Moto Guzzi Cafe
Engine size 744cc
Power 48bhp
Top speed 120mph
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.
Engine: 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.
Ride And Handling: 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.
Equipment: 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.
Quality And Reliability: 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.
Model History: 2009: Moto Guzzi V7 Café Classic introduced
Other Versions: Moto Guzzi V7 Classic: Predecessor of the Cafe Classic is a more basic roadster, lacking quite the same style of the Café.
This article was taken from: Motorcycle News