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In March of 2019 I took supply of my Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer a leftover 2017 mannequin within the colour dubbed “Giallo Solare” (photo voltaic yellow) for years now I’ve needed a Guzzi however have by no means purchased one. Reality be informed I actually needed an previous Eldorado, Ambassador and even one of many previous 850T fashions, however for some causes the celebs by no means aligned accurately for that to occur.
That’s appropriate, my path to proudly owning a Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer started with me drooling over a used Honda CTX1300. To be sincere with you there are occasions once I want I had the Honda however this isn’t on account of high quality or reliability points. For some purpose my spouse who’s normally an agreeable soul put her foot down and insisted that I used to be not going to spend that a lot cash on a used bike, particularly one she had by no means heard me point out earlier than. Her phrases had been, “in the event you’re going to do that why don’t you get one thing you’ve all the time needed.”
These had been the 2 bikes that I used to be contemplating and in all honesty the selection actually got here down which one was essentially the most uncommon. Each the Triumph Avenue Twin and the Guzzi V9 had been effectively regarded by most reviewers. The engine sizes are related, each are thought-about retro requirements and each of them are “tuned for torque.” I’ve all the time regarded the tuned for torque assertion as bullshit advertising doublespeak for we lower the horsepower and we hope you don’t discover, however now that I’ve ridden the Guzzi I actually prefer it. Peak torque is available in manner down low within the rpm vary and it actually pulls like a freight practice as much as the redline. It’s actually not quick just like the screaming Japanese fours that I used to be used to, but it surely feels much more highly effective than it’s. Why would I decide the Roamer over the V9 Bobber? As a result of I like the brilliant colours and chrome look. It screams 1970’s whereas the Bobber with its fats tires on each ends and matte paint say modern-day hipster. Nothing improper with that in the event you prefer it however I’m an eccentric previous fart and that is an eccentric gentleman’s bike. Numerous folks assume it’s a restoration and are shocked to seek out out that it’s almost new.
There have been no sellers in my house state of South Carolina on the time once I bought this one on Ebay, from a seller in Wisconsin. Delivery was dealt with by Haulbikes.com and charges had been cheap. One factor I’ll point out is that transport firms like this can’t come right down to the cul de sac in your neighborhood you’ll have to make preparations to satisfy them someplace with a big sufficient parking zone to get the tractor trailer parked off the street in order that your bike could be unloaded safely.
What turned out to be the largest downside is the truth that I made a decision, as an alternative of paying money for it, that I’d let the seller do financing for me. Sadly their house state of Wisconsin requires the dealerships to ship all titles on to the financial institution. Sadly the financial institution turned out to be extremely incompetent and wouldn’t assist me to get the bike registered for the street in S.C. Lastly after 2 months of not having the ability to register my new bike I went forward & paid off the mortgage, even then it took a criticism to the BBB to lastly get my title despatched to me. In case you resolve to go surfing to buy a automobile I recommend paying money up entrance, or if you actually need financing that you simply get hold of it in your house state to keep away from registration issues.
Amongst Guzzista the seems to be of the V9 collection are polarizing with the overwhelming majority preferring the sportier seems to be of the V7 lineup. Most of the people however thinks this bike is beautiful, particularly the non-riding folks and even those that have ridden bike however have by no means heard of Moto Guzzi. The styling is what I might name cruising commonplace. The form of the tank type of resembles the previous 850 T3 of the 70s however is smaller in proportion to the remainder of the bike than the T3 tank is. The standard of the match and end of the seen components is beautiful. The yellow paint has a heavy orange tint to it that seems golden in dim gentle.
The dimensions and weight of this bike are good to me with a moist weight of roughly 440 lbs (200 kg) the Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer may be very simple to deal with at low speeds in parking heaps and garages. Regardless of its comparatively gentle weight for a midsize trendy bike the Roamer may be very immune to the results of crosswinds and rainstorms. My expertise with new bikes is extraordinarily restricted however in comparison with all of the previous stuff I’ve ridden the V9 may be very confidence inspiring when the rain begins. It’s a very delicate mannered bike this mixed with traction management and Brembo anti-lock brakes give you a steady planted really feel when the street will get just a little moist.
All of the Ricky racer boys who write for the magazines weren’t enamored with the dealing with and I perceive, if I had been using round on all the newest crotch rockets I might most likely really feel the identical manner. I used to be utilizing a modified 1980 Honda CB650 as my principal every day rider and the dealing with and braking of the Roamer are significantly better than any classic bike or cruiser that I’ve ever ridden. That being mentioned the little Japanese 650cc 4 banger will smoke the 850cc V-twin simply in each acceleration and high velocity, it’s not even shut. Velocity is just not what this bike is about although, it’s about having a classic bike expertise with out the classic bike complications. Lots of people on the assorted Guzzi boards beneficial dropping the triple clamps down on the forks by 20mm to quicken up the steering so I attempted it at it did appear to assist as soon as I put some first rate shocks on the rear & lifted the rear again up. One very spectacular specification of the Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer is that within the proprietor’s handbook, most carrying load is listed at 925.94 lbs (420 kg) for rider passenger & baggage. This was partially chargeable for me selecting this bike and for my delusion that I may a minimum of modify it right into a usable middleweight touring machine. Don’t chortle my spouse & I routinely journey 2-300 miles a day on our Honda Helix CN250 scooter, so certainly it ought to be doable on an 850cc bike proper?
The dealing with was actually good to me even with the 100% inventory suspension so long as you had been on easy pavement that’s. The entrance finish appeared okay with first rate journey & rebound however the rear suspension was extremely harsh. I lastly set the preload on the lowest setting doable however all this did was to decrease the rear of the bike sufficient to negate the advantages of reducing the entrance finish for faster steering. It might nonetheless beat the dwelling shit out of you even over delicate bumps. I have no idea concerning the newest fashions however in the event you purchase an earlier mannequin like I did you must go forward & price range for a brand new set of shocks instantly. I bought a set of Ikon shock absorbers and I’m very proud of them. This smoothed out the journey over bumps and truly improved the dealing with and allowed me to set the preload again to its most setting, elevating the rear of the bike again as much as the place I prefer it. Earlier than I modified the shocks my spouse really refused to journey on the Roamer in any respect as a result of intense ache she felt even over seemingly small bumps and potholes.
In case you want seller assist for primary upkeep this may not be the bike for you until you occur to reside close to a seller. I’d should drive 3 or 4 hours to achieve a seller, however I can do all of my very own oil modifications, valve changes and repairs myself. Aside from needing some software program & a set of cables to attach your laptop computer to diagnose the gasoline injection that is an especially simple bike to work on. The gasoline injection isn’t that difficult both simply be part of the Wild Goose Chase discussion board and seek for Guzzidiag software program, it’s easy sufficient an previous fart like me can use it. If worst involves worst customized builder Craig Rodsmith has confirmed that you would be able to make it run with carburetors.
I want the gasoline tank had been just a little greater however that’s a minor niggle, the low gasoline gentle comes on whenever you’ve used 2.5 gallons out of the 4 gallon tank. That is roughly 150 miles and also you’ll most likely be prepared for a break by then.
The unique manufacturing facility seats on these bikes are devices of torture. It’s nearly like after they had been finalizing the design somebody plopped an inexpensive previous plastic Nineteen Eighties skateboard deck on high of the body and mentioned that appears cool, we’ll simply add 6mm price of padding and canopy it with Naugahyde and we’ve us a seat. It actually does look cool but it surely’s an terrible place to sit down for greater than 10 minutes and it’s manner too brief for 2 up using even when your passenger is a tiny 108 lb. wisp of an individual like mine is. My pre-purchase analysis had warned me concerning the seat earlier than I purchased the bike however I used to be nonetheless caught off guard by how dangerous it was in actual life. I’m now operating the Moto Guzzi two piece, two up consolation seat which is way more snug. Too dangerous that’s not actually adequate, even the accent seat is simply a 150 mile seat at greatest as our final 300 mile in in the future journey proved to us. If I preserve this bike for much longer I’ll attempt a Corbin seat. Corbin doesn’t actually checklist a seat for the Roamer however they do have one for the V9 Bobber and the manufacturing facility seats are interchangeable so I don’t see why an aftermarket seat for one wouldn’t work on the opposite.
It seems to be good, it sounds good too, and even with the inventory pipes I may sit within the storage and take heed to it idle for hours. The small gasoline tank that so many complain about, permits the engine to take its place because the rightful star of the present. A man at a gasoline station as soon as commented, “it seems to be like its all motor!” I agree it does have a really muscular look and sound for a 55 hp v-twin. Now that I’ve received the suspension sorted out to my liking nothing beats using round on the again roads with it. The engine actually is the best factor about this bike. The six velocity gear field may be very easy additionally and effectively matched to the engine. In case you’re placing round on the town between 30-45 mph simply put it in fourth and go away it there, bombing round out within the nation between 45 and 60 fifth gear is the one to be in. I received’t even put it in sixth gear at lower than 60 mph. You don’t acquire something however just a little extra vibration on the handlebars, gasoline mileage stays the identical and also you’re not within the meat of the engines torque curve in the event you want sudden acceleration for some purpose. Torque is huge and acceleration is significantly better than the spec sheets would point out.
Sadly I purchased the improper bike. So far as I can inform it will by no means be a cushty 2 -300 miles a day bike with out some main modifications. We simply journey the Helix if our vacation spot is greater than an hour away. I assume I ought to have purchased a touring bike however I actually hate massive heavy bikes and would surrender using if that was all that was obtainable. Plus I do know from expertise that you are able to do very lengthy rides on smaller bikes.
So what do I do with it now? With the beforehand talked about seat & shock mods the Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer is a high notch commuter bike. You need a bike night time consideration getter that handles decently on the again roads, a bar hopper or simply one thing to journey round regionally? That is the bike for you and I’m having fun with it in all of those roles aside from bar hopping as a result of I don’t go to bars.
Again in March of 2020 Mrs. Psyco & I took the Roamer on a 300 mile in the future journey. The primary half wasn’t too dangerous however despite the fact that we had a break for a few hours the journey house took its toll on us. Across the 225 mile mark my decrease extremities had been numb and I knew that neither one in every of us would be capable to transfer after we received house. At this level I made a decision that this pile of shit was occurring Ebay the minute I received house however then it saved our life.
We had been buzzing down S.C. Freeway 34 between Newberry and Camden S.C. at 6o mph or so, following behind an enormous black bro-dozer Chevy pickup, when immediately the motive force made a sudden proper flip right into a driveway after which with out warning threw it into reverse and backed out in entrance of me with out wanting. There was no time to cease earlier than hitting the large 4 door mall terrain automobile that had immediately blocked each lanes of the two lane street we had been on. Luckily there was no oncoming visitors, street indicators or mail bins within the space so I twisted the throttle some extra, banked onerous to the left and was in a position to safely move the rear bumper of this truck on the shoulder on the alternative aspect of the street from the place I began. Fortunately no nasty surprises had been lurking within the grass on the shoulder & I used to be in a position to decelerate and safely merge again onto the street. Once we stopped to regular our nerves my spouse swore that she may really feel the trailer hitch brush her pants leg as we glided by. Thanks be to God that we didn’t get harm that day. That was additionally once I determined to maintain the Guzzi a short time longer. If we had been on every other bike in my assortment, particularly the scooter we might have been hamburger caught to the aspect of that bro-dozer.
Even so it was about 2 weeks earlier than I received again on it and even washed it (we ran by means of just a few miles of purple clay mud within the rain). It took some time after that for the sensitivity to the vibration by means of the seat to go away however ultimately it did.
As soon as the nation and my funds recuperate from the coronavirus pandemic and the silly mindless outbreak of violence that’s occurring, I’ll throw just a few extra {dollars} at it and attempt to make it extra snug in order that I can do with it what I purchased it for which is to have the ability to journey 3-6 hours a day. If that fails I’ll get some loud pipes, an upgraded gasoline injection map and customise the hell out of it. If it might probably’t be a street bike I’ll flip it right into a present bike.
Would I promote it? Possibly however money is just not actually what I would like, barter is extra of my type there are 2 very particular trades that I’d make for it and each would should be straight up barter with no money altering arms;
1: a 1995-1996 Jaguar XJS 2+2 convertible in good driving situation. 4.0 6 cylinder engine. Coloration is unimportant and needing some beauty work is okay so long as all electrical and high parts are practical and I can drive it house from wherever you might be.
2: I’d undoubtedly be keen to commerce for a pleasant wanting able to journey Honda CTX1300 ideally with a passenger backrest or high trunk put in.
Hope you all have an amazing day!
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