Classic test: 1972 MOTO GUZZI V7 SPORT THE FIRST SPORTY TRANSVERSE V-TWIN
The V7 Sport is not just one of the great early superbikes and Moto Guzzi’s most famous models, it’s a perfect illustration of just how far motorcycles have come since its launch in 1972. At a glance the Sport could almost pass for Guzzi’s current V7 III, apart from its distinctive lime-green paintwork and a few features including its drum front brake and right-foot gearchange.
Even the two models’ specifications are remarkably similar, despite a gap in production of almost half a century. Each is powered by an air-cooled, pushrodoperated transverse V-twin with a claimed maximum output of 52bhp (although Guzzi also quoted a higher crankshaft figure of 70bhp for the Sport). Each has shaft final drive and a tubular steel frame. Figures including wheelbase, fuel capacity and weight are very similar.
The big difference is that while the modern V7 III is a softly-tuned, rider-friendly roadster, back in the early Seventies the
