Motorcycle specifications Moto-Guzzi850 V7 Special 2021 A deeper inspiration

Moto-Guzzi is almost a timeless manufacturer. Rightly or wrongly considered Europe's oldest motorcycle brand, it seems to glide through time. Its models exude a charming nostalgia, while concealing just the right amount of technology.

The V7 Special is an excellent example. We're already into the fourth generation of modern V7s, and the Special benefits from their improvements. 13 more horsepower and 1.3 mkg of torque. What they all have in common is a face from years gone by, as comfortable today as it was then.

Aboard her sibling Stone, everyday life smells of slippers, a backwards cap, a roaring fire and crackling pistons. A bit of grunt too, with the adoption of a bigger engine. It's a very close cousin of the V85 TT, but downsized in power. Still, 65 grunts are available.
In the presence of the Special, it's not the same atmosphere, although twin, chassis and technology are identical. You approach with shoes, hat and gloves, then introduce yourself.

The V7 850 Special stands out from the crowd with its retro-spoke wheels and more polished paintwork. Chrome is much more prominent, chasing the black of the exhaust lines, rearview mirrors, rear amortos, headlamp surround and handlebars. The engine fins get a little milling to highlight the cylinder head. This vintage version loses the fork gaiters, gains a nicely-sized passenger handle and rejects the Stone's geek appeal. Its optics don't feature the eagle-shaped DRL signature or the all-digital liquid crystal display. Instead, it retains its dual-dial handset, with hands and a minimum of digital space.

but classic doesn't mean outdated. The V7 Special can be downgraded to A2, features MGCT traction control (deactivatable), offers the MG-MP multimedia platform as an option, and is Euro5-compliant.

The new 850 cm3 V7s take mechanical pleasure to a new level, reminding Triumph that Italy also knows how to look to its past. The Stone can better tickle the Street Twin, while the Special wouldn't mind having a word with the 900 Bonneville.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos

* Moto-Guzzi was born in 1921 and still makes motorcycles today. It is therefore the oldest brand still in business; other manufacturers were born before it, but they have all disappeared. But what about Peugeot? The lion of Sochaux is much older than the eagle of Mandello, and its production of motorized two-wheelers also predates that of Guzzi. But Peugeot stopped making motorcycles a long time ago. Only scooters. So who's the oldest brand?