Swinging arm in light cast alloy with
two dampers and adjustable preload
Rear Wheel Travel
118 mm / 4.6 in
Front Brakes
Single 320mm discs 4 piston calipers
Rear Brakes
Single 260mm disc 1 piston caliper
Wheels
Aluminium spoked black anodised rims
Front Tyre
110/90/18 (120/70 ZR17 Optional)
Rear Tyre
130/80 17 (180/55 ZR17 Optional)
Rake
27.5°
Trail
109 mm / 4.29 in
Dimensions
Length 2185 mm / 86 in
Width 800 mm / 31.8 in
Height 1115 mm / 43.8 in
Ground Clearance
182 mm / 7.2 in
Wheelbase
1449 mm / 57.0 in
Seat Height
805 mm / 31.7 in (780 mm /
30.7 in)
Dry Weight
182 kg / 401.2 lbs
Fuel Capacity
17 Litres / 4.5 gal
Reserve
2.5 Litres / 0.66 gal
Return of a legend.
We must step back 40 years to understand how the mythical Moto Guzzi V7
Sport, has evolved into today’s V7 Cafè Classic. In 1969 the Mandello del
Lario mechanics increased the displacement of their transverse 90° V engine
from 703 to 757cc which greatly increased the performance without
diminishing the great reputation of reliability and sturdiness that was
behind the success of the V7. Fully aware of the power of this engine, Moto
Guzzi decided to build a faired prototype of the V7 Special with the new
757cc engine. The result was an immediate success and set numerous speed
records on the high speed ring of the Monza track.
No one at that time had ever
dreamt of achieving such results from a bike created from a touring bike
like the V7 Special. The effects of such an accomplishment gave Moto Guzzi
the incentive to create a sports model. That task was given to Lino Tonti,
one of the most brilliant Italian designers in history. Boasting excellent
performance, the V7 Sport impressed the public and critics alike for being
one of a few, mass produced bikes in the world, able to exceed a maximum
speed of 125 mph. This original icon of “Italian style” sports bikes,
magically reappears today in the distinct lines of the new V7 Cafè Classic.
The similarities with its renowned ancestor are easy to see in the unique
color, rich chrome, and other stylistic features common to both. The slanted
half-handlebars, the instrument cockpit and other details are unmistakably
Moto Guzzi V7.
STYLE
V7 Cafè Classic’s design is very similar to the style of the famous V7
Sport, faithfully maintaining the forms and size of the tank and side
covers.
This style is one of the very best examples of Italian design of the 70s, so
famous in fact that trade press didn’t delay in declaring the V7 Sport the
archetype of Italian sport bikes where the essence of style conveys the
effectiveness of the function for which the bike was designed.
There are many similarities between the original V7 Sport and the new V7
Cafè Classic starting with the particularly compact front thanks to the two
slanting half-handlebars that tempt the rider to take an aerodynamic
position with eyes on the instruments and body just a span from the top of
the tank, the latter painted in the “Legnano” colors, a shade of green and
metallic gold that, in a satin tone, reminds us of the typical color of the
sportiest Moto Guzzi bikes.
Celebration of the “Seventies” style continues with the profusion of
chroming, spoke wheels, upswept mufflers, the instrument dials inspired by
the famous Veglia-Borletti and the seat with integrated tail that follows
the line of the rear fender, the latter in a dark color matching the front.
COMFORT
Sporting and comfortable.
V7 Cafè Classic is a light and compact motorcycle, immediately offering you
the feeling of being in control thanks to the decidedly sporty riding
position.
The rider is not forced to squeeze into the indents of the tank, on the V7
Cafè Classic you get comfortable in the saddle sitting down into it, in the
classic style of the 70s. The footrest, saddle and handlebar “triangle”
position has been designed in such a way that most of the rider’s weight is
concentrated at the front as is good practice on sports bikes. This might
give you the impression that the position is restricting but this is not so
thanks to the correct slanting angle of the adjustable half-handlebars, the
footrest that is slightly forward and to the generously padded saddle.
Rear suspension also helps greatly in terms of comfort with the dual shock
absorbers that allow 118 mm of wheel travel and the ability to adjust the
spring preload to adapt the suspension to different riding conditions. While
riding, the cockpit that reminds us of the Veglia-Borletti instrument dials
of the 70s is a real pleasure: but so we don’t forget that we’re riding a
modern bike there’s a dual display with clock, external temperature and
total/trip odometer functions that fits in discreetly with the speedometer
and tachometer.
FRAME
As precise as a razor.
The versatility of the V7 Cafè Classic required a chassis that was suitable
for in town riding and for the bends of a mountain pass, able to provide
confidence during brisk riding but also guaranteeing comfort on a par with
the Moto Guzzi reputation.
A chassis with top quality components offers excellent road-holding
qualities and stability that makes riding easy and pleasant for novices but
is also appreciated by expert riders.
The key element of the bike is the double-cradle frame with bolted,
removable bottom tubes. A great deal of care has been taken with steering
geometry where the headstock slants 27°50’, an angle that ensures stability
and precision when changing direction. The Marzocchi fork with 40 mm stems
provides 130mm of front suspension travel and is combined with the action of
two rear shock absorbers (with spring preloading adjustment) which extend
118 mm. Braking consists of a floating 320 mm front disc and a 260 mm rear.
The wheel selection is also worthy of note, the front being 18” and the rear
17” for high profile tires that ensure excellent handling and steering
feedback.
ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION
Torque for fun and all the power you need
Famed for its reliability and low fuel consumption, the 744 cc 90° V twin
with a bore of 80 mm and stroke of 74 mm houses special graphite low wear
pistons in aluminum alloy cylinders.
The small block from Mandello is fed by an electronic Weber Marelli fuel
injection system with 36 mm throttle bodies and a Lambda probe that allows
the engine to run smooth and with low exhaust emissions.
In terms of maximum performance, peak torque of 54.7 Nm comes in at only
3600 rpm while maximum power output is nearly 50 CV. This power is
synchronized to perfection with the characteristics of the V7 Cafè Classic.
This bike has no need to race against the clock, it was built to enjoy the
ride. Like the Moto Guzzi, of the past the booming sound from the V twin
provides great music to ride with.
The five-speed gearbox is
precise with neutral easy to find and the ratios have been chosen for best
performance and good economy.
MAIN CHARACTERISTICS
DESIGN
- Tanks and side panels with 70s style Moto Guzzi graphics.
- Adjustable half-handlebar.
- Twin saddle with 70s style
- Chromed passenger grab handles.
- Chromed rocker boxes.
- Chromed adjustable sport handlebars
- Spoke wheels.
- Chromed heat shields.
- Chromed instrumentation.
- 70s style instrument graphics.
- Color coded rear mudguard.
- Chromed rear light cluster.
- Chromed locking tank filler.
ENGINE
- 744 cc 90° V two valve twin.
- Weber Marelli electronic fuel injection.
- Single plate clutch.
- New high performance exhaust system.
- 5-speed gearbox.
- Euro 3.
FRAME
- ALS steel tubular twin cradle with removable lower components.
- 40 mm front forks.
- Pre-load and rebound adjustable twin rear shock absorbers.
- Front brakes - 320 mm disc and 4 (opposed) piston calipers.
- Rear brakes - 260 mm disc with floating caliper fitted with 2 parallel
pistons.
- Spoke wheels.
- Metzeler Lasertec 100/90- 18 56H TL front tire.
- Metzeler Lasertec 130/80 -17 65H TL rear tire.
A HALF-HANDLEBAR LEGEND.
We first have to take a forty-year step backWards if we want to understand
how the mythical Moto Guzzi V7 Sport, which inspired today's V7 Cafè
Classic, has evolved. In 1969 the Mandello del Lario mechanics increased the
cubic capacity of their transverse 90° V engine from 703 to 757cc which
greatly increased the level of maximum performances without in any way
diminishing the notorious reputation of reliability and sturdiness that was
behind the success of the V7 in the market and with the police forces of
half the world. Fully aware of the power of this engine, Moto Guzzi decided
to publish the results, building a faired prototype of the V7 Special with
the new 757cc engine which, in June and October of that same year on the
high speed ring of the Monza track, set numerous records among them the 100
km, at an average speed of 218,426 km/h and the 1,000 km at an average of
205,932 km/h.
No one at that time had ever dreamt of such results from a bike created from
an openly declared touring bike which was the V7 Special, so much so that
the effects of such an accomplishment gave Moto Guzzi the incentive to
create a sports model that was greatly appreciated by a new public compared
to that acquired with the previous V7s. The task was given to Lino Tonti,
one of the most brilliant Italian designers who, using the generous forms of
the 750cc engine, built a highly streamline CrMo tubular frame. Low, long
and hunched over the suspensions, the V7 Sport made its first appearance in
the market with a rather unusual chromatic combination, obtained with the "Legnano"
green used for the upper structures contrasting with the red frame of the
first 150 specimens assembled in the Moto Guzzi testing department using a
CrMo tubular frame as well as some changes to distribution and ignition
details with respect to the next versions which had a black coloured frame.
Boasting an excellent dynamic performance, the V7 Sport impressed the public
and critics alike for being the first mass produced bike in the world able
to exceed the maximum speed of 200 km/h and this fact was worthy of a report
in 1972 by a renowned Italian motorbike magazine. Symbol of the "Italian
style" sports bike, all substance and no frills, the V7 Sport magically
reappears today in the distinct lines of the new V7 Cafè Classic.
The similarities with its renowned ancestor blend together in the excellence
of its dynamic performance and in the class of the stylistic features common
to both, like the "Legnano" green of the upper structures, the rich
chromings, the slanted half-handlebars, the instrument cockpit and other
details that are unmistakably Moto Guzzi.
Technically speaking, the V7 Café Classic differs from its Tourer sister in
having twin raised silencers that, apart from increasing ground clearance,
provide a sportier exhaust note more suited to this model that, like its
famed predecessor, boasts exceptional road-holding. The key to this
legendary road-holding lies in its twin cradle frame with removable bolt-on
lower components. Great attention was paid to the steering geometry where
the rake is set at 27° 50' to ensure stability and precision when cornering.
Of no less importance are the 40 mm Marzocchi forks. Travel on the front
suspension is 130 mm and works in combination with two adjustable rear shock
absorbers with 118 mm travel. Braking is looked after by a 320 mm floating
disc at the front and a 260 mm disc at the rear. The V7 Classic is fitted
with 18" wheels up front and 17" at the rear with high profile tyres so as
to offer superb handling and feed-back characteristics.