New Moto Guzzi V7 Cafe Racer Recaptures the Past With a Distinctly Modern Upgrade

You may have seen our Bike Find of the Day, the 1970 Moto Guzzi 750 Ambassador, but now the Italian manufacturer has come out with a special model to commemorate the company’s 90th anniversary.

Inspired by the café racers of the 50s and 60s — the V7 Racer is based on the firm’s Cafe Classic line.

The Moto Guzzi V7 Racer features the transverse V twin engine and pipe combination which generates a wholesome noise like no other bike on the road. The powerplant may only crank out a relatively tame 49 bhp, but what it does with that limited output, something around 120 mph at the top end, is more than adequate to provide buyers with the necessary thrill quotient. It’s not going to hang at the long end with your buddy’s modern sport bike, but it’s what you do get that makes it very, very cool.

What do you get for the $9,790 you’ll be asked to shell out for this modern homage? Italian style and superb craftsmanship.

All along the bike you get custom-made components in brushed, drilled aluminum, rear-mounted foot pegs wrought from solid billets, and a set of fully adjustable Bitubo gas shock absorbers.

On the front end, a chrome spoke 18″ wheel, Marzocchi front forks protected with dust gaiters, adjustable half-handlebars and the distinctive, tiny Moto Guzzi throwback fairing complete the styling look.

At the back? Upswept mufflers, a suede-covered seat, an integrated tail that follows the line of the rear fender,a rear suspension with dual shocks which provide 118 mm of wheel travel and adjustable spring preload settings and a double-cradle frame with bolted, removable bottom tubes give the the kind of handling you’d expect from a cafe creation.

You bring this beauty to a stop with floating 320 mm front and 260 mm rear discs.

Moving the whole package along is a five-speed gearbox fitted to the 744 cc 90° V twin with a bore of 80 mm and stroke of 74 mm which features graphite pistons in aluminum alloy cylinders. An electronic Weber Marelli fuel injection system with 36 mm throttle bodies pushes the fuel into the classic powerplant

Moto Guzzi V7 Cafe Racer Specs:

• Tank side panels with 70s style Moto Guzzi graphics.
• Adjustable half-handlebars.
• Twin saddle.
• Chromed passenger grab handles.
• Chromed rocker boxes.
• Chromed heat shields.
• Chromed instrumentation.
• 70s style instrument graphics.
• Color coded rear mudguard.
• 744 cc 90° V two valve twin.
• Weber Marelli electronic fuel injection.
• Single plate clutch.
• High performance exhaust system.
• 5-speed gearbox.
• 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.