Why is it that Italians can make such sexy vehicles? They certainly don’t have a lock on vehicles with sex appeal but they seem to make the art and science of designing vehicles look easy. This 1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport is one sexy bike. It can be found here on eBay in Wichita Falls, Texas and the seller has a buy-it-now price of $13,500 listed, or you can make an offer. Let’s check out this bella moto.
You would be an instant legend if you showed up to the local motorcycle-heavy coffee shop with this V7 Sport. You know the one, they have garage doors that they open in the summer and people park their motorcycles in front, most of them the trendy cafe racers, and then they go inside and buy a $6 foamy coffee-type drink? Yeah, that coffee shop. We all have one like that. The thing with this Moto Guzzi V7 Sport, it wasn’t modified to look like a cafe racer, it really came with those handlebars from the factory.
This is the real deal, Moto Guzzi’s first cafe racer-style bike. Unless you’re a total goon, it would be hard to look anything but cool as H on this Moto Guzzi. The V7 Sport came out in 1971 – Moto Guzzi’s 50th anniversary – and they went away after 1974, a year after De Tomaso took over Moto Guzzi. They are rare to see today and nice examples can hover right around the seller’s asking price, but this one will need a little work. You can see the rusted-out exhaust tip in the photo above, but they say that they’re available online. The seller says that it has been sitting for years and they completed a full service on the day they took these photos and it runs well.
The engine is a 70-hp 748 cc V-twin mounted in the classic longitudinal style of Moto Guzzi. It has had a new battery, plugs, plug wires, oil lines, carb build kits with new jets, o-rings, and floats, and new fuel lines. It sounds like it’s ready to go and just requires a bit of cosmetic work to bring this beautiful Italian bike back to its former glory. Have any of you owned a Moto Guzzi?
Cool, a Guzzi, $13g’s, MAMA MIA! Normally I’d stay clear of Italian stuff, because they are touchy, like Italian super models, throwing dishes and such, but the Guzzi was none of that. Probably the most predictable Italian vehicle made. I had a friend with a Guzzi touring bike, similar vintage, and he put a jillion miles on it. Shaft drive a nice touch, that right shift, left brake, may cause a tense moment or 2, but I’d take this over any Asian cruiser. Not quite a H-D, but pretty darn close. Great find, drop the 1, I’d be interested and I’m sure the seller will find a very limited market for these.
These always intrigued me. I first saw these in the 60s. Then I saw police riding V7s. A friend of mine rode the wheels off an 850 with no problems other than a blown ring and pinion, which, I might add, was almost unheard of.
I have another friend in Hungry Horse has one that he got on impulse. It sat for a couple of years before he put a battery in it and tried to start it. The starter spun freely so he got another one and installed it. It spun freely, just like the first one. We haven’t determined the trouble yet but I think it has a broken crankshaft…
What does it do when you put it in gear and push it? It should bump-start with a good battery and fresh gas and a clean fuel system.
It just freewheels and makes a heck of a racket…
Crankshafts do break. Asphalt company I worked for once had Mack dump trucks, guy pulls on the scale, gets his ticket, hops back in the truck, puts in gear, nothing, motor running, just wouldn’t move. Upon disassembly, the crank broke just in front of the flywheel.
The guy I knew with the touring one, put so many miles on it, because he said it was like a car with 2 wheels. Something about the engine configuration, like 1/4 a V8, just the opposite of other V twins, and made it a smooth runner. I believe these have an automotive type clutch,( flywheel, disc, pressure plate) and very smooth engagement.
Nice, mostly correct example, but his Buy-It-Now is a little high considering the rusted (non-original) mufflers, no taillight, later Koni shocks and the generally fair condition. Market value is closer to $10k in my opinion. I work on all of the “weird” stuff (Guzzi, Benelli, Morini, Cagiva, etc.) for a living and am almost finished a ’73 V7 Sport restoration.
My current circumstances dictate that I not own a bike that would be out of place on a trailer hitch rack, but otherwise I’d love a V7 Sport. Not for thirteen grand, though. Seems a little iffy that an OHV 750 would put out that many horses, but who am I to argue? And those nasty mufflers should knock at least $500 off the price.
Bought my first 850 El Dorado(civilian) from a buddy of mine in the mid 80’s. From there I went on to own another five of these dependable awesome machines. At the time I was working as a machinist so naturally I turned out a pair of dog-bones, fabed up a pair of clamps so I could cruise with Harley boards, and a P-pad.Buddies and I rode to Red River N.M. for the Memorial day run, walking taking in all the righteous festivities, when I returned to my Goose, I had won best European bike at the event. Like Jimmy Stewart said in the move Its a wonderful life “What do ya know about that”.
San Francisco PD (amongst others) used this OTHER Italian V-Twin, Moto Guzzi, with great success according to many of the guys that ride them once they got past the missing the chain pull on the HD’s and learn to deal with the shaft drive..
This is a great bike in its own right-but parts might be a little scarce and expensive once you do find them.
Probably easier than restoring a Cagiva Elefant tho
I had a California 2 back in the day but found it unrideable on long trips as being a long legged 6 footer my left knee would knock on the Horizontally installed engine, cylinder head. I tried moving my backside rearwards but the hump in the seat made that just as uncomfortable as banging the knee into the head so I quickly sold it. Other than that it was a fine bike and a much better bike than the ’81 Harley Low Rider that replaced it which chucked out oil with a vengeance once I took it anywhere near 100 mph.
Always wanted a Guzzi. They just seemed rock solid. I didn’t like the shift/brake set-up though, never bought one, my loss I guess.
The V7 sport is a bike that’s well known among motorcycle enthusiasts. Theyre dead sexy and super well made. Shame about the shark fin exhausts as they’re not easy to get.
I have indeed owned more than a couple of Guzzi’s both young and old. More recently, the motor scattered on a pampered 1100 Breva at the 12000 mile mark. Guzzi’s response…yeah, that can happen, good luck. Another had a plastic fuel tank that bloated up like a tick, presumably due to the ethanol in fuel. Guzzi’s resolution (after an epic fight) was to replace it with a duplicate tank, that immediately also bloated up. Broken oil pumps and soft camshafts sending fatal amounts of shrapnel through the new 8V engines is a common “quirk.” Electronic nightmares? Count on ’em. Frequent roadside breakdowns? Yep. Parts availability? Don’t get me started. So, why did I do it? I don’t know.
Now if you’ll excuse me my toast is stuck. Where’s that fork?
Was a V7 in our hood about 77. always just sitting; rusting away. kept asking the guy if it was for sale? he had a sneer on his face . just pulling my chain. the winter of 77? cost Bilandic his job. sneer boy his V7! feel for the bike loss.not him. was a punk with a 70 super B melting tires. what was the attraction? loved the looks. kept up on newer Guzzi’s for awhile…still own my 1974 FXE 28yrs. keeps me and my credit card alive! ….keep the rubber to the road!
‘74 FXE!?! Outstanding, Stanley.
And the thing about Guzzi’s is they’re just like a bottle of grappa-the good ones are generally appreciated even by those that don’t normally indulge in such..!
And Stanley, from one rider to another I’ll pass on to you what one of our other BF readers passed on to me, “keep your knees in the breeze!”.
Great saying.
The wind in your hair, the bugs in your beard…
I had forgotten about that storm. Bilandic, sheesh what a political mess that was. Then Jane Byrne. At the time I was working at 26th and California, living on the far NW side. Made it to work in that storm. Biggest problem was stuck abandoned cars blocking streets. Thanks for the flashback stanley.
The city dumped the snow that the end loaders put in the dump trucks when they made the side streets. V7 probably in the river.sad
Just for comparison…my 71 BMW R75/5 has about 50hp.
This bike currently shows up for sale in Chicago for $7000. The pics look identical so it is probably a scam. I recently put a ’73 V7 Sport back on the road. It is a fantastic bike. I’ve had numerous vintage bikes, BMW, Norton, Triumph, … I’ve also owned 5 or 6 old Guzzis. This is my first V7 Sport and I am really impressed with it. The 70s to mid 80s Guzzis are rock solid. I have not had any newer than that but do not hear good reviews of the newer models.