V7Racer
Just got it firing!
Long story short......I love it! This is definitely a different style bike than what I'm used to (I also ride Harley Road King and Buell 1125R). Getting situated from the initial ride took a few tweaks. The first thing I noticed while revving the motor while sitting still was the bike tilting slightly to the right with each twist of the throttle. No big deal just a sensation I've never encountered before, as this is my first transverse engine. I can only imagine this sensation on the big bore Guzzi's! The dealer must never have checked my headlight level as it was pointing high up in the trees. The other adjustment needed was lowering the gear shift lever as it too was way high for easy and comfortable shifting. These simple fixes and I was ready to roll.
I truly love the way this bike feels....very light and agile. Not the kick in the pants the Rotax motor in the Buell has, but I knew this and was not what I was looking for with this purchase. The bike is absolutely gorgeous and when I'm not staring at it myself I notice how many other people are also intrigued. Every time I ride I get thumbs up, waves, honking horns, and yells. Even the guys on tricked out Japanese sport bikes are "rubber necking". And when it's parked I'm always getting compliments from young kids to old timers.
I'm still breaking this bike in and haven't even passed the 4K rpm mark yet. Interesting to me is that there is no red-line indicated! The bike does need a few minutes to warm up or she will sputter upon releasing the clutch, once warm no issues. I also have learned to watch while downshifting for the green neutral light to know I'm back in first. Trying to downshift this bike from 5th to 1st at a dead stop is not an easy process. Without a gearshift indicator I have found myself stabbing for another gear but this is something I've done on almost every bike I've ridden. Sometimes at idle in neutral I hear what sounds like clutch chatter which is a bit disconcerting, but I'm hoping just a trait I need to adjust to.
Also several times I've heard a sound coming from the bike (a couple seconds in duration) when it's parked and off, even hours or a day since being ridden. It's sounds like an electrical servo motor or a fuel pump or something.....I'm still unsure what it is. I also notice on the clutch lever a small inside notch at about the 3rd finger location which has me stumped. Almost like it could be for clearance if you were wearing a ring and pulling lever with only 2 fingers. I initially didn't think the bike had lockable steering until I turned the bars to opposite side of that on my American bikes. And the feature of the auto dimming headlight if you leave the key on is also a great idea.
I'm still learning this bike and very much looking forward to racking up the miles. It's been a true joy thus far, so smooth to ride it is truly addicting. Makes me wish I had considered Moto Guzzi much earlier in my riding career. Day by day I am becoming more and more of a believer and loyalist. Ride safe my friends!
I truly love the way this bike feels....very light and agile. Not the kick in the pants the Rotax motor in the Buell has, but I knew this and was not what I was looking for with this purchase. The bike is absolutely gorgeous and when I'm not staring at it myself I notice how many other people are also intrigued. Every time I ride I get thumbs up, waves, honking horns, and yells. Even the guys on tricked out Japanese sport bikes are "rubber necking". And when it's parked I'm always getting compliments from young kids to old timers.
I'm still breaking this bike in and haven't even passed the 4K rpm mark yet. Interesting to me is that there is no red-line indicated! The bike does need a few minutes to warm up or she will sputter upon releasing the clutch, once warm no issues. I also have learned to watch while downshifting for the green neutral light to know I'm back in first. Trying to downshift this bike from 5th to 1st at a dead stop is not an easy process. Without a gearshift indicator I have found myself stabbing for another gear but this is something I've done on almost every bike I've ridden. Sometimes at idle in neutral I hear what sounds like clutch chatter which is a bit disconcerting, but I'm hoping just a trait I need to adjust to.
Also several times I've heard a sound coming from the bike (a couple seconds in duration) when it's parked and off, even hours or a day since being ridden. It's sounds like an electrical servo motor or a fuel pump or something.....I'm still unsure what it is. I also notice on the clutch lever a small inside notch at about the 3rd finger location which has me stumped. Almost like it could be for clearance if you were wearing a ring and pulling lever with only 2 fingers. I initially didn't think the bike had lockable steering until I turned the bars to opposite side of that on my American bikes. And the feature of the auto dimming headlight if you leave the key on is also a great idea.
I'm still learning this bike and very much looking forward to racking up the miles. It's been a true joy thus far, so smooth to ride it is truly addicting. Makes me wish I had considered Moto Guzzi much earlier in my riding career. Day by day I am becoming more and more of a believer and loyalist. Ride safe my friends!
