Moto Guzzi V7 850 1st bike?
Discussion
Fingers crossed I'll be doing my test May/June next year aged 50, the SV650, MT-07, XSR700 and Z650 were on the list
But I really like the matt black V7 2019 onwards and it's kinda of a half way house between a sporty middle weight naked and a retro cruiser
They'e about 67hp and 58 f-lb, weigh around 223kg fully fuelled
Seems to be the ideal bike for me
But I really like the matt black V7 2019 onwards and it's kinda of a half way house between a sporty middle weight naked and a retro cruiser
They'e about 67hp and 58 f-lb, weigh around 223kg fully fuelled
Seems to be the ideal bike for me
TurboHatchback said:
Good choice in my opinion, certainly more characterful and aesthetic than the Japanese offerings. They are quite physically small which may be good or bad depending on your dimensions.
5 8 with a 28 inside leg, so yeah a short less short arse with recent hernia ops, the pillion seat need to be low to get my leg over the bike, hence why the high pillion seated SV, MT and Z650 are kinda meh, but the XSR700 and Z650RS don't have silly high pillion seats.
I've got a 2015 V7. I think it's a great first bike if you aren't too interested in sporty riding. It doesn't like being pushed hard. Flip side of that is it's an extremely pleasant and characterful bike, and at a brisk but not trying to hard pace feels lovely. The engine has noticeably more personality in my opinion than the enfields and the triumph street twin.
As has already been mentioned, it is heavy. I'd recommend fitting engine bars if it doesn't have them already. The heads are the first point of contact with the ground when dropped. It has caught me out once when I stopped in a gravel layby. My foot slipped on the gravel and engine bars saved all damage.
If I could only have one bike I would personally need to go for the SV for the Z650, they will feel much better when pushing on whilst still having character and plodding ability. I haven't ridden either of those but the v twin of the sv would be tempting.
As has already been mentioned, it is heavy. I'd recommend fitting engine bars if it doesn't have them already. The heads are the first point of contact with the ground when dropped. It has caught me out once when I stopped in a gravel layby. My foot slipped on the gravel and engine bars saved all damage.
If I could only have one bike I would personally need to go for the SV for the Z650, they will feel much better when pushing on whilst still having character and plodding ability. I haven't ridden either of those but the v twin of the sv would be tempting.
Out of curiosity, why would you choose an SV650 or Z650RS over a V7? Guy I know switched from an RE Interceptor to an 850 V7 this year and it's transformed his riding which is great to see, he can hustle along at a brisk pace now. I'm curious what the Jap bikes would offer over the Guzzi?
Alex9 said:
I always say get the bike you really want as otherwise you'll be out there wondering what if... You're presumably old enough and wise enough to know what you're getting into!
A friend of mine got a Speed Twin 1200 as his first bike at 42, loves it!
Sorry to hijack the thread. I'm 52 and passed my test in October. Sold my 125 and looking to purchase in April next year. Being 6ft 1in and a 34 inside leg I can flat foot most bikes. I'm so undecided what to get! Looking at a Speed twin, 900 Scrambler, 850GS or 900GS. Appreciate very different styles of bikes.A friend of mine got a Speed Twin 1200 as his first bike at 42, loves it!
Just looked on Bike Trader at the nearest shop to me that has the Moto Guzzi in stock. I've always liked the style of them. May pop and have a look on the weekend but suspect they might be a bit small for me, which is what is putting me off the Speed Twin.
Alex9 said:
I always say get the bike you really want as otherwise you'll be out there wondering what if... You're presumably old enough and wise enough to know what you're getting into!
A friend of mine got a Speed Twin 1200 as his first bike at 42, loves it!
That's not a good suggestion as a first bike IMHO, the torque is immense.A friend of mine got a Speed Twin 1200 as his first bike at 42, loves it!
grotty said:
I've got a 2015 V7. I think it's a great first bike if you aren't too interested in sporty riding. It doesn't like being pushed hard. Flip side of that is it's an extremely pleasant and characterful bike, and at a brisk but not trying to hard pace feels lovely. The engine has noticeably more personality in my opinion than the enfields and the triumph street twin.
As has already been mentioned, it is heavy. I'd recommend fitting engine bars if it doesn't have them already. The heads are the first point of contact with the ground when dropped. It has caught me out once when I stopped in a gravel layby. My foot slipped on the gravel and engine bars saved all damage.
If I could only have one bike I would personally need to go for the SV for the Z650, they will feel much better when pushing on whilst still having character and plodding ability. I haven't ridden either of those but the v twin of the sv would be tempting.
Weirdly I have both a 2019 V7 special and a SV 650 (3rd one) that handles my commuter work. Both great bikes. I don’t think I could handle commuting on the v7 daily the SV is just a great all round commuter and basically indestructible. However the V7 brings a smile to my face and it’s the only bike that I look back at in the garage and think “that looks cool”As has already been mentioned, it is heavy. I'd recommend fitting engine bars if it doesn't have them already. The heads are the first point of contact with the ground when dropped. It has caught me out once when I stopped in a gravel layby. My foot slipped on the gravel and engine bars saved all damage.
If I could only have one bike I would personally need to go for the SV for the Z650, they will feel much better when pushing on whilst still having character and plodding ability. I haven't ridden either of those but the v twin of the sv would be tempting.
cirian75 said:
5 8 with a 28 inside leg, so yeah a short less short arse with recent hernia ops, the pillion seat need to be low to get my leg over the bike, hence why the high pillion seated SV, MT and Z650 are kinda meh, but the XSR700 and Z650RS don't have silly high pillion seats.
I like and understand your reasoning for your choice. Makes sense. V7 owner Grotty_number suggested engine bars to protect the heads in the event of a low speed spill, loss of footing or slippery ground. I'd concur and not just for transverse V-twin with exposed heads.
hiccy18 said:
Out of curiosity, why would you choose an SV650 or Z650RS over a V7? Guy I know switched from an RE Interceptor to an 850 V7 this year and it's transformed his riding which is great to see, he can hustle along at a brisk pace now. I'm curious what the Jap bikes would offer over the Guzzi?
They would be better at harder riding. My other bike is a zx6r, and I've owned sport nakeds. The v7 doesn't give confidence past a certain amount of effort. The tyres are skinny, and pegs will be lower compared to the sv and zed. Those bikes have sportier geometry and are lighter. Engines will rev a bit higher. Again, this is only an issue if you would be doing that kind of riding, or maybe even starting track days. I done track days in my first year of riding, so for me getting a guzzi definitely wouldn't have made sense at that point as my first bike. If OP has no interest in that stuff the bike is a fantastic choice, I'm in love my v7. It's been on a few tours and I wouldn't swap it for anything, unless I had to go back down to one bike.Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff