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New V7 II Racer Owner, need some guidance.

F

Faisal

Cruisin' Guzzisti
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Aug 22, 2016
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Hello everyone,

I am new to the Moto Guzzi world. Actually, I'm fairly new to the motorbike world mechanically. I just purchased a 2015 V7 II Racer which comes with ABS and traction. I'm looking to turn my V7 more into a cafe racer and a fell upon the V7 Racer limited built by BAAK motorcycles, which I'm sure most of you have seen.

Here's a link to the bike if some of you haven't:

baakmotocyclettes.com/en/motorcycles-triumph-guzzi-enfield/119-v7-racer-limited-cafe-racer-moto-guzzi.html

Now my question is, I notice that the BAAK V7 Racer has a shorter fork than the OEM one and I'm trying to get my bike to look similar to the BAAK V7 Racer, at least from the front. BAAK is asking for something like $5,600 for the fork alone, which I'm not prepared to pay to be honest. I was wondering if there is some sort of modification that can be done to the fork to have it lowered like the BAAK V7 racer. I have searched all around the forum for answers but I can't seem to get a definite one.

Thank you
 
You can slide the fork tubes up a bit in the triple clamps. This will lower the front of the bike giving it that look but will also make the bike handle a bit better.

It is not hard to do but you do need to support the bike with a jack before loosening the mounting bolts.
 
You can either do what was suggested above, or change the shims which would drop the suspension.
 
Please do not do this without consulting a professional. Doing so will change the rake and trail of the bike and may contribute to potential instability, i.e. a tendency to speed wobble. It is likely to "quicken" the steering considerably, and the bike will require much more constant steering inputs, like a quick-steering Ducati Hypermotard. Trust me on this! At the very least, install a steering damper after the modification.
 
How easy or hard it is to customize a motorcycle really depends on how good you are with mechanics or how much money you have to pay someone who is good with mechanics.
In my experience the easiest ways to change the front end are to either adjust what is there already or replace what is there with something that is more to what you want. You can do as mentioned and slide the forks up in the triple clamps, that will lower the front end and steepen the rake. But it will also reduce trail so you should not just do that without caution. Do it is small amounts at a time and ride the bike (preferably on a bumpy road) to make sure you have not made the bike unstable. There are a number of kits available for the front end of the V7 to improve the way the forks work. Plus, there are suspension guys who could shorten the forks internally as well as re-valve them to make them work better. All of this still is under the umbrella of; shortening the forks, steepening the rake, and reducing the trail. So you have to make sure you don't go too far and make the bike unstable.
Other options involve new / replacement forks. You can go the way of the forks you mention, but that ain't cheap. For less money you could buy a used front end off another bike that has the length, and offset (which sets trail) that you want. To replace an entire front end, forks, triples, wheel, and all, would likely be easier than trying to adapt just one part of the equation to fit the rest of the existing parts on your bike. I replaced the front end on my '93 Daytona with a front end from a GSXR 1000. It was fairly easy by my standards, mainly it was finding a set of steering head bearings that had the right inner and outer diameter. From there, everything else was fairly easy, and I knew the wheel was going to be centered in the forks, the brake discs would line up with the calipers, I knew all that would be right because it all came from the same original bike.
And you can pick up a used front end from something like a GSXR for typically under $1000, often well under $1000.

I would start with sliding the forks up a little in the triple clamps to lower the front end and see if that gets you where you want to go. Then make your decisions based on your wants and likes. But it can quickly get out of hand and before you know it you have more money in modifying it than you spent on the bike to begin with. It is a slippery slope.
 
I'll post here as well in addition to our email exchange. I have had great results in lowering the front end 20mm, and raising the rear via 20mm longer shocks, both on stock tires. All positive benefits. I have also done the same with custom Kineo wheels (see; https://www.guzzitech.com/store/product/kineo-tubeless-spoked-wheels/) using a 3.5 x 17" front rim and 120/70 tire.
Many options on the front end to make the forks MUCH better, but I have also let Faisal know I can do the same Ohlins fork kit with new triples for about US$3995 or so depending on options and finishes. Anyone interested, write me direct e-mail; Todd at GuzziTech.com

Image
 
Thank you all for your input. Todd, how much shorter is the Ohlins Black Edition fork compared to the 20mm fork drop modification you have done, if you have the measurements that is. If not, would you say that Ohlins fork is still shorter?
 
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