Moto Guzzi V7 remains weird but gets more power, better suspension for 2021

Moto Guzzi might not have the same kind of recognition with non-motorcyclists as, say, Triumph or Ducati, but it certainly should. The Italian company is celebrating its centenary in 2021, the centerpiece of which is the launch of the new V7, which the company announced on Wednesday.

The 2021 V7 is a complete redesign of the previous V7 III, which means its odd transverse V-twin engine gets bigger and more powerful. The transmission is more robust and the instrumentation is more modern. It’s still a bike for people who must have something different, but now, more than ever, different does not mean less.

Moto Guzzi doesn’t make extremely powerful motorcycles, but their engines still offer a lot of character and style, and the new 850 version of the V7 engine is no different. The air-cooled engine gets a size hump of 100 cc and a corresponding power boost of 52 hp to 65 hp. Superbikes still won’t be scary, but a little more power is always appreciated.

Another thing Guzzi is known for is the shaft drive. The V7 gets a bigger driveshaft, bigger swingarm, and wider rear tire for 2021, which should help make the bike a bit stiffer and increase traction in the face of all that extra power. I really said that with a straight face, by the way. A bigger, more powerful motor also means more vibration – a long-standing issue with these bikes – but in a concession to rider comfort, the 2021 V7 gets rubber-insulated footrests.

Another novelty is an improved suspension with increased shock travel, thanks to the new Kayaba shocks. The brakes are still from Brembo, and as with the previous version there is a single front rotor which should be totally adequate. The V7 also comes standard with anti-lock brakes as well as traction control, the latter of which can be defeated by the user. None of these elements are sensitive to lean.

Now here’s the thing: people don’t buy Guzzis because they’re fast. Instead, they buy them because they’re both beautifully styled and built, and the V7 certainly seems to have both. The 2021 model gets a new, sleeker exhaust and new split-level seat, but luckily retains its iconic (and gigantic) fuel tank. This tank has a capacity of 5.5 gallons, which means the V7 should have absolutely epic cruising range.

The new V7 also benefits from new digital instrumentation, which gives pilots almost all the information they could possibly need. This includes a speedometer, tachometer, gear indicator, on-board computers, traction control level indicator and clock. Unfortunately, there is no fuel gauge, so cyclists will have to rely on the gas light to know when to refuel. That would be a big deal in a bike with a smaller tank, but I’ll let it slide in this case.

In total, three versions of the new V7 will be available. The base V7 Stone model will retail for $ 8,990 and will be available at the end of the first quarter of 2021. The incredibly beautiful 100th anniversary model with its two-tone paint job will retail for $ 9,190 and arrive in dealerships at the end of March. . Finally, the special model will retail for $ 9,490 and will also arrive in dealerships at the end of March.