2021 V7 850

[greer]

Too early to say much yet, except that I just had to have it.  And that the rear suspension is like night and day compared to the new V7 III I test rode.  I'll keep you posted.

Sarah

[Iron Cross Junction]

Stupendous!

Bill

[reidy]

I just went to the Moto Guzzi Australia website and it only shows the V85. It looks like we are not getting it.

Steve

[sdcr]

Looks really nice in that blue paint scheme.

Glad that Guzzi is starting to get away from the drab, flat paint schemes.

[egschade]

Well done! Wishing you many happy miles 

[Adk.IBO]

Really nice looking ride! Enjoy many miles!

[Dave Swanson]

That's fantastic!   The first thing I noticed on my test ride at the National was how nice the suspension was, and then the extra power!  Along with a much more comfy seat I think its a winner! 

[blu guzz]

beautiful.

you can still get the "drab, flat" finishes on the "stone" models. 

agreed, when i test rode one, the differences were both subtle in some areas (better tracking, feel of throttle) and much more obvious in others (suspension and power and seat).

i don't think you will be seeing 2 year old brand new bikes anchoring the showroom floors of this model.  i think it is more of a smash in its niche and in comparison to the competition in its range than the V85 was when it came out and that is saying something.

bravo MG

[mechanicsavant]

I’m over the moon w/my centanario , IMHO its only a set of hard bags , center stand & radials away from 2 wheeled nirvana (no not the band) !

[Ncdan]

Nice bike Sarah!
Id like to see a full review after you put some miles on👍

[JJ]

CONGRATS!! That's one beautiful, modern Guzzi!  

Interesting comment about the rear suspension, also....   They obviously "upgraded!"

[inditx]

Thanks a lot Sarah!
Now I want one.......
inditx

[SLDMRossi]

From the latest issue of MGNOC NEWS:


The V7’s New Lease on Life
by
Steven Rossi


   The 49th Annual MGNOC Rally…held in Keene, New Hampshire to celebrate Moto Guzzi’s 100th Anniversary…has come and gone, and a good time was had by all. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for Guzzi guys and gals to congregate because after all, there’s only one one-hundredth! Sorry if you missed it, and I’ll leave it to others to report on the actual details of the event. But there was one enlightening experience I’d like to share.
   Thanks to Bethel, Connecticut Moto Guzzi dealer Jim Hamlin, there were Demo Rides to be had. Hamlin Cycles orchestrated the on-site activity by generously hauling up some new V7s out of their own inventory…including the latest, 2021 850 Special and Centenario editions. Obviously, I just had to jump aboard…and here’s what I learned, after a short blast through the Keene countryside.
   Plain and simple, the 850 has bestowed a new lease on life for the V7. The engine seems as if it’s what was originally destined for what’s become…after so many iterations…Moto Guzzi’s best selling model. It’s powerful, smooth, responsive and well calibrated. Not only is it torquey and refined, but throaty and more comfortable at the same time.
   Ridden back-to-back at the Rally, a previous V7 III is/was comparatively…and clearly…at the end of its useful life. With less grunt, a little more vibration and slower response, the III proved a bit harder to ride. You have to work the bike a bit more to get it to obey, where the 850 is more poised and cooperative.
   The new 850 seems to shift better than its predecessor, though I assume that’s simply a result of being a better match to the new engine. The 2021 saddle is more welcoming than the V7 III seat and the beefed-up suspension is more compliant. Jim Hamlin pointed out the fine point of the 850’s upgraded rear shock arrangement…which is laid down a little more. Allowing the rear end to be a bit more progressive in response to bumps and road irregularities.
The only thing I found that the III did better than the 850 was turn-in. The old bike did so ever-so-slightly quicker because of its shorter wheelbase. The 2021 models rely on a longer V9 swingarm and its stronger rear housing, and it return, provide a more solid and planted feel over-the-road.
I’m not a fan of the new digital, Centenario instrument cluster, which is offset to the left in typical (single gauge) Stone style. It just doesn’t look right from behind the bars. The dual instruments (speedo and tach) may be enough to sway you toward the 850 Special. In fact, it proved so desirable that Hamlin Cycles sold its beautiful, Blue demo on the spot to a Rally-goer who returned from a test ride!   
   So we welcome the arrival of the latest 850. With its new lease on life, the V7 is now a Guzzi that very much gets it done with no apologies necessary. Fit and finish was also top notch, and it’s priced right. Furthermore, it presents some rather intriguing potential for Moto Guzzi’s second hundred years.
Some folks have been longing for a reincarnation of the legendary LeMans. I believe the new, light and nimble V7 850 would make a perfect platform instead for a born again…V50 Monza! There’s supposedly a new, big-block engine in the works (to be revealed in September?) which could/should be saved for a performance flagship.
We’ll see. Life goes on. In the meantime, let’s enjoy the new V7 850…
   

[tazio]

Seen one in the wilds of north Georgia a few weeks back.
Agreed!, gorgeous!, though I wish they'd have painted that rear fender

[SLDMRossi]

Yes...the refocus on gloss finish after so many matte color treatments now makes the rear fender more noticeable. By the way...beyond the new Blue, the Silver Special is pretty sweet, too.

SR

[Muzz]

That is one nice looking bike Sarah; beautiful colour.

[twowheeladdict]

From the latest issue of MGNOC NEWS:
   Ridden back-to-back at the Rally, a previous V7 III is/was comparatively…and clearly…at the end of its useful life. With less grunt, a little more vibration and slower response, the III proved a bit harder to ride. You have to work the bike a bit more to get it to obey, where the 850 is more poised and cooperative.
   

Exactly how I felt going from a 2010 V7 to the 2018 V7III.  I can't imagine this bike being the same level of leap forward.  Now I have to test ride one.

My 2010 felt like riding g an early 70s motorcycle.  The 2018 felt like a modern machine on par with the FZ07 it replaced.

The V85TT still bubbles to the top for a mid weight touring bike.

[kingoffleece]

It is a jump.  Not huge, but most certainly noticeable, and worth it IMO.

[PJPR01]

Too early to say much yet, except that I just had to have it.  And that the rear suspension is like night and day compared to the new V7 III I test rode.  I'll keep you posted.

Sarah

Best new color combo out there!  Enjoy the new ride!

[averb]

I just went to the Moto Guzzi Australia website and it only shows the V85. It looks like we are not getting it.

Steve

Just the website being a bit slow on the update I think
https://www.bikesales.com.au/bikes/brand-new-bikes-in-stock/moto-guzzi/v7-stone/

Steve

[twowheeladdict]

Seen one in the wilds of north Georgia a few weeks back.
Agreed!, gorgeous!, though I wish they'd have painted that rear fender

Slap a fender elimination kit on there and then you don't have to be concerned about the black fender.
Here are for the V7III, but certainly there will be some for the new V7s eventually.
https://www.af1racing.com/K-Town-Fender-Eliminator-wTaillight-For-V7-IIIs

https://gtmotocycles.com/products/gt-motocycles-v7-fender-eliminator-kit

[greer]

Thanks for the nice compliments, everybody.  I don't mind the black rear fender, but blue would have been nice.  I hate they cut down the
front fender, so I have a "fenda extenda" on the way.

Sarah

[Kiwi_Roy]

Our local dealership had a Blue and a Silver one in stock, of course I wanted one.
Enjoy your new bike Sarah 

[sdcr]

I was also puzzled by the “ need” to have a very short front fender. Good to know that  a Fenda extenda is available to correct this.

I had an opportunity to demo an exact double of your bike last week. I definitely could feel the increase in power, relative to the 750 version of the V7.

Thanks for the nice compliments, everybody.  I don't mind the black rear fender, but blue would have been nice.  I hate they cut down the
front fender, so I have a "fenda extenda" on the way.

Sarah

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

Just curious, is the *850 & white stripe* on the tank painted on or a decal? if a decal is it under or over the clearcoat?

[ohiorider]

Beautiful bike! I like everything I'm reading about it.  More power, better suspension.  Thanks for posting.

Bob

[kingoffleece]

I assisted at Hamlin's when the first batch of the new 850 V7's arrived.  When we uncrated the blue bike, in the sun, everyone in the shop was dumbfounded at how beautiful it looked.  It's a 10 out of 10.

[greer]

Just curious, is the *850 & white stripe* on the tank painted on or a decal? if a decal is it under or over the clearcoat?

Decal under clearcoat on the tank; the side plate is just the decal.

Sarah

[80CX100]

  When we uncrated the blue bike, in the sun, everyone in the shop was dumbfounded at how beautiful it looked.  It's a 10 out of 10.

     I agree, that's one of the deepest blues I've ever seen 

     Sarah, I'd love to hear your impressions and comparisons after you get some time on it.

      Wishing you many safe miles and smiles on your new bike.

[greer]

I'm trying to pay fairly close attention to the break in shift light, so I'm not sure how much I can tell you at this point.  I'd been riding Doug's Roamer since he bought the V85TT and was absolutely swept away by the V9 engine.  But the Roamer felt much more spread out as far as the riding position, and I couldn't get near as comfortable riding and handling it as I was on my V7 II.  Doug said it stood to reason I ought to go try the new 850 so away we went to the nearest dealer, Sloan's.  Rolling away on the test ride I nearly felt disappointed, the 850 lacks a good bit of that mechanical, rumbling, thumping feel that I enjoy so much on the V9.  It's there, it's just not a prominent feature the way it is on the Roamer.  The V7 850 fits like a glove though, and handles without a thought, completely natural.  I went home and studied for two days just to make sure.  I've got 200 miles on it now, like it more with each ride.

Sarah

p.s. I'll get that measurement for you, John Henry.  Any other questions, just ask.