{"id":2215,"date":"2011-07-26T14:21:39","date_gmt":"2011-07-26T04:21:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/domain.com.s180574.gridserver.com\/?p=2215"},"modified":"2014-03-16T22:34:41","modified_gmt":"2014-03-16T11:34:41","slug":"review-2011-moto-guzzi-v7-racer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pipeburn.com\/review-2011-moto-guzzi-v7-racer\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: 2011 Moto Guzzi V7 Racer"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>“Moto” = motor, “Guzzi” = to grin like an idiot inside your helmet (click for a larger version)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Most countries have their associated stereotypes. Apparently Australia is full of lunatic blonde animal hunters, the U.S. is populated solely by gun-toting Christians and the UK is full of pasty people who constantly complain about the weather and finish every sentence with the word \u201cGuv\u2019nor\u201d. Of course, for the most part that is all baloney. Turns out that McCartney and Wonder were right \u2013 people are<\/em> the same wherever you go. But there\u2019s one particular clich\u00e9 I have found to be true. Italians do dress well – very well indeed<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Enter stage left the Moto Guzzi V7 Racer \u2013 a very dapper version of the already pretty damn suave V7 Caf\u00e9<\/span>. If the standard model is meant to conjure long-forgotten images of the \u201cgood ol\u2019 days\u201d with it\u2019s upswept pipes and obvious design cues from the original 70\u2019s V7, the Racer looks about as subtle as the moon hitting your eye like a big pizza pie. But is it “amore”, or is it just a one-ride stand?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Initial Impressions<\/strong><\/p>\n

As I saunter up to the bike at Guzzi\u2019s Australian headquarters I take mental notes of what parts of the bike strike me and in what order. First and foremost the racing numbers jump out at you; thanks to their positioning there\u2019s nary an angle, save maybe from directly behind the thing, that you don\u2019t see them screaming \u201cI GO FAST!\u201d into your retinas. Then you cop the chrome tank and badges, followed immediately by the two-tone leather strap holding the thing in place. Also notice the well-stitched suede leather seat for your discerning arse cakes. Check and check. Finally you peep the polished red frame and all that lovely detailing that Guzzi are known for. This isn\u2019t a bike you\u2019d issue to someone on the witness protection program – it\u2019s just about as \u201clook at me\u201d as you can get without flashing your junk at the Pope. The pipes you see are a set of Arrow \u201ctrack only\u201d option catalogue extras \u2013 an A$1200 cost over and above the bike\u2019s RRP of A$16,490, itself a A$2000 premium on the standard V7 model.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

I sign the paperwork, get shown the very first V4 Tuono<\/a> in the country, grab the keys and off I go. The first surprise is that the riding position is nigh on perfect. Despite it\u2019s looks and pretentions, this is an all-day rider. There\u2019s absolutely no weight on the wrists, with a very comfy upright body position and low peg height bringing some big cushions and rugs to the already \u201cseems like I\u2019m sitting on my favorite sofa\u201d affair. A nice touch is that my knees seem to rest naturally on the top of the rocker covers, serving as a cool reminder of just what a unique bike it was I was riding. And although the go lump does sit rather wide, the bike is on the slim side which only adds to its chuckability. It\u2019s wet weight is listed at 200 kgs (440 lbs.) but I would have guessed quite a bit less than that if challenged. It all adds up to an friendly, immediate familiarity that had me riding the thing like I\u2019ve owned it for years.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

The instruments are as clear and readable as they are trad; very simple white-on-black jobbies that seem nicely understated. Good to see that Guzzi added a little restraint in the mix. They do feel rather highly placed though, and I personally have never really seen the point of having an outside temperature on a vehicle where you are already freaking outside. But then again Sydney isn\u2019t exactly known for it\u2019s wild climate extremes. The rest of the controls are, like the dials, similarly mild with nothing that really shines or irks on or about the \u2018bars with the exception of the limited edition numbers pasted there on the top triple. It\u2019s a constant but welcome reminder that this bike is just that little bit more special than it\u2019s other V7 stable mates.<\/p>\n

\"\"Meet the world’s coolest knee warmers<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Going, turning and stopping<\/strong><\/p>\n

Then we come to the jewel in the Italian crown; the V twin engine and pipe combination. Lorks-a-lordy, what a dream team. Ever met a stranger who suddenly feels like an old friend? I found myself distracted at traffic lights from the sheer pleasure of listening to the engine idle while the heavenly carbon burbles come out the back. \u201cChugga chugga chugga,\u201d it shouts as it\u2019s galloping down the asphalt \u2013 with an added \u201cpopple pop pop\u201d on an over-run throttle. It struck me that this configuration was to bikes as a stonking great V8 is to a hotrod. It\u2019s all rocking on idle and an intimidating lurch clockwise when you dump the planet juice into the carbs<\/span>\u00a0injectors away from a standstill. I was so impressed I began to compulsively rev the thing at any given opportunity just to hear that sublime roar again and scare passers-by. Guzzi stipulates that the Arrow pipes are for \u201ctrack only\u201d, but I found them to be more than OK for street use. After a few trips I caught myself smiling lots and ended up just having a whole wheelbarrow full of fun. Fun. That\u2019s a word that came up on a regular basis when describing the bike. This thing is like a two-wheeled grin machine.<\/p>\n

As with all the V7s the output is a fairly modest 49 HP at 6,800 rpm with torque spinning out at about 55 Nm once you hit 3,600 rpm. Now I know what you are going to say. No, it’s not a fire breathing bastard hell bent on ripping up the road and throwing it over the horizon. What it is, though, is a 120 mph bike with more than enough oomph to keep the average punter satisfied. Riding in and around Sydney I never once thought anything more than how perfectly suited the power, fueling, and delivery was to the overall package. Sure, it’s not going to win the TT and if you’re looking for a bike to kick your mate’s ass may I respectfully suggest you look at something other than a handmade Italian collector’s item.<\/p>\n

Handling is managed by two tasty and adjustable Biturbo shocks (Italy\u2019s answer to\u00a0\u00d6hlins)\u00a0out back and a Marzocchi partnership at the windy end. They strike a really decent mix of firm intentions and comfort without ever being too crashy over crap roads or driveway entrances. Holding a decent speed through corners proves that the bike tracks well and a healthy dollop of revs thereafter doesn\u2019t seem to upset any delicate balancing act despite what you\u2019ve probably heard about boxers and horizontal vees being cornering recalcitrants. The brakes were up to the job without ever standing out as special or particularly talented.<\/p>\n

\"\"A rack for drying tiny clothes is provided at no extra cost<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Find yourself a nice open road and the bike really shows you just what its raison d’etre is. At 100 km\/h (60 mph) it sits in 5th\u00a0<\/span>at about 4000 rpm and just basks in it\u2019s own torquish sunshine, as do you. A twist of the throttle and you\u2019re gone with a clean set of Pirelli Sport Demon heels. It\u2019s moments like these that the bike feels perfectly right, perhaps giving away more than a little bit of it\u2019s cruiser gene pool. Not in a bad way, though. Stop off for a refreshing fizzinated beverage on your day-tripping shenanigans and you are quickly reminded that the Guzzi doesn\u2019t look like most other bikes on the road. Of course, most of us would be used to the inquisitive eyes of onlooker to varying degrees, but the Racer screams \u201clook at me\u201d from all of it’s red terracotta-tiled rooftops – especially to those virginal, non-city eyes.<\/p>\n

\"\"The Red Chrome Eagles. I love that band<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The not-so-good bits<\/strong><\/p>\n

So far so good, but then I turn my attentions to the gearbox. On paper it\u2019s a standard 5-speed unit, which you\u2019d hope would be up to the job of dunking the cogs in their oily pool without too much trouble, but in use things proved to be a little less elegant than that. \u201cAgricultural\u201d was the word that stuck in my head after a few days of left footwork on the bike. As always, there\u2019s much to be said for getting used to a particular bike\u2019s set-up, but it doesn\u2019t take many false neutrals and \u201cwhat damn gear am I in\u201c confusions to allow a \u2018box to fall out of favor. This could have come down to a simple case of \u201cthrashed press bike\u201d syndrome but I\u2019d want to be sure that if I were buying one, the Racer\u2019s gearbox would be liveable-with on a long-term basis.<\/p>\n

\"\"A handy reminder is always present should you forget the bike’s name<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The good news is that the gearbox stands out as one of the few things about the bike that we didn\u2019t like. A few slightly difficult morning starts was the only other real complaint I could level at the bike, and that seemed like something that you\u2019d be able to rectify fairly easily. I\u2019d have to also call out the bike\u2019s key, which seemed a little low rent for such a special ride. As with the recently reviewed Zero electric bike<\/a>, it seemed more \u201ccheap filing cabinet\u201d than \u201cexpensive Italian motorbike\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Putting it all together<\/strong><\/p>\n

But there are a few bigger questions that must be asked. Firstly, is it worth the extra two grand o\u2019 clams on top of the asking price for the standard V7? I\u2019d have to say that the plush ride from the fancy springs, chrome tank, and that tasty leather tank strap pushes the issues firmly towards the “yes” side of things. The rear shocks alone are worth a cool grand, and if the chrome tank rocks your world I can\u2019t see how you\u2019d get out of doing it yourself for less than about $500. So even if the racing numbers get relegated to a shelf in your garage, you\u2019d still have a cooler and better handling bike than the standard one.<\/p>\n

\"\"Flying coffee, but faster caf\u00e9<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But the bigger question here is a specific Pipeburn-related one, which goes just like this. Would you customise a limited edition Moto Guzzi? God knows it\u2019s no Ducati Desmo, but is there any real reason to customise something that’s not stock to start with? Some of us may be satisfied with it\u2019s looks to just enjoy riding it as stocker knowing full well that it\u2019s been designed by some of the best eyes in the business. Others will holler that \u201ccaf\u00e9 racers are meant to be customised by their owners, not by large multinational corporations.\u201d And they\u2019d be right to a degree; a true custom isn\u2019t made in a batch of 500 units and should be by definition be bespoke.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

But consider things for a moment. This isn\u2019t a custom bike, it\u2019s a limited edition run done in a caf\u00e9 style and I reckon that it\u2019s important to keep that in mind when thinking about where you stand. You\u2019re either going to naturally drift into the \u201cI love it and I\u2019d buy it\u201d camp, or you\u2019d rather pick yourself up a clean base model and go to town via your own unique, winding route. Speaking from a position of experience, I\u2019d also like to remind you all that some of us aren\u2019t free-wheeling singletons with a whole heap of spare time on our hands to spend elbow-deep in oily crank cases. It\u2019s these riders who want a trick look without the associated divorce and\/or estranged offspring that I think the bike would really appeal to.<\/p>\n

\"\"Scott celebrates the upcomming Def Leppard tour with some old school metal of his own<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Il Conclusione<\/strong><\/p>\n

So, did we love it? Hell yes! Haven’t you been paying attention? The gearbox tried a little to spoil things for us but when it came time to hand it back to the Aussie Guzzies we were more than a little sorry to see her off. If this Italian is anything to go by, they not only dress well but they make us feel bloody happy to be alive. Seems like Mr Guzzi had a thing or two in life figured out. Who needs amore, drugs, and rock \u2018n\u2019 roll when there are bikes like this to ride. Well OK, maybe we\u2019ll keep the amore.\u00a0Pipeburn recommended.<\/p>\n

Many thanks to Bruce Allan<\/a> for the additional photography.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>“Moto” = motor, “Guzzi” = to grin like an idiot inside your helmet (click for a larger version)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Most countries have their associated stereotypes. Apparently Australia is full of lunatic blonde animal hunters, the U.S. is populated solely by gun-toting Christians and the UK is full of pasty people who constantly complain about the weather and finish every sentence with the word \u201cGuv\u2019nor\u201d. Of course, for the most part that is all baloney. Turns out that McCartney and Wonder were right \u2013 people are<\/em> the same wherever you go. But there\u2019s one particular clich\u00e9 I have found to be true. Italians do dress well – very well indeed<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Enter stage left the Moto Guzzi V7 Racer \u2013 a very dapper version of the already pretty damn suave V7 Caf\u00e9<\/span>. If the standard model is meant to conjure long-forgotten images of the \u201cgood ol\u2019 days\u201d with it\u2019s upswept pipes and obvious design cues from the original 70\u2019s V7, the Racer looks about as subtle as the moon hitting your eye like a big pizza pie. But is it “amore”, or is it just a one-ride stand?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2216,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,108],"tags":[142,935],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pipeburn.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2215"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pipeburn.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pipeburn.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pipeburn.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pipeburn.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2215"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/pipeburn.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2215\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8191,"href":"https:\/\/pipeburn.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2215\/revisions\/8191"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pipeburn.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pipeburn.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2215"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pipeburn.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2215"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pipeburn.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2215"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}