Moto Guzzi V7 stays strange, but gets more power, better suspension for 2021

Moto Guzzi may not have the same kind of recognition with non-motorcyclists as, for example, Triumph or Ducati, but it certainly should. The Italian company celebrates its centenary in 2021, and its core is the launch of the new V7, which the company announced on Wednesday.

The V21 2021 is a comprehensive version of the previous V7 III, meaning its strange ball cross-V twin engine gets bigger and more powerful. The driving force is more robust and the instrumentation more modern. It’s still a bike for people who must have something else, but now, more than ever, otherwise means no less.

Moto Guzzi does not make very powerful motorcycles, but its engines always offer a lot of character and style, and the new 850 version of the V7 engine is no different. The air-cooled car gets a large bump of 100 cc and a corresponding power increase from 52 horsepower to 65 hp. It’s still not going to deter superbikes, but a little more power is always appreciated.

Another thing Guzzi is known for is axle drive. The V7 gets a bigger driveshaft, a bigger swingarm and a wider rear tire for 2021, all of which should help make the bike feel a little stiffer and increase its traction in light of all the extra power. I definitely said it with a straight face. A larger, more powerful engine also means more vibration – a long problem with these bikes – but as a concession to ride comfort, the 2021 V7 gets rubber-insulated pedestals.

Also new is an upgraded suspension with increased shock motion, thanks to new Kayaba dampers. Brakes still come from Brembo, and as with the previous version, there is a single front rotor that should be completely adequate. The V7 also gets standard brake pads, along with the traction control, of which the user can be defeated. Neither is sensitive to lean.

Here’s the thing: people do not buy Guzzis because they are fast. Instead, they buy it because they are both beautifully shaped and built, and it looks like the V7 definitely wants both of those. The 2021 model gets a new, slimmer exhaust and a new two-level seat, but fortunately retains its iconic (and giant) fuel tank. The tank has a capacity of 5.5 liters, which means that the V7 should have a positive epic sailing distance.

The new V7 also benefits from new, digital instrumentation, giving riders almost all the information they need. These include a speedometer, a tachometer, gear position indicator, trip computers, traction control level indicator and a clock. Unfortunately there is no gas meter, so riders will have to rely on the gas light to know when to refill. This would be a big problem in a bike with a smaller tank, but I would let it slip in this case.

In total, there will be three versions of the new V7 available. The base model V7 Stone will sell for $ 8,990 and will be available at the end of the first quarter of 2021. The incredibly attractive 100-year-old model with its two-tone paint job will cost $ 9,190 by the end of March and hit retailers. Eventually, the special model will cost $ 9,490 and will also arrive at dealers by the end of March.