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Moto Guzzi V7 III Stone (MY2017) — Retro Classic
Moto Guzzi press archive

2017–2020 · Retro Classic · Buyer's Guide

V7 III Stone (MY2017)

3.5 / 5 NastyNils Rating · against its class

Italian Soul, Stripped Bare

The Machine's Character

The Stone is the plainest reading of the V7 III idea, and that is exactly the point. A 744 cc air-cooled 90° V-twin sits across the frame, making 52 hp at 6,200 rpm and 44 lb-ft at 4,900 rpm, then sends drive back through a six-speed box and a shaft. Matte paint, cast wheels, round headlight, one clean line from tank to tail. Underneath all of it, ABS and traction control do their work quietly and stay out of the picture. In a class where retro often slides into costume, this one reads as a motorcycle first and a style statement second.

It rides the way it looks: unhurried, mechanical, willing. A 30.3 in seat and 461 lb wet make it easy to place in a parking lot or in town, and the shaft drive plus 48 mpg keep the cost of ownership low over years, not just over a season. This is a bike for the rider who wants a relationship with a machine rather than a stopwatch. The honest caveat: 52 hp covers back roads and moderate highway work, not hurrying two-up across a state line. Buy it for the character. It will not out-muscle anything.

Hard Numbers

Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.

Show full specs & equipment Hide specs & equipment
Key specifications
Power 52 hp (38 kW) @ 6,200 rpm
Torque 44 lb-ft (60 Nm) @ 4,900 rpm
Displacement 744 cc
Engine 90° V-twinMotorcycles With V-Twin Engines →
Cooling Air-cooled
Gearbox 6-speed
Final drive ShaftMotorcycles With Shaft Drive →
Fork Telescopic
Front brake 320 mm
Front tire 100/90-18
Rear tire 130/80-17
Wheelbase 57.6 in (1463 mm)
Seat height 30.3 in (770 mm)
Wet weight 461 lb (209 kg)
Fuel capacity 5.5 gal (21 L)
Fuel economy 48 mpg (US)

Equipment check

Chassis

  • Manually Adjustable Rear Suspension Standard

Comfort

  • Luggage System Optional

Connectivity

  • Smartphone Connectivity Optional

Safety

  • ABS Standard
  • Traction Control Standard
An elevated view of a deep autumn canyon, likely Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah. Steep rocky cliff faces and forested mountain ridges frame a narrow valley where a winding two-lane road passes below. Deciduous trees display full autumn color — gold, orange, and amber — interspersed with green conifers on the steep slopes. A single dark vehicle is visible far below on the road. Snow-dusted mountain peaks rise in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Alex Moliski / Pexels

The Truth on the Street

Years of paddock talk, club-night chatter, long chats with owners and the messages riders send me after a season in the saddle add up to a consistent picture of the V7 III Stone. Owners love how it looks and how the engine feels. Their complaints tend to come back to the rear suspension and to what happens when the bike is ridden hard.

Why owners keep the keys

The look comes up first and most often. Owners say the matte black and stripped-back bodywork draw comments wherever they park. The engine comes a close second, and riders praise its pull from low revs and an exhaust note they never tire of. Shorter riders and newer riders give credit to the light clutch and wide bars. Owners also like how far the 5.5 gal (21 L) tank stretches between fuel stops.

Where the rear end runs out

The most common gripe is the twin rear shocks. Riders call them soft and underdamped: bouncy over broken pavement and less composed as the pace rises. Just as often, owners mention vibration through the bars and pegs when the engine is revved out, which can wear on long highway stints. A few say the pegs touch down earlier than expected when cornering hard.

Known issues

  • Front ABS brake hose abrasion (recall 17V380000)

    brakes rare Recall

    The front ABS brake hose can rub against the engine's secondary air system connection, potentially causing a brake fluid leak. This affects 2016-2017 V7 III models. Recall repair involves securing or replacing the hose.

The Expert Benchmark

Where this Moto Guzzi V7 III Stone pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.

What kind of bike this is — character vs. the class

This bike Class average

Head-to-head: Moto Guzzi V7 III Stone vs. its rivals

The 'Should I Buy It?' Score

Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the V7 III Stone is actually built for.

A scenic view of Angeles Crest Highway winding through rugged Southern California canyon terrain. Rocky mountainsides with golden earth tones frame the asphalt road with tight sweeping curves. Double yellow center line visible, sparse vegetation along the shoulders, clear blue sky with white clouds. Daylight, dry conditions. Iconic location for canyon-road enthusiasts.
Josh Sorenson / Pexels

Best retro motorcycle for road trips?

This is your bike for slow days on the Kancamagus or through Vermont. The 5.5 gal tank and 48 mpg give you real range between stops, and the pace suits the scenery. Luggage is an option, so budget for it.

Made for Park Loop Road · Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway

Best cruiser for Sturgis?

You get the identity, the noise and the mechanical ritual, all of it genuine. What you do not get is cruiser bulk or bagger comfort, so ride it to the rally as the lean, individual choice in the lot.

Made for Florida State Road A1A · Black Hills · Main Street, Daytona Beach

Best motorcycle for Texas Hill Country?

Light, upright and happy through the Hill Country's flowing curves. If the weekend is about the route, the stop and the company, it fits. If you want to chase the fast group, it will not keep up.

Made for Texas Hill Country · Texas Hill Country BDR-X · Twisted Sisters

What's new versus the previous generation

If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.

Moto Guzzi V7 II Stone (MY2015)

Previous generation · 2015–2019

Moto Guzzi V7 II Stone (MY2015)

Italian Soul, Stone Simple

Compare to the previous model →

Variants, Models & Special Editions

The Moto Guzzi V7 III Stone also comes in these variants, models and special editions. Each has its own page covering only what differs from the standard V7 III Stone — equipment, electronics, specs and used price.

Find it in these lists

Compare it with every bike that shares the same spec or equipment.