2020 · Retro Classic · Buyer's Guide
750 Units of Pure Guzzi
The V7 III Stone S is the V7 platform dressed for occasion. Satin chrome on the tank, a black leather strap across it, LED lighting front and back, and almost nothing else asking for your attention. Only 750 were built. Underneath sits the same 744 cc air-cooled 90-degree V-twin that gives this bike its identity: 52 hp at 6,200 rpm, 44 lb-ft at 4,900 rpm, shaft drive, six speeds. ABS and traction control are standard, and both stay out of your way. Nothing here is pretending to be old. It just feels that way.
There is a rhythm to this bike you either want or you don't. It runs best on flowing back roads at moderate pace, where the torque arrives early and you stop chasing revs entirely. Build quality holds up to close inspection, and the mechanical simplicity means maintenance stays within reach. The honest caveat: the 270-watt alternator can fall behind if you load the bike with electrical accessories or ride mostly short, low-rpm trips, and some owners have ended up with a flat battery because of it. Plan your accessory list accordingly.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 52 hp (38 kW) @ 6,200 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 44 lb-ft (60 Nm) @ 4,900 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 | 56.9 in (1445 mm) |
| Seat height | 30.3 in (770 mm) |
| Wet weight | 461 lb (209 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.5 gal (21 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Connectivity
Lighting
Safety
Thumb the starter and the whole bike leans over on itself, that transverse V-twin torque reaction you feel through the seat before you've moved an inch. It never fully goes away, and that's the point. At idle the engine shakes the mirrors into soft blur; hold a steady 55 mph and it settles into a low, even hum you could live with all afternoon. The seat sits at 30.3 in, low enough that most riders get both boots down flat, and the bars fall to a natural, upright reach with no stretch. Controls are few and obvious. At 461 lb wet it feels planted rather than heavy once rolling, and the narrow 18-inch front wheel gives the steering a light, unforced quality. Sound is deep and offbeat, more mechanical conversation than exhaust note.
Weak alternator
The 270-watt alternator can struggle to keep the battery charged if many electrical accessories are added or if the bike is used primarily for short, low-rpm rides. Some owners report dead batteries after adding heated grips or other loads.
Where this Moto Guzzi V7 III Stone S 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 III Stone S is actually built for.
This is your bike. Slow-road routes like the Kancamagus or Vermont's back country suit the V7's unhurried torque perfectly, and the 5.5 gal tank gives you real range between stops.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
You'll get character, sound and a machine nobody else in the lot is riding. What you won't get is cruiser stance or big-inch presence, so go in wanting the Guzzi story specifically.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
The Twisted Sisters work fine at V7 pace, and the light steering makes them fun. If you ride with fast friends on modern bikes, 52 hp will have you working harder than they are.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
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 III Stone S. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
