our cracking harbour from a rare vantage point . It ’ s a road I often use to test , or to teach riders on , as there are difficult angles and off-camber twists that need attention . The 850 was a delight , although I confess to a few minor surprises when the pegs hit the limit , and scraped and vibrated noisily for a second . A few years ago , someone famous said to me that the Moto Guzzi V7 was a motorcycle that would ‘ always get you home ’, and it was ‘ the sort of bike that would never kill you ’. Pretty confronting thing to say , and at the time I felt it was one of those things that old bastards say to young riders as proof of years of experience ... but that ’ s exactly the feeling imparted by the
850 Special . It ’ s the sort of bike you ride when you need the motorcycle fix , when you need to get into town , when you need the folks to say ‘ cool bike ’, when you want someone to ask you if you can take them for a ride , and , when you need an old friend you trust . It ’ s that sort of bike , it will give you much more than it costs . One of my best friends was recently taken from us , and he was a lifelong lover of Moto Guzzi , I can see why . It ’ s a loyalty thing , but more than that , this is one of those bikes that ’ ll be your friend for years to come .
Valé Horace Hartnett , Moto Guzzi rider , President IMOC , EverySun . Friend . RIP .
KIWI RIDER 63