Unusual pick: V7 Stornello
 

Folk seem to pick the usual Triumph, BMW, the Big Four, KTM, Aprilia offerings. You get the odd nut who tried long distance adventure riding on a Royal Enfield, a jacked-up Harley or a Ural.
...How about Guzzi? I'm NOT talking about the Stelvio either! (I think the modern fascination with litre/1200 twins and triples a bit silly for real adventure riding unless you're doing all road miles).
I'm talking about the V7 derived Stornello. Think about it:
SHAFT DRIVE!!!
744cc twin, making a nice soft 45ish ponies with good torque in a linear delivery. Super frugal compared to the adventure juggernauts. Even with the stock tank (a very decent 21 ish litres) it is claimed you could have a range of UPTO 310 miles, though maybe 250 between fill ups is probs more realistic.
The bike only weighs 186kg.
It's lighter than a KTM 1190/R1200GS/Tenere/CRF1000/Capanord etc, but more suited to everyday longer distance riding than a DR650/XR650/KLR650 and has SHAFT DRIVE. It looks pretty easily adaptable for luggage. It is set up for the road, I guess you'd have to dial in the suspension for extra $s, but other than that...

There doesn't seem to be a lightweight, simple, frugal adventure bike fitted with shaft drive on the market. If only the BMW/Triumph 800s had the option...at least this Guzzi is a starting point.
You may claim it's not a true offroad bike - but c'mon, neither is a 150bhp Ducati Multistrada. The Guzzi is at least at the right weight and dimensions to begin with.

I'm still not sure of the appeal of a shaft drive. It's not like a chain is high maintenance - 15,000 on my current one, no adjustment outside of scheduled services. Zero maintenance on a shaft, sure - but failure, should it happen, is horrendous. Chain, well... two sprockets and a chain. Easy!

That said, anyone using something a little unusual gets my vote. The V7 is a gorgeous bike, on the rare occasions I see one out and about I'm somewhat envious!

There is a thread here abouts on my V7 STONE with comments, my aid memoirs to maintenance etc. I will link when at a PC rather than a phone.

Tomorrow I will say goodbye though.

The good points are as you say, range, simplicity, light weight, adequate power, torque, tubeless tyres on the stone etc.

I am selling because it is rotting. At two years old I am battling the sort of green loom rot and paint issues you would associate with a 20 year old BMW and never see on a Japanese bike treated with ACF. I have had a new dashboard under warranty because water got in to the "sealed" unit and blew the LED illumination. Had this blown next month it would be a £500 bulb replacement, so this isn't all 1950s tech. I have also had an FI spat which although cured by a simple hard reset (battery off), makes me suspect the loom rot again.

The shaft drive and separate clutch are just like doing a years worth of chain lube in one go. You would regret it if the clutch or even the madly routed cable went pop in darkest Umbongostan.

These are good bikes, but not flawless.

Andy

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...guzzi-v7-79979

And
https://sites.google.com/site/threewheelguzzi/

And


https://picasaweb.google.com/1044429...eat=directlink

Andy

Oh, and welcome to HUBB (should have said that first :oops2: )

Andy

You've probably saved me a test ride
 

Thanks for the reality check and noted that you are selling on as the warranty expires.
Is this kind of rot in the loom a common issue with the V7?
It has been said that the Guzzi paintwork finish has improved in recent years - perhaps not so much?

Common is hard to judge. Im on close to 11000 miles, the majority in the classifieds are on half that. I suspect if you could only ride on days they would go out round Lake Garda you would avoid the water and salt and repairs. Ive been year round since 1993 so know how to apply the gunk and use the hose pipe, so am a little put off that my routine has failed. The fans are loyal and bikes relatively few, so not much has been reported that ive seen.

I could be uncharitable and say its a weekend bike. That said ive had one five minute fiddle on the hard shoulder and five weeks judging speed at night by the engine note and flashing yellow tax boxes. Its hardly Ural or chinese 125 proportions of weekend crappiness.

Andy

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E..._eicma2015.jpg
You mean this bike? Few follow current Guzzi line so a Pic of the current bike is best.
I like it! Impressive! How does the price compare with the new Ducati
Scrambler?

Like Arma, I'm not a fan of shaft drive. Added weight, loss of HP. Unless you've been in a cave the last 20 years, then you'll know that modern chains are simply .... AMAZING! My last two went OVER 22K miles each.

Still, I'd count on Guzzi's shaft system over BMW's, which really has given shaft drive bikes a bad reputation in the last 20 years. (BMW GS)

I still Kick myself every time I think of what I sold my former '84 Le Man's lll for. dohdohdoh
Oh my, sexiest bike ever! I love Guzzi's!

Needs a bash plate and the rear calliper protecting, then its perfectly usable. Ive done gravel sheep tracks and my own incompetance aside they do it. Very similar spec to an R80GS when you think about it. Stone wheels are better, tubeless, cheaper than proper off road spec which would be overkill for the rest of the bike and no weaker than the spoked fashion items.

Oh, and buy a gallon of Loctite. V-twin vibes and vino on a Friday lunchtime in the assembly hall are a dangerous mix. My gearlever survived on half a thread in the hole and both horns (which the Italians should be ashamed of, peep peep like a *****y vespa) did gravity tests on the wiring!

Andy

There is a guy in the Guzzi club converted an old v65tt, slotted in a modern v7 engine , gearbox and shaft (which are all based on the original V50/V65 stuff anyway all the running gear went straight in - all the mounting points lines up like they were made for each other. Just shows the moto guzzi V7 is just a progression of bikes from the 80's, he junked the FI and computer's fitted a set of carbs and an aftermarket digital ignition (as well as a set of points as a back up). Reckons the bike runs smoother and better on the carbs than it did on FI , he has got rid of all the electronic rubbish, it runs a simple wiring harness, simple carbs and is built into a an early off road based bike that was built to rival the BMW r80gs in its day. There was a v65tt for sale on e bay last week for around £300 for spare or repair, not a bad starting point, then find a write off V7 at a breakers you have a starting point. If i had the inclination it something i would have considered a while back.

This is a v65tt picture for those that do not know the bike, he has really made a great lightweight crossbreed by adding a modern engine - and junking the electonic's and stuff that goes wrong, hope Aprillia and moto guzzi watch, listen and learn, it could be a superb travel bike if they copied the idea and released it - but keep it simple.

I say go for it. Chains are a pain, my V-strom chain lasted 35,000 miles and I still would prefer a bulletproof shaft drive like the Guzzi. Steel frame, old school bars and headlight mean easy to replace with Chinese units in the middle of no where. I would go with the cast wheels from the regular V7 to have tubeless tires.

the main reason to overland with this is because it's not another same old same old KLRDRGS ride, which just are boring to read about on here or ADV.

Came across a Stornello at the dealership where I bought my leftover 2014 V7Racer aptly named Bella. The Stornello is just one of the many things you can do with your existing V7 or V7II if you're willing to put the time and money into your bike. If I were in the market for a new scrambler I would be tempted to go for this over the Scrambler Ducati. Admittedly, the Duck is more of a modern take on a classic and has a more powerful engine. But the tank size, shaft drive and vintage look and feel of the Moto Guzzi just do it for me all day long. Jamie Robinson of MotoGeo has done some interesting videos of this bike too. Big adventure bikes including the new Honda Africa Twin is just too heavy and doesn't have a large enough fuel tank imho.

Well wait no longer, come October I will be taking my Stornello and scramble down to Ushuaia. Wish me luck, looking forward to an awesome and interesting ride down.

Good luck, enjoy it and tell us how it goes.

I got out while the going was affordable. Too many niggles and too much rot so it was either sell or keep it as a way to convert money into frustration. Nothing that would stop it running, but stuff that would cause hassle in the UK.

Andy

Seems to me if well prepped and PRE tested, it could make a good travel bike, once the niggles are identified and FIXED.

These "frustrations" are things you want to solve while still in N. America ...
not in Bolivia or Peru'. Anything that crops up will hopefully show itself BEFORE you cross the border into Mexico. Some good Guzzi guys in the San Diego area.

I'm betting the Guzzi will do OK if owner keeps up on maintenance and chases
gremlins out early.

Ride ON!

:scooter: