and pillion comfort , while a shorter tail and smaller side covers give both machines a refreshed look .
AN ELEGANT ATTITUDE The model updates have turned the wallflower into an elegant lady with a more attitude and extra punch . Since the production start in 1967 , with the then newly developed V-twin engine , the V7 has embodied the classic motorcycle , with a round headlight , a gas tank , two cylinder heads and two wheels . The design of the bike is still dominated by the horizontal tank-seat line and the 90 ° cylinders , the shoulders of the tank bending protectively over the cylinder heads , as has been the case since the 1974 750S model . The unchanged fuel tank holds 21 litres , giving a range of 400km , good enough to do an Italian ‘ coast to coast ’. Our test , however , was limited to the Pope ’ s ‘ home stretch ’, very close to his summer residence of Castelgandolfo in the Alban Hills south of Rome . Sitting on the bike , the seat-handlebar-peg relationship appears well balanced and , thanks to the low 780mm seat height , it easy to stop
the bike at junctions and lights lights . Somewhat annoying are the unusually wide foot pegs , which were catching my calves in the process . Making its debut on the V7 Stone is a full LED lighting system with DRL ( daytime running lights ) that traces the outline of the Moto Guzzi eagle . The new comprehensive instrument cluster is a single digital circular unit and features a gear indicator shaped as the outline of the eagle that flashes at the centre of the display . There ’ s a host of accessories which includes Moto Guzzi MIA , Guzzi ’ s multimedia platform that connects to your smartphone , providing an exceptional amount of information for your trip . It can also be used to play music and to make / receive phone calls if you have a helmet intercom . On the V7 Special , the instruments are quite different . The analogue clocks are made up of dual circular displays and the lighting system includes LED turn signals and tail light unit , whereas the classic halogen headlamp remains unchanged . A new chrome passenger grab handle comes as standard .
42 KIWI RIDER