

Thanks so much for the great comments about my blog and my V7 Stone. I see you have one as well and are doing some touring with it! That is awesome, thanks for the photos as well!

About your question: The DART flyscreen is really nice and you are right, it doesn't compromise on the looks of the naked bike at all. Yes, it does keep the wind down, around 25% and you do notice it even more in a head wind or rain. Easy to attach or detach too.

I love Germany, very friendly country with wonderful people. Visited twice for the Christmas Markets (Berlin and Frankfurt), wonderful times, wonderful memories.
Mike

So I decided to put my bike into the shop last night to see if MPH Cycles can do anything about my poor fuel economy (130 miles before reserve) as I should be getting around 250 miles and I'm not. The only thing that I've changed has been the aftermarket Mistral pipes (which I love). And my continuing to blue (now deep royal blue) headers.

I wrote Mistral exhausts in Italy and asked them about the issues and they got back to me with the following (below) so it looks like it might be an easy fix. Let's hope it is.

Hello,

I think you have to check the lambda sensor, it is possible that does not work, but it is not something that depends on the muffler, but it is an electronic problem of moto.with one normal electronic control by a mechanic to the injection of the bike and everything will be resolve.Normal x these problems, the cause is the lambda sensor is not working properly or is blown and must be replaced, but it is certainly not a problem to the mufflers.Let me know when the bike is ok,thank you.

Other question:for the installation of silencers you have used graphite gaskets equal to the original silencers?

is important.

Will post updates.

Mike

Update: The bike is ready to be picked up (yay!), but other than the fact the header pipers were "a little loose" there wasn't any red flags on why the bike is getting such low miles out of a tank of gas or why the pipes are so blue (other than maybe the headers were a little lose). The MPH Cycle mechanic (Larry) really knows his stuff so I trust in his diagnosis. He tried both the stock and the Mistral pipes and checked the o2 readers, both were the same and no ECI errors. He thought about switching the o2 sensors (left to right) but will do the next step next. The next step is ride the Guzzi with the stock pipes for a week or two and see if I'm still getting the poor gas mileage or if it goes back to normal.

Either the plugs (to check electrodes) or the o2 sensors were not pulled, I might check the plugs myself though.

I'm going to miss the V8 rumble, but it's (hopefully) not for long. If anything it will tell other Moto Guzzi V7 owners if there is any difference in MPG using stock vs aftermarket pipes.

Mike