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Moto Guzzi Cafe Classic - gorgeous styling

Moto Guzzi Café Classic (2009-current)

Detail	Value
New price	£6,169
Engine size	744 cc
Power	48 bhp
Top speed	120 mph
Insurance group	14 of 17

	MCN ratings	Owners' ratings
Overall
Engine
Ride & Handling
Equipment
Quality & Reliability
Value

MCN overall verdict

The new Moto Guzzi Café Classic is a café racer version of the V7 Classic retro roadster warmly received last year. Powered by Guzzi’s small block 750 Nevada V-twin powertrain in an old school twin shock chassis, it’s a dinky, cute runaround and almost embarassingly toy-like for anyone over 5’10”. But what makes it great is how beautifully and classily it’s put together which elevates the Café Classic above it’s fairly pedestrian abilities.

MCN rating
Owners' rating

As with the V7 Classic, the engine is the weakest link on the Guzzi Café Classic, although it’s only lacking when compared directly to more modern units. The 744cc transverse V-twin dates back to the 70s, and it shows in terms of outright performance. But its authenticity is also part of the Guzzi’s appeal and, day to day, is effective and flexible enough, pulls happily from as low as 3000rpm, and, as a bonus, sounds great when wound out to the top (7500rpm) of its usable power.

MCN rating
Owners' rating

On the move the Moto Guzzi V7 Café Classic is mostly sweetness and class. The steering’s sharp, the balance neutral, the single disc and fairly basic suspension up to the job and the overall ride both comfortable and easy-going, yet also sufficiently inspiring and engaging to take for a good old fashioned thrape.

MCN rating
Owners' rating

With its lower, faithfully-replicated, caff racer-style clip-ons, upswept exhausts, racy single seat and hugely evocative lime green paint (‘Legnano’, they call it, apparently), the Moto Guzzi V7 Café Classic not only immediately hits the mark visually, it’s also mouth-wateringly beautiful in its own right and gives the V7 an aggressive and purposeful demeanor lacking a little on the preceding Classic.

MCN rating
Owners' rating

What sets the Moto Guzzi V7 Café Classic light years apart from more workmanlike novice machines is its sheer style and class. On board you’re presented with a birds-eye view of that long and slim, retro, V7-style tank swathed immaculately in curiously matt-finished golden green. Up front, equally tactile chrome clip-ons and mirrors, bang up-to-date switchgear and evocative, Veglia style twin dials. In fact, everywhere you look there are pleasing touches, from the chromed brake pedal and pillion grab handles, to the retro-style horn covers to the wire-meshed side panels. This is a bike you can gaze at endlessly over a garage cuppa, far more than you can at virtually anything else at the price.

MCN rating
Owners' rating

The V7 Café Classic is not exactly cheap, but then, priced around the same as the slightly more basic (although better performing) Triumph Thruxton, it’s not what you’d call expensive, either, especially when you remember a Ducati Sport Classic is around a grand more. Considering the detailing, finish, style and quality of buil,d and components, we reckon the Moto Guzzi is good value. Find a Moto Guzzi V7 Cafe Classic for sale.

Insurance group: 14 of 17

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2009: Moto Guzzi V7 Café Classic introduced

Moto Guzzi V7 Classic: Predecessor of the Cafe Classic is a more basic roadster, lacking quite the same style of the Café.

Specifications

Top speed	120 mph
1/4-mile acceleration	15.56 secs
Max power	48 bhp
Max torque	40.3 ft-lb
Weight	182 kg
Seat height	805 mm
Fuel capacity	17 litres
Average fuel consumption	mpg
Tank range	miles
Annual road tax
Insurance group	14 of 17

Engine size	744 cc
Engine specification	2v aircooled transverse V-twin, five gears
Frame	Tubular steel cradle
Front suspension adjustment	None
Rear suspension adjustment	Preload and rebound
Front brakes	320mm disc, four-piston caliper
Rear brake	260mm disc, single piston caliper
Front tyre size	110/70 x 17
Rear tyre size	130/80 x 17

Owners' Overall Rating (1 review)

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Guzz' Like a Dream

minivin

Average rating

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Overall
Ride and Handling
Equipment
Quality and Reliabilty
Value
Engine

Now considering MCN's overwelming sway to the Triumph Thruxton when comparing it to a sportsbike rider who wants something different, I question why make such a comparison? Having owned and built anything from a 1950's classic bike to ridden some of the latest toys I have a good experience of what is on the market and try not to be swayed by own personnel opinions. However, after my own experiences of the bike and those who have also ridden the Bonnies I have to say that the general concensus is that MCN have got it wrong. The Guzzi is a cute little thing, remnicent of British bikes from the 60's and 70's, which unfortunately modern Bonnies do not achieve as they look like they have suffered a bad case of Botox and old-age gut-extension in the engine compartment (compare a 60's bonnie engine to the latets engine, it drawfs it!). Then, the simple equation of cafe racers, "stripped to bare essentials".You like at the V7CC and there is no extrenious bodywork, headlamp cowls et cetera, it's even single seat and a passenger would be extra weight and against the café personifer!. With this all in mind and how well it accelerates, handles, brakes et cetera, I am glad that my BMW is now gone and I have a beautiful bike in my garage that complements both my classic and modern bikes as well.

14 July 2009