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!

__________________
[ Tim | History - NW Italy/French Rivera, Swiss Alps, Morocco | 2016 - Greece > Albania > Macedonia > Kosovo > Montenegro > Bosnia > Slovenia > Austria ]

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

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?

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Dave

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

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.
Oh my, sexiest bike ever! I love Guzzi's!

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

Andy