New V7 Sport

[Kev m]

So that torque availability should be more like the 2025 V85 with vvt then supposedly.
inditx

Maybe. Google AI suggests it. I haven't ridden a V85 since they first came out. Maybe I'd like later models better.

Google AI says this about it:

Performance
The V85 TT's engine produces 80 horsepower and 61.2 ft-lbs of torque. 90% of its torque is available at 3,500 rpm, and there's a 5–10% increase in torque between 3,000 and 4,500 rpm compared to the previous model.
 

[twowheeladdict]

c=prospecting" class="bbc_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.motoguzzi.com/us_EN/landing-page/news/?utm_source=dem&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=eicma_news&utm_content=discover&utm_marketing_tacti c=prospecting

I didn't catch in this convoluted thread that the new V7 Sport also comes with cruise control. 

That makes it even more interesting for a lightweight touring bike. 

I love my two Moto Guzzi bikes and couldn't see replacing either one though. 

[Clifton]

Yes the entire 2025 V7 range now have cruise and engine upgrades so you're right they will make even better light weight tourers. In addition the Sport gets different forks, IMU for cornering ABS, a sport riding mode, and dual rotors.

[Bulldog9]

Cam? You either can't read or need to up your trifocal prescription.

"MEDIOCRE COMPARED TO UJMS OF IT'S DAY"

That's a stretch for the first production motorcycle to top 200kmh.  No Guzzi since that time has ever been as close to the top of the world motorcycle pile since the first Sport.  Not the Lemans, Daytona, mgs01. The new v7s have be moved to the bottom of the pile with all the other retros aimed at boomers, women and beginners

Easy there "New Egg" The original V7 was a great bike for Guzzi, and likely launched the factory Café Racer, opened the door for the LeMans, etc, but it was a Guzzi and on the margins. "WE" may feel differently, but the rest of the MC world was 'meh' because Guzzi never stands out on the specs. Not an insult, not a slight on a Marque I love, just Simple reality. Chill out, no need to be the turd in the punchbowl.......... .....

[Dirk_S]

Easy there "New Egg" The original V7 was a great bike for Guzzi, and likely launched the factory Café Racer, opened the door for the LeMans, etc, but it was a Guzzi and on the margins. "WE" may feel differently, but the rest of the MC world was 'meh' because Guzzi never stands out on the specs. Not an insult, not a slight on a Marque I love, just Simple reality. Chill out, no need to be the turd in the punchbowl.......... .....

But didn’t the V7 Sport and early Le Mans win a few enduro races (or at least finished respectfully)?

[Bulldog9]

I am not a buyer here but a V7 with the 80 HP motor and appearance more like the 1000S with stripped gas tank and chrome exhausts would fly off the dealers floors. At least be competitive with some of the middleweight sport bikes.

Pete

Pete, I agree, I love that look.  Guzzi is feeling Nostalgic, so we will see what they do with the V100 platform. The California is due out soon, and how hard would it be to do away with the slit/integrated lights and fairing of the Mandello and Stelvio and go with a larger traditional tank like the 1000S or V7 had and more classic styling?

But the way they are developing the V7, someone could easily do their own paint and sticker project with an exhaust and maybe handlebar swap out on a new V7 850 and have a great bike with a throwback look. Or now that they FINALLY are doing a decent front fork and dual discs up front, this may be a special model next year, or something like it. Without a displacement bump they couldn't really call it the 1000S, but why not am 850S ? Why not also throw the fairing from the Corsa and a rear seat Cowl and relaunch the Lemans 850? 

I'm on the fence with what I want to do moving forward. I have a great little collection, all free and clear. I also am hopelessly enamored with the CARC bikes. Will likely do so until they are too heavy. All in all, I am happy with the direction Guzzi is going and how they are keeping the Air Cooled bikes alive with more than cosmetic gimmicks and paint schemes.

[Bulldog9]

But didn’t the V7 Sport and early Le Mans win a few enduro races (or at least finished respectfully)?

Great bikes, and legendary, but I'm just saying, Guzzi never really 'caught' or dominated. How many people even remember the original V7 Sport? VERY FEW, it is the 850 LeMans that everyone remembers, and by 76 and on, the IL4 UJMs began to dominate. Still, I'd love a pristine original V7 Sport, and may not be able to resist the new once it starts to hit the used market.

[Clifton]

Great bikes, and legendary, but I'm just saying, Guzzi never really 'caught' or dominated. How many people even remember the original V7 Sport? VERY FEW.....

I'm one of the few. In 1975 I traded in a pristine 1974 CB 750 on a new leftover 1973 V7 Sport. That Honda was about as good as it got for Japanese bikes back then but the V7 was far ahead of it. The Honda suspension was so stiff it rode like an empty dump truck, yet the chassis, suspension or both could let it get out of kilter on fast sweepers. Suspension, paint, chrome, and fasteners on the V7 were better quality. The V7 was also more powerful and faster and unlike the Honda it had a nice hit when it came on the cam.
I still can recall (shortly after trading) riding the V7 up the same brick street I had often taken with the Honda and it was so smooth! On the Honda it literally tried to shake my fillings out.

No it didn't catch on and dominate but not because it wasn't a better performer for its time, it was for other reasons. It was a limited production and quite expensive motorcycle from a small European manufacturer that often struggled financially. By 1973 if you wanted even more speed there was Kawasaki's Z1 but it still was just another UJM of the time when it came to handling and suspension.

Guzzi's new V100 series can't even compete in performance with the top stuff from Japan and other Euro manufacturers now and their V7 series is substantially down in performance relative to the V100. But my V100 Stelvio has more power than I really need, and the air-cooled V7 line (which has similar performance to the original V7 Sport) has plenty enough for most needs.

[bad Chad]

Ahh yes, the passage of time has a warm toasty effect on many of our memories.

[kingoffleece]

I love the "Guzzi can't compete with xxx on xxx or yyy" stuff.  Someone still has to show me where it makes a difference where it matters-in the fun stuff.
I rode with a LOT of very well qualified hotshots when I lived back east.  I'm quick at best-these guys were way too fast for me.  Point is, the guy leading the pack every time is on a Guzzi.  KTM's, BMW's, and all the rest following.  Every time.

Wanna win the 2 mile straightaway race?  Big deal.  No slight intended or inferred to above comments.  HP and all the other marketing stuff is nonsense best left to bench racers.  Watching a guy on a Stelvio (not the new one) absolutely DUST "hot shoe" at The Dragon is very humbling-to the shoe!

[PeteS]

Great bikes, and legendary, but I'm just saying, Guzzi never really 'caught' or dominated. How many people even remember the original V7 Sport? VERY FEW, it is the 850 LeMans that everyone remembers, and by 76 and on, the IL4 UJMs began to dominate. Still, I'd love a pristine original V7 Sport, and may not be able to resist the new once it starts to hit the used market.

In 1976 Guzzi was very much in the hunt. Daytona only had four Japanese bikes in the top ten.

https://riderfiles.wordpress.com/2014/04/30/1976-ama-superbike-results/

Pete

[bad Chad]

You're being a bit misleading Pete.  Yes, Kawasaki had 4 bikes in the top ten.  How many did Moto Guzzi have?  One.  It finished a respectable 5th.  I may be wrong, but I think 1976 was the first, and last year that Guzzi was competitive in Super Bike.   

Anyone know what type of Guzzi's were being run in Super Bike in 76?

[Tkelly]

Guzzi did win one of the races in 76,so they were definitely competitive to the best around .

[Huzo]

Until they stop blacking everything out and put some nice paint on it, it will still have that “army surplus “ look.
I like the styling direction, but we know that owners will want to tour on it, so where’s the real world suitable fairing ?
If they threw away the black paint that they hit everything with and went with absolute replica green from the original V7 of yesteryear, along with the white accents on the tank ?
It’d be moving in the right direction…
They still look so…drab.  (They’ll get away with some avant garde styling because it’s a wog hog).
Gold forks…(Ohlins lookalikes or optional $$$ real ones).
Wire wheels/ polished rims.
Raw aluminium engine/gearbox/swingarm/reardrive.
Nicer stainless headers with stainless mufflers.

I do like the curvy nature of the styling, not that apologetic slash cut, insect trend they are lamely trying to copy with the Stelvio, (although I could still fall for one…)

 The vomit inducing KTM stuff is just optical drivel for children, the good thing is they are only on the road for a few hours before they are back at the dealers for a rebuild, so we are relatively safe.

[Huzo]

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

What does “competitive” actually mean and who is competing ? 90% of us are mediocre riders and are mature enough to admit so, the days of vicariously measuring our appendages through our motorcycle choices are gone…
Old farts like to ride on nice days with life long friends, have a nice dinner, sleep in a nice bed and a shower.
The styling accents need to remind us of earlier days.
I used to be tough and ruthless…
Now ?
I’m rough and toothless…

[PeteS]

You're being a bit misleading Pete.  Yes, Kawasaki had 4 bikes in the top ten.  How many did Moto Guzzi have?  One.  It finished a respectable 5th.  I may be wrong, but I think 1976 was the first, and last year that Guzzi was competitive in Super Bike.   

Anyone know what type of Guzzi's were being run in Super Bike in 76?

Seems to me Dr John and Mike Baldwin were winning races into the early 80s as well.
Guzzi will likely never have a superbike or motoGP, doesn’t mean today it can’t keep up in the twisties with most bikes today. I don’t recall ever being last to the next tavern as recently as ten years ago on my ‘76 850.

Pete

[Kev m]

Until they stop blacking everything out and put some nice paint on it, it will still have that “army surplus “ look.
I like the styling direction, but we know that owners will want to tour on it, so where’s the real world suitable fairing ?
If they threw away the black paint that they hit everything with and went with absolute replica green from the original V7 of yesteryear, along with the white accents on the tank ?
It’d be moving in the right direction…
They still look so…drab.  (They’ll get away with some avant garde styling because it’s a wog hog).
Gold forks…(Ohlins lookalikes or optional $$$ real ones).
Wire wheels/ polished rims.
Raw aluminium engine/gearbox/swingarm/reardrive.
Nicer stainless headers with stainless mufflers.

I WANT NOTHING that you said there - NOTHING.

[Huzo]

I WANT NOTHING that you said there - NOTHING.

Fair enough Kev, did you used to own a Breva ?

[Clifton]

Until they stop blacking everything out and put some nice paint on it, it will still have that “army surplus “ look.
I like the styling direction, but we know that owners will want to tour on it, so where’s the real world suitable fairing ?
If they threw away the black paint that they hit everything with and went with absolute replica green from the original V7 of yesteryear, along with the white accents on the tank ?
It’d be moving in the right direction…
They still look so…drab.  (They’ll get away with some avant garde styling because it’s a wog hog).
Gold forks…(Ohlins lookalikes or optional $$$ real ones).
Wire wheels/ polished rims.
Raw aluminium engine/gearbox/swingarm/reardrive.
Nicer stainless headers with stainless mufflers......

 The vomit inducing KTM stuff is just optical drivel for children, the good thing is they are only on the road for a few hours before they are back at the dealers for a rebuild, so we are relatively safe.

Yep I agree with everything but spoke wheels. Perhaps tubeless spoke wheels as an option.

[Dirk_S]

Until they stop blacking everything out and put some nice paint on it, it will still have that “army surplus “ look.
I like the styling direction, but we know that owners will want to tour on it, so where’s the real world suitable fairing ?
If they threw away the black paint that they hit everything with and went with absolute replica green from the original V7 of yesteryear, along with the white accents on the tank ?
It’d be moving in the right direction…
They still look so…drab.  (They’ll get away with some avant garde styling because it’s a wog hog).
Gold forks…(Ohlins lookalikes or optional $$$ real ones).
Wire wheels/ polished rims.
Raw aluminium engine/gearbox/swingarm/reardrive.
Nicer stainless headers with stainless mufflers.

IMO, there will never be a need to market a naked standard with panniers straight out of the factory. That’s not the point of naked bikes (but it’s exactly what the Guzzi accessories catalog is for, especially for these budget bikes). Besides, I’m not sure the V7 in general is ever marketed as a ‘go anywhere’ machine; that’s normally relegated to the ADV, cruiser, and tourer categories.

[Huzo]

The most rewarding ride I ever did was on a bike that was totally unsuitable for the task. The bike was 30% up to the task and I made up the other 80%.
That’s where the fun was….(Here we go).

[Dirk_S]

The most rewarding ride I ever did was on a bike that was totally unsuitable for the task. The bike was 30% up to the task and I made up the other 80%.
That’s where the fun was….(Here we go).

Agreed. I wasn’t saying it can’t—naked standards ARE indeed the go-anywhere bikes as I see them. All I’m saying is that the time has long moved on from marketing them as such, as the manufacturers prefer to throw bags onto cruisers, ADVs, and porkier standards as such cross-country travelers.

[Clifton]

Over the last few years I hear and read about a number of older riders, as well as women and others, asking for a mid weight bike to tour on. Could a Guzzi V7 "California" be successful? I'm just asking. Personally I think it could be more so than some of the other V7 variants that they've tried, and it wouldn't take a lot to do it. Just adjust the seat, bars, and pegs for comfortable ergos, and add a nicely designed removable windshield (designed in the wind tunnel please), panniers, and rear rack. The V7 already has the basics like a nice 850 engine with enough power now, 6 gallon tank, and shaft drive.

[Kev m]

Fair enough Kev, did you used to own a Breva ?

Yeah it was my attempt to bond with a CARC bike.

A great bike in a lot of ways, but not for me.

[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.

Maybe I wasn’t clear, but I’ve owned this original for almost 15 years. Somehow I got sucked into this ridiculousness.  Yes it was fast back in the day, but it’s 50 years old.  Just being realistic.  I’ve owned and ridden modern V7’s, and it’s not a fair comparison.  Also, I’m 5’8 with a 30” inseam and I’m cramped on it.  Those Italian racer guys were small.  I still love it, and always will.  GFY

[bad Chad]

This has become, perhaps always was, pointless.  Guzzi has proven they are not hanging on the words of the over 50 crowed swimming in this pool.

[ridingron]

How about we create a category titled "Legacy Tribute" and call it a day?

[Bulldog9]

You're being a bit misleading Pete.  Yes, Kawasaki had 4 bikes in the top ten.  How many did Moto Guzzi have?  One.  It finished a respectable 5th.  I may be wrong, but I think 1976 was the first, and last year that Guzzi was competitive in Super Bike.   

Anyone know what type of Guzzi's were being run in Super Bike in 76?

I believe it was the 850 LeMans?

[faffi]

Yes, it was the Le Mans I. Baldwin won at Loudon in 1976 on it.

It took a year but by June 1976 we figured out how to make the Guzzi Le Mans fast enough to win a National Superbike race. Sponsored by importer Berliner Motors. Tuned and built by Reno Leoni. Baldwin

https://www.cycleworld.com/2013/05/31/origins-of-american-superbike-racing/

https://riderfiles.wordpress.com/2014/04/30/1976-ama-superbike-results/

https://woodburymotomedia.com/moto-guzzi-850-le-mans-production-racer/

[Bulldog9]

Agreed. I wasn’t saying it can’t—naked standards ARE indeed the go-anywhere bikes as I see them. All I’m saying is that the time has long moved on from marketing them as such, as the manufacturers prefer to throw bags onto cruisers, ADVs, and porkier standards as such cross-country travelers.

Unlikey I would make a bike like the new V7 Sport to be an 'anywhere' bike, but the V7 is a perfect blank slate to do what you want, and many have.

My Stornello started as a V7ii trim package. It is as capable as any ADV styled bike, if down on power. I've test ridden the Moto Morini Xcape, parallel twin GS (750?), AT, V85, VStrom, and several others and NONE could pry the Stornello out of my sausage like fingers........

There is a reason I dumped my FJR and 25 years of IL4 liter plus Japanese bikes for a Griso and Norge WITHOUT regret, and didn't look back..... It wasn't because they were revolutionary or spec sheet leaders. In fact, at the time I threw a leg over a GRiSO in 2015, my passion for riding was gone....... Irreversably woken up by this wonderful Niche brand.

My wife used to ride with me all over all the time. She was used to the Concours, FZ1, and FJR. Her first time on the Norge for a trip around Mount Rainer she said 'It is so slow'..... And it was by comparison, especially for passing. YET.......... When I did a 6K ride with my FJR buddies up to Novi Scotia a year later, the Norge was the bike setting the pace on all but full throttle straight line pulls when they could downshift. Top gear roll ons?? The Norge walked them, and danced through the sweepers and twisties. We all swapped off during the extended trip. The Norge was an 8V, and we had FJR's from the first 3 generations. ALL liked the Norge and were impressed, but NOT ONE made a change.

I'm not telling most of you anything you don't already know. Guzzis make power where you need and want for 99% of riding conditions, and do so with character and grace and satisfaction equaled by few.

But getting back to the new V7 Sport, I'm happy to see it, though I would immediately add color matched rear fender or metal front and rear fenders, a bright exhaust, probably matching in finish, so a satin finish over chrome. I prefer the black motor and running gear, it ages better with time IMO. I can easily see one in my garage, but the real question for me is "Can it displace the Griso" as my fun sporting 'go to'............ Plus I am still having fun on my newly refreshed 750 Breva with Guzzi Bi-Tubo shocks and upgraded forks with HH brake pads. A TON of fun.

This new V7 Sport is likely the BEST of the new V7 line yet. I still think it is dumb to piss on what Guzzi is doing with the V7 line, especially with the latest updates, AND that they took it to a new level with the V7 Sport.

YET.... I do hope it is a sales flop and I can pick one up as a 2 year left over for $3-4K off the MSRP the way I did the Stornello