Moto Guzzi V7 Classic cold morning startup 1-15-2011 (GCN2)

[51paulieboy]

I've just ordered a black V7 Guzzi and would like to know the make and model of the panniers attached to your bike as well as the mounting brackets you used. Good luck and safe riding.

[nickjacket]

@51paulieboy .. I'm using Cortech Saddlebags by Tour Master. There's no mounting hardware for them except my bungee cord holding their Velcro adjusted connecting straps down to the seat. The saddlebags come with elastic edged rain covers that stow inside the bags when not used. I've gotten caught in a downpour more than once without the covers but all had been still dry inside. Riding in high wind does not make bags sail or billow.

[bobibaz]

The black paint is the best one !! Very nice bike ! Sadly there's no Guzzi dealer in Hong Kong...

[talissin]

@nickjacket gotta tell Harley Davidson got a big impact and it's full of History and got the charm of a old world. Guzzi got the same just more reliable :°D Eh eh i know i'm partisan :°D

[talissin]

What are your impressions about this bike? How many kms you made already? :°)

[nickjacket]

@talissin

First impression was "lightweight" > It feels like a 250cc size bike. The 4+ gallon gas tank gets me a 200+ mile range (320KM).

By the time I got back, it had 3050km on the odometer (1900 miles). I called the Guzzi shop in Tucson about running out of torque on mountain grades and they recommended to downshift at highway cruise and let it rev below 8,000 rpm.

At the V7's first service, the shop downloaded new performance mapping into its ECM module and it felt a lot better on the trip.

[talissin]

woot! It started at first attempt?

[nickjacket]

@talissin

According to my expert Guzzi mechanic, the V7 doesn't have a choke, just a high idle lever that I threw all the way forward to stay started above 1000 rpm.

Also on the V7 is louder tappet noise because Guzzi doesn't use sound damping in the cylinders. When I got very cold on the northbound leg out of Williams, I squeezed my legs against the tank to get the engine heat on my knees. It's not much but it helps.

[talissin]

@nickjacket ah ah, that sounds new to me since my V35 II have choke (old bike no electronic injection just carburattors). I drove my Melody Lee with 0 C° / -4 C° once and sometimes i used to stop and warm my hands / legs on the heads of the engine. You can't do that with all bikes :°D

[nickjacket]

@talissin

Had problems warming up fingers indoors at gas stations (ouch). In my 20's and 30's, I would warm my hands on a valve cover. I left the canyon on the morning of the 16th when it was 22 degrees. My nose kept running and dripping on my jacket. I was stopping every 50 miles for coffee until I got down to Verde Valley/Phoenix. It was clear when I left but with every exhale, i kept fogging my face shield. Opening shield slightly would prevent fog but the cold would make nose run more.

[talissin]

@nickjacket Know those problems pretty well dude, You're a hero and a perfect Guzzi owner, fuck all those Harley poseurs with the bike in the rear of their motorhome! :°D