Pure Joy on Wheels

The 2010 Moto Guzzi V7 is a classic motorcycle design in a vastly updated package, and simply put, a joy to ride, according to product reviews.

The Italian manufacturer made its global reputation back in 1967 with the original Moto Guzzi V7, and the new model V7 Classic appears to have hit the same mark of excellence. The V7 Classic can be seen as a retro motorcycle whose appeal is cosmetic, but that would be a mistake, say reviewers. Instead, the V7 Classic's retro charm is as much about performances as it is about looks. This bike harks back to the days before today's highly fragmented niche markets made it difficult to select only one motorcycle to serve many functions – ride to work, do errands, and then enjoy weekend drives.

The style certainly recalls Moto Guzzi's early-'70s V7 Sport, with its pearl white finish and black and red racing stripes. The Guzzi's long, pleated bench seat is reportedly both comfortable and ergonomically sound. Seated on the flat bench, the rider is perfectly positioned to reach both the chrome handlebars and the footpegs in a neutral position. Twin chrome pods carry a high-contrast white-on-black tachometer and speedometer, separated by a cluster of "dummy lights" to tell the operator the condition of the engine.

Some reviewers have noted that while the V7 Classic isn't the same kind of true sporting bike as its namesake, the updated version's low center of gravity makes it an excellent choice for beginning riders, or for those returning to a bike. In other words, the V7 Classic has a relaxed demeanor, and it performs that way. Its steering geometry has been designed for stability, not for racing-quick handling. However, the new model keeps the 90-degree V-twin engine and drive shaft as traditional Guzzis, along with the dual rear shocks and the front forks that were a trademark style of past bikes from this maker.

What's more, the motor continues the same quality that has upheld Moto Guzzi for 85 years. The engine is an air-cooled, pushrod, transverse-mounted V-twin, a classic configuration. Although the 744cc displacement may seem modest these days, the motor provides more than enough power to making riding this bike pure pleasure.

One reviewer warned against speeding into corners on the V7 Classic, noting that the chassis is flexible and can wallow unexpectedly in ways that erode a new rider's confidence. Heavy braking can also tend to make the bike dive a bit, but otherwise it works well. The V7 Classic has single disk brakes in front and back, but still stops well when its limits aren't exceeded. In fact, under normal riding conditions, the minor deficiencies of the Guzzi's suspension or brakes no longer matter. That's when the V7 Classic's character as a bike just for riding becomes apparent.

One reviewer took the bike on a tour of some of old California's twisting back roads and professed to be delighted with the perfection of its relaxed ride. Its performance was smooth and transparent, giving the rider the pleasure of enjoying the V7 Classic's purring engine without the drama of drastic shifting. While not slow, the reviewer called the bike's speed "deliberate," in keeping with its styling and operation.

All in all, product reviews rated the V7 Classic as the kind of motorcycle that turns heads and hearts.