And it’s time to move on
Saffron reflects on 80 days of tarmac exploration aboard Guzzi’s cute V7
And just like that, I’ve come to the end of my time with the Moto Guzzi, 80 days to be exact, a pretty short-term longterm test compared to our norm – but I guess all good things come to an end.
The V7 Stone will always have a special place in my heart as my first longterm test bike, and don’t get me wrong, I was sad to see it go. But I must confess that the feeling didn’t linger for as long as I thought it would. It might just be the fact that I haven’t had any affinity for the Guzzi marque before and perhaps don’t value their heritage as much as I should, but although I had a great time and think it’s a superb, simple, and stylish bit of kit, I can’t say I fell in love with the V7.
But don’t let that detract from all the fabulous bits of the bike. The revamped 850cc engine is impressively responsive, the retro styling and gorgeous matte paintwork will stop anyone in any car park, and the bike’s capability through urban areas is fantastic.
Sure, there are a few niggles you’ll have to deal with if you bought one, as you do with any bike. I found, as you’d expect with a chugging V-twin, the vibrations through the bike will mean you have to do routine maintenance perhaps more often than on some other models. For me, the clutch loosened until it was unusable through my own incompetence, and the headlight will need forcefully adjusting if you’re going to take on night rides as it has the tendency to dip all on its own. Although there is no permanent solution for that,
I will say the light itself is bright and effective and the Guzzi emblem is a nice little feature for the company’s 100-year anniversary.
But that’s just what they are, niggles. I’ve taken it for rides out into the countryside and on long hauls up and down the motorway, and despite being labelled as an urban reveller, the Guzzi had no issue covering hundreds of miles in a day, and I had no issue riding it for hours on end either.
Overall, the V7 has everything you need to keep a smile on your face, whatever journey you’re taking, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll love wrestling with town traffic on it without the annoying blare of 21st Century electronics clouding the riding experience.
‘Everything you need to keep a smile on your face’