2009-2013 Moto Guzzi V7 Cafe Classic | A mouth-wateringly beautiful Italian transverse v-twin

The Moto Guzzi Café Classic is a café racer version of the warmly received V7 Classic. One of the earlier V7 models produced by Moto Guzzi when the Piaggio group took over, the latest V7 review can be found here 2021 Moto Guzzi V7 review. Albeit, this model maybe older, but it still has oodles of charm and class to whisk you away on that sunny Sunday morning ride out. Its character stands out amongst the other retro bikes, with a clear link to its heritage.

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 embarrassingly 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.

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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.

The characterful transverse v-twin can be felt through the shaft drive as you accelerate and that iconic Moto Guzzi side vibration comes to life as the bike pulls away. A smooth an engaging engine despite the older format, with the right amount of nostalgia. Perfect for the commute and city riding being shaft drive with limited maintenance to carry out, but also just as much fun blasting round country lanes and exploring each new bend in the road.

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.

What sets the Moto Guzzi V7 Café Classic 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, 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.

The V7 Café Classic is not exactly cheap, but then, it’s not what you’d call expensive, either, especially when you remember a Ducati Sport Classic were initially sold for around a grand more when new. Considering the detailing, finish, style and quality of build and components, we reckon the Moto Guzzi is good value. Triumph's Bonniville of the time offers more performance, but is pipped to the post on pure character and alure that the V7 has.

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 demeanour lacking a little on the preceding Classic.