Alright at the back?
Our laid back Moto Guzzi V7 is a glorious thing and keenly priced, though this latter point means scope for potential improvement...
BALANCE IS THE GUZZI V7’s high point. Traditional feel and sensations are perfectly proportioned against modern manners and usability, and finish and quality are just-so for its price tag. The £8702 asking means less opulence than on a bike costing ten grand, though, and suspension isn’t as plush as it could be on bump-riddled B-roads. K-tech are known for trackday and race suspension, but offer rear shocks for the V7. The Razor Lite (£594) have oodles of preload adjustment, 32 clicks of rebound damping to faff with and adjustable length (-6mm/+4mm). At 390mm they’re also a good inch and a half longer than stock, so fitting them means precariously propping the Guzzi on off-cuts of 4x4 to get the rear wheel clear of the floor. Damping is certainly superior. Rather than crashing off large bumps the V7 absorbs them. However, the springs feel firm and length means extra ride height – steering is quicker and sharper, and the easy-rolling, flowing handling is up-on-its-toes with the altered weight distribution. Sportier isn’t better on a jacket ‘n’ jeans retro – for me it’s too much of a change, even with preload and damping backed off. They offer spring rate options, mind. If you want a plusher V7, having softer springs with K-tech’s quality damping would be a better idea and more in-keeping.
Moto Guzzi V7 III Special
TYRES: Pirelli Sport Demon
COST: £8702
MILEAGE: 1815
MPG: 58