Moto Guzzi has once again wowed the motorcycling community with the debut of its latest offering, the Moto Guzzi V7 Stone Corsa.
The V7 Stone Corsa was revealed at the brand’s recent Open House gathering.
The retro café racer special edition strikes a fine balance between classic charm and contemporary tweaks.
The bike’s aesthetic is an exciting departure from its sibling, the V7 Stone, most notably with its new two-tone silver and red paint that stretches seamlessly from its headlight cowl to its tail. The splash of red beginning just below the iconic Moto Guzzi emblem on the tank and extending through the side panels is especially eye-catching.
For enthusiasts who appreciate the little details, the V7 Stone Corsa doesn’t disappoint. The handlebars come equipped with sleek bar-end mirrors, and a special plaque adorns the top clamp, marking the bike’s unique edition status.
Keen observers might also notice the absence of fork gaiters, providing the machine with a sportier, refined edge. Additionally, the bike’s filler cap has been upgraded to a billet item and boasts a striking anodised black finish.
The tail end of this machine also comes with its own surprises. The passenger seat, for instance, is cloaked with a removable cowl, exuding a nostalgic racer vibe. And for those who love continuity in design, the new headlight cowl and flyscreen resonate with the bike’s two-tone theme. Even if it’s not the most practical addition, it undoubtedly makes a visual statement.
Colour options? Well, the V7 Stone Corsa keeps it simple and elegant with a single metallic grey and bright red scheme.
Under its beautiful facade, the bike retains the reliable 744cc V-twin engine from the stock V7 Stone. Riders can expect a smooth 51hp and 55Nm of torque, promising a ride that’s as comfortable as the bike is captivating.
With the launch of the V7 Stone Corsa, Moto Guzzi continues to bridge the gap between time-honored traditions and modern-day flair. This is one bike that looks to the past for inspiration but rides straight into the future.
Moto Guzzi continue to bank on the brand most successful retro-inspired roadster, with the introduction of the V7 Stone Special Edition.
Moto Guzzi V7 Stone Special Edition features unique black colourway with red accent.
Gets a unique Arrow exhaust with Moto Guzzi branding.
Recently unveiled at the Moto Guzzi World Days event, the special edition motorcycle adopts a more discreet silhouette compared to the standard V7 Stone.
That said, the V7 Stone Special Edition features a glossy ‘Shining Black’ paint scheme with red colour accents on the side of the fuel tank.
Similar red-painted colour are also visible on the rear shock absorbers and contrasting stitching on the single-piece saddle.
However, the most standout piece on the V7 Stone Special Edition is an Arrow exhaust complete with the firm’s branding.
According to Moto Guzzi, the exhaust also helps to bump the power from 64hp to 66hp @ 6,700rpm.
Also, the Moto Guzzi V7 Stone Special Edition is priced at EUR9,999 (RM45.6k).
By now, an all-new Moto Guzzi V850X is undoubtedly on its way.
the V850X puts out 66hp @ 6,700rpm.
features the same 853cc twin from the V7.
The V850X nameplate first appeared back in October 2021 with what seemed to be a new Moto Guzzi motorcycle.
The Italian company recently took a leap of faith with the all-new V100 Mandello, a motorcycle intended to break out of the company’s conventional motorcycle categories. The V100 combines the appeal of a naked roadster and a tourer and also features modern technology.
Moto Guzzi looks set to continue the same pursuit with the all-new V850X.
Build based on the current V7; the V850X features the firm’s twin-shock frame and the new 853cc V-Twin engine. However, the V850X gets wire-spoke wheels with Michelin Anakee rubber, signalling the bike’s off-road capabilities.
A spy shot published last year showcased a motorcycle that fitted a nose cowl incorporating an almost circular LED headlamp.
Nevertheless, further details of the V850X have appeared in European type-approval documents.
The document confirms the V850X is essentially a V7 variant, but while the frame and engine are similar, the overall dimension is different.
According to the info, the V850X is shorter and measures around half an inch lower than the V7.
The V850X is also fitted with an 18-inch front and 17-inch rear wheel, similar size to the V7 Stone and V7 Special. In addition, V850X is also lighter than the V7 Stone and V7 Special.
Powering the V850X is the identical 853ccc twin as the V7, but thanks to a different exhaust system, the V850X makes 66hp @ 6,700rpm instead of 64hp @ 6,800rpm.
The 2022 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone has launched in Malaysia courtesy of Didi Group as the official distributor of the Moto Guzzi brand in the country.
2022 Moto Guzzi now features a high performance 850cc engine that produces higher horsepower and torque.
80% of the torque already available at 3,000rpm.
the new V7 is faster and more powerful than ever.
Priced at RM62,900, the V7 Stone features a new high-performance 850cc engine capable of pumping 65hp @ 6,800rpm and 73Nm @ 5,000rpm, a significant increase from the previous 52hp and 60Nm.
The new engine also delivers more than 80% of the torque as early as 3,000rpm.
Other major changes include a more mature aesthetic thanks to the larger engine built, larger cardan final drive and wider rear wheel, plus a robust pair of Kayaba shock absorbers.
The Moto Guzzi V7 Stone also features stylish side panels, a shorter rear mudguard and a new exhaust system.
The Mandello-based company also claimed that the seat had been revised for better comfort with the addition of a new rider footpeg support.
The new Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer and V7 III Stone complements the Guzzi family.
Moto Guzzi calls the V9 Roamer a custom bike, but its design harks back to the beautiful 70’s bikes.
The V7 III Stone forms the basis for further customisation.
Moto Guzzi is a legendary Italian brand since 1912, but a few hiccups along the way gave the impression of the brand being “on/off.” However, Moto Guzzi is seeing a resurgence lately as the new official distributor, The Gasket Alley, has stepped up their marketing and aftersales efforts.
However, having ridden just one Moto Guzzi for mere hours in the past, I wasn’t sure of what to expect from these two bikes: The V9 Roamer and V7 III Stone.
When Sep and I went to pick them up, both had that modern-classic look, but it was the V9 Roamer which appealed to me with lots of chrome offset by anodized black parts and yellow paintwork. It looked like a 70’s kind of standard motorcycle. That’s just the looks, because the 853cc, 2-valve, 90-degree V-Twin engine is all new.
On the other hand, Sep preferred the V7 III Stone as it looked more “masculine” with its boxier fuel tank with flared sides over the cylinders, no chrome and flat yellow tank. In a way, the V7 III Stone has that unfinished look, no doubt being the model for further customization (there are hundreds of items in MG “Spark” catalog). The “III” designation means this is the third generation V7, inspired the by the 1971 V7 Sport. The V7 has been revamped in many ways including a 10% engine power bump.
Both bikes now feature MGTC (Moto Guzzi Traction Control) and ABS.
Pushing both bikes around The Gasket Alley’s parking lot revealed that they were light. It’s even more so when we climbed on board. Their seats were low and both of us could place both feet on the ground with ease.
The V9’s handlebar was mounted on a riser and swept back to meet the rider. The V7’s was flatter for a slightly more café racer feel.
As I reached out to thumb the starter button on the V9, I noticed that the switchgear had a new design, outlined by brushed aluminium bezels, similar to the Calfornia. The V7 made do with the conventional switchgear.
Both bikes starter quickly when the starter button was pushed, to a 90-degree V-Twin growl and the bike kicking to the right simultaneously. Such is the character of transverse-mounted twins (both cylinders projecting out the sides, instead of sitting fore and aft inside the frame), since the crankshaft is longitudinal along the axis of the frame. Conversely, V-Twin that’s mounted longitudinally (Harley, Ducati, et al) has the crankshaft across the frame, thus the frame damps out the crankshaft’s secondary vibrations.
As with Moto Guzzi’s engine configuration, the transmission mates directly to the back of the crankcase (like a BMW Boxer-Twin), although the Guzzi’s single dry clutch is behind the transmission instead of sitting in the middle between the two parts. Power transfer to the rear wheel is best served by a shaft final drive for transverse Twins.
This arrangement makes for a lower centre of gravity as the heavy parts are lower near the ground, as opposed to engine configurations where the transmission is “stacked” above the alternator (although it is more compact).
Anyhow, right away, the V9 Roamer exhibited a relatively maneuverable despite having a 19-inch tyre up front and 16-inch at the rear. Similarly, squeezing through traffic was easy as the bike’s pretty slim. My only gripe about riding it in traffic was the overly soft exhaust volume in order to comply with the Euro 4 emission standard. I don’t have to tell you that some car drivers in Kuala Lumpur are complacent behind their steering wheels, so a loud exhaust is the way to grab their attention unless you honk all the way.
The suspension of both bikes were supple in their initial strokes but took big hits over the shraper bumps and deep potholes. Still, they were remarkably better than their predecessors.
Out on the highway, the V9 Roamer went with the flow due to its taller gearing – it’s not that the engine lacks punch – the transmission was already in overdrive in fifth gear, while sixth was an even taller overdrive. This is definitely a bike for relaxed cruising.
The V7 however, felt more engaging due to its shorter gearing, meaning it kept pushing all the time. In Sep’s words, “The V7 feels more hooligan.” He’s right, because the Stone is just one of the variations in the V7 III family, which includes the V7 III Racer.
Italian bikes are famous for their handling, but I wish I could say so for these two. But it wasn’t because of the bikes, it was due to the standard Pirelli Sport Demon tyres. I’ve experienced the very same trait on another test bike. These tyres are great in running straight but their sidewalls flex like rubber stress balls when pushed in corners, causing the bikes to wobble. It also caused the V9 Roamer’s 19-inch front to steer slower into corners. My concern is that customers who are uninitiated to the Sport Demon will blame the bike.
Anyway, the V7 III Stone wasn’t a slouch when we blasted down the highway. With a sportier riding position, the rider has more confidence to take it to higher speeds. The V9 Roamer, on the other hand likes to be ridden smoothly and in a benign manner. That said, remember the crankshaft’s torque kicking the bike to one side? It all disappeared as soon as we got rolling and the engine became really, really smooth.
We took a different route to Kuala Kubu Bahru for the photoshoot and while it had many beautiful corners, certain sections were bumpy as hell, but these bumps were handled better as long as they weren’t sharp, whereas I would have a chiropractor on standby on the older bike.
We also noticed that there wasn’t any “shaft jacking” despite the lack of an extra arm, like Moto Guzzi’s CARC setup. The term shaft jacking pertains to the bike lifting upwards due to the shaft’s torque as power is applied to the rear wheel.
As our four days with both bikes coming to an end, we liked both the V9 Roamer and V7 III Stone for what they are. They’re just different from other bikes in the market, hence to compare with other makes may not be fair. Both bikes’ appeal rest in the ease of riding them, with a certain kind of soul that could only come from the transversely mounted V-Twin. Besides that, there aren’t many Guzzis around so you’ll earn plenty of inquisitive stares when you ride one.
So which one did we pick as our favourite? Let’s call it a split decision. Keshy and Sep chose the V7 III Stone for its no-frills approach, while Chaze and I chose the V9 Roamer for its looks and soft character.
