2015–2019 · Retro Classic · Buyer's Guide
Italian Soul, Honest Pace
The V7 II Special is Moto Guzzi's retro roadster in its purest form, and that is exactly why you buy one. At its heart is a 744 cc air-cooled 90° V-twin, mounted across the frame so the cylinders stick out on either side of the tank, the way a Guzzi should look. It makes 48 hp and 44 lb-ft, with peak torque at just 2,800 rpm. Power goes through a six-speed gearbox and shaft drive. A steel double-cradle frame holds it together, and ABS and traction control stay quietly in the background. That is the retro formula done right: an old-school look with a modern safety net underneath.
On the road it is relaxed and predictable. It weighs 417 lb (189 kg) wet and the seat sits at 31.1 in (790 mm), so it never intimidates. The easy steering builds a newer rider's confidence and still rewards a veteran who wants to slow down. Air cooling and shaft drive keep ownership simple. There is no radiator spoiling the lines and no chain to clean. The honest caveat is that 48 hp and a 100 mph top speed make this a back-road bike, not an interstate bike. If you buy on numbers, you will be disappointed. If you buy on feel, it will stay with you for years.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 48 hp (35 kW) @ 6,200 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 44 lb-ft (60 Nm) @ 2,800 rpm |
| Displacement | 744 cc |
| Engine | 90° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Shaft |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 100/90-18 |
| Rear tire | 130/80-17 |
| Wheelbase | 57.0 in (1449 mm) |
| Seat height | 31.1 in (790 mm) |
| Wet weight | 417 lb (189 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.5 gal (21 L) |
| Top speed | 100 mph (161 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 37 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Safety
Over the years I've listened to plenty of V7 II Special owners: in paddocks, at club nights, over coffee after a ride, and in the emails and messages riders send me directly. The picture they paint is steady. Owners are proud of how the bike is made and how comfortable it is at an easy pace. Their complaints center on the rear suspension and the tires it leaves the factory on.
Owners talk about the finish more than almost anything else. The painted tank, the chrome details and the wire-spoked wheels draw admiring looks, and riders consistently rate the build quality and paintwork as the best in its class. Comfort comes up again and again too. The wide bar, the lowered footpegs and the plush, pleated seat make long days in the saddle easy, and owners say the roomy stance never feels cramped.
The most common gripe is the twin rear shocks. Riders describe them as underdamped, harsh over bumps and unsettled when the pace rises, and many owners replace them. Some also say the original tires take too long to warm up, which leaves grip and feel thin at the start of a ride, so they switch to a different tire. A few fit an aftermarket fuel controller to smooth out the throttle at low speed.
Intermittent handling weave at high speeds
Some owners report a weave or shimmy at motorway speeds, especially when fitted with hard luggage and a screen. The issue has been linked to tyre choice and pressure, and in some cases aftermarket shocks fixed it. Not a widespread problem.
Low-speed throttle snatchiness
Engine response at very low rpm (below 2,500) can be abrupt and jerky, making slow riding in traffic frustrating. Some owners report improvement with a Booster Plug or ECU remap.
Where this Moto Guzzi V7 II Special pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the V7 II Special is actually built for.
This is your bike. Classic looks, a real V-twin voice and a relaxed pace fit small towns and scenic byways perfectly. Just plan routes around two-lanes, not long interstate stretches.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
It has the sound and the identity, but it's a slim Italian roadster, not a big-inch cruiser. Ride it to the rally for character, and don't expect big-bike presence when you arrive.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
Easy handling makes the twisty ranch roads fun at a sensible pace, and it looks great parked outside the BBQ joint. If you want sporty pace on the Twisted Sisters, 48 hp will feel thin.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2009–2011
Italian Soul, Café Bones
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Moto Guzzi V7 II Special. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2015–2021
Fun Chassis, Honest Soul
Roughly $1,500 pricier used than this bike at 8 yr
Same Platform · 2016–2020
Pure Style, Italian Soul
Roughly $500 cheaper used than this bike at 9 yr
Similar Character · 2018
Pure Sixties Style, Modern Bones
Roughly $1,500 cheaper used than this bike at 7 yr