2015–2019 · Retro Classic · Buyer's Guide
Italian Soul, Stone Simple
The V7 II Stone is Moto Guzzi pared down to the essentials, and that is its appeal. Its heart is the air-cooled 744 cc transverse 90° V-twin, with the cylinders sticking out into the wind on either side of the tank. It makes 48 hp and 43 lb-ft and drives the rear wheel through a shaft instead of a chain. It sits in a steel double-cradle frame on an 18-inch front wheel, and the Stone trim keeps the look plain and matte-black. ABS and traction control are standard, and you never see them. That's how modern retro should work: it feels like the old days while the technology quietly does its job.
On the road it is easy company. The 31.1 in (790 mm) seat and 417 lb (189 kg) wet weight won't intimidate a newer rider, and the engine has enough character to keep an experienced rider smiling. Air cooling, shaft drive and a simple chassis leave little to go wrong and little to maintain, so it ages well. It suits riders who care more about feel than speed. The honest caveat: 48 hp and a 100 mph (161 km/h) top speed leave no real reserve for fast interstate work, and the fork has no adjustment at all. Buy it for back roads and character, not for numbers.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 48 hp (35 kW) @ 6,200 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 43 lb-ft (58 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 |
| Seat height | 31.1 in (790 mm) |
| Wet weight | 417 lb (189 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.8 gal (22 L) |
| Top speed | 100 mph (161 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 37 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Safety
This bike comes up a lot in the conversations I have with riders: paddock talk, club nights, chats in parking lots, and the mail and messages owners send me directly. I have been collecting that chatter since these bikes were new. The pattern is consistent. Owners talk about character, looks and easy everyday manners first, and their complaints land almost entirely on the chassis and on outright pace.
The loudest recurring gripe is the ride. Riders describe soft, underdamped springing with little real control, wallowing and a coarse ride once the surface breaks up, and a fair number end up fitting aftermarket units. Close behind, owners point at the original tires. Slow to come up to temperature and vague in what they tell you, which is where riders say their front end confidence goes in corners.
The other steady theme is pace. For the displacement, riders find it short on power against rivals of the same size, and say passing takes a downshift or two to make happen. Anyone who came to it expecting a sporting edge tends to say so.
Low-speed throttle jerkiness
Some owners report inconsistent fueling below 3,000 rpm, causing abrupt on/off throttle transitions. This can be partially mitigated through ECU remapping but remains a characteristic of the standard tune.
Where this Moto Guzzi V7 II Stone 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
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the V7 II Stone is actually built for.
This is your bike. It has the classic look and the unhurried rhythm for the Kancamagus or Maggie Valley, and the 5.8 gal tank goes a long way. Plan your trips around back roads rather than long interstate stretches.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
It has real soul and a sound all its own, but it's a light Italian classic, not a big-inch cruiser. Ride it to Daytona for the character, and don't expect the heavy rumble your crowd is used to.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
On Hill Country back roads, the light, easy handling makes it a joy between BBQ stops. If your weekends mean chasing a sporty pace, though, 48 hp will leave you wanting more.
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 · 2012–2014
Italian Soul, Featherlight Manners
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 Stone. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Successor · 2017–2020
Italian Soul, Stripped Bare
Roughly $2,200 pricier used than this bike at 7 yr
Successor · 2017–2020
Italian Soul, Honest Ergonomics
Roughly $2,100 pricier used than this bike at 7 yr
Competitor · 2017–2020
Retro Soul, Modern Bones
Roughly $3,600 pricier used than this bike at 7 yr
Competitor · 2018
Pure Sixties Style, Modern Bones
Roughly $500 pricier used than this bike at 7 yr
Competitor · 2015–2016
Austria's Purist British Twin
Roughly $1,800 pricier used than this bike at 10 yr
Competitor · 2015–2016
Style Deep, Pavement Shallow
Roughly $1,800 pricier used than this bike at 10 yr
Competitor · 2015–2021
Fun Chassis, Honest Soul
Roughly $3,500 pricier used than this bike at 8 yr
Competitor · 2015–2016
Pretty Bike That Actually Rides
Roughly $2,600 pricier used than this bike at 10 yr
Same Platform · 2016–2017
Sixties Soul, Street Ready
Roughly $2,500 pricier used than this bike at 9 yr
Similar Character · 2016–2020
Soul Over Spec Sheet
Roughly $2,900 pricier used than this bike at 9 yr
Similar Character · 2015
One Thousand Pieces Of History
Roughly $2,200 pricier used than this bike at 11 yr