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V7-850 E5 Suspension Thread

GTM®

GTM®

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This thread houses info on the E5 V7-850. Yes it is important to do front and rear upgrades together, especially if you are outside of the target stock weight ranges (155-170 lbs in gear). If your car needed a suspension upgrade, you wouldn’t do on end only, correct? On a motorcycle, it’s even more critical.

All items we use, recommend and sell here;

gtmotocycles.com

Suspension

Custom Guzzi Builds, Parts and Service in Southern California.
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Stock specs:
Front fork travel: 130 mm / 5.1"
Target total sag: 43.33 mm / 1.7"
Rear wheel travel: 99 mm / 3.9"
Target total sag: 30mm / 1.2"

I recommend pushing the forks up in the triple trees 10-20mm. This will help with stability and turn in for those who enjoy twisty road riding.

Measured with 190 # rider on board as delivered:

Kaifa forks:
Unl. 182 mm
Stat. 148 mm
Lad. 132 mm
TSag: 50 mm
Target: 43.33mm

KYB shocks:
Unl. 3XX mm
Stat. 3XX mm
Lad. 3XX mm
TSag: XX mm
Target: 30 mm

GTM 2S shocks:
365mm Unladen
3XXmm Static
3XX Laden
??mm total sag out of box
Set to: 3XXmm
30mm total target sag
 
I'm surprised there aren't more additions to this old thread! Am I trying to put this in the wrong place? I just wanted to say that I had GTM do up my 2023 V7 Special with full Bitubo cartridges up front and +20mm Bitubo shocks in the back and the difference from stock is incredible. If you are looking around on this forum wondering if you should upgrade your suspension, I could not recommend it more highly.
 
DeeTeeBee said:
I'm surprised there aren't more additions to this old thread! Am I trying to put this in the wrong place? I just wanted to say that I had GTM do up my 2023 V7 Special with full Bitubo cartridges up front and +20mm Bitubo shocks in the back and the difference from stock is incredible. If you are looking around on this forum wondering if you should upgrade your suspension, I could not recommend it more highly.
Click to expand...
I'm not. Not many upgrade their suspension, and the rare few that do hardly ever post anything. One of the best things you can spend your money on for the V7/85TT/9 series. Thanks for your post and business!
 
Bitubo shocks from GTM were a game changer. This should be the first mod, but people seem to get caught up in doing exhaust first. Looking to do the forks now to balance it out.
GTM® said:
I'm not. Not many upgrade their suspension, and the rare few that do hardly ever post anything. One of the best things you can spend your money on for the V7/85TT/9 series. Thanks for your post and business!
Click to expand...
I know you sell both so I won't ask which is 'better,' but are there any significant differences between the Bitubo and Matris fork kits? Price aside.
 
DK90 said:
I know you sell both so I won't ask which is 'better,' but are there any significant differences between the Bitubo and Matris fork kits? Price aside.
Click to expand...
No, very similar. Some people just like to have matching brands front and rear, so we offer both.
 
Had a scary moment the other day while I was traveling 90 MPH on the Oklahoma Turnpike. Hit a rough patch that bucked me off my seat while my bars were simultaneously shaking back and forth. Longest two seconds of my life.

So it's time to get serious about that suspension upgrade. 😅 My question is...are the Bitubo and Matris shocks and fork internals my only options? Which would be better suited for a lighter rider(130lbs)? Would I benefit from a piggyback tank if I'm primarily riding on paved road and only occasionally on sections of gravel or dirt? Which would be more easily serviceable? I plan to have this bike forever so longevity and ease of service is important to me.

I love the look of the Ohlins SE Blackline shocks and it's the brand I'm most familiar with as a mountain biker, but am not sure if those would be compatible with my bike (2023 V7 850 SE). I saw the GT shop had Ohlins available for previous models but not for the newer 850s.

Any advise is appreciated, thanks y'all!
 
Vagrant said:
Don't over look Shock Factory rear shocks. They are what I have on the v85 and v7III. Made exactly for your specs. Very reasonable price.
You can get away with just fork springs, but the full Matris kit is much better.
Click to expand...
Can you tell people to visit the (GTM) STORE link above here instead of constantly blurting out names of products so people Google them and purchase elsewhere(?). Sales there help keep this site alive.
 
My bike has the matris front inserts and bitubo rears. I got the bike at a great price (less than stock bikes) but with these mods already in place.

Awesome upgrades!
 
I purchased the Shock Factory 2WS shocks and a Matris fork kit for my 2023 V7 from the GTM Store (check link above). I’m excited about the upgrade! While I have some experience working on cars, I’m not familiar with fork work. I have read on the forum and in the product reviews that the fork kit install is easy. I have read the instructions (English translated from Italian) that came with the kit and I’m not clear on how to do it. The less I know about something, the more literal I am. Is there a fork kit install outline for dummies? 😀. Thanks!
 
Last edited:
pcalarco said:
I purchased the Shock Factory 2WS shocks and a Matris fork kit for my 2023 V7 from the GTM Store (check link above). I’m excited about the upgrade! While I have some experience working on cars, I’m not familiar with fork work. I have read on the forum and in the product reviews that the fork kit install is easy. I have read the instructions (English translated from Italian) that came with the kit and I’m not clear on how to do it. The less I know about something, the more literal I am. Is there a fork kit install outline for dummies? 😀. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Same setup here. Installed the shocks and will be doing forks soon. I'll send you my cheat sheet / notes if you like. I agree the included instructions are for someone who has done it before, and are not clear.
 
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