Limited resources are commonplace in today’s economy, and our new house in Oak Park, IL also has limited space to put bikes. Since moving there, I’ve decided to add another bike to my stable, but in agreement with my wife who really didn’t want to look out the window at too many two-wheeled critters, I … Continue reading “I liked it so much I Bought my Own!”
Limited resources are commonplace in today’s economy, and our new house in Oak Park, IL also has limited space to put bikes. Since moving there, I’ve decided to add another bike to my stable, but in agreement with my wife who really didn’t want to look out the window at too many two-wheeled critters, I decided that one had to go. I had “loved” the Ducati ST2 and ridden the heck out of it over the last 11 months, but I never “fell in love” with it. I didn’t have a lot of remorse about parting with the bike — now it was time to choose what to replace it with.
The 86 LeMans that I’d looked at last year was still for sale, even cheaper. My checkbook was out. Too many subject matter experts said that it was in need of too much work. Between that and the 2500 miles’ distance, I took a pass. I looked at SPs, G5s, a couple of gorgeous T3s. There was an incredibly low-mileage Quota in Joplin. There was a beautiful 1000s. I was going to get a Guzzi. Just didn’t know which one.
My spanking new 1200 Sport
Jim Barron at Rose Farm Classics chimed in. “Why don’t you buy a new one and start a relationship with something that nobody else has ridden first?” he thoughtfully pitched. I know Jim wanted to sell me a bike, and he knew which one it was that I had spotted over the espresso machine in his showroom. I trust Jim, but, well, he’s there to sell bikes, too.
I started doing the math. A Guzzi has a two-year warranty. My financial outlay on a new bike will be minimal. I already have my “vintage” Guzzi, which isn’t a money-pit but does require a lot of maintenance to keep it in tip-top shape. Guzzi’s don’t depreciate much, so, if I buy it right, I won’t be out much in three years or so if I want to sell it then. So I’m already sold. Jim knew it before I did. Continue reading “I liked it so much I Bought my Own!”
I spent some time on the phone with Jim Barron at Rose Farm Classics yesterday. I’m thinking about buying a bike from him right now (unless the right V7 Sport falls into my lap, which just doesn’t happen), and the subject turned around to the V7 Classic. I’ve yet to plant my butt on one … Continue reading “Links to Moto Guzzi V7 Classic Reviews”
V7 Classic on Roman Streets
I spent some time on the phone with Jim Barron at Rose Farm Classics yesterday. I’m thinking about buying a bike from him right now (unless the right V7 Sport falls into my lap, which just doesn’t happen), and the subject turned around to the V7 Classic. I’ve yet to plant my butt on one and ride it, but I know that will be happening in the future.
As we talked about the V7, we also talked about how much we liked Maxi Scooters. The thing is, in Chicago, there are pot hole that will swallow you up. I barely missed one last Saturday on Wacker that was more than 2 feet wide and at least as deep. Had I hit that on the Eldorado I was riding, let alone a scooter, I do believe that would have made a spectacular mess. Maxi-Scoots also aren’t getting any lighter, either. Still love the scoots, and I’ve even looked at a couple recently for my jaunts around Oak Park.
So the question came up. Maxi-Scoot or V7 Classic? The Maxi-Scoot gives a lot of storage and weather protection, park-ability and style. They are reliable, get great mileage and allow you to zoom just about anywhere you want, including freeways, with ease. How does it compare with the lightweight Guzzi?
The V7 has style all over it, since Guzzi basically pulled every classic goodie out of their refrigerator and made a perfect Dagwood Sandwich of style with this bike. Even the white color just fits it. This bike is all style and all bike, without having a sinister bone in it’s body.
Is it reliable? Reliability is a Guzzi hallmark. I think there were a few years, pre-Piaggio, that might have been troubling, but I also believe that time is long past. Even the latest recall on the Stelvio/Grisos was more for caution and getting things absolutely right for the customer, instead of fixing a potential disaster in the field. A couple of the new V7 owners on the mailing lists that I subscribe to have had some niggling issues, but this bike is built on a well-evolved, solid platform.
I keep hearing that the V7 is “under-powered”. My Eldorado has about the same amount with at least an extra hundred pounds to haul around. I’m just buying that argument unless you’re comparing it to a 750cc hot-rod bike. This bike doesn’t fill that role. This bike is about enough of everything — a typical Guzzi with nothing to prove to anyone — the right-minded owner will bond with this bike completely. It’s a great first bike, a great retro-bike, and I predict that it’s a great “Eastern City” bike, where there’s lots of stop-and-go, potholes, and openings that must be quickly exploited.
I have no dog in the hunt. I haven’t ridden the V7 Classic yet. I’ve been on a bunch of scooters, thanks to Piaggio, and I believe them to be superior products that are a blast to ride. I think for me the V7 Classic would edge out the Maxi Scoot on three things:
I ride mostly with motorcyclists at the moment since I haven’t had a scoot in Chicago.
I take a lot of rides out in the wilderness.
I ride at night, and the potholes in this city come out of nowhere in the pitch.
Jim thinks the Guzzi is lighter than the biggest Maxis
Jim sells only Guzzi, and I’m pretty much of a completely biased homer in that department.
I would love a scooter, seriously love one, but I don’t have enough Motorcycles yet for the amount of money that I currently have to spend. The sad fact is that if I had a scooter, I would probably ride it more than the bikes. I’m just not ready to be so damned pragmatic in my life.
While I’m waiting for my V7 to test and ride around, I’ve been reading the reviews, and in doing so, I’ve decided to give out the links that I’ve found and share them. Please feel free to comment with your experiences on the V7, good or bad, if you have one and if you find more reviews feel free to add them to your comments:
