Moto Guzzi V 7 Café Classic

Return of a legend.
We must step back 40 years to understand how the mythical Moto Guzzi V7 Sport, has evolved into today’s V7 Cafè Classic. In 1969 the Mandello del Lario mechanics increased the displacement of their transverse 90° V engine from 703 to 757cc which greatly increased the performance without diminishing the great reputation of reliability and sturdiness that was behind the success of the V7. Fully aware of the power of this engine, Moto Guzzi decided to build a faired prototype of the V7 Special with the new 757cc engine. The result was an immediate success and set numerous speed records on the high speed ring of the Monza track.

No one at that time had ever dreamt of achieving such results from a bike created from a touring bike like the V7 Special. The effects of such an accomplishment gave Moto Guzzi the incentive to create a sports model. That task was given to Lino Tonti, one of the most brilliant Italian designers in history. Boasting excellent performance, the V7 Sport impressed the public and critics alike for being one of a few, mass produced bikes in the world, able to exceed a maximum speed of 125 mph. This original icon of “Italian style” sports bikes, magically reappears today in the distinct lines of the new V7 Cafè Classic. The similarities with its renowned ancestor are easy to see in the unique color, rich chrome, and other stylistic features common to both. The slanted half-handlebars, the instrument cockpit and other details are unmistakably Moto Guzzi V7.

STYLE
V7 Cafè Classic’s design is very similar to the style of the famous V7 Sport, faithfully maintaining the forms and size of the tank and side covers.
This style is one of the very best examples of Italian design of the 70s, so famous in fact that trade press didn’t delay in declaring the V7 Sport the archetype of Italian sport bikes where the essence of style conveys the effectiveness of the function for which the bike was designed.
There are many similarities between the original V7 Sport and the new V7 Cafè Classic starting with the particularly compact front thanks to the two slanting half-handlebars that tempt the rider to take an aerodynamic position with eyes on the instruments and body just a span from the top of the tank, the latter painted in the “Legnano” colors, a shade of green and metallic gold that, in a satin tone, reminds us of the typical color of the sportiest Moto Guzzi bikes.
Celebration of the “Seventies” style continues with the profusion of chroming, spoke wheels, upswept mufflers, the instrument dials inspired by the famous Veglia-Borletti and the seat with integrated tail that follows the line of the rear fender, the latter in a dark color matching the front.

COMFORT
Sporting and comfortable.
V7 Cafè Classic is a light and compact motorcycle, immediately offering you the feeling of being in control thanks to the decidedly sporty riding position.
The rider is not forced to squeeze into the indents of the tank, on the V7 Cafè Classic you get comfortable in the saddle sitting down into it, in the classic style of the 70s. The footrest, saddle and handlebar “triangle” position has been designed in such a way that most of the rider’s weight is concentrated at the front as is good practice on sports bikes. This might give you the impression that the position is restricting but this is not so thanks to the correct slanting angle of the adjustable half-handlebars, the footrest that is slightly forward and to the generously padded saddle.
Rear suspension also helps greatly in terms of comfort with the dual shock absorbers that allow 118 mm of wheel travel and the ability to adjust the spring preload to adapt the suspension to different riding conditions. While riding, the cockpit that reminds us of the Veglia-Borletti instrument dials of the 70s is a real pleasure: but so we don’t forget that we’re riding a modern bike there’s a dual display with clock, external temperature and total/trip odometer functions that fits in discreetly with the speedometer and tachometer.

FRAME
As precise as a razor.
The versatility of the V7 Cafè Classic required a chassis that was suitable for in town riding and for the bends of a mountain pass, able to provide confidence during brisk riding but also guaranteeing comfort on a par with the Moto Guzzi reputation.
A chassis with top quality components offers excellent road-holding qualities and stability that makes riding easy and pleasant for novices but is also appreciated by expert riders.
The key element of the bike is the double-cradle frame with bolted, removable bottom tubes. A great deal of care has been taken with steering geometry where the headstock slants 27°50’, an angle that ensures stability and precision when changing direction. The Marzocchi fork with 40 mm stems provides 130mm of front suspension travel and is combined with the action of two rear shock absorbers (with spring preloading adjustment) which extend 118 mm. Braking consists of a floating 320 mm front disc and a 260 mm rear. The wheel selection is also worthy of note, the front being 18” and the rear 17” for high profile tires that ensure excellent handling and steering feedback.

ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION
Torque for fun and all the power you need
Famed for its reliability and low fuel consumption, the 744 cc 90° V twin with a bore of 80 mm and stroke of 74 mm houses special graphite low wear pistons in aluminum alloy cylinders.
The small block from Mandello is fed by an electronic Weber Marelli fuel injection system with 36 mm throttle bodies and a Lambda probe that allows the engine to run smooth and with low exhaust emissions.
In terms of maximum performance, peak torque of 54.7 Nm comes in at only 3600 rpm while maximum power output is nearly 50 CV. This power is synchronized to perfection with the characteristics of the V7 Cafè Classic. This bike has no need to race against the clock, it was built to enjoy the ride. Like the Moto Guzzi, of the past the booming sound from the V twin provides great music to ride with.

The five-speed gearbox is precise with neutral easy to find and the ratios have been chosen for best performance and good economy.

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS

DESIGN
- Tanks and side panels with 70s style Moto Guzzi graphics.
- Adjustable half-handlebar.
- Twin saddle with 70s style
- Chromed passenger grab handles.
- Chromed rocker boxes.
- Chromed adjustable sport handlebars
- Spoke wheels.
- Chromed heat shields.
- Chromed instrumentation.
- 70s style instrument graphics.
- Color coded rear mudguard.
- Chromed rear light cluster.
- Chromed locking tank filler.

ENGINE
- 744 cc 90° V two valve twin.
- Weber Marelli electronic fuel injection.
- Single plate clutch.
- New high performance exhaust system.
- 5-speed gearbox.
- Euro 3.

FRAME
- 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.

A HALF-HANDLEBAR LEGEND.

We first have to take a forty-year step backWards if we want to understand how the mythical Moto Guzzi V7 Sport, which inspired today's V7 Cafè Classic, has evolved. In 1969 the Mandello del Lario mechanics increased the cubic capacity of their transverse 90° V engine from 703 to 757cc which greatly increased the level of maximum performances without in any way diminishing the notorious reputation of reliability and sturdiness that was behind the success of the V7 in the market and with the police forces of half the world. Fully aware of the power of this engine, Moto Guzzi decided to publish the results, building a faired prototype of the V7 Special with the new 757cc engine which, in June and October of that same year on the high speed ring of the Monza track, set numerous records among them the 100 km, at an average speed of 218,426 km/h and the 1,000 km at an average of 205,932 km/h.

No one at that time had ever dreamt of such results from a bike created from an openly declared touring bike which was the V7 Special, so much so that the effects of such an accomplishment gave Moto Guzzi the incentive to create a sports model that was greatly appreciated by a new public compared to that acquired with the previous V7s. The task was given to Lino Tonti, one of the most brilliant Italian designers who, using the generous forms of the 750cc engine, built a highly streamline CrMo tubular frame. Low, long and hunched over the suspensions, the V7 Sport made its first appearance in the market with a rather unusual chromatic combination, obtained with the "Legnano" green used for the upper structures contrasting with the red frame of the first 150 specimens assembled in the Moto Guzzi testing department using a CrMo tubular frame as well as some changes to distribution and ignition details with respect to the next versions which had a black coloured frame.
Boasting an excellent dynamic performance, the V7 Sport impressed the public and critics alike for being the first mass produced bike in the world able to exceed the maximum speed of 200 km/h and this fact was worthy of a report in 1972 by a renowned Italian motorbike magazine. Symbol of the "Italian style" sports bike, all substance and no frills, the V7 Sport magically reappears today in the distinct lines of the new V7 Cafè Classic.

The similarities with its renowned ancestor blend together in the excellence of its dynamic performance and in the class of the stylistic features common to both, like the "Legnano" green of the upper structures, the rich chromings, the slanted half-handlebars, the instrument cockpit and other details that are unmistakably Moto Guzzi.

Technically speaking, the V7 Café Classic differs from its Tourer sister in having twin raised silencers that, apart from increasing ground clearance, provide a sportier exhaust note more suited to this model that, like its famed predecessor, boasts exceptional road-holding. The key to this legendary road-holding lies in its twin cradle frame with removable bolt-on lower components. Great attention was paid to the steering geometry where the rake is set at 27° 50' to ensure stability and precision when cornering. Of no less importance are the 40 mm Marzocchi forks. Travel on the front suspension is 130 mm and works in combination with two adjustable rear shock absorbers with 118 mm travel. Braking is looked after by a 320 mm floating disc at the front and a 260 mm disc at the rear. The V7 Classic is fitted with 18" wheels up front and 17" at the rear with high profile tyres so as to offer superb handling and feed-back characteristics.