[Moto] BIKE OF THE DAY: MOTO GUZZI V7 SPORT

[#Wittels-]

Designed to fully enter the superbike segment, its design reached great heights of excellence.

In the history of motorcycling, it is usually the riders who monopolize the most proper names in the memory of fans. However, none of the successes in dealerships or competitions would have been possible without the necessary merit acquired by the engineers who have outlined the main lines of various brands over time. In this sense, the history of Moto Guzzi cannot be fully understood without knowing the figure of Lino Tonti. Responsible for the Moto Guzzi V7 Sport of 1971, which reaped numerous successes in the press of the time, coming to be called "the perfect motorcycle".

In fact, rescuing the memory of that past 2007, a new version was presented that tries to connect with what the original was. But let's go to the beginning, specifically to the sixties and the appearance of the V7 Ambassador. Equipped with a large displacement engine with almost 750 cubic centimeters divided into two cylinders, this mount was launched on the market with the aim of being able to compete in the United States with the Harley-Davidsons of the time. And he got it.

At this point, when Lino Tonti entered a Moto Guzzi in 1970 after having passed through Benelli, Bianchi or Gilera, they quickly saw the sporting possibilities of that great engine with a view to building a superbike. Just one of the types of motorcycles that were growing the most in the American market, especially after the appearance of the great Japanese motorcycles capable of taking the sensations of asphalt circuits to the road. In this context, Tonti set out in the first place to design a new chassis with which to lower the center of gravity and make what was going to be the Moto Guzzi V7 Sport more manageable.

Moto Guzzi V7, a superlative motorcycle
One of the most important features of the Moto Guzzi V7 Sport is that it uses the bike itself as a structural element. That is to say, far from being embraced by a cradle chassis, the propeller is fixed to two bars that go next to it and not below. In this way, the wicker was woven to make the first Moto Guzzi “café racer” made in the factory itself, bringing sporting qualities to an existing series model.

In this case, deriving from the old V7, including, in addition to that original and light chassis, a new handlebar and more powerful brakes, although they were still not disc brakes. All this with a more aggressive behavior in mind, accentuated thanks to a driving position where the pilot was lower to the ground. In fact, the center of gravity and overall height of this Moto Guzzi V7 were so low that a rider of average height could reach both feet to the ground at the same time. Something strange to see in the superbikes of that time.

Regarding power, its two-cylinder with a camshaft in the head was delivered up to 70 CV. In this way, the only reason for not understanding a greater success of the Moto Guzzi V7 Sport in the most performance segment of motorcycles in the United States was its price. Far superior to the Honda CB750.

In general, the sum of excellent mechanical and visual design as well as outstanding behavior earned this mount to become a canon for the brand. Something that many fans of it recognize, knowing that much of what Moto Guzzi means from the seventies to this part has its roots in this model. A fact that undoubtedly deserves to remember Lino Tonti as one of the key engineers in Italian motorcycling.

 

Link: https://motos.espirituracer.com/motodeldia/moto-del-dia-moto-guzzi-v7-sport/