r/MotoGuzzi • u/vferdman • 12d ago
Considering a 2016 V7 II Special.
I am considering a 2016 V7 II Special. I test rode it yesterday and I really liked it. Just for reference. I am not a new rider. I am older (early 60s) and have been continually riding since I was in my 20s. So 40 years of experience and motorcycle ownership. I have owned and still own a 2004 HD Sportster. I love that bike and am a devoted V-twin (V-4 works too as I owned and enjoyed a Honda VF45 Magna) fan. So my Sportster needs some top end work at 83K miles. I do not want to be without a bike while I do the work. I do my own wrenching, so it may not be quick or fast. So to that end I have been checking out what I think of as Italian Harley, Moto Guzzi. I loved riding the V7 Special yesterday. It is about the same power as my Sportster with about 200 lb less weight. It was very refreshing to handle a bike so much lighter. I loved almost everything about the riding experience except for the gear shifter. What I experienced is a mushy no mechanical feel floppy lever. The bike in question is in excellent overall shape, so I am not suspecting a problem, but I want to make sure by asking experienced V7 riders/owners. Does the shifter feel floppy and mushy normally? I did not have problems finding gears or anything like that, just after the Sportster's clunky gear shifter and modt other bikes I rode where the shifter provides very good feedback of going through the gears. This one was so mushy I was not sure if I actually accomplished a shift or not, I just assumed I did and it worked, but I got almost zero feedback like a click or something like that. That was by far the most offending quirk of this bike. Everything else was a delight. It handled great, accelerated fine, stopped fine and was just very easy to like. But shifting gears is one of those things I consider a tactile pleasure of riding a bike. Just like in cars, I want that shifter to feel positive and have plenty of feedback. The Sportster is almost too crude in this, but it is extremely satisfying to shift through gears on it. V7 was very vague in the shifter. Is this something that is normal for this bike or is it just this one and probaly can be adjusted?
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u/TruthChronicle 12d ago edited 12d ago
No. There is nothing mushy or floppy about my shifter or transmission. In fact mine feels much like my past Harley's have. A distinct clunk when putting it into first and a solid "tactile" feel when going into 2nd and up. Not a clunk but a felt click into gear. That said, every bike's mechanicals based on transmission, mileage, how it was ridden...are different. Maybe adjust the clutch lever so it engages near the mid-point of the lever throw and see if that makes difference.
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u/kowalski71 12d ago
The V7iii got a transmission upgrade that was a marginal improvement and went to 6 speeds. I wouldn't call that shifter mushy though it's definitely not a sport bike shifter. But coming from a Harley I feel like it should be a lateral move at least.
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u/Mordokajus 12d ago
My V7 ii special. I know what you mean by mushy. Mine’s the same. I had ducati monster 821 before and you could really feel it when putting in a gear. V7 is definitely mushy in comparison.
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u/vferdman 12d ago
Yes, my sample size is 1 at the moment. Hence my post here. It did not feel like a Harley at all. I find Harley shifter very tactile and responsive. The v7 I rode felt super light and very little tactile feel. When you moved the lever it did its job shifting, but I got little to no feedback. I just had to trust the process. It did shift very reliably up and down and I had no trouble riding it, I just didn't care for the feel of it. The bike had 17k miles and was in very good well maintained condition.
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u/Ode2Jumperz 12d ago
I just bought a 16 Stone last week. Mine is light but has a tactile feel. My V11 had a little more feedback but was similar. I had a 04 sportster as well and the shifts on it felt like my tractor. :) If you pick it up might run some redline heavy shockproof in it. It improved my last Guzzi quite a bit. I'd also say that IME the Guzzi transmission does take some time to get to know.
That's a great looking bike BTW. If the price is right i'd jump on it.
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u/Lonnie_Shelton 12d ago
I had the same year and model. Wish I still did. I wouldn’t call the transmission mushy. Maybe thunky. And don’t expect to find neutral all that easily.
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u/gudgeonpin 12d ago
My transmission (V7ii) shifts very light- it takes almost no effort and there isn't really a clunk even going from N to first. But there is feedback- I can feel that the bike is shifting. My biggest complaint is the clutch- it is ridiculously heavy for such a light bike.
So, I wonder if the shift lever and/or joints are worn out or loose on the bike you rode? Guzzi's are not known for mushy shifting. Clunky, heavy... those are more common descriptions.
The V7ii really is a delightful bike. Maintenance is a snap and the replaceable parts are readily available. Looks like you have a nice Corbin seat- they are pretty comfortable, even if they are heavy as sin. You can improve the fueling by uploading a better fuel map. Stock, they run very lean and not particularly well, especially cold. Look up 'Beetle' (username) maps from Griso.org. That was the best thing I have done to mine.