http://v7.motoguzzi-us.com/v7-special.html



Supposedly 64 MPG and almost a 6 gallon tank.

Would swang

Looks nice, know nothing about MG, would never own a bike without a wind screen.

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Looks nice, know nothing about MG, would never own a bike without a wind screen.

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Its not bad under 70mph and not much worse than a spirtbike at any speed. You have to lie down to get shield from the windscreen on a spirtbike.

longitudinal V-twin mounting



thumbs up for a 500cc DOHC V8 though.

Why is that bad? BMW does similar.

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longitudinal V-twin mounting



thumbs up for a 500cc DOHC V8 though.

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Isn't the first bike a transverse V-twin, not longitudinal?

And what does a DOHC V8 have to do with this thread?

Never owned a Guzzi but had an Aprilia for a few years. Parts availablity was crappy. That was before Piaggio group owned them so hopefully it is better.

I believe AF1 Racing in New Braunfels is a dealer now. Check out their website for forums and you can get all the good info about them.

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Moto Guzzi V7 released the complete details on its new 2013 Guzzi V7 Special. The new model was designed to help you ride comfortably on long journeys and is packed with a fresh 750cc, 90° V-twin engine. The 90 V-twin 4-stroke, 744 cc engine develops a maximum output of 37 kW (50HP) at 6,200 rpm and 42.7 ft lbs. / 58Nm of torque at 5,000 rpm.

The new Moto Guzzi V7 Special draws inspiration from the original V7 concept released in the 1970se. Technically, the V7 Special is a touring bike with sophisticated finishings and exclusive technical solutions. Just like its ancestor, it is wrapped in a two-tone color concept and equipped with spoked wheels with aluminum rims.

The motorcycle is equipped with an innovative fuel tank that has a 5.8 gallons capacity which ensures a range of up to 310 miles.

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I don't understand why they tucked everything up into the frame so nice and tight and then let the oil pan hang 3" lower. Still a good looking bike, but touring is about the last thing that comes to mind.

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Isn't the first bike a transverse V-twin, not longitudinal?

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I thought so too, but it depends on your reference (crankshaft or vehicle). MG calls it longitudinal according to Wikipedia: "The terms longitudinal engine and transverse engine are most often used to refer to the crankshaft orientation,however, some sources, most prominently Moto Guzzi, use the terminology in the opposite way."

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And what does a DOHC V8 have to do with this thread?

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MG made the first DOHC V8 engine for a motorcycle, albeit back in the 50's. 500cc and 80+ hp!

AF1 Racing also has a dealership in Austin (on Cesar Chavez) that has Guzzis on the floor. I have known the owners for over 20 years now....a better bunch of folks will not be found in the motorcycle business. They have sold me bikes, serviced other makes I own and done dyno tuning on exotic bikes nobody else could accomplish. You want a Guzzi in Texas, start talking to them first. JMHO.

I like Moto Guzzi's. I almost bought a Jackal several years ago:

With the oil pan hanging down and the cylinder heads fully exposed you would think these bikes would never have cooling problems.

That low oil pan would worry me a small amount of getting damaged though.

If you hit the oil pan, you have other problems. Also, the oil pan is pretty damned strong on these. The case is original to whenever the previous Moto Guzzi case was designed... sometime in the 80's? The main difference on the 'new' engine is the cylinders and heads.

The longitudinal design is actually quite nice. It's stable and feels great on the road. It leans wonderfully and has great power.

I'd have no reservations whatsoever buying a Guzzi except that I'd make sure that you are close to a dealer because parts availability is sometimes a problem. It's still an italian bike, but at least it's not a Ducati.

One of these is at work today, and I stopped twice to ogle it:



The one here is a matte green with a dark tan leather saddle and looks *great*.

I'm in lust right now after seeing this today.

Superspeck...I have 5 Ducatis ranging from a '68 350 scrambler to a 1098R and I don't have problems getting parts for any of them, including my relatively rare 92' 900 Superlite. They are high maintenance, but they provide a very visceral riding experience that is unique to motorcycling, IMO.

The new Guzzis may be Italian but they are certainly coming out of a virtually new state of the art factory and built to a very high standard. Hard to fault them for being Italian along the lines of Ferraris or Ducatis. They are tuned to much lower spec and built to rack up miles trouble free, I.E., not to be a garage queen.

Here are some great Italians for street and track:



[This message has been edited by Yuccadoo (edited 5/18/2013 6:16p).]

BTW, I've been riding for 40 years + and at least half of my riding has been done with bikes without windscreens. Don't let that sway you....it's no big deal. I am a big fan of the Triumph triples and the Street Triple R is a scalpel and the Speed Triple 1050 an AXE! Comfortable riding position, sportbike quality in the twisties, and hooligan in urban settings. Get some soft bags and you can tour on them, and the triples have grunty torque (esp that 1050), a great sound and good fit and finish. Pic of the Speed Triple:



[This message has been edited by Yuccadoo (edited 5/18/2013 6:19p).]

Not to derail the original thread, but I've been wanting a Speed Triple for a long while. Something about those bikes tickles my fancy.

I'll post some pics that are more recent, after I ditched the stock exhaust for an Arrow pipe and Triumph download and cleaned up the tail, added a chin fairing and a small nose fairing. Bike is really sano now and I am pleased with looks and ride quality, having had a suspension buddy set up the front forks properly for me and I threw on a Penske twin clicker shock sprung for my weight. It's a favorite among the folks I ride with when we start swapping machines, especially in the hill country.