Moto Guzzi V7 Racer

NOT SO MUCH

Glinting in the sunshine like a long-lost Etruscan treasure, the Moto Guzzi V7 Racer is a brilliant conversation piece. People want to know what it is, where it's from and what it's like to ride.

There's something about classic bikes that seems to get people talking - maybe they're not as intimidating as modern day sport bikes? - and they have a charm that belies their simplistic construction.

The Moto Guzzi V7 Racer has no traction control, no ABS, and no switchable power modes. In fact it's got a pretty soggy five-speed gearbox hooked up to a low-tech V-twin engine while making use of flaccid brakes.

To be blunt, this motorcycle is neither fast nor agile, but the Italian retro cruiser was never intended to break lap records at Eastern Creek or Misano for that matter.

Yet for all these criticisms the Moto Guzzi V7 Racer is bags of fun to ride. It's got character and, though this term can sometimes be interpreted as 'compromise', there is an undeniable thrill -- a simple joy, for lack of a better term -- when riding a motorcycle like this one.

Your worries and concerns evaporate into thin air the moment you throw a leg over the bike, and the way the lumpy V-twin mildly shakes the bike from side-to-side is just the beginning of a captivating journey.

Crack the throttle and the 744cc 90-degree V-twin engine instantly sucks in a huge breath of air as the power is transferred via shaft to the rear wheel. The clatter and shake of the engine levels out as the revs rise and there's plenty of low down grunt coming from the longitudinally mounted mill.

Our test bike was fitted with Arrow exhaust pipes and these serve to add to the experience, magnifying the motorcycle's resonant voice; there's nothing quite like the sensation of cracking open the throttle on a crisp, cold morning.

The Guzzi's gearshift is imprecise and offers little feedback when engaging gears (there's no bump-stop when pressing down into first, so it's hard to know if you've reached the lowest ratio or not). But the clutch is light and easy to manipulate and after a few hours in the saddle you forget about the gearboxes inadequacies.

Moving away from standstill with surprising speed, the Moto Guzzi V7 Racer easily outpaces traffic, but it runs out of puff the further the tach needle rotates around its axis.

To get the most out of the gruff V-twin I found it best to short shift and work with what is a very gratifying bottom end. The 49hp output at 6800rpm is the slightly malnourished sidekick to the heroic 54Nm of torque at 3600rpm, which is where the bike feels strongest and is most engaging.

This is an easy bike to live with. It's surprisingly effortless to punt around in traffic so long as you don't mind head checking often. The slim mirrors are average and don't provide much rearward vision and getting them into the right position proved virtually impossible without the use of an Allen key and a crowbar. I found them to have very limited adjustability.

The riding position is best described as relaxed and it's an easy bike to ride for extended periods of time - so long as you're not expected to "cut sick" and nail the engine to its rev limiter all day.

With a slim tank and a low centre of gravity, the bike is easy to balance and particularly at lower speeds, two factors that make it a doddle to weave in and out of densely packed traffic jams.

Out on the freeway the Moto Guzzi Racer is a happy chap, the micro wind deflector doing a decent job of moving the airflow around the rider. The suede seat is very comfortable and the fully adjustable Bitubo twin rear shocks contribute to the plush ride quality.

The engine is geared perfectly for cruising and at 100km/h, revving at a smidge under 4000rpm in top gear (fifth) and this is also the engine's sweet spot, so there's heaps of grunt on tap for overtaking without the need for gearing down.

Propping up the front wheel front are 40mm Marzocchi forks, which have fairly mild damping settings for compression and rebound, which suits the bike well; the arms never got too tired on longer journeys.

The bike's dexterity is blunted somewhat due to the wide and heavy V-twin engine slung behind the front wheel of the V7 Racer, and I found that tipping the bike into corners required more a subtle shove rather that a gentle nudge.

Rapid changes of direction call for a bit of premeditation, but when ridden smoothly up a winding ascent the Moto Guzzi nevertheless delivered a very a satisfying experience and the rhythmic thud-thud of the V-twin certainly added to the moment.

Once settled into a corner the bike traces neatly through its intended line, and using the engine's surplus of mid-range torque to accelerate past the apex is a remarkably addictive pastime. The way the rear end squats slightly as you wind on the throttle and the bike straightens up is hard to forget.

The front brake comprises a single 320mm disc bitten by a four-piston Brembo calliper but this setup doesn't provide the reassurance to really dive deeply into corners. Jam the rear stopper on at the same time and deceleration improves, but on its own the front brake felt a little flaccid when turning up the tempo. That said, the brakes deliver adequate deceleration and are more than a match for bike's handling dynamics.

Fitted with Arrow end cans, the exhaust note is another part of this bike's charm, as are the sometimes intense vibrations that managed to shake loose a connecting bolt on the exhaust header. This issue is most likely an isolated incident, and while it made my jeans stink like exhaust smoke, the upshot is that it increased the Guzzi's volume to levels that really attracted attention.

Based on the Moto Guzzi V7 Classic, the V7 Racer special is a limited edition model that aims to recreate the look and feel of a one-off custom.

Being neither a one-off build nor a custom, the Guzzi V7 Racer nevertheless spruiks plenty of eye candy, starting with one of the shiniest fuel tanks you'll ever see on a production motorcycle. Fair dinkum, you could use the tank as a mirror to trim your nostril hairs such is the polished chrome finish. It also has a leather tank strap adding to its custom flavour.

Other fittings that elevate the V7 Racer above lesser models include polished cylinder heads, a red frame, and hand-made brushed aluminium side panels.

The racing number holders I could probably do without - the plastics felt a bit flimsy and the appeal is debatable - but the compact front screen, matching red wheel hubs and spark plug leads add to the bike's visual charm, culminating in a motorcycle that looks as good as it feels.

There's also a classic take on the yoke, with an art deco design adding a little glamour to the rider's view. The twin analogue instruments are also easily legible, and the simple LCD trip computer looks good lit in blue, and can be manipulated with gloves on. Nice touch that.

It's true that custom shops do a brisk trade creating bespoke custom cafe racers, scramblers and flat trackers, and while most purists will probably thumb their noses at Moto Guzzi's home-grown attempt at a too-cool-for-school custom, it still creates the desired effect. It turns heads and is always engaging to ride, whether a brief journey to work or an afternoon sprint through the hills.

Is it worth $16,490? To some people it will be, and particularly because it's available in limited numbers. The way I see it, you can get yourself a collectible classic that engages all your senses, not just the eyes and ears.

Visit the Moto Guzzi V7 Racer in Bike Showroom.

SPECIFICATIONS - MOTO GUZZI V7 RACER

ENGINE
Type: Air-cooled, SOHC, four-valve, four-stroke, 90-degree V-twin
Capacity: 744cc
Bore/stroke: 80 x 74mm
Compression ratio: 9.6:1
Fuel delivery: Weber-Marelli electronic fuel injection
Maximum power: 48hp at 6800rpm 
Maximum torque: 55Nm at 3600rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Five speed 

CHASSIS
Type: Tubular steel cradle

SUSPENSION
Front: Marzocchi 40mm telescopic fork, non-adjustable
Rear: Twin Bitubo shocks, fully adjustable
Front brake: Single 320mm disc with four-piston Brembo caliper
Rear brake: Single 260mm disc with twin-piston Brembo caliper

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 1449mm
Seat height: 805mm 
Wet weight: 198kg
Fuel capacity: 17 litres
Price: $16,490
Warranty: 24 mths, unlimited kilometres