2015 EICMA: Moto Guzzi V7 II Stornello
Moto Guzzi reached into its past, reviving the name Stornello for its new scrambler. The original Stornello was produced from 1960 to 1974 and was one of the first Italian motorcycles to be modified into a scrambler model capable of light off-road duties.
The new V7 II Stornello reinterprets this heritage in a modern package. Moto Guzzi uses this tradition to poke fun at some of its competitors (*cough* Ducati) who have recently revealed new scrambler models.
“There are those who have found it easier to take advantage of this market because they had a ‘scrambler’ heritage within their brand and then there were those who reinvented themselves,” says Marco Lambri, director of the Piaggio Group Style Center. “For Moto Guzzi this is nothing new: our heritage is full of this type of interpretation.”
While the original Stornello was powered by a Single, the new model uses the 744cc V-Twin powering Moto Guzzi’s V7 II Racer, Special and Stone. The header pipes curl around the front of the engine and join on the right side before leading up to the high-mounted Arrow exhaust.
The suspension system is the same as the rest of the V7 II line with a 40mm telescopic fork offering 130mm of travel and two spring preload adjustable rear shocks with 111mm of travel.
The wire spoke wheels are the same as those on the Special, only clad with knobby tires. Fork gaiters and footpegs with aluminum extensions for better foot gripping help contribute to the Stornello’s off-road riding capabilities. Side number plates, a ribbed seat, single headlight and small screen help give the Stornello a retro vibe.
The classic look does not exclude modern technology however as the Stornello comes standard with ABS and switchable traction control. Brembo supplies the four-piston front brake calipers which grip a 320mm rotor. A two-piston caliper stops the 260mm rear disc.
Other highlights include a 31.4-inch seat height, 5.5 gallon fuel tank and a 410 pound claimed curb weight. Piaggio confirmed the V7 II Stornello will be offered in the U.S. with pricing to be announced later.
Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.
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Yes,they are limited to 48 h.p. for a lower licensing/tax rate in Europe/British Isles. They need to come up with a hotter engine for the American market. Even 60 h.p. would be good. Really nice looking job though and have to admire that Moto Guzzi is still even alive. A comparison with a V9 will be interesting.
Needs a sump guard to go along with those off-road allusions.