An unmistakable part of the cafe racer style is a fairing, nothing quite as confining and all enclosing like found on the average sport bike, but more minimal and sleek. Moto Guzzi, by introducing their V7 Classic and V7 Cafe, provided a perfect platform for just such an addition and quite a few owners were looking to bolt one up, if they could just find one. If you're one of them, stop looking, because, here it is.
This fairing is the result of a collaboration of Luca Bar, the designer we've seen here many times, and “Luigi Stucchi” from Mandello del Lario, a family run business, producing all sorts of accessories for Moto Guzzi along with several other makes of motorcycles.
Everything started when a German dealer's customers kept asking for an endurance style fairing for their V7 like the one posted on Luca's website. The dealer called Luigi Stucchi and wondered if they had one. Luigi Stucchi called Luca and, together, they went to work.
They milled a 3D model from a polyurethane block and then worked out the details like the subframe that houses the instrumentation and the original headlight. It was mounted on the mule that you see in the picture and everyone was pleased, smiles all around.
Luca says the quality is very high, the subframe is mounted on the original frame without changing anything. Turn signals, headlight and instruments are installed without the need for extensions to the electrical system. The kit can be assembled in the garage by any owner handy with basic tools.
The appearance changes nicely with the new addition, the aerodynamic performance adds 10 km/h to the top speed and it lightens air pressure on your chest.
The mirrors mounted on the handlebar are a style preference to keep the fairing clean, but the frame is designed for installation of mirrors on the outside, too, your choice.
The fairing was designed on the V7 Café, which already has clip-on bars, but it can be mounted on the V7 Classic with the installation of aftermarket clip-ons or with a “Tommaselli style" handlebar which makes it even more of a Café Racer.
It will be on sale shortly at the Luigi Stucchi website, both plain and in standard Guzzi colors or any custom color. They'll be arriving at resellers soon afterwards.
I think it looks like it should have been there all along, the lines and curves are just right and adds a lot of sport to the V7 Cafe. Very nice.
Link: Luca Bar Design
Link: Luigi Stucchi
UPDATE: There are comments below about how far forward this fairing seems to be, though its placement is almost identical to the one on the Ducati 750SS, a similar style of fairing. It appears the Guzzi's higher bars require a larger radius for turning clearance. See photo.
Tin Man says
Looks very nice, I just love this Mid Size bike. It would be a Tuff choice between the V7 and a Thruxton for me.
Pizza says
Looks pretty good but maybe just a bit too far forward? – there’s quite a large “hole” in front of the forks. Does look like it belongs though.
Thom says
I love it. It’s exactly what I picture in my mind when someone says Moto Guzzi.
todd says
Sweet. But is the fairing only attached at the bottom? The fairings I’ve had (or still have) on twins really need a top mount to keep it from vibrating tremendously at lower RPMs. It won’t stop it but it will help keep everything together.
-todd
Will Silk says
Really great to see. The new Moto Guzzi classic line is one that’s really grabbed my attention, and seeing stuff like this makes the little Guzzi very attractive in my opinion.
BoxerFanatic says
Very nice. I like bullet fairings.
I badly wish someone (myself, if I could afford to buy the bike and the extra pieces, and knew how to fabricate with composite materials) would graft the V11 LeMans modern bullet fairing onto the V12 Griso 8-valve. The V11 LeMans fairing side panels would need to be slightly modified to merge into the plastic panels that cover the gap between the heads and the Griso’s frame tubes.
Also, make a monoposto variant of the Griso’s seat/tail section. I greatly enjoyed the V11 LeMans I rode a while back, aside from the very high pegs, compared to the seat height, and I am a tall guy. The owner of the bike was not as tall.
The Griso looks like even more fun, especially if it were given even sportier LeMans treatment.
I like the V7 series, especially the cafe style bikes. But they are somewhat under-powered. I wish they would bump even just one version up to 800-850ccs, with a version of the 4-valve head atop the cylinder… and actually get competitive horsepower in that class.
I like the Guzzi styling better than the Bonnie, and I am a fan of Triumphs, as well, but Bonneville Thruxton makes more power than the V7, and there is much more aftermarket for it, it would seem, too.
Truthscreamer says
Poster “Todd” has it right- I agree that the fairing’s beautiful but clearly mounted WAY too far forward! How could they have created something so proportionally correct and appropriate, than blown it by sticking it out 12″ too far? Just looks wrong, but hopefully that issue can be corrected and then appear absolutely perfect on the bike.
Truthscreamer says
Oops- I meant poster “Pizza”! Credit where due…
Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" says
The fairing is no farther forward than any other fairing of its kind and compares directly with the old Ducati 750SS which most folks seem to think is quite a looker and, as iliveforcurves mentions, the front of the fairing lines up with the front axle, a common placement. The space you see is for clearance to enable turns. If you just want to go straight, you can eliminate that space.
Pizza says
Paul, understand the turning clearance issue, but I have a picture of a Ducati 750SS on the wall in front of me (probably my ideal bike) and it doesn’t have the same gap up front and sits further back. Maybe the larger instrument cluster gets in the way and needs more room?
Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" says
More likely, higher bars require a larger radius on the side. See additional photo and description above. Fore and aft location seems the same.
iliveforcurves says
I think the fairing is so far forward so there is clearance for full lock turns. If you look at most sport bikes the fairing reaches as far forward as the front axle.
Aichbe says
The fairing almost completes the look for the current V7. Having had an original V7 Sport w/ drums, I think it still needs something, like 17″ or 18″ Borrani 40 spoke alloy rims, and maybe a Manx seat and a more interesting looking cylindar heads; OHC or?
Aichbe says
Throw in Dunstall mufflers and polished alloy fenders, along with some real nice rearsets, too.
Decline says
it would seem to be sticking out “too far” to easily allow for the steering to go full lock without getting in the way. it really does seem a bit out there though. i’m assuming it was just the very easy solution for mass fitting. which is often the problem with uniquely generic add on parts.
Andrew says
Well, that;s finally a Cafe Racer I could own. Too many look uncomfortable or unrideable.
And I have always loved the Guzzi engine layout – it just looks right!
FabcapMV says
Very elegant indeed!
Does anyone know what brand mirror that is? Can anyone help me identify it?
Azima says
Yeah, I’d like to know, too.
artemisio says
yes, is similar to ducati’s one but i think is difficoult make something different when you are trying to make a fairing for motorbikes like that
joe says
Great looking bike ! would love one in red.
todd says
Remember, early Ducatis have less than 30 degrees of steering lock-to-lock. The Guzzi probably has more than double that and needs more clearance for your hands. It’s a beautiful bike with or without. I wouldn’t mind trading my old M900 for one straight across.
-todd
benT says
such a shame Ducati can’t do an identical replica (with upgraded brakes forks electronics wheelrims) of the 750Sport 1974:
http://www.renewaters.ca/more_ducati/
steve says
They did!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducati_SportClassic
Sick Cylinder says
The Guzzi Le Mans mark one had a little handlebar fairing of a style which I think would suit the V7 more. I would prefer my V7 (if I had one) to look more like the Le Mans which I lusted after many years ago – that look would also tie in better with Guzzi history.
I agree this fairing which is about a foot away from the bike just looks wrong.
Also the paint finish – this is not a Harley Davidson “Iron” so please no “denim” finish paint. A glorious gloss red would be nice! .
Buck Norton says
Aichbe was on the mark with his Dunstall comment. Paul had a similar fairing available in the ’60’s. The Piranha 1/2 fairing from Shade Tree Engineering was a similar design and it’s 1/4 fairing version had the same leading lines in the ’70’s. When something looks right it looks right all the time.
Buck in Phoenix
Tim says
Can anyone photoshop one of them onto a Triumph Thruxton? I think that would look great…
Luca Bar says
http://lookathesign.blogspot.com/2011/05/cupolino-endurance-su-triumph-truxton.html
Already done…be patient for production!