New V7 Sport

[bad Chad]

It's not like the v7 lump has been sitting still, development wise over the last decade or so.  When the original new age v7  came out , around 2010?, it was essentially the Breva 750 motor, which its self had been heavily massage by Aprillia in 04.  As I recall it was rated at 48hp.  And the poop I recall reading here about how "cool it was, but WTF 48hp??"   Many a post went up with this comment, "man, I would buy one if it only made 60hp!"   

And over time, with ever increasing pollution regulations, the hP and torque numbers continued an upward spiral!!.  And now we find ourselves with a SB v7sport putting out 67hp!!   That is a gain in HP, under huge regulations, mind you, of a hair short of 40%!!  The v7 you buy today, has 40% more hp, than Kev's 2013 v7.   Yet, still the wining goes on,"if only it made a 125hp I would snatch it up" blah blah.   The bike is still really inexpensive by comparison to the comp.  Find another western european made, 750cc or larger bike, with anything like the  feel of a MG, for less than 10K US, you, can't. 

[Bulldog9]

The first sport, early 70s, was the game changer  This thing isn't competitive or new in any way.  What a missed opportunity.

Come on............. NO Guzzi is going to be competitive from the spec sheet and sheer performance factor to anything in the current market except maybe the Enfields.... It's a classic roadster. Gizmos? Tech? That's not what Guzzi is about. What is it's direct competitor? Something from the Triumph Line? The Yama XSR 900? I'm not sure your expectations are realistic. Even the V100 which was groundbreaking for Guzzi is a middle of the road performer. The days of game changer are over my friend.

But this is a great performance advance for the V7 platform, and glad to see it is more than just another 'color scheme'. They've added some real performance and tech updates to the platform.  I just wish it had a red frame and color matched rear fender, or brushed aluminum front and rear fenders, and Bi-Tubo or Matrix suspension, even an adjustable. I'm surprised it has the standard V7 handlebars, I'd have expected them to use the setup on the old V7 Racer, or at least as an option.

[cliffrod]

The easy solution for those who complain about this V7 Sport not being legit is to simply buy an original V7 Sport…   As the man in the movie said, “if you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up…”

Seriously, I wouldn’t read too much into this situation.  this is just another name grab to sell bikes and stay in business.  it’s pretty unlikely anyone is going to go “Oh boy!” and rush down to their local dealer to trade in their old V7 Sport for the brand new version.  People pay for nostalgia, especially when it’s easier to use and cheaper to buy.  There are probably even some people who don’t mind name dropping about what they have & having bystanders who overhear assume that means they own an original version. 

MG clearly wasn’t trying to replicate the original bike very closely, even cosmetically.  The first V7 Classic bike with triangular side cover, dual gauges and spoked wheels was a much more obvious styling rehash of the V7 Sport than this bike.  So if MG had used those same details on this bike to look more authentic, critics would grumble that this new bike looks no different than the old V7 Classic.

[Dirk_S]

It's not like the v7 lump has been sitting still, development wise over the last decade or so.  When the original new age v7  came out , around 2010?, it was essentially the Breva 750 motor, which its self had been heavily massage by Aprillia in 04.  As I recall it was rated at 48hp.  And the poop I recall reading here about how "cool it was, but WTF 48hp??"   Many a post went up with this comment, "man, I would buy one if it only made 60hp!"   

And over time, with ever increasing pollution regulations, the hP and torque numbers continued an upward spiral!!.  And now we find ourselves with a SB v7sport putting out 67hp!!   That is a gain in HP, under huge regulations, mind you, of a hair short of 40%!!  The v7 you buy today, has 40% more hp, than Kev's 2013 v7.   Yet, still the wining goes on,"if only it made a 125hp I would snatch it up" blah blah.   The bike is still really inexpensive by comparison to the comp.  Find another western european made, 750cc or larger bike, with anything like the  feel of a MG, for less than 10K US, you, can't.

My only real whine is that the lightweight factor has been missing for a few years now. That used to be a big advantage and marketing point for the small blocks.

[Walton]

* Gasp *

The precious royal V7 Sport name should never go on a water cooled piece of heresy! < \ sarcasm >


Who gives a shit. If you want a V100 buy one.

I don't want one.

I just want a smallblock with USD forks and dual discs.

Oh wait, they're making one.

That's AWESOME!

Lol

[kingoffleece]

Man oh man.  Back and forth.  Back and forth.  It should have this or that.  It doesn't have so and so.  Doesn't anybody ride for the fun of it?
As for speed and HP, for YEARS I've seen good competent riders on Guzzi bikes keep up with ANYTHING in the tight stuff.  Wanna be the first wanker down a 5 mile straight?  Go ahead-takes almost zero skill.  For cripes sake, I've seen guys on Guzzi bikes, especially a properly set up Norge completely DUST Ducati and BMW hotshots on the nasty stuff in the Carolina's.

I told you before.  Hamlin has an unreal brake mod for a V7 that absolutely kills-one finger performance.  You gotta have two disks?  How about at LEAST all that power and half the weight?  You know, for the go fast guys that gotta have it.

OK-rant over.

[Huzo]

Man oh man.  Back and forth.  Back and forth.  It should have this or that.  It doesn't have so and so.  Doesn't anybody ride for the fun of it?
As for speed and HP, for YEARS I've seen good competent riders on Guzzi bikes keep up with ANYTHING in the tight stuff.  Wanna be the first wanker down a 5 mile straight?  Go ahead-takes almost zero skill.  For cripes sake, I've seen guys on Guzzi bikes, especially a properly set up Norge completely DUST Ducati and BMW hotshots on the nasty stuff in the Carolina's.

I told you before.  Hamlin has an unreal brake mod for a V7 that absolutely kills-one finger performance.  You gotta have two disks?  How about at LEAST all that power and half the weight?  You know, for the go fast guys that gotta have it.

OK-rant over.

I’ll come on board and admit it doesn’t “need” two discs KoF, but I’ll go on record as saying I want two of them because I like the look…”
If it makes me happy it’s worth the money, but I would not try to convince anyone that it’s a necessity, it’s a want.
Also I’ll admit it makes no sense, but when have motorbikes ever made sense ?

[DoubleGuzzi]

And now we find ourselves with a SB v7sport putting out 67hp!! ..  Find another western european made, 750cc or larger bike..

The crux of the matter; what cc is the V7sport?

My only real whine is that the lightweight factor has been missing for a few years now. That used to be a big advantage and marketing point for the small blocks.

Absolutely.
I'd love a smaller, lighter 750 Breva at a sensible price. 

[twowings]

The older I get, the more the real thrills are coming from "reliability" and "affordability" and the less I agonize over being "competitive".

There's always something and someone younger and faster out there.

[Frenchfrog]

I’m really on board with this reasoning. The saving grace is that Guzzi has not seriously jumped into the horsepower game, so it doesn’t have to play.
There has been no challenge issued, so it doesn’t have to compete. The new liquid V100/Stelvios have dipped their toe in the water, but not totally seriously.
Here in Australia if you speed consistently, you WILL lose your licence in a matter of a couple of weeks tops, seriously these days ?
Less and less really care.
I don’t care if either of my bikes are moderately powered, as long as it’s not because they are sick.

I agree with that Huzo but Guzzi already marketed a limp wristed "Racer"  on virtually the same platform and now have come up with a 67 hp "Sport". If that's not BS then what is ???!!!!

[Huzo]

I agree with that Huzo but Guzzi already marketed a limp wristed "Racer"  on virtually the same platform and now have come up with a 67 hp "Sport". If that's not BS then what is ???!!!!

I think it’s offered as a homage to the old one FF.

[bad Chad]

I wonder, just for turds and giggles, which would be faster in a drag race.  The original v7sport or the the new one?

[ScepticalScotty]

I'm in for the long term. When I buy either the Stone or the Sport, it will be a "20 year" bike just like my Breva has been. I'll set it up for touring, and I'm sort of pleased it doesn't have the bars of the old racer, which while being a gorgeous looking bike, was not my idea of a long distance bike. Cruise control? Yep great idea. I tell ya the M5 is pretty boring from Plymouth to Bristol.....and the M6 to Scotland doesn't offer a lot of thrills....

[Frenchfrog]

I think it’s offered as a homage to the old one FF.

I think the top of the range Mandello would have been more appropriate Huzo.
It's no big deal and that little bike is sweet, also an improvement to the range.It's just the name that irks a bit with me...in fact I find it as laughable as many did when the "Racer " was named.No biggie though....

[Walton]

I wonder, just for turds and giggles, which would be faster in a drag race.  The original v7sport or the the new one?

It's pretty hilarious (sad?) to even consider needing a drag race to find out if a modern 850cc can outrun it's 54 yro 750cc grandpa.

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

I'm curious too, couldn't find a 1/4 mile time for a V7 850 E5.

This article claims a 13.9 sec quarter mile on the original V7 Sport (750).
https://classictwowheels.com.au/1971-1974-moto-guzzi-v7-sport/

CycleWorld put a 2012 V7 Racer (750) at 14.35 sec and others put various editions from 2009-2015 at 13.5 - 14.8 seconds.
https://www.cycleworld.com/2012/09/20/retrograde-triumph-thruxton-vs-moto-guzzi-v7-racer/
https://www.zeroto60times.com/vehicle-make/moto-guzzi-0-60-mph-times/fast-slow-quarter-mile/

Anyone have drag time on the V7 850 E5?

[PeteS]

I'm curious too, couldn't find a 1/4 mile time for a V7 850 E5.

This article claims a 13.9 sec quarter mile on the original V7 Sport (750).
https://classictwowheels.com.au/1971-1974-moto-guzzi-v7-sport/

CycleWorld put a 2012 V7 Racer (750) at 14.35 sec and others put various editions from 2009-2015 at 13.5 - 14.8 seconds.
https://www.cycleworld.com/2012/09/20/retrograde-triumph-thruxton-vs-moto-guzzi-v7-racer/
https://www.zeroto60times.com/vehicle-make/moto-guzzi-0-60-mph-times/fast-slow-quarter-mile/

Anyone have drag time on the V7 850 E5?

1/4 mile time for the original V7 Sport sounds about right. My ‘76 LeMans has done a 1/4er in 13 seconds flat at 103 and top speed of over 130. One site lists the 2020 V85 at 13.4 in the 1/4er and a top speed of 118 mph. I think the 2025 might be a bit quicker if not faster. Might have to find out next summer.

https://fastestlaps.com/models/moto-guzzi-v85-tt

Pete

[bad Chad]

It's pretty hilarious (sad?) to even consider needing a drag race to find out if a modern 850cc can outrun it's 54 yro 750cc grandpa.

It is rather daft, but in my opinion so are these conversations!  I only purpose it, as the original has been referred to as cutting edge for the time, a time with zero emission regulations.  So one wonders, could a modern air cooled Guzzi, with about a 12%cc advantage, but burdened with the worlds most strict emissions to date, out run the 7v?

The only reference to a quarter mile time I was able to find was in Greg Field's book, Moto Guzzi Big Twins (an excellent read by the way) where an early v7 sport, (not sure if it was the vaunted Telaio Rosso which was essentially a hand built racing version of the v7 or the more pedestrian black/silver frame production bike) Motorcycle Mechanics ran it through the QT in 13.2 seconds, March 72 issue.

[PeteS]

It's pretty hilarious (sad?) to even consider needing a drag race to find out if a modern 850cc can outrun it's 54 yro 750cc grandpa.

The sad part is that grandpa would likely kick the kids butt, particularly 750 vs 750. With any luck the 850 might give it a race. They are both two valve pushrod motors. Only advantage a modern motor has is fuel injection and maybe better intake flow.

Pete

[faffi]

It is rather daft, but in my opinion so are these conversations!  I only purpose it, as the original has been referred to as cutting edge for the time, a time with zero emission regulations. 

The emission regulation does not hamper power output significantly. The CBX made a claimed 105 PS back in 1978, the then most powerful streetbike. Today, the CBR1000RR-R make 217 PS in street legal trim. There is no doubt that one can make an air cooled 850 cc V-twin that produce a reliable 100 PS while meeting all noise and emission regulations. But the market would be very slim; people looking for (relatively) high performance air cooled motorcycles consist of a very limited number of people.

[Kev m]

If we're gonna play this silly game the previous WG thread I posted had a ~50 HP rating for the original V7.

Now Todd @ GTM had the V7 850 with pipes and tune up to 71 rwhp back in 2022, that's with the old smaller throttle body.

He had the V85 up to 80 rwhp with the larger 52 mm throttle body like the new models are getting.

So remove the emissions penalty and we're talking ~70-75 hp for the new one vs 50 HP for the original.

But again all this angst over a name is really ridiculous.

I don't care what you call it, I just know I want to add one to the collection.

[Kev m]

The emission regulation does not hamper power output significantly. The CBX made a claimed 105 PS back in 1978, the then most powerful streetbike. Today, the CBR1000RR-R make 217 PS in street legal trim. There is no doubt that one can make an air cooled 850 cc V-twin that produce a reliable 100 PS while meeting all noise and emission regulations. But the market would be very slim; people looking for (relatively) high performance air cooled motorcycles consist of a very limited number of people.

You completely failed to make your argument there.

[Walton]

The emission regulation does not hamper power output significantly. The CBX made a claimed 105 PS back in 1978, the then most powerful streetbike. Today, the CBR1000RR-R make 217 PS in street legal trim. There is no doubt that one can make an air cooled 850 cc V-twin that produce a reliable 100 PS while meeting all noise and emission regulations. But the market would be very slim; people looking for (relatively) high performance air cooled motorcycles consist of a very limited number of people.

Exactly.  Guzzi is already a very niche market catering to boomers and new riders but I think a real Sport would do well with Guzzisti who remember when they had a lot more soul.

[faffi]

You completely failed to make your argument there.

OK. Please explain.

[Huzo]

Americans are not usually known for their sense of humour, but this is a bit funny.
Or at least funnier than anything coming from over there in the last three days…
All the drag race comparison stuff reminds me of two schoolyard boys…
“My Dad can whoop your Dad…!”
To even bring power figures into the argument is infantile anyway, the most powerful street Guzzi made, is still a lily livered piece of anaemic crap in the spectrum of Sportbike performance.
If I was attempting to extol the virtues of any Guzzi, timesheet results would be the last area I’d delve into…

[Kev m]

OK. Please explain.

You explain how your comparison of a 1978 air-cooled 6-cyl CBX to a liquid-cooled inline 4 CBR says anything about an 850cc air cooled V-twin making 100 HP and meeting current regulations?

Even the Ducatis and BMWs in that size range fall shy. And to get close they are running maintenance intensive/expensive designs.

That's about as relevant to Guzzi as a turbo-charged Alfa Romeo.

Jenn and I just happened to spend some time looking at a showroom full of both those brands yesterday and a half dozen other brands. We would be hard pressed to find bikes we would want.

Even if it could be done the result wouldn't resemble what most people seem to want in a Guzzi, especially me.

[Walton]

To even bring power figures into the argument is infantile anyway, the most powerful street Guzzi made, is still a lily livered piece of anaemic crap in the spectrum of Sportbike performance.
If I was attempting to extol the virtues of any Guzzi, timesheet results would be the last area I’d delve into…

That's awesome.  Just don't call it a v7 sport.  Because the, real, v7 sport had a very virtuous timesheet when new.

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

Well, decided by Piaggio, the owner of Moto Guzzi, it is called the V7 Sport and they have the authority to call it that.

It happens to all brands and models that evolve or are brought back. Trust that there are plenty of Harley-Davidson, Royal Enfield, Triumph, Honda, Kawasaki, etc enthusiasts who have also been put off by old model names being re-applied to later models.

[Cam3512]

Here’s the real deal.  The new one will smoke it, and stop better.  But it’s not the same.  Nothing like the OG.

[Kev m]

Well, decided by Piaggio, the owner of Moto Guzzi, it is called the V7 Sport and they have the authority to call it that.

It happens to all brands and models that evolve or are brought back. Trust that there are plenty of Harley-Davidson, Royal Enfield, Triumph, Honda, Kawasaki, etc enthusiasts who have also been put off by old model names being re-applied to later models.

Edit "enthusiasts" to say "dumbasses" and you're spot on.