2016–2017 · Retro Classic · Buyer's Guide
Sixties Soul, Street Ready
The V7 II Stornello is Moto Guzzi's factory scrambler, and it carries the name of the brand's 1960s Stornello race bikes with real conviction. At its heart is the 744 cc air-cooled 90° V-twin. It sits transversely, so both cylinders stand out in the wind, and it makes 48 hp and 44 lb-ft. Shaft final drive, a six-speed gearbox and a steel double-cradle frame keep the recipe honest and old-school. The high-mounted exhaust, knobby tires and number-plate side panel give it a look you recognize from across a parking lot. ABS and traction control work quietly in the background, which is exactly where technology belongs on a retro bike.
On the road it is light and easy to read. It weighs 417 lb (189 kg) wet and has a 31.1 in (790 mm) seat, so it welcomes newer riders and still rewards experienced ones who ride for feel rather than numbers. The twin's torque makes a relaxed back-road pace the natural one, and the bike stays calm at highway speed. The honest caveat is the suspension. The fork is non-adjustable and the rear shocks only take preload, so the ride can feel underdamped and harsh over broken pavement. If your roads are rough, budget for upgrades. The Stornello's strong aftermarket potential makes that an easy path.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 48 hp (35 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 44 lb-ft (60 Nm) |
| Displacement | 744 cc |
| Engine | 90° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Shaft |
| 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) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Safety
Over the years I've heard plenty about the Stornello: in paddock conversations, over coffee with owners, at club nights, and in the messages riders send me after a season on one. The picture is consistent. Owners love the way it moves and sounds, and they're just as clear about where it runs out of answers.
Riders consistently single out the engine. They describe it as smooth and rich in torque, with an exhaust note that is all its own, and they keep coming back to the fact that it's fun without ever being intimidating. The same owners credit the low center of gravity for how nimble it feels, and they're proud of a scrambler look that doesn't blend in with the crowd.
The most repeated gripe is the basic suspension. Riders call it harsh and short on precision once the road deteriorates. Some owners who ride hard through corners report the pegs touching down sooner than they expected from a bike styled like a scrambler. Others mention the engine turning buzzy above 5,000 rpm, and they say that wears on comfort during longer trips.
Mediocre suspension performance
The non-adjustable fork and preload-only rear shocks offer a budget-oriented ride quality that can feel underdamped and harsh over bumps, limiting comfort and handling precision.
Where this Moto Guzzi V7 II Stornello 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 Stornello is actually built for.
If you want classic style, small towns and an unhurried pace, this fits. The 5.8 gal tank goes the distance, but the basic suspension will remind you about every broken back road.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
For weekend loops it's light, easy and fun at a sane pace. Just know the basic suspension gets busy on rough, twisty pavement, so it rewards smooth riding over hard charging.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
If you want identity, soul and a bike with real history, the Guzzi twin delivers. But this is a light scrambler, not a big cruiser, so expect character, not rally-week presence.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
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 Stornello. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2017–2018
Scrambler Soul, Street Manners
About the same used price as this bike at 9 yr
Competitor · 2015–2021
Fun Chassis, Honest Soul
About the same used price as this bike at 9 yr
Competitor · 2015–2016
Pretty Bike That Actually Rides
About the same used price as this bike at 10 yr
Same Platform · 2015–2019
Italian Soul, Stone Simple
Roughly $2,500 cheaper used than this bike at 9 yr