The new Moto Guzzi V7 was announced earlier with a displacement increase to 850cc, among other changes. The V85 TT Adventure model receives some minor updates for 2021, including tubeless tire compatibility and a small bump in low-end and midrange torque.
Both of these revised models will also be getting limited-edition Centenario editions. The changes are, in essence, cosmetic, with one exception.
The color scheme of each model is an homage to Moto Guzzi race bikes from the 1950s, including an 8-cylinder design that never quite made it past the prototype stage.
Combining the satin finish on the gas tanks with green, accenting features and leather seats, these bikes have an understated look. The gold finish on the tank badge accompanies a special logo adorning the front fender of each bike.
UPDATE – After posting this article, MD received a press release from Moto Guzzi U.S. providing additional information. The V7 Stone Centenario model will arrive at U.S. dealers by the end of March, 2021 priced at $9,190, while the V85 TT Centenario should get here by the end of April, 2021 priced at $13,190. Moto Guzzi also clarified that a V9 Bobber Centenario (with similar paint, faux-leather seat and badging) edition will also be arriving in July of this year priced at $10,690. We are also advised that the seat cover is “a natural-colored material, like that of leather.”
I am looking for a medium weight bike, sometimes for back roads, more often for state highways and only occasionally for Interstate highway use. I like Guzzis, good handling, smooth running with plenty of torque and enough HP to get you to where you want to go. And yes, BMWs and Guzzis have me hooked shaft final drive, nice. I was getting serious about a new V7 III Stone S model, when last month along came the new V7 series including some nice updates on them. Now, I really do not need anything bigger or heavier than a V7 III series bike but Guzzi managed to add some thoughtful updates onto the new V7 bikes and, although I tried to remind myself of just getting only what I need, I think I am losing that argument and will go for a new V7 Stone model.
I would love to buy the V7, but it is 150 miles to a dealership.
Are you really that dependant on a dealer, especially when there’s some really good MG websites, and youtube? I mean don’t let that stop you.
It would stop me. I bought a Triumph Bonneville from a dealer 100 miles away. Getting any service work meant towing the bike in, dropping it off, driving home, then repeating the process to pick it up when it was finished. That included two recalls and valve adjustments since the motor had to be cold. In essence towing 400 miles when ever it needed something.
A good dealer close by is a blessing especially for any warranty/service work, getting new tires mounted, looking at accessory items first hand instead of a pic on a website etc.
Some guys need dealers, some don’t.
Everybody needs parts eventually. Shame so many interesting brands do not have reasonable dealer networks in America. Perhaps an involved brand should subsidize some dealers in moderately populated markets.
Hi RVB, seeing via Todd’s link below, MG only sold 2000 bikes in it’s current reporting year in all of Italy, no USA Dealership outside of a State Capitol would take the risk of bikes plus spare parts.
My own Dealer in Australia has had a matte grey 750 stone on his floor for the better part of 3 years unsold (new).
Sitting beside it are 8 ‘new’ Nortons, all been there since 2015, unsold and unwanted.
I’m not a big fan but the brand has been around a long time. I’m wondering who buys them? So, is there any data on sales by region, country, etc?
https://www.statista.com/statistics/804412/number-of-moto-guzzi-motorcycles-registered-in-italy/
Dirck, do you know if the anniversary edition of the V85TT comes standard with bags? If not, it’s not the end of world but rather the beginning of looking at other brands of luggage. I really do like the color of these two motorbikes and if they had given the V7 dual discs the choice would’ve been more difficult. Moto Guzzis are class made metal and in my eyes the color combination adds to that class although I am aware that looks are highly subjective and others can think otherwise. No harm there.
That said, in spite of the “missing” front disc, if I were younger and had the money, I would buy both.
As for our esteemed participant Marcus’s assessment that these excellent bikes are naught but “kludge”? Feh…His words are but the dross of the mentally juvenile. 😉 It has been some time since I have been this excited about buying a new motorcycle. I hope the ol’ ticker can take it. 🙂
I believe bags are standard on the Centenario for the US market. I’ll double-check and update. Just checked. US PR rep says “the V85 TT Adventure will come standard with aluminum sidecases and topbox in the US, whereas imagery is without bags.”
Thank you, sir!
But you said “others can think otherwise”.
So… I thought otherwise. 😜
Yup and you used a rather rare word in your excellent posting, “kludge”! I hope my use of the smiley things conveyed my attempt to be as humorous. It’s not often that I see that word being used!
Well done indeed, sir. To be honest it is not really something that a “juvenile” would even know about much less use.😃😃
Thanks for the smile.😁
I really like these Guzzis…
The astro-inertial nav. in the SR-71 was also called the kludge, which was the last time I heard the term.
I got all excited when I saw the headline, I thought it was about a new Guzzi Centauro for a second….
I’m bored looking at this kludge already.
Nothing to see here…move along.
It is incorrect that the Moto Guzzi V-8 racer “never made it past the prototype stage”, as the article claims. Several fully functional racers were made and raced by Dickie Dale, Fergus Anderson, Bill Lomas, Dario Ambrosini and others from 1955 to 1957. Lack of adequate frame and brake development caused the demise of the “otto cylindri”. Its straightaway speed was substantially higher than its rivals, but it was very difficult to ride and factory team riders did not like it. Two complete racers from that era remain in the Moto Guzzi museum at Mandello del Lario, Italy.
There was one at the Solvang, CA museum.
Really? My wife and I rode thru Solvang a few years ago. Ate at a little restaurant there on the corner across from the municipal parking lot. Didn’t know there was a motorcycle museum in town.
Not a bad looking bike, but I’m probably in the minority here in saying that the color scheme is in no way appealing to me. Make it all green with silver accents, or vice versa. But not this…yuck
I’m going to say this as a huge, long-term Guzzi fan. Since 1984 I’ve wanted one, but never bought one because local service support has always been either non-existent or un-dependently poor.
After that intro I’ll say this: I 100% agree with you. Gawd, the new Guzzis have NO sex appeal, the hallmark of a classic Guzzi. Ugh. Drab, drab, drab. IMHO the Griso was the last sexy Guzzi, and I wanted one, and shopped for one at the dealer, but by the time I was in the market for a new bike they offered the Griso only in that drab, dull silver/black livery. With that color scheme the Griso looked…like just any other bike.
Discontinuing the awesome Guzzi green w/brown seat colorway was a *huge* mistake.
Something is seriously missing in Guzzi’s new lineup. Where’s the SEX?!
I think both are nice-looking and well-spec’d bikes. I’m glad that Guzzi makes them, and that there are riders that appreciate them. Job well done.
Love everything about these bikes..if some day I decide to go Euro I’m thinking Guzzi. For performance/value, cannot beat the Japanese brands. That leaves reliability/curb appeal and Guzzi seems to own that part of the quadrant…a test ride would seal the deal
Love the V85 TT and my concerns with tubes has been addressed with this years version. I have another request Moto Guzzi, add 30 more horsepower as 67 at the rear tire seems anemic for a 570ish pound motorcycle.
What a naked bike should look like.
Moto Guzzi stays true to itself and we should be thankful that a motorcycle company doesn’t bow down to the anyone. Very reliable bikes, an unconventional V-Twin mount and long lasting looks. Guzzi rarely age and I for one will always be a big fan.
I agree! I also just gotta say: “stays true to itself, very reliable, vtwin (conventionally mounted), long lasting looks, rarely ages”… Sounds just like my 07 Harley Road King to me. Harley haters gonna hate but there is something about a bike that retains its classic looks over time. If I get to the point where I’m too old to pick the Harley up off it’s side stand the Triumph Bonneville comes to mind…
There ya go…Moto Guzzi is an Italian Harley lol
Without being wildly overpriced, and Guzzis at least handle fairly well.
It only seems like they don’t age because are already old to begin with. Kinda like saying, “This rock is a timeless classic and stone-cold reliable, too!”
Yeah, no matter how they gussy up that tractor engine…..
In 20 years these bikes will still look fresh, particularity the V7 and that can’t be said about a lot of other roadsters and Adv tourers.
The powers that be here gave me the frown face because I generally make negative comments. Fair enough.
And while I may never buy a Moto Guzzi, I exercise the right to give them kudos for being who they are. I suppose that I have Piaggio to thank for letting Guzzi be Guzzi.
Thanks. Sometimes you just want to appreciate nature as it grows. Piaggio seems to understand that.
Guzzi is, and so the world is a better place.
This place has Powers That Be?
Who knew?
The euro bike with a reliable shaft drive. I like it.
Weights…..???? Adding HP helps, but shaving weight does as well. They look “heavy”.
Personally I’d rather lift some weight and get stronger. I’m well into my 60s and as depressing as this truth is to me, I am still much stronger than many teens and young adults but then I tend to take my health seriously and so I manage to exercise several times a week.
Look around you. It appears that all the majority of humanity can lift is their stupid phones. They’re the personification of “Idiocracy”.
Today’s bikes are far more capable of what we throw at them than what we imagine we can actually handle. Losing weight is easy for people. It costs nothing but a little effort in the gym and a proper diet. I’ve seen tiny women upright fallen GL1800s. This Goose is a featherweight compared to that bike. I know, I’ve owned a few of them.
The 2020 Ronald McDonald version with all 3 aluminum cases and a full tank of gas weighs in at 570 lbs on “I can’t remember which bike magazine’s” official scale. I think it was “Rider” or something similar sounding.
The only weight loss for 2021 is about 3 lbs because Guzzi is now using tubeless wheels. So, 567# for 2021.
Most buyers are also adding another 10 lbs by adding the centerstand and the small engine guards that will also hold the auxilliary lights. So, I’ll even it out to 580#.
“Rider” magazine list the 2020 Versys 1000LT SE with cases and centerstand @ 584# wet for comparison but it’s also $19k for all it’s high tech features.
Its not manufactured heritage, its just plain heritage. Nothing wrong with it, I rather like both bikes but then I’m biased as a long time Guzzi rider. I’ll take the new V7 as a replacement for my 2004 Breva 750. Luggage rack from HB (so I can use my existing HB bags) and a small screen, centrestand – and off we go for another 16 years. I’d be 70 by then. Still happy to tour, commute, have fun.
Excellent thoughts Scott, and to be honest, very inspiring for older folks such as myself.
Sounds good Scott. I’ve been following the Guzzi V7’s for some time. While this new V7 looks good and basically what some people have been asking for, a little more power. I’ve been looking at buying a Breva 750. I missed out on a deal awhile back.
Beautiful.
Unfortunately, like all upright Guzzis, still with cylinders where my knees, or at least my kneeprotectors, are supposed to be……
Centaurio obviously is Italian for dull paint lol
Anyone that was following Moto Guzzi’s racing program in the 50’s is either 90 years old or is worm bait by now.
Geez I was 23 when I started following road racing in 1972 and I’m in my 70’s now.
They do sort of remind me of WW2 military paint jobs
The Guzzi V8 was my favorite engine growing up. It was a black and white photograph in a book I had so the colors didn’t occur to me. I did like the fire engine red horizontal single race bikes though. This was the ‘80s when everyone else was googoo over the new Gixer, Ninja and Hurricane.
Like Todd, I was always fascinated by Guzzi’s V8. Fortunately for us in Europe (inc. the UK!), there have been plenty of occasions to see the legendary beast in full colour since then, so the sage green colour definitely means something to us. It might just have been an etch-coat to protect the alloy fairings because Guzzi had always avoided adding weight to their racers.
The more I see the new V7, the better I like it!
Nick, UK
I like that Centenario treatment on the V85TT. I don’t hate it on the V7, but I don’t like it either. It works well on the ADV-ish thing.
And, hey, look, they ditched the tubes for the V85TT’s tires. That’s a huge thing to a lot of the habitual gotta-find-a-reason-never-to-buy-anything whiners here. Subdued paint scheme, comfortable ergos, center stand, shaft drive, tubeless tires, barely enough power to bust through a sheet of Saran Wrap, and no beak. Still no dealership network to speak of, either.
Perfect!
“barely enough power to bust through a sheet of Saran Wrap,”
lol you’re on a roll Veal
It’s funny on the FJR forum there are constant complaints and warnings about matt paint (my FJR has it but it doesn’t bother me)
Now that you mention it, it does really work on the Adventure bike
I’d wager many here are too weak to break through their egos, LOL! Good points though, VLJ and pointed out with a touch of excellent humor!
I like this color scheme and the 2021 model is in the lead for me. A motor with more than enough power for me and tubeless wheels, good sized tank and more. I’ll take it!
Oh…And I’ll ask the dealer to throw in some Saran Warp. 😉 I’ve got two dealerships within 30 or so miles of me. It’s gotta be some kinda good karma compensation for living in Kalifornication. 🙂
Sounds like you don’t care for California. When do you plan to move?
In about 4 to 5 years, less if I’m lucky.
I’ve lived in several places spread out across the USA. By far my 26 years in California have been the best (in many ways) and I consider myself fortunate to retire here.
Different strokes.
I wouldn’t mind California scenery and weather, but I couldn’t put up with the prices, politics and well, you know, …. lol
No, I don’t know. Do tell mickey.
Wait, wait…lemee guess…. not enough trump flags? lol 😉
I’m often surprised at how many Californians hate California. My older brother lives there and loves the place.
For my part, my problem with California is the same as my problem with New England. The population density. I have been sentenced to live here in New England until my Mother and Father in law croak. After that I’m all about some place basically west of the Mississippi. Except California.
I have to also locate in a tax haven. That imposes some pretty strict limits.
Nah..I don’t care about that. It’s just that California has so many ….people. They are everywhere. Zillions of them. Riding on the freeway is just nuts. When I rode out there in 2014 to dip my toe in the Pacific Ocean (did it at beach at Monterey) after riding on the California freeways I thought if I lived there I probably wouldn’t even be a motorcyclist. Just way too many people/cars. I need space with no people. Couldn’t wait to get back home to the mid west.
Lol. That was how I felt about California. Beautiful place, but absolutely too many people everywhere. I’ll go back, but I won’t bother taking any bikes. Road or trail, it’s just too crowded to truly enjoy the riding, for me anyway.
Yeah I get that for sure Mickey. Bet if you spent some time there you’d change your mind. I happened to move to CA due to job transfer and had no plan. Could not believe what I was missing all these years once I learned to get 20 or so miles off the coast. I grew up in CT and thought the roads were awesome there especially after a stint in Kansas City. Its so vast that there are many places you can go and not see a soul, which is what wifey and I did. And did I mention the roads, and race tracks and weather. I could go on. And its actually affordable when you move away from the coast.
All that traffic is precisely why you want a motorcycle if you live in California. Otherwise, if you’re in a car, you’re always stuck in traffic. California allows lane-splitting, so traffic isn’t nearly the problem for California motorcyclists that it is for riders in other states.
Also, it’s not as if it’s difficult to find wide-open, empty areas in California. If you want to be free of traffic, go ride your motorcycle. Get out of the big cities. Go to the mountains, the deserts, the coast, the canyons, the foothills, the lakes, the gently rolling countryside, etc. Whatever you desire in a riding road, California has it, in greater abundance than just about anywhere else.
Traffic problem solved.
Yea that doesnt fix the little bitty houses for a million bucks, or the $5.00 a gallon gas when it’s $2.50 in the rest of the country or the let’s charge all the working people exorbitant taxes to make up for the people who refuse to work issues out there.Overrun health system, over bearing government etc etc. If the weather wasn’t so nice the population would be as sparse as Montana.
There has to be a reason that people have been flocking out of the Republic of Kalifornia for years.
Ask Kermit why he wants to escape.
So like anywhere in the country, it has its issues. Sounds like you drank the koolaid mickey.
My experience: better healthcare, houses are affordable in many places (it’s a big state), and most anything else is the same or cheaper (except gas). And its a generally progressive state that has lead the nation in many things including protecting the environment which is important to me.
Think I was right about the trump flags. I’m sure you’re happy where you are and KTF will be too when he moves. Me, I’ll be strafing apexs in Angeles Crest Forest this morning, quick trip to the beach in the afternoon and then start packing to head out to Death Valley to hike tomorrow.
Luckily, when you work in California, you get paid to live in California. Houses are $1M because they are able to sell, in days, for $1M. There are houses and locations that are much lower than that and apartments for low incomers. I know a number of people who have moved out of California only to take a lower paying job somewhere else. I couldn’t stand riding in the bitter snow or non-stop rain. Just last weekend, I led a group of riders around a mountain and through deserted single track rolling country roads. A 100 mile loop in 75 degree weather devoid of traffic all local to the San Francisco Bay Area. In fact, this area has literally hundreds of excellent empty winding motorcycle roads with year-round perfect weather. Why would I ever want to move?
the “otto” wasn’t painted that dull color, that was the color of the fairing’s material.
What a pleasant, smooth appearance, compared to all the boy racer crap graphics that camouflage the shape of a motorcycle.
Great looking color schemes. I don’t know if there’s anyone still young enough to ride a motorcycle that cares about whatever they did or were in the 50’s anymore. Time to move on from “manufactured heritage” marketing.