Kev's new Guzzi (sharing the garage with the Duc)

[Kev M]

Yeah, this is the redesigned motor which is new to the US for 2013 (single throttle body, different tuning, slightly more hp, and more power lower in the powerband).

I don't THINK the gear box is different.

PS FBF has a demo available.

Also, I'll be happy to answer your bud's questions if he wants.

[ab]

  Enjoy!

[Kev M]

Supposed to be in the low 60s today and tomorrow. Gonna try to sneak out for some more break in miles.

Meanwhile:

[Kev M]

Curmudgeon - or anyone else who is curious about how this bike compares power/performance-wise to other bikes on the market. I performed a bit of a comparison with our M696

Snuck out again today for another crispy winter ride.

I did two 35 mile loops (almost all twisties) back-to-back on the Duc Monster 696 and the V7 for a comparison.

I can honestly say that for this type of riding at speeds from 40-80 mph there was literally no difference between the V7 and Monster.

If you're not going WOT all the time and seriously abusing the speed limits, it doesn't matter which bike you're on.

At particular corners and straights along the route I carefully noted my speeds on the Duc, then went back and checked the V7 against them.

In all cases the limiting factor was ME and not the bike.

About 40 mph in this tight s-curve, about 50 mph another curve, 60 mph and 70 mph in a couple of sweepers etc, for all practical purposes in street riding the V7 is accelerating and cornering as well as the Duc.

Now as I've said previously, I'm sure the Duc would win on a race track with equal riders and I still think it pulls more at the higher rpm and higher mph range.

But today on the one or two straighter sections when I did go WOT on the V7 she was pulling better then she had yet and felt strong all the way to 90 mph where I had to back out of the throttle because of conditions and not the bike.

I think the motor is breaking in nicely. It seems to be reving more freely and feels great throughout the rpm range.

[OT]

Nice!

The "tight S-curve" sounds like Rt 841/N. Chatham Rd about a mile west of Rt 82...

See you at Northbrook Market on the first nice day in the Spring  

[Kev M]

Nice!

The "tight S-curve" sounds like Rt 841/N. Chatham Rd about a mile west of Rt 82...

See you at Northbrook Market on the first nice day in the Spring  

Precisely, about a mile before "The Whip   Tavern." Well done! 

And Northbrook Market is excellent. Robritos chips, great sandwiches, and THAT APPLE PIE! Mmmm, now I'm hungry! 

[Curmudgeon]

Hello Kev!

Just passed this along to the "prospect" in Bucks County. ALL feedback is good even if it's subjective. From your latest remarks I conclude that the V7's light weight makes it comparable to you wife's 696. Does she have a 14T on hers BTW?

My own experience with a stock 696 is only 15 miles of mixed roads. The stock riding position for me was agony (at 5' 8") and I found it very overgeared. While it moved along, it was shorter on torque than I like... It DID handle confidently and precisely though..., so I ordered a 796 with the "fixes" I deemed essential. (See my sig line.) Those more or less nailed it.

The only other "naked" in my stable is a T-100. It's 100 lbs heavier than your V7. Bear in mind that I've replaced the shocks on mine, steepened the rake and fitted Ricor valves to the forks so that the ride is tolerable for 100+ miles with a 175 lb. rider. It's very laid back compared to my 796 and is just the bike you'd hop on for an errand in town, etc. or a relaxed cruise. It has enough mid-range torque to be a 1 - 2 gear bike between 30 - 70 MPH. The 796 likes its gearbox stirred..., but with the same effort and concentration is generally moving 20 MPH faster (at its relaxed pace) than the T-100 is on those same twisties. That's what makes your comments above interesting. In general I'd say the T-100 handles reasonably as a "standard motorcycle" since my suspension mods. On the other hand, my 796 has the precision of a scalpel but with no hint of nervousness or instability. Two bikes and two different characters.

From your review, the 696 and V7 appear far more similar.

[MonsterWebers]

Hello,  I have been eyeing the V7 Racer version.  Is there any particular reason that you did not go for the racer version?

[Kev M]

My own experience with a stock 696 is only 15 miles of mixed roads. The stock riding position for me was agony (at 5' 8") and I found it very overgeared. While it moved along, it was shorter on torque than I like... It DID handle confidently and precisely though..., so I ordered a 796 with the "fixes" I deemed essential. (See my sig line.) Those more or less nailed it.

The only other "naked" in my stable is a T-100. It's 100 lbs heavier than your V7. Bear in mind that I've replaced the shocks on mine, steepened the rake and fitted Ricor valves to the forks so that the ride is tolerable for 100+ miles with a 175 lb. rider. It's very laid back compared to my 796 and is just the bike you'd hop on for an errand in town, etc. or a relaxed cruise. It has enough mid-range torque to be a 1 - 2 gear bike between 30 - 70 MPH. The 796 likes its gearbox stirred..., but with the same effort and concentration is generally moving 20 MPH faster (at its relaxed pace) than the T-100 is on those same twisties. That's what makes your comments above interesting. In general I'd say the T-100 handles reasonably as a "standard motorcycle" since my suspension mods. On the other hand, my 796 has the precision of a scalpel but with no hint of nervousness or instability. Two bikes and two different characters.

From your review, the 696 and V7 appear far more similar.

Well, I've ridden the Bonnies too (and while we're at it the W650) and I would say that in a lot of ways (laid back ergos for instance) the V7 is closer to the style and feeel and performance of a Bonnie or W650 than the Duc.

HOWEVER, the Pirelli sport demons, the very light weight and the light aluminum wheels, hell even the wheelbase of the V7 are all closer to the Duc. So it handles a lot more like the Duc than one would think just looking at the style.

Again, don't get me wrong. The Duc is clearly more sporty when pushed to 9 or 10/10ths, but that's just not something that I (or I think 99%) of the public are going to do on the road.

[Kev M]

Hello,  I have been eyeing the V7 Racer version.  Is there any particular reason that you did not go for the racer version?

The V7 Racer is, by most indications, an even better bike than the Stone. The more aggressive riding position (rearsets and bars) and the better suspension make it handle even sweeter.

HOWEVER, as much as I can enjoy a short jaunt on a bike like the Duc or a V7R, that's "not my bag" and I really prefer a more standard/upright riding position.

Not only that, I LIVE with my bikes day in and day out - running errands, going to the gym, picking my daughter up at school etc. The only way a bike really works for me other than as a rare weekend toy is with a set of locking, waterproof, hard side bags and topcase.

Adding bags like that to A V7R would be like adding the proverbial teats to a bull. Just wouldn't be right.

The Stone is much more MY type of bike.

But I do like the V7R too.

I'd PERSONALLY own the V7R before our Duc, but the point is moot since the Duc is really Jenn's bike.

[Curmudgeon]

Forgot to mention. My T-100 already has the Sport Demons.  No doubt the alloy spoked rims from a Thruxton would make mine even better, especially the 18" front, but the expense and dealing with the front fender didn't appeal.

Did you ride an EFi 865? Even made of water pipe it has to have more urge than a V7 or 696 I'd have thought, especially two-up. Mine is stock except for Triumph Off-Road silencers and the air injection plugged. Runs like a Swiss watch up to 5,000 but starts to buzz above that. Riding over 70 MPH is like riding in a hurricane though compared to a stock 796 which is almost silent aerodynamically well past 80 MPH.

Oddly, for this old fart, I can cover more miles comfortably on 796. Both bikes have Sargent saddles too. My T-100 saddle was a custom based on a friend's, using a stock EFi pan naturally. I think the rear subframe is too wide for comfort.

Have you ridden a 796? Mine at 7/10 leaves the T-100 for dead. If you rode mine, I think you'd be riding at 7/10 without even knowing it. 80 MPH feels like 55 - 60 on the T-100.

When is spring, BTW?!

[Kev M]

I've not ridden too many other Ducs (just the GT1000), but I've been on enough Japanese sportbikes, as well sport Triumphs (triples and fours), BMWs (Rs and Ks, even a week on a bud's 180 hp tweaked K), and hell even a number of Buells to get the breed. Though I get the appeal I just don't practically see their benefit (to me) on the street.

Sure, there's more of a rush when the throttle is whacked, but as much fun as acceleration can be it's just not the same fun factor to ride a bike like that at 5/10s or less on the street (because of more practical safety limitations) than it is to push a smaller, more simple machine closer to its limits.

Like I say, the limiting factor is me and I'm fine with that.

Torque is a funny thing. I think on paper the 696 may have as much as the V7, but I bet it's more peaky which changes the nature of the bike. I can't say what it would be like 2-up, but truthfully none of our bikes are really 2-up machines for any distance. But we tour solo and only really go 2-up with my daughter on local rides.

[ungeheuer]

Nice Guzzi Kev 

[Curmudgeon]

Kev,

You never said whether your wife's 696 has a 14T fitted or not. THIS makes a HUGE difference. Torque is then much more accessible and 6th gear actually becomes usable, at least in the USA. Ducatis like higher revs where they are smoother and relaxed. I wouldn't equate those revs with "peaky" though because at 5,500 - 6,500 RPM they are not "busy".

We don't disagree but your riding style might be one click below mine, based on the day of the week.  For short hops or when I'm feeling more mellow, I take the T-100. I haven't done any WFO riding in 25+ years and have always ridden my bikes in their natural mid ranges. Sold my 851 after three years though because it was "sneaky fast" and there was going to be a "tree with my name on it".

If published specs are to be believed, your V7 is 20 lbs lighter than my 796 and 110 lbs lighter than my T-100, all with full tanks! Maybe that validates all your impressions. On paper though, the V7 is seriously down on BHP and ft.lbs. vs the 696. I'd love to put my T-100 on a 50 lb. diet but the cost would be obscene!!!

These days my body and strength are my main limitations. A real PITA. Some of my riding history is here if you're interested. Wish I still had that Motorsport at the bottom of that thread. :'( It had all Pridmore's suspension mods and weighed ~ 465 wet! http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=50673.msg929505#msg929505

[Kev M]

Oh sorry, 696 is bone stock and she likes it that way.

One click down, sure quite likely, maybe more.

There's nearly a 2 second difference in the 1/4 mile between a 696 and old version of the V7, but the new version doesn't make much more power so the times are probably still similar. So I'm sure the difference in power shows.

But, I've got a theory.

Riding em back to back they're similar enough that I think you only feel the difference at or near WOT, and near the top end of mph.

I suspect that they'd stay close in the first half or three quarters of a 1/4 mile drag at which point the V7 would fall flat on its face and the 696 would walk away from it. The V7 would hit fifth gear and start to wind out while the 696 would still have another gear to go AND would be pulling harder still due to the additional HP.

Or I'm fooling myself and the 696 would walk from the start as the numbers suggest, but I think it's closer than peak numbers make us think.

More importantly, it's quick enough for what I want in the real world, which is all that matters to me, but hard to quantify to others sometimes (which is what I've been trying to do, lol).