The V7 Racers’s 49bhp air-cooled, 744cc, 2v, four-stroke 90° V-twin engine, five-speed gearbox gearbox and shaft drive are all old-generation Moto Guzzi. The drivetrain might not have the power and refinement of their current evolution motorcycles, but its relaxed, throaty character suits this bike perfectly. The fuel-injected motor is smooth and friendly and offers enough oomph for swift progress cross-country.
Ride and Handling
If you try and grab the V7 Racer by the lapels and ride it hard, it doesn’t like it. You’ll run out of brakes pretty quickly and the gyrating motion of the shaft drive will get the chassis wobbling through the corners. The idea is to cruise along and take in the scenery, admiring yourself in shop windows and getting lost in the romance of riding such a typically Italian machine. It’s very comfy, smooth and low enough for shorter riders to be confident.
Equipment
Imagine all the mods you’d want to make to the standard V7 Classic and the V7 Racer already has them. The highlight is the shiny 17-litre fuel tank, which is actually plastic with a special chrome effect process, which looks like the real thing. It has a hand-finished metallic blood-red frame, swingarm, tank badge and wheel hubs, which carry silver spoked and satin black rims. You also get a suede-topped seat, a leather tank strap, big chrome mirrors, chrome top yoke guard, bikini fairing, clocks featuring 70s-style logos and graphics, a numbered plaque on the top yoke, number seven racing numbers, milled ali rearsets, stubby sports mudguard, brushed ali throttle body covers, fork gators and a rear light, fuel cap, rocker cover and engine heat shield all finished in chrome.
Quality and reliability
Although the V7 Racer is old school, it benefits from the all the modern manufacturing methods that the Piaggio Group (which includes Moto Guzzi and Aprilia) have developed over the years. It’s fuel-injected and conforms to Euro 3 and built to a very high standard.
You’ve only got to look at the list of standard equipment to know the V7 Racer is astounding value at £7599. If it knocked on the door of ten grand you wouldn’t bat an eye lid.
Specification
Top speed :120mph1/4-mile acceleration :secs
Power :49bhp
Torque :19ftlb
Weight :198kg
Seat height :805mm
Fuel capacity :17 litres
Average fuel consumption :mpg
Tank range :miles
Insurance group :14
Engine size :744cc
Engine specification :2v, V-twin
Frame :Tubular steel
Front suspension adjustment :40mm Marzocchi forks, non-adjustable
Rear suspension adjustment :Twin Biturbo shocks, fully-adjustable
Front brakes :320mm disc with Brembo four-piston caliper.
Rear brake :260mm disc with twin-piston caliper.
Front tyre size :100/90 x 18
Rear tyre size :130/80 x 17