I'm still very much enjoying my 2007 Suzuki 650 V-Strom, which I believe has a very similar power plant to the featured SV. Great tractable engine that is both great for plodding along at low revs or keeping on the boil at high revs, depending on the mood of the day.
Oh the engine has hardly changed at all, power is a couple of horses more and it’s had mods to meet emissions but apart from that it’s the same trusty motor. There’s a good reason it’s been around a long time
I have only owned one V twin. It was a 1986 1100cc blockhead sportster, which I purchased brand new. It did not have much power but it only weighed 190kg. I used it for two up touring. It was one of the best handling bikes I have ever owned. It was excellent on the gravel and sandy back roads of NSW and Victoria. The handling reminded me of my first bike (B40 BSA). You never had to worry about washing out the front end. The power delivery was similar to my DR650's but multiplied by two.
Going through a long tunnel, my mate ahead of me was riding a carburetted SV650. He turned off his ignition for a few seconds then turned it back on. The resulting explosion has lived in my 'fear bank' ever since 😄😄😄
You should have included the Aprilia RSV that had the Rotax V60 engine. My mate had one of the first models. It really made Aprilia a producer of large capacity sport bikes. I bought one of the first Falco's. The Falco offered a lower down grunt than the RSV, which was mostly top end power. We both hit the Alps, Pyrenees & Dolomites in the 90's. After riding this v twin, I never bought a 4 cylinder bike again, having been riding 20 years prior to buying a V twin.
@@bikerdood1100 Isn't it enough motive to enlight the Europeans and non Europeans viewers of your channel? Don't get me wrong, I don't intend to criticize you, just to provoke some reflection that could make your contents even better. Best regards from Brazil. ✌
I have a '98 VTR 1000, other half has an SV650S '01. I love riding either of them, both are massively fun on their own way. The 650 is a total B road blast one up, the VTR shines on faster roads 2 up with my daughter on the back. Great Video!
For sheer reliability,for me it has to be my 2006 Harley 1200 Sportster.A great introduction to V-twins.Of course I'traded up' to a bigger Harley ,but I wish I could have kept the Sportster along with the Dyna.
@@bikerdood1100 Having ridden mostly Japs ,and the odd Brit ,I was apprehensive about moving to Harleys,but the Roadster 1200 Sportster proved to be the perfect crossover.Perhaps it was just the case of just slowing down ,and actually seeing the countryside ,instead of who was the fastest to the next place.See you in the Biker's retirement home ,eventually.
I genuinely think the sportster is the best of Harley Davidson But their is this bizarre snobbery from owners of the bigger bikes . My wife ran a sportster for a few years but when we rode into Europe we found the tank range to be too small. She replaced it with a Guzzi V7, lighter, easier to handle and twice the tank range. It was no brainier in the end
@@bikerdood1100 Judging by the number of Evo Sportsters sold, their production longevity and the availability of aftermarket parts available I would have to disagree with you, they are a good bike for what they are designed to do, short blasts. Long distance touring bikes they are not and never have been.
The later Evolution 80 big twins from the 1990’s are even more reliable than the Evo Sportster from my experience. I’ve put over 200,000 miles on my 1996 Fat Boy and it just had to be towed once for an electrical problem. It has been extremely reliable and I never had to rebuild the engine up until now. I also have a 1997 Sportster 1200 Sport and it is also reliable, but I have put only 50,000 miles on it and had much more issues with it than I had on the Fat Boy.
Great to see some Italian v twin middleweights, who needs 4 cylinders on a motorcycle when you can have a v twin, great to see a Morini included and actually they can now be purchased for less than their Japanese contemporaries. Great video!
I owned the Imola v35 92 and now vstrom 1000 2003 and I agree for the guzzi small block (changed the 350 pistons with the 500 as a result it was 440cc) but the suzuki vtwin must go down in history as one of the best engines ever.
I love this selection, thank you! Always loved the Victoria Bergmeister V35. Maybe not very stable, but without any doubt a beauty. When I was a kid I always thought someone had kicked the cylinders of a BMW from below 🙂
@@bikerdood1100 It's rare, even here in Germany. About 5,000 were built. I found figures from 2009: At that time, only 435 Bergmeisters were still registered worldwide, and only 30% of them outside of Germany.
Thanks for an informative watch. I was hoping the SP1 would be on your list. I could look at them for hours. The Thunder pig's geared valves don't have the chain tensioner issues of their Firestorm forerunners.
I own a 1996 kawasaki vulcan 800, v twin, water cooled. A whole 50 hp and I have owned it since new. 62,000 miles and will be going to bike week in Daytona Florida next week. It cruises best at 85mph.
Well only so much room of course. I couldn’t really include the Britten because it was nether a production bike. I believe it was planned but John Brittens death brought that plan to an end
I am riding bikes since 1964 , had Vincents V twins , Ducatis , Matchless , AJS , Norton etc . The best Vtwin overall was my Yamaha Warrior 1700cc , it had alloy frame , upside forks , twin floating front brakes , wheels that I could fit dual compound tyres etc etc you missed it
Good list,fair calls. I've owned a bunch of them, have a 2014 DL1000 now-- great motor. An honorable mention might go to the Rotax 990 that graces the Aprilia 1000s (Falco, Mille, Tuono, Futura and Caponord. Love my big block Guzzi too.
My favourite V-twin is the Cagiva Xtra Raptor 1000. I have two in my collection. The brilliant Suzuki TL1000 engine in a brilliant chassis made bt MV Agusta together with top notch suspension and brakes that is much better than the Sizuki. I have just toured 14,000km on one around Australia. Brilliant, rare and relatively cheap.
The Morini is the most interesting of this group. Stylish, sporty, refined, exotic and EXPENSIVE. I can envision someone stealing one of these things to the heartbreak of its owner. 😫
@@buckwheatINtheCity ok ? But they are made to be ridden one should remember, they aren’t art installations or investments they were built to move and enjoyed. Modern bikes are more likely the victims of theft because they are easier to move on. I always store my bikes as securely as I can, we have had a bike stolen in the past but our focus is on riding and enjoying them not hiding them away The Morini incidentally is one of the least expensive bikes in the video, by a Very wide margin
Ah, Victoria of Germany... I had a Victoria back in the late fifties. But it was a 50cc moped, (a real moped with pedals). A twistgrip on the right for the throttle and a twistgrip on the left for the gearchange, (2 speed) First time I've heard the name mentioned on the interweb!.
Love your videos. Being a dirt guy, especially flat track, thats where V-Twins are nearly unbeatable. Two that come to mind are Harley-Davidson XR-750 and the Indian FTR-750. I am not a Harley guy (I been known to have a slip of the tongue and refer to them as Hardly Able-sons) but the XR-750 is very like the most successful racing bike of all time. Anyone who think AMA dirt track is a joke just has to look at what Kenny Roberts did to GP racing.. it was the XR-750 that sent Kenny to Europe..
They did, Romero won on a Triumph and Mann won on a BSA. And Roberts on the Yamaha topped by his legendary win at Springfield in 1975 on the TZ-750 4 Cylinder 2 Stroke Road Race engine. But once the XR-750s got rolling, they rolled..
I loved my Honda Bros 650. Apart from the small fuel tank and impossible to get to front sparking plug it was really great. It had the same Elf single-sided swinging-arm as my Honda VFR750F. Wish I still had it. I currently own a 2001 SV650S which I adore.
The Bros was a grey import only to the Uk Nice bit of kit, Honda never really developed the concept because Suzuki had a lot of success with the SV a true modern classic
@@bikerdood1100 I bought it when I lived in Japan for three years which is a bit of a bikers paradise. So many bikes and so many bikes we don’t see here.
Interesting choice. I've always been interested in the Harley WLA. Never had one, and if I did get one, I'd probably regret it. But it's an interesting bike.
In the mid 1980s I had a Motto Guzzi 500 V50. From brand new it had loads of problems. The gearbox seized up. Both rear shocks collapsed. Ignition switch fell Apart. Silencers rotted through. Down pipes rusted quickly. And finally it consumed 4 lots of carb rubbers. This was in a space of the first 5 months of ownership. Id traded down for my Triumph 750 T140V. I wish id kept my Triumph as it was a superior machine. And handled much better.
I have an SV 650 2018 model. Incredible machine. I make 3,5 liters per 100 Km. Smooth engine and plenty of torque. The market is full of inlines two but L twins or V twins make a big difference.
Two V twins at leat one of which should be featured here in my opinion is the Suzuki RGV250 and or the Aprilia RS250. Both were the pinnacle of road going strokers before the demise of two strokes.
I’m planning a separate one for two strokes. Takes long enough to make these things, could have made it 20 V twins but I’d have gone insane before I finished 😂
I like V-twin's, I've had CX's Guzzi's (still have a T3) But the best by far you didn't even mention the; the brilliant 52 degree Honda motor, as feature in Transalps. Africa twins, Shadows, Deauville's etc... lost for words.
I really love the sound and feel of my big block Moto Guzzi Griso 1200 8v SE. Haven't really tried any of the small block offerings but I prefer to keep around the 100hp power output and a 750 won't get that.
@@bikerdood1100 I believe the Breva is based off the same motor as the Griso if I remember correctly. For me I just love the exciting massive torque of the big twins pulling my arms off. I went from a SV1000 to a Transalp 650 to a VFR800 before getting to this Griso, the 1000 was unreliable so I had to sell it, the Transalp was horribly underpowered with a 650 v-twin, and although the VFR had much better power with the V4 I found the feeling of it underwhelming with the mediocre torque/acceleration and less vibration with 4 cylinders. Now I have the power of the VFR but 35% more torque, and all the right shudders and shakes.
By the way: The NT650GT has some RC30 connections. It’s code was RC31 and it has comparable frame technology, including the ELF inspired single sided rear wheel. Unlike the RC30 getting the best out of it will not automatically cost you your driving license.
Yes it was sold in some territories as the Bros, there was also a 400 version. Meet styling and a good example of less is more, which is something most journalists don’t believe of course
I would have gone for the Ducati Pantah in stead. No Monster without that Pantah, which introduced Ducati’s post-bevel technology. A recent discovery for me is the Honda NT 650 and it’s many derivatives, the best one maybe being the NT650GT Hawk/Bros. Its only vice is the mismatch between the pegs and handlebars position but this can easily be fixed. Just as with the SV650 it gives you everything you need plus Honda reliability and build quality. If only I had tried it years ago.
A well ridden moto morini would run circles around a cb750 i encountered one on a Gs1000 it was all i could do to keep the world the right way up ,between shaftesbury and Wilton, probably the best ride ever.
Correction, the knucklehead came out in 1936, Dood. The James Jimmy looks quite interesting, plus I have to admit that I am a fan of the Moto Morini Excalibur, and the other Italian cruisers of the 1980's (Moto Guzzi Nevada, and Ducati Indiana.
My 2005 Honda VTR1000 was a monster. I have had two Moto Morini 3!/2s and they were spectacular and of course I have owned my share of Moto Guzzi motorcycles. I have only had one Harley and it was actually a Buell M2 Cyclone.
@@bikerdood1100 The Buell was just a Sportster but in a frame that actually handled. Performance wise it was a disappointment. If you wanted a sport touring bike it was fantastic. It was as comfortable as my old BMW R90/6 that was dressed like an R90S. Heavy. Really heavy though. I worked for a Harley dealer and no, a Buell doesn't count as a Harley
@@bikerdood1100 They were owned by HD. They used their engines but the Harley faithful rejected the idea of anything that wasn't "feet forward, easy rider" type bike. I actually loved the bike except for the weight and for the use of plastic on items like the oil tank. It was going to break at some point. Plastic doesn't last forever.
@@JR-bj3uf I had a couple of Buells during my time with Harleys - first a '97 'razorback' M2 and then an '03 XB9R. I think Harley were very keen to use the Buell range to tap into the sportbike market, but most of the Buell models suffered from lack of development/debugging and an obsession with weight reduction to the detriment of overall reliability. The costs of main dealer servicing costs were also atrocious, even relative to Harley. All things considered, my favourite Buell model was the X1.
l have owned a couple of V-twins, the Guzzi 850 Lemans and a Ducati 99 SS bevel drive. Both now iconic super-bikes of the seventies..wish l still owned them......hindsight.?
I have a small block Moto Guzzi 500 Monza. I recently put in a 750 engine. That shifts. I have big block Guzzis, too, but firmly believe the small blocks are as good, and better in some ways.
@@bikerdood1100 - the power may be down on the small blocks, but so is the weight. That gives them a good power to weight ratio. They are more flickable handling-wise, too. Weak points are the 2-part friction welded valves in the Heron heads. They stretch, closing up the tappet gap and eventually burning a valve out….which often then drops the head off which wrecks the combustion chamber / piston crown. As I found out. Increasing the hole in the oil feed dowel to 2-3mm diameter improves the oil flow and cooling to the top end.
@@bikerdood1100 - yes. I set them a bit loose. Then I can hear if they nip up & go quiet. The 4-Valvers used the same 2-part valves and the valve springs were way too strong. Pulled the heads off even quicker!
No I wanted one from each company. Released 2 videos featuring the CX already and I intend to put it in a video about commuting bikes. Couldn’t ignore the VTR to be honest
i see i'm late again to a video...my favourite V would have to be the Yamaha XV1000 TR1 from the mid 80's...i should vote for one of the Ducatis or the Guzzi T3 automatic...but the TR1 is more my style...perfect Vtwin with traditional looks and i rode one once...rather i borrowed one...back in the day when we had Rider policies that covered you to ride anyones bike that was legally owned and taxed...i miss that kind of motorbike insurance cover
Even later to the party... The Yamaha 750 Virago SE 1981 was a game changer. Styled as a soft chopper, it was a remarkable ride already in original fit. Monocoque steel frame , beautifully engineered -750cc-, 75 deg. V-Twin - SOHC, twin Keihin carbed with 65 Nm @ 5700rpm, super narrow engine with a deep crank, 16" 130/90 fat rear tire, connected through a cardan drive you could shift (up or down) not using the clutch. Lower the fork 1.5", replace the 16 liter tank for a 24 liter Laverda- on the cheap, ditch the soft chopper seat for a seventies Italian Mono Seat , open up the Air intake, rebore - up compression to 9.5 :1 and port the heads, straight through dual exhaust and re - jet the carbs... She was such an agile, curve devouring joy to ride. Crashed her on a holiday with 65K km on a single track road near Kinlochbervie North-West Cape of Scotland, after a whiskey drenched night with some local fishermen... The TR1, 930cc, chain driven version that I hoped to replaced her with, lacked so much of that spirited handling, I sold it within months...
@@keesvandermeulen2396 but why the 750 ? Wasn’t just another metric cruiser to use the American phrase. Why not go bigger or better yet smaller with the 535 a tough little bike and probably Yams biggest seller amongst their cruisers
@@bikerdood1100 I own the predecessor of the 535, the XV 500 K, build in 1983. Marvelous little bike, more power than the 535, and revs up to 8500 rpm. Super smooth engine, virtually no vibrations. I get about 23 kms to the litre in the mountains of Portugal. Very nimble with its short wheelbase of only 141 cms. I don't understand why this bike doesn't have a massive cult following.
Basically a cruiser in a set of Euro cloths Good solid, practical bike Perhaps not the most exciting for what it’s worth Nearly brought o a few years ago as a general run about Love anything with shaft drive
I think you was in error about 1907 being first year for V twins. The Peugeot engined Norton winning the first TT, 2 cylinder class in 1907 was not the first one. Some sources has 1902 as first V twin motorcycle. A slight mistake mentioning the Harley sidevalve as DL. The standard ones was D. The DL was a more pwerful one. Happens to know as my first bike was a 1930 750 DL boasting 16 Hp. The D had only 14.
That’s the claim by Indian but it’s not true of course I’ve got an image of a Guzzi style V-twin from 1902 and their are likely earlier machines still in Europe. Motorcycles were very much a European thing that made its way to the States Reached England in the 1890s when British bicycle makers started to fit European engines to their frames. As for the first British V-twin I don’t know but Norton won the inaugural 1907 TTs twin cylinder class with a V-Twin engine supplied by Peugeot
Love my Morini 3 ½ sport. Always been a fan of the vfr400 although that's mainly because of the single sided swing arm. KTM 990 super duke is an awesome bike and not a V twin the BMW R series is undeniably a marvelous motorcycle.
I had a mate who bought a Honda VTR100 on Friday and on Monday he took it back to the dealer and traded it in. He hated the fuelling and it was hideously uncomfortable. It did look good though.
I suppose to be fair to the panhead it’s much older The Japanese generally know how to put a good bike together though With the occasional slip of course
@@bikerdood1100 Showing my age, Suzuki RGV 250, the last one with the 70 degree v-twin strangled for Japan but unrestricted was a great little bike! Emphasis on little…
@@killcondo oh now those I remember Absolute tiny weapon. I always say that 250 is the perfect size for a stroker, much beyond that and all the engines short comings become an issue
Your contempt for Harley Davidson motorcycles is getting very tedious and I don't think you understand them at all or give them credit for what they are. Also, you missed one of the best v twins ever, the Honda CX500 which while not being one of the most exciting engines ever, was probably one of the most reliable and long lasting and the bike of choice for motorcycle couriers for many years. To add to that it was one of the few engines to be turbocharged and to come with an automatic gearbox.
I’ve done two videos already on the CX I’m very fond of them 🙄 FYI I intentionally used one bike from one manufacturer on that particular video and felt I needed to switch it up after already featuring the CX twice While the CX was fitted with a Turbo on both the 650 and the 500 I’m pretty sure they didn’t fit a auto box in there. Honda had pretty much abandoned the Hondamatic gearbox by then It was fitted to the 400 dream but I don’t believe anything shaft driven. I don’t have a contempt for HD, we owned for about 5 years. I just won’t super coat thing. Not my style at all. I was quite nice about the knuckle head. It’s not my fault that modern manufacturers, not just Harley incidentally are obsessed with the idea that bigger is better. There’s a point we’re bigger is just bigger.
@@bikerdood1100 I respectfully suggest that you look beyond the shores of the small island that you occupy and then you might start to appreciate what bikes like HD and Indian are all about. I am from New Zealand and HD are the best selling 750+cc bike here, I have also traveled extensively in the US and believe me, a HD Road King is a very nice way to travel and see the country. I traveled nearly 5000 miles, often at 90+ MPH for hours at a time, and never missed a beat or felt stressed.
@@onecookieboy When touring with high daily mileages in mind, I think the Harley Big Twins are far better than a Sportster, especially if you are going to carry a passenger or even just a ton of camping gear. In turn, I owned first a 1990 883 Sportster, then a 1987 FXRS-SP and finally a 1990 FXRT. I later replaced both my FXRT and my Buell XB9R with a BMW R1150RT. That gave me the comfort and capacity of the Harley with at least as much usable performance as the Buell.
@@onecookieboy Indeed. Big Twins tend to have larger tanks and, also, fuel gauges too. When running tour groups across Europe I got the learn the point on my fuel gauge where the Sportsters in the group would start going onto reserve and then we could arrange to all refuel before anyone ran out. But some Big Twins would only need to fill up every other fuel stop. Many Evo Sportsters came with those silly little peanut tanks but either these were phased out on UK bikes or most folk wanting to tour on Sportsters would fit larger tanks, so we were seldom troubled by those.
Smallblock Guzzis?! Built down to a price, have reliability issues, not particularly powerful or torquey for their displacement, fuel economy is only average. Big Blocks are much better. Morini had Heron heads well before Guzzi and they did a much better job. Better power for the displacement and much better fuel economy. Without the Ducati Pantah, there would have been no Monster, and possibly no Ducati.
I’m putting the Pantah in my next video. The Guzzi has better mid range torque than the Morini particularly at 500 where the Morini never worked so well . Production quality issues manly effected very early models in reality. I ran a V50 for 11years and had very few problems even though it was over a decade old when I got it. I rode it all weathers incidentally Early models were built at the innocenti factory but production was moved in house later. We have own a few large block Guzzi’s to incidentally and they are very different than the small blocks. Is more powerful better I’m not so sure. We currently run 2 small blocks and one large block. The bigger bike is better for passengers but that’s about it really and it’s very thirsty by comparison. I have ran Guzzi’s for more than 30 years so I would know really
@@bikerdood1100 I own a V50 III, Ambassadors (3), Eldorados (2), and Converts (1.5). I also have a 500SL Pantah and '77 Morini 3 1/2 Strada. Have owned dozens of Guzzis in the last 40 years, and three other Morinis (2 350 K2s and a 500 Strada). I work on classic European bikes for a living - including scores of big-blocks and at least a dozen small-blocks. Any of the 350 Morinis would keep pace with a V50 II, and be "nipping at the heals" of the V50 III. A V50 II is gutless until revved, mid-range power is lacking. The V50 III is much improved - nice mid-range and pulls well in upper rpms. Small-blocks have valve issues, the transmission breather is a poor design and pukes oil out, ignitions (point and Bosch e.i.) are not great, starter relay needs to be rewired, coil power runs through the kill switch and a lot more things that Guzzi could have done better. My V50 III averages 50 mpg (US gallons), all of the big-blocks (except the "automatic" Converts) will do the same. Meanwhile, a Morini 350 will return mpg in the mid 70s. Just my experience.
@@Amboman4 I have to say I have never got more than 45 mpg (uk) out of a big block including fuel injection models. We average 55mpg from our V7 on the commute, but around 60 when touring. Sometimes a little better. From my V50 agin mid 50s ditto my Targa . 70 even in smaller US gallons seems Very optimistic especially when 51mpg is the figure most testers quote Unbelievable optimistic actually
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I'm still very much enjoying my 2007 Suzuki 650 V-Strom, which I believe has a very similar power plant to the featured SV. Great tractable engine that is both great for plodding along at low revs or keeping on the boil at high revs, depending on the mood of the day.
Oh the engine has hardly changed at all, power is a couple of horses more and it’s had mods to meet emissions but apart from that it’s the same trusty motor.
There’s a good reason it’s been around a long time
I have only owned one V twin. It was a 1986 1100cc blockhead sportster, which I purchased brand new. It did not have much power but it only weighed 190kg. I used it for two up touring. It was one of the best handling bikes I have ever owned. It was excellent on the gravel and sandy back roads of NSW and Victoria. The handling reminded me of my first bike (B40 BSA). You never had to worry about washing out the front end. The power delivery was similar to my DR650's but multiplied by two.
Interesting 🤔
Going through a long tunnel, my mate ahead of me was riding a carburetted SV650. He turned off his ignition for a few seconds then turned it back on. The resulting explosion has lived in my 'fear bank' ever since 😄😄😄
That’s carbs for you
I have only kept one bike. It's a 1976 Morini 350. Puts a smile on my face and one of the best riders club ever.
Nice 👍🏻
@@bikerdood1100I agree an amazing motorcycle!
You should have included the Aprilia RSV that had the Rotax V60 engine. My mate had one of the first models. It really made Aprilia a producer of large capacity sport bikes. I bought one of the first Falco's. The Falco offered a lower down grunt than the RSV, which was mostly top end power. We both hit the Alps, Pyrenees & Dolomites in the 90's. After riding this v twin, I never bought a 4 cylinder bike again, having been riding 20 years prior to buying a V twin.
True but had to keep it down to 10 so sacrifices had to be made. Maybe I’ll make part two
I have a 1976 Morini 3 1/2 Sport and a 1999 Ducati Monster 750. Both are heaps of fun!
And that’s why I put them in there
The Crocker was built to a very high standard, could reach 125 mph and still looks better than any other motorcycle made in America.
Perhaps so but not a name known too well in Europe to be honest, rather like Yale or Flying Merkel they are virtually unknown this side of the pond
Definitely America's best motorcycle.
@@bikerdood1100
Isn't it enough motive to enlight the Europeans and non Europeans viewers of your channel?
Don't get me wrong, I don't intend to criticize you, just to provoke some reflection that could make your contents even better.
Best regards from Brazil. ✌
@@felipedourado5721 well there’s nothing wrong with genuine constructive criticism and thoughts
I agree Crocker was the greatest, fastest, best looking . Harley had to get rid of them made sure they could not get any wheels for their bikes.
I have a '98 VTR 1000, other half has an SV650S '01. I love riding either of them, both are massively fun on their own way. The 650 is a total B road blast one up, the VTR shines on faster roads 2 up with my daughter on the back. Great Video!
Glad you enjoyed it
My 2021 Guzzi 850 V7 gives me what I want from a bike, and is likely the last stretch of the small-block
Well you would think so, but you never know
For sheer reliability,for me it has to be my 2006 Harley 1200 Sportster.A great introduction to V-twins.Of course I'traded up' to a bigger Harley ,but I wish I could have kept the Sportster along with the Dyna.
Sportster is a very underrated bike. But amazingly mostly by Harley owners
@@bikerdood1100 Having ridden mostly Japs ,and the odd Brit ,I was apprehensive about moving to Harleys,but the Roadster 1200 Sportster proved to be the perfect crossover.Perhaps it was just the case of just slowing down ,and actually seeing the countryside ,instead of who was the fastest to the next place.See you in the Biker's retirement home ,eventually.
I genuinely think the sportster is the best of Harley Davidson
But their is this bizarre snobbery from owners of the bigger bikes
. My wife ran a sportster for a few years but when we rode into Europe we found the tank range to be too small. She replaced it with a Guzzi V7, lighter, easier to handle and twice the tank range.
It was no brainier in the end
@@bikerdood1100 Judging by the number of Evo Sportsters sold, their production longevity and the availability of aftermarket parts available I would have to disagree with you, they are a good bike for what they are designed to do, short blasts. Long distance touring bikes they are not and never have been.
The later Evolution 80 big twins from the 1990’s are even more reliable than the Evo Sportster from my experience. I’ve put over 200,000 miles on my 1996 Fat Boy and it just had to be towed once for an electrical problem. It has been extremely reliable and I never had to rebuild the engine up until now. I also have a 1997 Sportster 1200 Sport and it is also reliable, but I have put only 50,000 miles on it and had much more issues with it than I had on the Fat Boy.
There were several machines in this video I've never heard of .
Fantastic job ! Thanks
We try
Great video, I don't think I've heard better audio in a MC video. I felt like what it may have been to actually be riding these beauties.
Thanks!
I’m very glad you enjoyed it
Great to see some Italian v twin middleweights, who needs 4 cylinders on a motorcycle when you can have a v twin, great to see a Morini included and actually they can now be purchased for less than their Japanese contemporaries. Great video!
They can indeed
Expensive when new but the market has changed leaving a Jap bike just as expensive today if not more so
I owned the Imola v35 92 and now vstrom 1000 2003 and I agree for the guzzi small block (changed the 350 pistons with the 500 as a result it was 440cc) but the suzuki vtwin must go down in history as one of the best engines ever.
It will go down as a classic I think
I love this selection, thank you! Always loved the Victoria Bergmeister V35. Maybe not very stable, but without any doubt a beauty. When I was a kid I always thought someone had kicked the cylinders of a BMW from below 🙂
Very
Very rare sight in the UK but lovely little bike
@@bikerdood1100 It's rare, even here in Germany. About 5,000 were built. I found figures from 2009: At that time, only 435 Bergmeisters were still registered worldwide, and only 30% of them outside of Germany.
@@Volker_GR shame
Would love to ride one some day. As a Guzzi rider I’d love to compare
Thanks for an informative watch. I was hoping the SP1 would be on your list. I could look at them for hours. The Thunder pig's geared valves don't have the chain tensioner issues of their Firestorm forerunners.
Saw one in a local dealer a couple of months ago, very nice
They are awesome bikes never rode an SP1 but I own the firestorm
I own a 1996 kawasaki vulcan 800, v twin, water cooled. A whole 50 hp and I have owned it since new. 62,000 miles and will be going to bike week in Daytona Florida next week. It cruises best at 85mph.
Lots of love for V twins of all shapes and sizes in the comments
2 bikes that I feel need a mention are the Britten V1000 and the couriers friend the Honda CX500.
Well only so much room of course. I couldn’t really include the Britten because it was nether a production bike. I believe it was planned but John Brittens death brought that plan to an end
@@bikerdood1100 The Britten was never destined for mass production, strictly a race bike.
I am riding bikes since 1964 , had Vincents V twins , Ducatis , Matchless , AJS , Norton etc . The best Vtwin overall was my Yamaha Warrior 1700cc , it had alloy frame , upside forks , twin floating front brakes , wheels that I could fit dual compound tyres etc etc you missed it
Nota uk bike so not at all familiar with it. Can only fit so many in or the run time gets a bit crazy
Maybe I’ll do a part two if it’s popular
Good list,fair calls. I've owned a bunch of them, have a 2014 DL1000 now-- great motor. An honorable mention might go to the Rotax 990 that graces the Aprilia 1000s (Falco, Mille, Tuono, Futura and Caponord. Love my big block Guzzi too.
True I just had to make cuts to keep the list down, sometimes the hard part is deciding what to drop
Those Morinis are a blast to ride.
So I hear
My favourite V-twin is the Cagiva Xtra Raptor 1000. I have two in my collection. The brilliant Suzuki TL1000 engine in a brilliant chassis made bt MV Agusta together with top notch suspension and brakes that is much better than the Sizuki. I have just toured 14,000km on one around Australia. Brilliant, rare and relatively cheap.
Very striking looking bike
I like the nacked model in particular
But yes quite rare
The Morini is the most interesting of this group. Stylish, sporty, refined, exotic and EXPENSIVE. I can envision someone stealing one of these things to the heartbreak of its owner. 😫
Wow
Comment went a bit dark at the end there
@@bikerdood1100 That's because I have both feet in the real world. Exotic machinery has to be kept secure!
@@buckwheatINtheCity ok ?
But they are made to be ridden one should remember, they aren’t art installations or investments they were built to move and enjoyed.
Modern bikes are more likely the victims of theft because they are easier to move on. I always store my bikes as securely as I can, we have had a bike stolen in the past but our focus is on riding and enjoying them not hiding them away
The Morini incidentally is one of the least expensive bikes in the video, by a Very wide margin
Very interesting. Some of these bikes offer something that bit different without being a lot of trouble to look after.
Often a V twin is fairly straightforward in terms of servicing
aprillia rs 250, moto morini and ducati 916 are my favorites.
RS 250
What a beautiful little bike that was
Ah, Victoria of Germany... I had a Victoria back in the late fifties. But it was a 50cc moped, (a real moped with pedals). A twistgrip on the right for the throttle and a twistgrip on the left for the gearchange, (2 speed) First time I've heard the name mentioned on the interweb!.
Well they are are very rare now particularly here in the UK . I don’t think I have ever actually seen one outside of a magazine article.
Love your videos.
Being a dirt guy, especially flat track, thats where V-Twins are nearly unbeatable. Two that come to mind are Harley-Davidson XR-750 and the Indian FTR-750. I am not a Harley guy (I been known to have a slip of the tongue and refer to them as Hardly Able-sons) but the XR-750 is very like the most successful racing bike of all time. Anyone who think AMA dirt track is a joke just has to look at what Kenny Roberts did to GP racing.. it was the XR-750 that sent Kenny to Europe..
Well BSA and Triumph won the AMA championship too
Pity about the whole bankruptcy business really
They did, Romero won on a Triumph and Mann won on a BSA. And Roberts on the Yamaha topped by his legendary win at Springfield in 1975 on the TZ-750 4 Cylinder 2 Stroke Road Race engine. But once the XR-750s got rolling, they rolled..
I loved my Honda Bros 650. Apart from the small fuel tank and impossible to get to front sparking plug it was really great. It had the same Elf single-sided swinging-arm as my Honda VFR750F. Wish I still had it. I currently own a 2001 SV650S which I adore.
The Bros was a grey import only to the Uk
Nice bit of kit, Honda never really developed the concept because Suzuki had a lot of success with the SV a true modern classic
@@bikerdood1100 I bought it when I lived in Japan for three years which is a bit of a bikers paradise. So many bikes and so many bikes we don’t see here.
Interesting choice. I've always been interested in the Harley WLA. Never had one, and if I did get one, I'd probably regret it. But it's an interesting bike.
Considered the WLA But thought I’d save it for a video on military bikes
@@bikerdood1100 That's a great idea for a video. Look forward to it.
Loved my 2008 GT100 Ducati, 43k, when we met with disaster against a Hyndi. Snapped the frame tubes just off the steering neck.
Shame
GT is a rare beast , hope you weren’t injured
i own vn2000 love this engine had it for 17 years never a problem with engine
Well big lazy engines last
In the mid 1980s I had a Motto Guzzi 500 V50. From brand new it had loads of problems. The gearbox seized up. Both rear shocks collapsed. Ignition switch fell Apart. Silencers rotted through. Down pipes rusted quickly. And finally it consumed 4 lots of carb rubbers. This was in a space of the first 5 months of ownership. Id traded down for my Triumph 750 T140V. I wish id kept my Triumph as it was a superior machine. And handled much better.
Strange
I had one for 11 years and had literally non of the problems listed
We even have an 81 v35 now
And it’s still going strong
I'm still rocking my '99 SV650.
Tomorrow I'll fix the valve clearance and make her ready for the season :)
We still have one in regular use too
As. Seen in the video
I have an SV 650 2018 model. Incredible machine. I make 3,5 liters per 100 Km. Smooth engine and plenty of torque. The market is full of inlines two but L twins or V twins make a big difference.
@@josevi5835 it seems like Suzuki are dropping the SV in favour of their new parallel twin
How boring of them
@@bikerdood1100 bad move from Suzuki, distinction is an important feature nowadays.
Two V twins at leat one of which should be featured here in my opinion is the Suzuki RGV250 and or the Aprilia RS250. Both were the pinnacle of road going strokers before the demise of two strokes.
I’m planning a separate one for two strokes. Takes long enough to make these things, could have made it 20 V twins but I’d have gone insane before I finished 😂
Ivan Lintin had several podiums at IOM lightweight class on the SV650.
He is a loon of course
But it’s a good point about the little SV though
I like V-twin's, I've had CX's Guzzi's (still have a T3) But the best by far you didn't even mention the; the brilliant 52 degree Honda motor, as feature in Transalps. Africa twins, Shadows, Deauville's etc... lost for words.
It’s a nice motor, I only wanted one bike per company and well the VTR had to go in, hence no CX either
@@bikerdood1100 You very much picked the wrong one; how many ride a honda 52 V2...ride safe.
@@potskifilms definitely didn’t
Every video needs a bit of sporty glam.
Had it been another Honda I’d have gone CX in all honesty
@@bikerdood1100 Totally bizzare choices. Doubt you have any long term experience of many of them, clearly none of the Honda 52 V twin. Ride safe.
I really love the sound and feel of my big block Moto Guzzi Griso 1200 8v SE. Haven't really tried any of the small block offerings but I prefer to keep around the 100hp power output and a 750 won't get that.
I have the big Breva and my. Wife the V7.
Not sure which one I like the best
@@bikerdood1100 I believe the Breva is based off the same motor as the Griso if I remember correctly.
For me I just love the exciting massive torque of the big twins pulling my arms off.
I went from a SV1000 to a Transalp 650 to a VFR800 before getting to this Griso, the 1000 was unreliable so I had to sell it, the Transalp was horribly underpowered with a 650 v-twin, and although the VFR had much better power with the V4 I found the feeling of it underwhelming with the mediocre torque/acceleration and less vibration with 4 cylinders.
Now I have the power of the VFR but 35% more torque, and all the right shudders and shakes.
By the way: The NT650GT has some RC30 connections. It’s code was RC31 and it has comparable frame technology, including the ELF inspired single sided rear wheel. Unlike the RC30 getting the best out of it will not automatically cost you your driving license.
Yes it was sold in some territories as the Bros, there was also a 400 version. Meet styling and a good example of less is more, which is something most journalists don’t believe of course
I would have gone for the Ducati Pantah in stead. No Monster without that Pantah, which introduced Ducati’s post-bevel technology. A recent discovery for me is the Honda NT 650 and it’s many derivatives, the best one maybe being the NT650GT Hawk/Bros. Its
only vice is the mismatch between the pegs and handlebars position but this can easily be fixed. Just as with the SV650 it gives you everything you need plus Honda reliability and build quality. If only I had tried it years ago.
I agree but I put the Pantah in a video on most important bikes for that very reason
The 650 v- strom , same engine as the sv650 . Great biit of kit
True
A well ridden moto morini would run circles around a cb750 i encountered one on a Gs1000 it was all i could do to keep the world the right way up ,between shaftesbury and Wilton, probably the best ride ever.
Suzuki seem to understand frame and suspension some time before the rest
Then they built the original GSXR 1100 and forgot them all 😂
Correction, the knucklehead came out in 1936, Dood. The James Jimmy looks quite interesting, plus I have to admit that I am a fan of the Moto Morini Excalibur, and the other Italian cruisers of the 1980's (Moto Guzzi Nevada, and Ducati Indiana.
That’s nice
@@bikerdood1100 I hope you're not quoting Mrs.Brown.
excellent vid, have a panigale, over 8k its amazing
That’s a sporty beast
My 2005 Honda VTR1000 was a monster. I have had two Moto Morini 3!/2s and they were spectacular and of course I have owned my share of Moto Guzzi motorcycles. I have only had one Harley and it was actually a Buell M2 Cyclone.
Does are Buell count ?
They may b3 a bit too exciting to qualify
@@bikerdood1100 The Buell was just a Sportster but in a frame that actually handled. Performance wise it was a disappointment. If you wanted a sport touring bike it was fantastic. It was as comfortable as my old BMW R90/6 that was dressed like an R90S. Heavy. Really heavy though. I worked for a Harley dealer and no, a Buell doesn't count as a Harley
@@JR-bj3uf Buell was owned by HD
I quite like the quirky styling
@@bikerdood1100 They were owned by HD. They used their engines but the Harley faithful rejected the idea of anything that wasn't "feet forward, easy rider" type bike. I actually loved the bike except for the weight and for the use of plastic on items like the oil tank. It was going to break at some point. Plastic doesn't last forever.
@@JR-bj3uf I had a couple of Buells during my time with Harleys - first a '97 'razorback' M2 and then an '03 XB9R.
I think Harley were very keen to use the Buell range to tap into the sportbike market, but most of the Buell models suffered from lack of development/debugging and an obsession with weight reduction to the detriment of overall reliability. The costs of main dealer servicing costs were also atrocious, even relative to Harley.
All things considered, my favourite Buell model was the X1.
l have owned a couple of V-twins, the Guzzi 850 Lemans and a Ducati 99 SS bevel drive. Both now iconic super-bikes of the seventies..wish l still owned them......hindsight.?
Hindsight is a wonderful thing as I tell my son you can’t keep every bike after all
I have a small block Moto Guzzi 500 Monza. I recently put in a 750 engine. That shifts. I have big block Guzzis, too, but firmly believe the small blocks are as good, and better in some ways.
I tend to agree even though mine is a big block
@@bikerdood1100 - the power may be down on the small blocks, but so is the weight. That gives them a good power to weight ratio. They are more flickable handling-wise, too. Weak points are the 2-part friction welded valves in the Heron heads. They stretch, closing up the tappet gap and eventually burning a valve out….which often then drops the head off which wrecks the combustion chamber / piston crown. As I found out. Increasing the hole in the oil feed dowel to 2-3mm diameter improves the oil flow and cooling to the top end.
@@timhicks2154 it’s always worth keeping a close eye on valve clearances
Bigger problem on the 4 valve motors that’s for sure
@@bikerdood1100 - yes. I set them a bit loose. Then I can hear if they nip up & go quiet. The 4-Valvers used the same 2-part valves and the valve springs were way too strong. Pulled the heads off even quicker!
You forgot the Honda cx 500 and 650 ,with and without the turbo,
No I wanted one from each company. Released 2 videos featuring the CX already and I intend to put it in a video about commuting bikes. Couldn’t ignore the VTR to be honest
i see i'm late again to a video...my favourite V would have to be the Yamaha XV1000 TR1 from the mid 80's...i should vote for one of the Ducatis or the Guzzi T3 automatic...but the TR1 is more my style...perfect Vtwin with traditional looks and i rode one once...rather i borrowed one...back in the day when we had Rider policies that covered you to ride anyones bike that was legally owned and taxed...i miss that kind of motorbike insurance cover
Slightly unusual choices, remember the Yamaha well friend of mine had one they were very popular bikes with customisers for a while
Even later to the party... The Yamaha 750 Virago SE 1981 was a game changer.
Styled as a soft chopper, it was a remarkable ride already in original fit.
Monocoque steel frame , beautifully engineered -750cc-, 75 deg. V-Twin - SOHC, twin Keihin carbed with 65 Nm @ 5700rpm, super narrow engine with a deep crank, 16" 130/90 fat rear tire, connected through a cardan drive you could shift (up or down) not using the clutch.
Lower the fork 1.5", replace the 16 liter tank for a 24 liter Laverda- on the cheap,
ditch the soft chopper seat for a seventies Italian Mono Seat , open up the Air intake, rebore - up compression to 9.5 :1 and port the heads, straight through dual exhaust and re - jet the carbs...
She was such an agile, curve devouring joy to ride.
Crashed her on a holiday with 65K km on a single track road near Kinlochbervie
North-West Cape of Scotland, after a whiskey drenched night with some local fishermen...
The TR1, 930cc, chain driven version that I hoped to replaced her with, lacked so much of that spirited handling, I sold it within months...
@@keesvandermeulen2396 but why the 750 ?
Wasn’t just another metric cruiser to use the American phrase. Why not go bigger or better yet smaller with the 535 a tough little bike and probably Yams biggest seller amongst their cruisers
@@bikerdood1100 I own the predecessor of the 535, the XV 500 K, build in 1983. Marvelous little bike, more power than the 535, and revs up to 8500 rpm. Super smooth engine, virtually no vibrations. I get about 23 kms to the litre in the mountains of Portugal. Very nimble with its short wheelbase of only 141 cms. I don't understand why this bike doesn't have a massive cult following.
Love my early gen1 SV
Real ground breaker
I often wonder how Suzuki came up with the idea to build a Vtwin
For them it was very left field
The sv650 never gained traction control.
In the Uk it does
@@bikerdood1100 I think you mean ABS
Suzuki VX800. More popular in Europe than in America. Love to hear your opinion.
Basically a cruiser in a set of Euro cloths
Good solid, practical bike
Perhaps not the most exciting for what it’s worth
Nearly brought o a few years ago as a general run about
Love anything with shaft drive
Can't believe you didn't include Honda's CX range
Already got a video of its own
@@bikerdood1100 ahh I'll check it out thanks 👍
I think you was in error about 1907 being first year for V twins. The Peugeot engined Norton winning the first TT, 2 cylinder class in 1907 was not the first one. Some sources has 1902 as first V twin motorcycle. A slight mistake mentioning the Harley sidevalve as DL. The standard ones was D. The DL was a more pwerful one.
Happens to know as my first bike was a 1930 750 DL boasting 16 Hp. The D had only 14.
That’s the claim by Indian but it’s not true of course
I’ve got an image of a Guzzi style V-twin from 1902 and their are likely earlier machines still in Europe.
Motorcycles were very much a European thing that made its way to the States
Reached England in the 1890s when British bicycle makers started to fit European engines to their frames.
As for the first British V-twin I don’t know but Norton won the inaugural 1907 TTs twin cylinder class with a V-Twin engine supplied by Peugeot
Love my Morini 3 ½ sport. Always been a fan of the vfr400 although that's mainly because of the single sided swing arm.
KTM 990 super duke is an awesome bike and not a V twin the BMW R series is undeniably a marvelous motorcycle.
Not too many V twins in the list there
Few exotic machines though
@@bikerdood1100 Anything in a V or a twin does it for me. All those bikes I have owned. I still have my BMW R65 as well. A good old air head
I had a mate who bought a Honda VTR100 on Friday and on Monday he took it back to the dealer and traded it in. He hated the fuelling and it was hideously uncomfortable. It did look good though.
Should have written VTR1000, sorry!
Oh sports bikes. If you not used to tunes V twins there’s one hell of an adjustment
@@bikerdood1100 At the same time he owned a V&M Blackbird, then a tuned GSXR1000K5, before buying trashed recent Ducati V twins and restoring them.
@@davidmaclean2239 kinda like your bikes fast and furious
There's nothing like a V Twin
That is very true both in good and occasionally bad terms
Mostly good
@@bikerdood1100 only bad when it's a classic Ducati.
A love hate relationship with my 888 🤣
@@ianlaker6980 we have all had those relationships
And some ladies are very high maintenance, essentially the Latin ones 😂😂
I have a Virago and a VStar that have both been better to me than my HD panhead was.
I suppose to be fair to the panhead it’s much older
The Japanese generally know how to put a good bike together though
With the occasional slip of course
Vs 1400 intruder,vtx 1800 honda, Honda varadero, Harley xl 1200 sportster, vl 1500 intruder, victory freedom 1730 vtwin, motoguzzi 1200 Norge, VN 2000 Kawasaki, Yamaha xv 1900 raider post 2009,KTM rc,8.
Nice mix of choices there
VTX 1800 HONDA 😎
A proper vee twin has the rear cylinder off set + exhaust pipe in front.
This is why I don’t drink
No CX500?
Already has its own video
Phil Irving might be a New Zealander?
No one is perfect 😂
Wow! You missed Crocker, Yamaha, Honda AND Kawasaki!
Got to pair the thing down a bit
Maybe do a part 2 if it proves popular
In a life time wen i like and ride a bike that would be Indian Chief
Ok 👍🏻
TRX850?
Parallel twin
Great bike incidentally
Layout only not firing order
Indian scout 101 1935 750cc best balanced motorcycle ever built.
Nice
A Very beautiful one too
Vincent & Harley-Davidson.
Yes and ?
@@bikerdood1100 knucklehead & the one I had,a shovel.
You forgot the yamaha MT 01. 😮
Nope
Left it out
Nor necessary the same 😂
The tl1000 suzuki was fast and its sad the handling was lethal.
Pretty well known hence why it’s also in my scariest road bike video also
Suzuki SV1000N
A good bike for another time perhaps.
Not as crazy as the TL thankfully
How on earth could you leave out Aprilia?
Only room for so many
VJ 23
?
@@bikerdood1100 Showing my age, Suzuki RGV 250, the last one with the 70 degree v-twin strangled for Japan but unrestricted was a great little bike! Emphasis on little…
@@killcondo oh now those I remember
Absolute tiny weapon.
I always say that 250 is the perfect size for a stroker, much beyond that and all the engines short comings become an issue
I think Harleys v-twin is not a good engine
Which one in particular
?
@@bikerdood1100 Twincam 88
To be frank I think the old Sportster was probably their best
Bigger bikes were to large and no so reliable
@@bikerdood1100 You are right!
Your contempt for Harley Davidson motorcycles is getting very tedious and I don't think you understand them at all or give them credit for what they are. Also, you missed one of the best v twins ever, the Honda CX500 which while not being one of the most exciting engines ever, was probably one of the most reliable and long lasting and the bike of choice for motorcycle couriers for many years. To add to that it was one of the few engines to be turbocharged and to come with an automatic gearbox.
I’ve done two videos already on the CX
I’m very fond of them 🙄
FYI
I intentionally used one bike from one manufacturer on that particular video and felt I needed to switch it up after already featuring the CX twice
While the CX was fitted with a Turbo on both the 650 and the 500 I’m pretty sure they didn’t fit a auto box in there. Honda had pretty much abandoned the Hondamatic gearbox by then
It was fitted to the 400 dream but I don’t believe anything shaft driven.
I don’t have a contempt for HD, we owned for about 5 years. I just won’t super coat thing.
Not my style at all. I was quite nice about the knuckle head. It’s not my fault that modern manufacturers, not just Harley incidentally are obsessed with the idea that bigger is better. There’s a point we’re bigger is just bigger.
@@bikerdood1100 I respectfully suggest that you look beyond the shores of the small island that you occupy and then you might start to appreciate what bikes like HD and Indian are all about. I am from New Zealand and HD are the best selling 750+cc bike here, I have also traveled extensively in the US and believe me, a HD Road King is a very nice way to travel and see the country. I traveled nearly 5000 miles, often at 90+ MPH for hours at a time, and never missed a beat or felt stressed.
@@onecookieboy When touring with high daily mileages in mind, I think the Harley Big Twins are far better than a Sportster, especially if you are going to carry a passenger or even just a ton of camping gear.
In turn, I owned first a 1990 883 Sportster, then a 1987 FXRS-SP and finally a 1990 FXRT. I later replaced both my FXRT and my Buell XB9R with a BMW R1150RT. That gave me the comfort and capacity of the Harley with at least as much usable performance as the Buell.
@@derekp2674 Exactly, Sportsters are exactly that, sort of sports bikes, not for touring or long distance, just look at the size of the fuel tank.
@@onecookieboy Indeed. Big Twins tend to have larger tanks and, also, fuel gauges too. When running tour groups across Europe I got the learn the point on my fuel gauge where the Sportsters in the group would start going onto reserve and then we could arrange to all refuel before anyone ran out. But some Big Twins would only need to fill up every other fuel stop. Many Evo Sportsters came with those silly little peanut tanks but either these were phased out on UK bikes or most folk wanting to tour on Sportsters would fit larger tanks, so we were seldom troubled by those.
The little gl 500 or 650 wernt all that powerfull ,but very reliable !
True, well apart from the odd cam chain
Cut the long intro
I have two, one shorter one longer. Use the longer one occasionally because some people liked it , everyone is different
V2Ks only 108 hp low 5250rpm rev limiter CRUISER
And your point is ?
A bikes a bike, why place it a box.
Cruiser , sportster whatever
Only 108hp 😂😂
@@bikerdood1100 VN 2000 (a comparison) a bike i ride daily bikerdood
Smallblock Guzzis?! Built down to a price, have reliability issues, not particularly powerful or torquey for their displacement, fuel economy is only average. Big Blocks are much better. Morini had Heron heads well before Guzzi and they did a much better job. Better power for the displacement and much better fuel economy. Without the Ducati Pantah, there would have been no Monster, and possibly no Ducati.
I’m putting the Pantah in my next video.
The Guzzi has better mid range torque than the Morini particularly at 500 where the Morini never worked so well .
Production quality issues manly effected very early models in reality. I ran a V50 for 11years and had very few problems even though it was over a decade old when I got it. I rode it all weathers incidentally
Early models were built at the innocenti factory but production was moved in house later.
We have own a few large block Guzzi’s to incidentally and they are very different than the small blocks. Is more powerful better I’m not so sure.
We currently run 2 small blocks and one large block. The bigger bike is better for passengers but that’s about it really and it’s very thirsty by comparison. I have ran Guzzi’s for more than 30 years so I would know really
@@bikerdood1100 I own a V50 III, Ambassadors (3), Eldorados (2), and Converts (1.5). I also have a 500SL Pantah and '77 Morini 3 1/2 Strada. Have owned dozens of Guzzis in the last 40 years, and three other Morinis (2 350 K2s and a 500 Strada). I work on classic European bikes for a living - including scores of big-blocks and at least a dozen small-blocks. Any of the 350 Morinis would keep pace with a V50 II, and be "nipping at the heals" of the V50 III. A V50 II is gutless until revved, mid-range power is lacking. The V50 III is much improved - nice mid-range and pulls well in upper rpms. Small-blocks have valve issues, the transmission breather is a poor design and pukes oil out, ignitions (point and Bosch e.i.) are not great, starter relay needs to be rewired, coil power runs through the kill switch and a lot more things that Guzzi could have done better. My V50 III averages 50 mpg (US gallons), all of the big-blocks (except the "automatic" Converts) will do the same. Meanwhile, a Morini 350 will return mpg in the mid 70s. Just my experience.
@@Amboman4 I have to say I have never got more than 45 mpg (uk) out of a big block including fuel injection models.
We average 55mpg from our V7 on the commute, but around 60 when touring. Sometimes a little better.
From my V50 agin mid 50s ditto my Targa .
70 even in smaller US gallons seems Very optimistic especially when 51mpg is the figure most testers quote
Unbelievable optimistic actually
Guzzi V7s are absolutely are NOT 'in-line' !
Look at the absolutely in line crank
Ditto BMW
FORD Mustang V8
Is that transverse 😂
@@bikerdood1100 If you wish to remain dumb ... be my guest.
Harleys****** overweight overpriced and over here!!!!! Lmao
😂