WORDS BY Alan Cathcart PHOTOS BY Milagro
Moto Guzzi’s latest interpretation of the V7 range offers modernised style and a model name from the history books
As a further celebration of its 95th birthday in 2016, Italy’s oldest and most historic motorcycle manufacturer, Moto Guzzi, has introduced a new retro-themed addition to its three-strong entry-level
V7 II model range. This currently comprises the 744cc Stone, Racer and Special variants of its trademark transverse V-twin shaft-drive family, each with its own quite distinct character.
Enjoy more Classic Bike Guide reading in the monthly magazine.
Click here to subscribe & save.
Likewise the latest member of that clan, representing Guzzi’s entry to the burgeoning street scrambler market, which it dead-heated with Ducati in discovering first time around back in 1962.
Named the Stornello in homage to the strong-selling single of that name produced from 1959 to 1974 – the company’s first dual purpose on/off-road model, which essentially kept Moto Guzzi in business long enough for its future survival to be ensured by the 1967 arrival of its soon-to-be-iconic V-twin shafties – the wire-wheeled new model is available in a limited edition run of 1000 individually-numbered units, retailing in Italy at an on-the-road price of €10,750 incl. 22% local tax. However, the Stornello i
s only available in Euro 3 compliant form, making the fact its two-into-one Arrow stainless steel exhaust doesn’t meet the Euro 4 emissions norms which come into
effect at the start of next year, a likely reason for the limited edition run. If the Stornello sells well, expect 2017 to deliver a less expensive volume production version with more mundane hardware priced around €9000, and powered by the Euro 4 version of the V7 II motor that will surely debut at this November’s EICMA Milan Show
Advert
Enjoy more Classic Bike Guide reading in the monthly magazine. Click here to subscribe.