So out tomorrow to the Pennine group meet at Hamish’s Cafe. Start my three running bikes, move Kawasaki out, then my 2024 V7 Stone CORSA. Put Kwak back in. Turn off all engines, move SatNav to other side of handlebars. Start Guzzi to ride back up drive. Starts put in gear sounds very clunky? Tries to put into neutral to check, the bugger will not come out of gear? Turns engine off still can’t get out of gear bike will not start now, get off bike try to change gear with hand, no luck try rocking bike back and too still no luck, back on bike clutch in right back to handle bar don’t feel right (no back pressure) rock and click up out of first gear but into second? Up to top of box and back down to neutral, bike starts ( yippee) puts into first and rides up into garage. Can’t get it out of first again. Stops engine and looks at clutch cable seems loose, so takes slack out, sit on bike out of gear into neutral ( no problem) back in gear close clutch and no drive? Loosen off clutch cable ( back to where it was earlier) but no slack in the cable no? Tried again and seems to be working ok now??? I guess I’ll find out more tomorrow when I go for a ride (hopefully). What is they say “a bike with character “ 
Umm, this may be sacrilege to some, but when I head off into Europe this summer, I’ll be taking my Vstrom, not the V7.
Is that because you want to get back? 
. I’m still nervous with mine as not done too many miles since I had it. Hoping to get out this week to get some miles under my belt and make sure no niggles.
Actually, I trust mine quite a bit, although I’ve done less than a thousand miles on it.
Mine’s a 2010 with 20+K on the clock, so most things that would cause me grief have been ironed out now (he says with fingers crossed).
I got it as the missus and I found climbing on and off the Vstrom not so simple now our bones are… er… more ‘mature and experienced’ (and the 750S3 Guzzi was always my fave motorsickle).
I hoped the V7 would be like a lower version of the Vstrom, (which remains the most competent’ motorcycle I’ve over in over 45 years of riding), but while indeed it is easy to jump on/off the Guzzi, it’s also, for us at least, far too cramped for longer distances.
We’ll happily potter shorter distances two up, and I plan to visit Mandello, but that will be solo trip (well, until I pick her up from the airport in Milan maybe 
).
When we ride to Greece we’ll definitely be on the Vstrom.
I agree with the ease of the V7 getting on and off. My last bike was a tiger sport and my also advancing years and bones just struggled with the weight of it and the height. I find the V7 so much better for leg room than the tiger but ride solo not two up so can imagine the Suzuki is miles better. Your trip sounds great as well. 
@Chris - did you sort it.?
There was a recent thread in the V85TT section of this forum about poor gear changes and lack of lubrication of the lever pedal pivots. It would be an idea to see if it is the pedal pivot that is siezing up. It seems the Luigi in the factory doesn’t like getting his hands greasy and so doesn’t lubricate the pedal pivots.
No idea howtricky it is to dismantle, grease and reassemble the pivos on a new V7, but its a 10 minute job on my old Spada. Maybe start with spraying some WD40 around the pivot to se if that helps.
Good call Don.
While maybe not your issue Cliff-Chis, I’ve seen similar clunky, difficult, gear change issues across various bikes, often due to infrequent use and/or hose/jetwash cleaning, surprising how regular use, even in winter, can help keep keep things tickertyboo.
Taking the linkage apart and cleaning/lubricating is well worth the time (though I’m often lazy and simply spray some white grease in there 
).
I’m thinking lack of use, I don’t mind going out in the wet n cold, but I didn’t want to subject my new Guzzi to our salty roads. Took her out on Sunday to Pennine Guzzy meet without a hitch. But spent nearly as much time cleaning than riding when I got home.