Moto Guzzi V7 Classic and V7 Cafe test

Menus

• Decaffeinated cappuchinos
• In the footsteps of its history, Moto Guzzi resuscitates the myth of the V7 Sport with these two superb variations on the same theme: retro fashion, but is the ramage worth the plumage ?
• Discovery
• In the saddle
• Contact
• In the city
• Highway
• National
• Departmental
• Braking
• Comfort
• Consumption
• Convenient
• Conclusion

Decaffeinated cappuchinos

In the footsteps of its history, Moto Guzzi resuscitates the myth of the V7 Sport with these two superb variations on the same theme: retro fashion, but is the ramage worth the plumage ?

Discovery

Sitting on my 350 RD I wait for Charly to start his V7 sport. The big twin with almost free admission and exhausts from the same barrel roars with a hellish din. Lying on his beautiful Italian, he follows my trail in the direction of the outer boulevards that we will soon take at not very reasonable speeds. The year is 1980. Charly has a “real” sport V7. Not the very first ones of 1967 with a drum in the front, it’s a beautiful black S2 with 2 discs, which sends out big gas when you turn the handle.

Before getting on the V7 cafe, I think back to him. Would he find his 20 years with this new version? I start with a tour of the owner to get an idea. Aesthetically, it is very successful. Better than the classic Ducati, which "got bigger" too much during their resurrection. Here it is fine, sober and the spirit is really there. We barely notice a less "slender" side of the news which evoked pure speed on the original. The wheelbase is not the only cause (2 cm apart, 145 against 147 cm). It was also the low saddle and the fuel tank that gave this impression. In just over 40 years it has grown from 77 to 80.5 cm in height and it is arguably the combination of the two that can be seen by the eye. But do not sulk our pleasure, whether it is classic (black) or coffee (white), it is very successful.

Between the two versions, a pair of raised pots, a single-seater saddle with backsplash and bracelet handlebars distinguish the cafe which is billed at € 500 more! Final detail that is not immediately obvious as it is well done, all body parts are plastic: mudguard, tank, side covers. Astonishing no ?

In the saddle

You can easily get on the V7 which remains really small for a 750. It is in keeping with the spirit of the time. The dashboard with round dials and hands is also a retro brown, but it is borderline "cheap" and ultimately not old enough. We would have liked a white background with an orange-tipped needle to remind us a little more of the traditions in force at the time. Whether the real V7 got them or not we don’t care, it was like that before on race bikes and we just wanted to smell the castor oil. Isn’t that true Charly? Well we easily kick out this featherweight, we go first and we put our feet on the footrests…. too far forward. The position is not natural for two cents. It’s better on the classic, but we would have really liked more remote controls, especially on the coffee.

Contact

Ah my Charly I can tell you that the neighbors will prefer this version of the exhausts to yours, and they will not be wrong. "The freedom of some ends where that of others begins"…. the noise is still nice, but it’s not as crowded as yours. It must be said that in 40 years the beauty has lost nearly 20 hp (and I have already had a lot of hair!), That’s calming! Your 748 cc (82.5 X 70.2) 70 hp SAE at 7000 rpm, it was a plane for the time. He took your sport V7 to more than 200 times! Unfortunately, it gave way to a placid 744 cc (80X74) 48.8 hp at 6800 rpm. Straight out of Breva and Nevada, he has no more than a gentle utility ambition. Looks like with a pair of silencers released that changes everything. Must see, but without it, you will be disappointed Charly, that’s for sure.

In the city

Here everything is fine, especially with the classic which offers a more suitable position with its large handlebars. The engine is incredibly smooth and supple, a change from a Ducati for example. No knocking on the horizon, we set off very easily at 2000 rpm without playing with the clutch. The motorcycle handles like a bicycle. It’s royal.

Highway

Forget the 200 lap times of your V7 sport Charly, but it might be better for your license. When you have reached 170 km / h and 175 lying on the coffee, you will be at maximum. Times change, but admit it’s surprising to have made one of the first production bikes capable of 200 km / h and to lose 25 or 30 after 40 years of progress! Because a modern sporty 750 today takes 100 miles better than the V7 cafe, but precisely speaking of coffee, I don’t think the motorway is its cup of tea.

National

Here things are already better, you should be a little more comfortable, but avoid the bumps, because this Guzzi is mounted on springs. They must have forgotten about the shock absorbers on the assembly line in Como. It hops severely. If you find a nice cafe terrace, take a break and there you will be able to admire your beauty from its most beautiful angle. You should have your effect. Onlookers will ask you lots of questions about her age, her brand and with a little luck you should be able to find a pretty model who will agree to pose for a souvenir photo in black and white. It will remind you of your 20 years but don’t say anything to your wife when you come home ….

Departmental

Here is finally your real hunting ground. You will find there the sensations of old-fashioned driving. No need to sway with your narrow tires (100/90 X 18 front and 130/80 X 17 rear), it leans on its own. Straight like an I, you can take an angle with the good ground clearance. Do not abuse too much anyway the tires (chamber) are not very soft, but you have a good margin. Don’t get excited about the gearbox or the brakes, it’s not racing either. Prefer to roll up at a good pace and you will have fun. Sure it lacks horsepower at the top, but the engine is nice. You will roll with a smile on your face without fear of speed cameras. I know you, you’ll find it’s a bit borderline coming out of the corner and you won’t be wrong. Do you want my opinion ? Mr Moto Guzzi, he should have put the Bellagio engine there. There, I think you would forget to go home altogether and drive until you ran out of fuel.

Braking

Sure a single 320mm front disc and 4 piston caliper is better than the 220mm 4 cam drum. Besides, you remember, the guys rode double discs … with Renault 8 calipers! Good, but even today the braking is too tight. If you want to attack. 2 records (by Bellagio!) Would be really better! Behind the 260 mm does its job very well, but watch out on wet ground, it is brutal limit.

Comfort

On the Classic we sit pretty well and the suspensions are soft so it’s going pretty well as long as the road is smooth, but as soon as it gets bumpy, it jumps up. The vibrations are well contained, no worries. The driving position on the Cafe is less pleasant in the long run, but it is better to ride on the road with it than with a Triumph 675 for example. Still, adults will find it difficult to fit their knees behind the cylinder head covers..

Consumption

I know you, you’re going to wring out the handle a little, so even if thanks to the injection it consumes less than your carbs, counts about 6l / 100, or 240 km before reserve and 280 km in all (the tank is 17 liters of which 2.5 liters reserve).

Convenient

The Cafe version is approved as a two-seater, but there is no room on the seat backrest or passenger footrest. The practicalities are reduced to nothing, but let’s not forget to mention the shaft drive, clean and almost maintenance-free.

Conclusion

I prefer to tell you directly Charly: V7 yes no doubt, but sport no, at no time. Besides, I’m getting carried away but if the V7 refers to the sport V7, the name of the new model is not V7 sport, it’s classic or coffee. In fact, it’s just a Breva with a retro body. I believe that if Cesare Carcarano discovered the descendant of his sport V7, he would be happy to see that his creation has gone down in history and that 40 years and a few years later "its architecture" is intact. But he would be disappointed with his lack of performance. Too bad because with the 940cc Moto-guzzi has exactly the engine, transmission and brakes that a modern sport V7 needed. Seems it would be too expensive…. possible but it would be both more efficient and more engaging. We would probably forgive him for his € 1,500 more than the coffee. Because even at € 7,990, the V7 classic does not seem given given its technology and performance. As for the 500 € more for coffee, one wonders where they will get them ….

Strong points

• elegance
• motor flexibility
• shaft transmission

Weak points

• modest performance
• rear shock absorbers almost absent
• high price especially in coffee

The technical sheet of the Moto Guzzi V7

Test conditions:

Itinerary: City + interurban and departmental highways

Motorcycle mileage: 350 km

Problem encountered: none

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