First Look: 2018 Moto Guzzi V7 III Carbon, Rough and Milano

When the Rough gets going .

Moto Guzzi expanded its entry-level lineup with three new variants of the V7 III: the Milano, Carbon and Rough. The new models offer more choices to account for personal style, with the same practical, fun and friendly character of the other V7’s, the basic Stone, swanky Special and café-styled Racer. Think of the V7 line as Barbies (or GI Joes if you have inflexible gender roles) that you can use to dress up according to your mood.

Snark aside, these are pretty bikes with nice build quality, especially considering the $8,000-10,000 price range of the V7 III models (Moto Guzzi USA hasn’t yet announced pricing or availability for these models). The Rough is a country gal, with matte paint, unique stitched saddle and knobby tires on spoked rims. It also sports black-painted bits and rubber fork gaiters. The Milano gets glossy paint, dual instruments (instead of just a combined tach/speedo), aluminum side covers and fenders and alloy wheels.

Rounding out the trio is the Carbon, a limited-production, numbered (1921 will be built to commemorate the year of Guzzi’s founding) model with carbon-fiber fenders and side cover, matte black paint, red-finished valve covers and brake caliper, billet-aluminum gas cap and other little touches.

I’ve liked this bike since it was called the V50, way back when bell-bottom jeans were a serious safety hazard. Since then, it’s changed remarkably little, although recent engine upgrades have bumped power to an honest 48 horsepower on the dyno – more than enough to cruise comfortably at slightly irrational speeds. We can’t wait to play dress-up.

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