Just what I was looking for! I’m 6’4” and rode an airhead beemer (R80RT) for 5 years and I’m seriously considering a V7. That seat (along with some bar risers) gives me hope that the V7 could work. As an Englishman I’m drawn to the Triumph but the price and the shaft drive make the Guzzi very appealing.
I have to say that I really love this bike now. I’ve made a few more adjustments and it just fits. Keep in mind I’m long bodied at a 34” inseam in US measurements so I encourage you to find one local to you before you pull the trigger, but honestly I couldn’t be happier with my v7 right now.
@@MechanicalAdvantageGarage Yeah, I’ve got a 36” inseam so legroom is an issue. It’s interesting to me that having watched a number of videos shorter riders tend to say it’s quite cramped while conversely taller riders say it’s fine. I definitely need to stop watching videos and get out on one.
I’m curious about that. I can sort of understand it in that off the showroom floor the handlebars are raked backwards by about an inch, also the footpegs are slightly higher than where you expect them to be after riding the triumph. My background is in vintage bikes and sport bikes so to me it feels normal, my 1978 xs650 feels more cramped. Compared to my Ironhead sportster the v7 is a Cadillac. It’s even roomier than my 1986 R80 which has a lower seat height than I like. Overall though it feels like a smaller more nimble bike - my old lemans Guzzi feels like a truck by comparison - this is more svelte and nimble, drops into a corner and holds the line and squirts out the other side. Ride one, I think you’ll like it, but if your plan is long distance hauling instead of day trips, I might consider a physically larger bike.
@@MechanicalAdvantageGarage Ahh, it’s interesting that you find it roomier than your R80 - that gives me an indication. I found the R80 a touch cramped in the leg but not too bad. I guess the size and shape of the rider triangle combined with a person’s height coming from a combination of legs and torso make it all very personal.
Perfect timing. I’m considering getting a 2023 V7 Special but at 6’4” with a 34” inseam I assumed I would be too cramped. I’ve owned several HD big twins and I agree - large heavy bike does not guarantee more room. Thanks for the video!
6'2" 34" inseam also. I sat on one at a dealership just the other day. It was OK. My knees were a bit far forward on the tank close to the edge of the cut out area for your knees. This saddle seems a good choice.
Great real world review. Long-ish legged 6'2" here, 34" inseam, more the lanky type. Sat on one rhe other day. It definitely feels a bit low to the ground, and my leg gets near to the edge of the leg cut out in the tank. Overall felt quite comfortable though. Sitting on the fence between one of these and an Interceptor which feels a bit higher and you feel more on it as opposed to in it with this one. These can be had for $7500 now in my neck of the woods which seems a great value. Have you sat on an Interceptor?
Hi, I’ve sat on the Royal Enfield interceptor many times, including just yesterday, and the issues I have with it are the seat is too low as compared with the pegs and it’s also too thin for long rides. I actually prefer the Continental GT. because of my long legs the rearsets feel way more comfortable as does the thicker seat. Yes you are leaning a little forward, but with my long arms it was fine when moving because the wind took some of the weight off my hands and lower back. If I didn’t buy the V7 I would have bought a Continental GT.
@@MechanicalAdvantageGarage Funny I had exactly the same impression with long arms the seating position is not as bent forward as reviewers make it out to be but when i sat on a GT again just the other day I found the angle of my knees too astute. I was cramping up at the hips. Maybe because I had got to the gym and did my legs just a couple of days prior .... I did not find the Interceptor too thin. Then again I found the Z900RS's tank too wide .... You are bigger than I am though, then I am older ... "groan..." Well thanks for your review and your impressions really helpful
Good man. I bought a new V7 Special 18 months ago and put 9000 miles on it. I'm 6 feet tall and 96 kilos. Got a small Guzzi screen, main stand and heated grips for trips from Scotland to France. Last round trip 1700 miles. Through very wet weather and the bike never put a foot wrong. 80mph on motorways (freeways) and all the fun of 60mph on back roads. My other bike...spooky...is a BMW R 100r. Love them both to bits. Keep on truckin'.
The main stand is something I’m fascinated in, although, I don’t know that I have a need for it since there are no chains to lube. I haven’t ridden my R80 bmw since getting the Guzzi. The Guzzi does everything the R80 did, but slightly better - except carry passengers. The BMW is just longer in the seat and good for that.
I’ve ridden the Roamer, it’s not my taste. The frame and peg position are the same as my V7, but the seat is lower and I end up sitting in the passenger’s spot. The styling reminds me of the Kz LTD’s that were sold in the late 70’s, it’s not what I’m looking for out of a Guzzi. I do appreciate that those who have Roamers love them though.
I'm glad someone made this but man once you got to the point where all the music and all the background noise was on, I just muted everything and put on subtitles lol
Yeah, I’m still trying to figure out how to do all this…I shoot with my phone because I can’t afford fancy gear and it picks up a lot of background noise. I sometimes have to put music over it too because either the audio is terrible, or it has picked up copyrighted background noise (like the music playing in the shop) and UA-cam will pull my video because of it. I’m still trying to figure out solutions but I’m a novice and it’s trial and error. It’s a process
Thanks for that. I just picked mine up on Tuesday. I'm 6'2" and will be ordering that seat. I would also like to replace the side stand with a center stand. I haven't seen one on the Guzzi website.
I wouldn’t get rid of the side stand, it’s handy. The center stand is available and I belive AF1 racing stocks it. You can use the part number to look up at your Guzzi dealer. From what I have heard the aftermarket ones are not good so use the Guzzi accessories one. www.af1racing.com/2s001453-oem-moto-guzzi-center-stand-kit-2s001453-for-v7-e5-850cc-all-variants
I have an upcoming video about it, it’s a small weather resistant tool bag I found on Temu. I think I paid $6 for it but you know Temu, prices go up and down. It’s meant to mount to the forks but I liked it mounted to the side of the seat better. share.temu.com/qr3vfqCWWtA
Given your height an ADV bike may be better, although I think the overall height of the bike matters less than the seat-to-footpeg distance. The Guzzi has a decent sized engine but it is a fairly small bike from an overall size perspective. I have an FJR1300 and that has a seat height that can be adjusted by an inch. It's physically a large bike and would suit a larger rider.
Im 6’2” so i know what you are talking about. I have that problem of my legs wanting to flare out. The tall seat may be the answer. Did your arms feel much lower and will you consider bar risers? Thanks
Funny you should mention the bars, I personally like low bars, I use a superbike bend on almost all my bikes. The V7 came with that superbike/euro style bend, but the way my dealer PDI’s their bikes it is set for maximum pullback. So the tall seat didn’t really change my relationship to the bars, but the bars are set so that I could rotate them forward and gain up to 1/2” rise, which is something I may do just to reduce the pullback. Point is, there is enough room in rotating the bars that you can adjust to what’s comfortable to you. I don’t know that I would consider bar risers out of the gate because they usually start at an inch and go bigger from there, not a lot of 1/2” risers on the market. I have to look at the setup but usually you can shim risers with washers up to 1/4” up.
I’ve been looking at the V7 for a while. I’m 6’ 1” and felt just slightly cramped which has put me off. I have an ‘82 850 T4 and don’t have this feeling. It looks like the comfort seat’s about an inch higher would you say? Thanks for the different, practical insight into the V7.
Well there is no way to get around the fact that the modern V7, even with all its enhancements, is still based on the old small block Guzzi architecture, so it’s always going to feel a little cramped when compared to the old tonti Big block Guzzi. That said they have done a marvelous job making this bike not only punch above its weight class, but be a competitive large middleweight in the modern market. The “big and tall” comfort seat is between 1 and two inches taller. I call it the big and tall because there is another comfort seat in the Guzzi catalog which is shorter for riders of a less than average stature. It isn’t just the height though that makes it more comfortable for taller riders, it’s the gel pads. The gel doesn’t compress like foam, so you don’t lose that height advantage when sitting on it. Static unladen it’s about a 1 inch difference, sitting on it, under compression load, it’s about a 2 inch difference
@@MechanicalAdvantageGarage That's a shame, met some Dutch riders last year, about 6ft 6ins, happy on their GS's. I had an oil-head R1200R for a decade, fabulous bike. Traded it last year for an R1250RT, heavier but brilliant in its own way. Each to their own.
I’ve ridden a large oilhead GS and the funny thing is, while the cockpit is great, the overall bike is too tall. I ride pretty aggressively and it’s not as flickable either. BMW made a few oilheads that are sporting like the r1150r and r1200r roadster, the r1200c Montauk, the BMW r1200RS sport tourer - all good bikes with the same cockpit ergonomics range as the GS. The problem with an oilhead vs an airhead is the weight. An airhead is in the 450lb weight range wet, whereas for a while those big oilheads were pushing 600lbs. The R1200RS was the lightest at like 531 wet. I understand the new r1300gs is now 522 wet thanks to technology but you pay for that weight loss with a $20l price tag. Even used r Gs bikes are the Better part of $10k. Even 10 year old r1200RS bikes are the better part of $8k.
I agree, and weirdly the physically bigger the bike the smaller the cockpit, esp Harley’s and metric cruisers. I used to have a ton of early 1980’s Japanese superbikes (gs750, DoHC Cb900f, KZ900) and they handled like freight trains but were great for my size. Occasionally I still run into bikes that fit well but it’s getting rarer and rarer.
It seems bikes of the 80s fit me better..I feel my 90s big kat(1100) fit me better than just about any other bike I've owned and I've owned around 10 of them
exactly. i dreamed about Kawasaki W800 and then finally seeing it on the sidewalk it was clear that it's not for a 6'2 rider. or i'm just spoiled by my good old xl600v..
@MechanicalAdvantageGarage too right. I had a 1978 Z1000 back in the late 80s and a GS550 before that. You can shift your bum back and forth and your leg doesn't have to fit into a crevice in the tank
Just what I was looking for! I’m 6’4” and rode an airhead beemer (R80RT) for 5 years and I’m seriously considering a V7. That seat (along with some bar risers) gives me hope that the V7 could work.
As an Englishman I’m drawn to the Triumph but the price and the shaft drive make the Guzzi very appealing.
I have to say that I really love this bike now. I’ve made a few more adjustments and it just fits. Keep in mind I’m long bodied at a 34” inseam in US measurements so I encourage you to find one local to you before you pull the trigger, but honestly I couldn’t be happier with my v7 right now.
@@MechanicalAdvantageGarage Yeah, I’ve got a 36” inseam so legroom is an issue. It’s interesting to me that having watched a number of videos shorter riders tend to say it’s quite cramped while conversely taller riders say it’s fine. I definitely need to stop watching videos and get out on one.
I’m curious about that. I can sort of understand it in that off the showroom floor the handlebars are raked backwards by about an inch, also the footpegs are slightly higher than where you expect them to be after riding the triumph. My background is in vintage bikes and sport bikes so to me it feels normal, my 1978 xs650 feels more cramped. Compared to my Ironhead sportster the v7 is a Cadillac. It’s even roomier than my 1986 R80 which has a lower seat height than I like. Overall though it feels like a smaller more nimble bike - my old lemans Guzzi feels like a truck by comparison - this is more svelte and nimble, drops into a corner and holds the line and squirts out the other side.
Ride one, I think you’ll like it, but if your plan is long distance hauling instead of day trips, I might consider a physically larger bike.
@@MechanicalAdvantageGarage Ahh, it’s interesting that you find it roomier than your R80 - that gives me an indication. I found the R80 a touch cramped in the leg but not too bad. I guess the size and shape of the rider triangle combined with a person’s height coming from a combination of legs and torso make it all very personal.
Perfect timing. I’m considering getting a 2023 V7 Special but at 6’4” with a 34” inseam I assumed I would be too cramped. I’ve owned several HD big twins and I agree - large heavy bike does not guarantee more room. Thanks for the video!
You’re welcome!
6'2" 34" inseam also. I sat on one at a dealership just the other day. It was OK. My knees were a bit far forward on the tank close to the edge of the cut out area for your knees.
This saddle seems a good choice.
Great real world review. Long-ish legged 6'2" here, 34" inseam, more the lanky type. Sat on one rhe other day. It definitely feels a bit low to the ground, and my leg gets near to the edge of the leg cut out in the tank.
Overall felt quite comfortable though.
Sitting on the fence between one of these and an Interceptor which feels a bit higher and you feel more on it as opposed to in it with this one.
These can be had for $7500 now in my neck of the woods which seems a great value.
Have you sat on an Interceptor?
Hi, I’ve sat on the Royal Enfield interceptor many times, including just yesterday, and the issues I have with it are the seat is too low as compared with the pegs and it’s also too thin for long rides. I actually prefer the Continental GT. because of my long legs the rearsets feel way more comfortable as does the thicker seat. Yes you are leaning a little forward, but with my long arms it was fine when moving because the wind took some of the weight off my hands and lower back. If I didn’t buy the V7 I would have bought a Continental GT.
@@MechanicalAdvantageGarage Funny I had exactly the same impression with long arms the seating position is not as bent forward as reviewers make it out to be but when i sat on a GT again just the other day I found the angle of my knees too astute. I was cramping up at the hips.
Maybe because I had got to the gym and did my legs just a couple of days prior ....
I did not find the Interceptor too thin.
Then again I found the Z900RS's tank too wide ....
You are bigger than I am though, then I am older ... "groan..."
Well thanks for your review and your impressions really helpful
Good man. I bought a new V7 Special 18 months ago and put 9000 miles on it. I'm 6 feet tall and 96 kilos. Got a small Guzzi screen, main stand and heated grips for trips from Scotland to France. Last round trip 1700 miles. Through very wet weather and the bike never put a foot wrong. 80mph on motorways (freeways) and all the fun of 60mph on back roads. My other bike...spooky...is a BMW R 100r. Love them both to bits. Keep on truckin'.
The main stand is something I’m fascinated in, although, I don’t know that I have a need for it since there are no chains to lube.
I haven’t ridden my R80 bmw since getting the Guzzi. The Guzzi does everything the R80 did, but slightly better - except carry passengers. The BMW is just longer in the seat and good for that.
Thank you so much. This information really helpful to me.
Glad it was helpful!
Dear sir, if possible look up for the Moto Guzzi V9Roamer and try it. You might just fall in love with it!
I’ve ridden the Roamer, it’s not my taste. The frame and peg position are the same as my V7, but the seat is lower and I end up sitting in the passenger’s spot.
The styling reminds me of the Kz LTD’s that were sold in the late 70’s, it’s not what I’m looking for out of a Guzzi. I do appreciate that those who have Roamers love them though.
Looks great and feels high enough for a 6ft 1 or 2 guy. :) Well done. Enjoyed.
I’m really liking it
I'm glad someone made this but man once you got to the point where all the music and all the background noise was on, I just muted everything and put on subtitles lol
Yeah, I’m still trying to figure out how to do all this…I shoot with my phone because I can’t afford fancy gear and it picks up a lot of background noise. I sometimes have to put music over it too because either the audio is terrible, or it has picked up copyrighted background noise (like the music playing in the shop) and UA-cam will pull my video because of it. I’m still trying to figure out solutions but I’m a novice and it’s trial and error. It’s a process
@@MechanicalAdvantageGarage get the mic as close to your mouth as possible in loud environments
Thanks for that. I just picked mine up on Tuesday. I'm 6'2" and will be ordering that seat. I would also like to replace the side stand with a center stand. I haven't seen one on the Guzzi website.
I wouldn’t get rid of the side stand, it’s handy. The center stand is available and I belive AF1 racing stocks it. You can use the part number to look up at your Guzzi dealer. From what I have heard the aftermarket ones are not good so use the Guzzi accessories one.
www.af1racing.com/2s001453-oem-moto-guzzi-center-stand-kit-2s001453-for-v7-e5-850cc-all-variants
@@MechanicalAdvantageGarage Thanks. I didn't know you could have both stands installed at the same time. Yes, I will keep them both.
I saw a V7 recently with both stands and it was the first one I saw in person so it stood out in my mind. Wish I had taken a pic
Awesome video! What’s that small bag you have attached on it?
I have an upcoming video about it, it’s a small weather resistant tool bag I found on Temu. I think I paid $6 for it but you know Temu, prices go up and down. It’s meant to mount to the forks but I liked it mounted to the side of the seat better.
share.temu.com/qr3vfqCWWtA
Given your height an ADV bike may be better, although I think the overall height of the bike matters less than the seat-to-footpeg distance. The Guzzi has a decent sized engine but it is a fairly small bike from an overall size perspective. I have an FJR1300 and that has a seat height that can be adjusted by an inch. It's physically a large bike and would suit a larger rider.
The heart wants what the heart wants and my heart doesn’t want adv bikes.
Im 6’2” so i know what you are talking about. I have that problem of my legs wanting to flare out. The tall seat may be the answer. Did your arms feel much lower and will you consider bar risers? Thanks
Funny you should mention the bars, I personally like low bars, I use a superbike bend on almost all my bikes. The V7 came with that superbike/euro style bend, but the way my dealer PDI’s their bikes it is set for maximum pullback. So the tall seat didn’t really change my relationship to the bars, but the bars are set so that I could rotate them forward and gain up to 1/2” rise, which is something I may do just to reduce the pullback. Point is, there is enough room in rotating the bars that you can adjust to what’s comfortable to you. I don’t know that I would consider bar risers out of the gate because they usually start at an inch and go bigger from there, not a lot of 1/2” risers on the market. I have to look at the setup but usually you can shim risers with washers up to 1/4” up.
I’ve been looking at the V7 for a while. I’m 6’ 1” and felt just slightly cramped which has put me off. I have an ‘82 850 T4 and don’t have this feeling. It looks like the comfort seat’s about an inch higher would you say? Thanks for the different, practical insight into the V7.
Well there is no way to get around the fact that the modern V7, even with all its enhancements, is still based on the old small block Guzzi architecture, so it’s always going to feel a little cramped when compared to the old tonti Big block Guzzi. That said they have done a marvelous job making this bike not only punch above its weight class, but be a competitive large middleweight in the modern market.
The “big and tall” comfort seat is between 1 and two inches taller. I call it the big and tall because there is another comfort seat in the Guzzi catalog which is shorter for riders of a less than average stature. It isn’t just the height though that makes it more comfortable for taller riders, it’s the gel pads. The gel doesn’t compress like foam, so you don’t lose that height advantage when sitting on it. Static unladen it’s about a 1 inch difference, sitting on it, under compression load, it’s about a 2 inch difference
You would find the Moto Guzzi Stelvio 1200 a good fit
You are probably right.
Yep, you're a big guy. What about a BMW GS with the tall seat in the tall position?
I’m not really into the GS, actually aside from the early monolever G/S bikes I don’t like most of them esp the oilheads.
@@MechanicalAdvantageGarage That's a shame, met some Dutch riders last year, about 6ft 6ins, happy on their GS's. I had an oil-head R1200R for a decade, fabulous bike. Traded it last year for an R1250RT, heavier but brilliant in its own way. Each to their own.
I’ve ridden a large oilhead GS and the funny thing is, while the cockpit is great, the overall bike is too tall. I ride pretty aggressively and it’s not as flickable either. BMW made a few oilheads that are sporting like the r1150r and r1200r roadster, the r1200c Montauk, the BMW r1200RS sport tourer - all good bikes with the same cockpit ergonomics range as the GS. The problem with an oilhead vs an airhead is the weight. An airhead is in the 450lb weight range wet, whereas for a while those big oilheads were pushing 600lbs. The R1200RS was the lightest at like 531 wet. I understand the new r1300gs is now 522 wet thanks to technology but you pay for that weight loss with a $20l price tag. Even used r Gs bikes are the Better part of $10k. Even 10 year old r1200RS bikes are the better part of $8k.
That's been a common complaint of mine..motorcycles aren't made for us tall guys
I agree, and weirdly the physically bigger the bike the smaller the cockpit, esp Harley’s and metric cruisers. I used to have a ton of early 1980’s Japanese superbikes (gs750, DoHC Cb900f, KZ900) and they handled like freight trains but were great for my size. Occasionally I still run into bikes that fit well but it’s getting rarer and rarer.
It seems bikes of the 80s fit me better..I feel my 90s big kat(1100) fit me better than just about any other bike I've owned and I've owned around 10 of them
exactly. i dreamed about Kawasaki W800 and then finally seeing it on the sidewalk it was clear that it's not for a 6'2 rider. or i'm just spoiled by my good old xl600v..
I listed so hard for a w650 back in 2001, the green and creme one, and then inside one and realized it was too small. Heart broken.
@MechanicalAdvantageGarage too right. I had a 1978 Z1000 back in the late 80s and a GS550 before that. You can shift your bum back and forth and your leg doesn't have to fit into a crevice in the tank
Great accessory for that bike is a bloody strict diet sheet.
Everyone thinks they are a comedian 🙄😉
I take a large bowel movement before I ride because apparently it helps 😜
@@MechanicalAdvantageGarage No joke, best advice ever on your channel.
❤guzzi 😊
👍