Description
Acquired from Made in Italy in 2017 by the previous owner, the bike was imported into the UK in 2015.
A thorough re-furb was done in 2017 by the last owner and has since done approx. 6, 000 miles so nicely run in.
The re-furb included; Gilardoni nikasil cylinder kit, new brake linings, new UJ, carbs cleaned and set up, chrome plating, powder coated frame, tank repainted, Konis rebuilt by SP Suspension, all cables replaced. Clutch was replaced previously by MIM. New relay & and heavy duty starter wiring fitted to try and solve the infamous "click no crank" characteristic but hey, it's a 50 year old Italian. Please note that the unreliable electro-mechanical fuel taps are, like most of these models of this age, no longer present on the bike.
Good document file including invoices, detailed photos of rebuild, old magazines, owners manual and publicity info including framed original advert poster. Removed parts retained.
I have kept the V7 in a dehumidified garage for last 30 months during my ownership with battery on charger. Never seen the rain or any salt under my ownership - same for all my bikes.
As pictures speak a thousand words, copy link below to the Classic Motorcycle Channel on Youtube where you can see the bike in action compared to a new V7 and a detailed description of it by the lovely chap I bought it from who did all the work listed above. Bike also appeared on Henry Cole's Motorbike Show when there was a Guzzi feature.
- details above
V7 - old vs newThese Tonti framed V7 Sports are rarer than the Le Mans that followed.
With its characteristic V twin sound through those Lafranconi pipes, it can pootle around at 30mph in top with plenty of torque or comes alive higher in the rev range, whatever your mood is.
I love the front drum brake's looks even if not as efficient as the disc set up. The swan neck bars are very period and extremely comfortable to ride. Mike Hailwood famously tested the V7 back in 1971 and claimed it the best handling road bike he had ever ridden (but they did pay him!). They certainly couldn't afford to retain him for racing. Ewan McGregor has one and look how cool he is.
