SUBSTANCE AND STYLE WIN THE DAY WITH THE INTRODUCTION HERE OF THE NEW STALLIONS
The latest members of the Moto Guzzi motorbike family arrived in Auckland last week for a special preview event.
Moto Guzzi New Zealand launched the new V9 Bobber and V9 Roamer to a select group in the appropriate venue of Imperial Lane in Auckland.
Don’t think the V9 twins (they’re fraternal btw) are replacements for the V7 platform, they’re not.
“Moto Guzzi is all about passion and it's all about history,” said the Asia-Pacific business development manager for Moto Guzzi’s parent company Piaggio, Nicola Capello.
“V7 is the entry point to the brand, and this [V9] is the next step up,” he said.
Although they share the same sculpted 15-litre fuel tank and basic ergonomics, aesthetically the V9 Roamer and V9 Bobber have distinct differences.
The Roamer is the more traditional, with a big 19-inch front wheel giving it a cruiser vibe, while the Bobber gets a 16-inch front wheel with a massive 130/90-section tyre that draws the eye to the front of the bike and gives it a much more urban look.
Although the seats looks very similar indeed, the Bobber is the lower of the two by 5mm with a very accessible 780mm seat height.
The V9 Bobber
In between the frame is an all-new 853cc V-Twin, mounted transversely as is Guzzi’s way, which produces a solid 40.44kW and 62Nm of torque. As is the case with all bikes that make their way out of the Mandello del Lario factory, the V9 puts its power down through a shaft final drive which doesn’t need anywhere near the same level of maintenance as a traditional chain drive.
Although they have very different mission statements, both the V9 Bobber and V9 Roamer weigh in at only 199kg, which means they should be lively on the road. The six-speed gearbox should have a ratio for any situation and quality Brembo brakes are equipped to bring the bike to a halt.
The V9 Roamer kitted out with some of the wide range of accessories available
Suspension is only 40mm traditional telescopic forks, which could limit how hard riders can push the V9, but that isn’t really what these bikes are about. As the promotional video we were shown clearly demonstrated, the V9 twins are more about style and substance than tearing about the backroads like a madman.
It’s definitely a step up from the V7. As well as being a completely different style of machine, the V9 comes standard with a host of electronic gizmos to keep even the fussiest of Gen-Y hipsters happy. Along with ABS, the V9 has traction control like the much bigger California 1400 range, and more lifestyle gizmos have found their way on to the bike such as a USB socket.
When it comes to European bikes they can sometimes be let down by their pricing. Thankfully the V9 pricing is identical for the both variants, with each priced from $16,990 plus on roads. This has them placed competitively within the growing retro segment.
