Hey Cortez, I have one with hard bags and a top box. Got it just over a year ago and now have 34000km on it. It's a great little bike.
I had a CT110 for exactly those duties. It was cheap to buy, cheap to run and as reliable as an anvil. However, the brakes sucked big time. The rear brakes are actually more powerful than front. I had a few hairy moments with a locked up rear wheel in traffic when cars in front of me suddenly stopped. I considered a front end swop with a small bike with disc brakes, but eventually sold it.
Nice choice, Cortez. I think you'd like it. Great sporty naked bike with standard ergos, and very simple maintenance. Anyone with basic mechanical skills can do a valve adjustment in 30 minutes with only a 5mm allen wrench, a couple small open end wrenches (spanner for those on that side of the ocean), and a slotted screwdriver. Try that with a 16 valve bucket-and-shim 4 cylinder. Oh, and being air-cooled, there is no cooling system flush to do. For this reason, I'll be putting way more miles on my Guzzis than the VFR750 that I just bought -- as that will be more maintenance intensive. Oh, and the Guzzi's being shaft drive, no having to clean and lube a chain every 500-1,000 miles, which if it was my only bike would be once or twice per month. You do need to change the final drive lube, but that is only every 4,600 miles (7,500 km) -- you pretty much just change engine, transmission, and final drive lube at the same time. I have a V7 Classic, which is pretty much the same motor and chassis with a classic look instead of a modern sport-bike look. I have those same Hepco Becker bags plus two top cases (40L and 50L) to choose from too. It makes a good touring bike, despite those who say you need 1 litre+. I did 800 miles in a weekend with it in June -- love it. Don't let the low HP numbers (48) steer you away, it is a versatile and willing motor. The seat on the Breva looks more comfortable than the V7's seat too. I have a Breva 1100, who's seat is shaped similarly to that of the Breva 750, and it is definitely more comfortable on longer rides. If you do get a Breva 750, or any small-block Guzzi for that matter, pick up the Guzzi-tech sump extender. These great little motors only hold 1.7 litres of oil in the crankcase. The sump extender makes this 2.7 litres for better cooling, and piece of mind if the engine consumes some oil and you aren't checking the level very regularly. My V7 did consume about 400cc per 1,000 miles for the first 4-5,000 miles (6,400-8,000 km). I'm now at almost 8,000 (12,800 km) with it, and the consumption seems to have calmed down some. They say these motors aren't really broken in until 10,000 miles or more (16,000 km). I have two much faster bikes, but still grin ear-to-ear every time I ride the V7.
Well, I got half of my wish. I found a CT110 not 20 miles from me at the right price. Brakes aren't great, but they're better than my Vespa's! I can't wait to start putting serious miles on it. I keep thinking about a TAT or CDT trip....but then I wake up.
honestly- I want a new guzzi V7 classic. objectively it may not be the best bike for the price, but subjectively- its the bike I want. so guzzi wins.
I've been drooling over the V7 ever since it came out, and I'm liking the 2012 even more, but since I went from my 650cc kawasaki to a 300cc scoot I've been missing some of that power, and the V7 and Breva aren't much faster then my current scoot.. I need a bike that'll stay for at least 10 years, and the only bike that I've been wanting ever since I got into the "sport" is the bandit 1250.. I'm sure the 750 guzzis are more "fun", but I don't see owning them for that long, and I'd like ABS too.. Too bad I can't afford to own 2, I'm sure some of these classic bikes would be in my garage. The Bandit 1250 I'm eyeballing is a naked, so at least it'll look classic!
Damn, that's a lot of riding, and I thought 12kkm on a 300cc scoot was a lot. I've put 35kkm on my 650cc kwak in about 4 years.. :huh I'd love to try one of the newer FI Breva 750s.
i wont a super moto with a seat hight for my short in side leg of 33inch i hope a ktm lc4 690 will fit. or a r6 or a fire blade street figher so i can have a better up right seat position
I love my Guzzi V-7 Classic that I have ridden almost every day for the last 13 months. None the less I am looking long and hard at tradeing in next year for one of the big block Guzzi's. I just have to determine which model to buy.
This is the only HD that interests me. I have been searching and there are some low mileage models out there.
put a proper windshield on it, and it's all you need for touring or cruising. perhaps a tour pak for long distance 2-up rides
A buddy of mine has one of these, and he is a seriously hard core-long distance type. He's always on it and says he has never had an issue. He has a removeable trunk when he's travelling with the boss. It's not my thing, but there's clearly nothing wrong with it. I think it's one of the better looking Harleys available now.