V7 for touring

I have been thinking about trading the Triumph Tiger 800xcx in for a V7 set up for touring like Kev. M 's bike. What(if any) are the problems with these v7? Where is the closest/best dealer around? I am near Trenton, NJ. The Tiger is very comfortable for long distances are these? I appreciate any help on this matter. Brian

I think it's a very personal thing.

I have taken the V7 touring and will again.

But I don't like to get on the highway and drone with it - the suspension is not exactly state of the art, the bike is light (wonderfully so on back roads) but gets blown around more than I like on the highway. And though the motor is certainly up to the task, I feel like I'm asking more of it than I want to if I sit at 70-80 mph for hours at a time.

To ME it's much better suited to back roads and it does that wonderfully.

Comfort wise the stock seat leaves something to be desired, and though I find my take-off Cafe seat to be sufficient for me most of the time, by the point I'm hitting 300-400 miles in a day I'm starting to feel that seat too. It's narrow enough that it's cutting into the underside of my legs slightly.

If I was to tour much more on it than I have I think I'd seriously consider a Corbin or another aftermarket/accessory seat.

At 5' 10" with an ~32" inseam the seating is a little tight with enough bend to the knee that I start to cramp and need to straighten them after the first maybe 100-200 miles, and then at least every 50-100 miles after that. I think if I were to be serious about long distance on it I would have to consider a taller seat and/or lowered pegs (I know a couple of people who have placed lower pegs on it for a little more leg room). I actually kinda wonder if the V9 would be better for me in that sense, but I prefer the size and shape of the V7 tank.

All that said, I got off my new RK yesterday and hopped on the V7 and remembered why I love the V7.

It's literally almost half the weight of the RK and less than half the cubic inches, but it's so efficient it's got more range (250-280 miles vs 200 miles) with less fuel (5.something vs. 6.0 gallons).

It's handles wonderfully even with a basic suspension, even if that means it's no where near as plush as the RK, but it's not supposed to be.

I continue to be quite pleased with it going on 5 years now (will be 5 years this Dec).

If I were to buy a new one again (and I wouldn't hesitate, and I'm hearing the V7 III is a noticeable improvement) I would go to Coopersburg Eurosports, though I guess I'd also consider Europa Machinna (though they're a haul).

A pic for good measure:[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Thanks for the insight>My thoughts were that I ride the Triumph more on 1 day jaunts than the twice a year 700 mile ride. THe triumph is really too big and heavy for the 200 mile rides...in my book. Nice looking bike though....what brand boxes are those? thanks BRian

Brian - Guzzi moved their North Jersey franchise from the hateful Motorcycle Mall in Bellville to Moto Guzzi of Wayne / World Wide Power Sports. Their website is [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]. I have no experience with them but hope to get out there sooner than later to check them out.

royaloilfield wrote:what brand boxes are those?  thanks BRian

Those are the Hepco & Becker Juniors.

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The sidecases are 30L

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and that topcase is the now discontinued 45L, but they still make 40L and 55L versions:

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Here's the V7 years ago with the 40L (and some other differences):[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]




Damn man, doing all that got me looking at other topcases and I might have found one that would work better on my RK than the Juniors.... this post might have cost me $300.

My 2¢.  I think you have to define touring.  I'll admit I'm addicted to 1+ liter bikes for my brand of touring.  When 'touring' I usually hit the slab the first and sometimes second day, and start the 'Tour' somewhere West of the Mississippi.   IMHO a sub 1 liter loaded down with camping gear running into a head wind just doesn't have enough grunt to pull off a 70 MPH pass on the superslab.
I know people have toured the world on 500cc bikes for decades, but if your going to be pounding down big miles in todays traffic I like to have something substantial under me.
I'm rapidly approaching the time when I'm uncomfortable with a big machine but I'm sure I'll hate the day when I have to move to a sub liter bike for my main touring mount.

Naturally IMHO

mogu83 wrote:My 2¢.  I think you have to define touring.  I'll admit I'm addicted to 1+ liter bikes for my brand of touring.  When 'touring' I usually hit the slab the first and sometimes second day, and start the 'Tour' somewhere West of the Mississippi.   IMHO a sub 1 liter loaded down with camping gear running into a head wind just doesn't have enough grunt to pull off a 70 MPH pass on the superslab.
I know people have toured the world on 500cc bikes for decades, but if your going to be pounding down big miles in todays traffic I like to have something substantial under me.
I'm rapidly approaching the time when I'm uncomfortable with a big machine but I'm sure I'll hate the day when I have to move to a sub liter bike for my main touring mount.

Naturally IMHO

See I absolutely agree with this (at least more than not).

I can't and don't call a V7 a "Tour" bike. That doesn't mean you can't cross the country on it. But it's not part of that segment of bikes which means much larger, more comfortable on the highway, largely stable in crosswinds, and with a heck of a lot more grunt.

I CAN TOUR on my V7 and at this point in my life it might even be my preference to tour on it. But to me that means secondary roads from start to finish with little or no highway anywhere in between. If that's the case, it's perfect (well, maybe if I lower the pegs a little). At that pace I'm not generally looking to ride more than 300 miles a day anyway. And when I'm lucky Jenn is with me on her Duc and almost insisting we stop by then.

But IF I wanted to say drop down to the start of the Blue Ridge parkway in an afternoon, I'd AT LEAST want my 1200cc Sporty that is much more comfortable on the highway both from an ergonomics standpoint (seat, bars, windshield) and from a motor/chassis standpoint (more grunt, more laid back on the highway, better in crosswinds).

My Breva 1100 was a mile eater and just completely at home on the highway, and still pretty darn jiggy on the backroads.

My new RK is another one like that - surprisingly nimble on the backroads (though it's never going to be a V7, no how, no way).

Still, if I had to be 500+ miles somewhere by tomorrow morning, the RK would be the first choice now, Sporty second, V7 last .... well the Duc would be last but that's another thing.

Another thing to consider when 'touring' is availability of parts and service when your 2,000 miles from home. It was the lack of dealers that got me off a Goose and on a Beemer when I retired.
I had a problem out West and got the bike to Denver BMW at noon on a Tuesday. I need both wheels,front calipers and rotors, pair of saddlebags and tires. My bike was a new model and first year for most of the parts (not in local stock), the dealer overnight-ed the parts from BMW and put some one right on it. Thursday noon I was on the bike heading West all new parts and freshly detailed by the dealer. If it was a Guzzi I would still be in Denver. Not knocking the marque but it is a BIG problem if your more that a quick trip in a trailer back home. I would imagine Triumph has a better dealer network than Guzzi.

I dunno Harry, he's only talking "twice a year 700 mile jaunts" that doesn't sound like all that big a "risk".

I mean sure anything can break down, and that's just part of life. But he's obviously not talking about running out to the west coast or even the Rockies anytime soon with that kind of distance. I wouldn't hesitate to ride a V7 up or down the east coast.

I think he asked for opinions, figured he'd like to get more than one.  

Actually if I had to tour on an 800 Triumph or a 750 Guzzi I would be on the Brit bike.

mogu83 wrote:I think he asked for opinions, figured he'd like to get more than one.  

I don't see where I was suggesting otherwise. I think I was just expressing an opinion, on your opinion.

mogu83 wrote:
Actually if I had to tour on an 800 Triumph or a 750 Guzzi I would be on the Brit bike.

And that's where we differ, which is cool....

I have used my Guzzi (Norge and EV) for moderate long distance touring:  in Nova Scotia a few times, Ontario, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Georgia, Indiana, Texas, etc…Heck, I even rode my ’72 Eldorado to Willville, in Southern VA, last year.  My approach has been to use a comfortable bike, prep it and go. If I do break down, well ….I’ll deal with it as it happens. When my EV’s clutch went kaput in NH I had my wife come pick me up with my trailer. I would have handled it that way even if I had an HD/BMW or anything else.
I also feel that a liter+ bike would be preferable, for me. But, I have seen the Texas MGNOC rep Georgeann travel all over the US and Canada with her V-7 without a problem. That bike fits her perfectly.
So, to answer the OP’s question,  I’ve never ridden a Triumph, but if the Guzzi fits you, go with it. After all…….it’s your ass

This is very useful information!!! thank you...Yeah I don't "Tour" as some of you.. but I do like to take a good trip now and again! the Triumph is super comfortable and I can ride some 400 miles no problem. YOu guys sound like big tourers.. WHat is the most miles you are comfortable doing in a day? just curious! BRian thanks again

BTW ..The BRand new Triumph had breakdown problems on its trip to the ADK so you never know.....

It's been years since I did more than maybe 500 miles in a day. That's largely because much of my touring for the last decade has been with Jenn who doesn't much like more than 200-300 in a day. Maybe the longest day with her was 400ish and that was when she still had a Sportster and not her Monster.

But then again we rarely travel much by interstate too.

Before the kids it wasn't unusual for me to cover 500 miles in day but start out from and wind up back at home that night lol.

Either way I'll never be an Iron Butt rider, I'd rather smell the roses and eat a couple good meals (with beers at the end of the day).

You need to talk to Harry about long distance touring.
I've done 950 once, 835 once and in the mid 700's a few times. I'm cooked after 700 and I promised myself not to do more. In my case it becomes painfully tiring and no longer enjoyable. I try not to ride for more than 12 hrs, and take frequent breaks (every 3 hrs or so).

Yeah for sure I'd say Harry is the real mile eater around here these days, with Nick and Mac putting in big numbers.

Maybe that's why guys like me (and Cam if he wasn't so busy with ACE that he could check in here) relate to the OP talking about touring on a V7, it's more like the usage we see these days.

Just get on the bike and ride!!!!

You'll figure it out.

Back in the late 50's and early 60's long distance travel was done on 500 singles, 500 twins, and 650 twins. No fairings, maybe a windshield. A V7 back then would look like a monster touring machine.
Are we getting soft???

The first line of my OP
I think you have to define touring.  I'll admit I'm addicted to 1+ liter bikes for my brand of touring.

IMHO it's a natural progression for a person that enjoys riding. When I was younger and starting a family it was a couple of rallies a year and Laconia, later when my vacation time and disposable income increased the rallies were further away and Daytona was added to the list. At retirement I had exhausted everything I wanted to see on the East Coast and Laconia and Daytona became mere shadows of what they were a few decades ago, so the things I wanted to see got further away and I had the time to go see them.

To paraphrase the words of the old Shaolin Monk on the Kung Fu show "Grasshopper. the longest journey starts with a single step" The most important rally is the first one and if you never go you'll never know.