If you like vintage Moto Guzzis, here’s one to get you smiling, it’s called Cherry O, a 1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport, very lightly modified and beautifully restored, painted in a dazzling yet classy Candy Apple Red. I came across this bike in the current issue of Motorcycle Classics, and from any angle, if you’re drawn to Guzzis, this one will stop you in your tracks.
Rick Manning and the team from Combined Design, had modified another Moto Guzzi, a ’76 T3 they called Little Red, in a style they imagined might reflect what a current V7 would be. Since the ’73 V7 Sport is a bit rare, not to mention, prized among Guzzi enthusiasts, they wanted to keep it closer to the original. The end result manages to be extremely eye catching and subtle at the same time, it just looks right.
Ever since writing about some Moto Guzzi makeovers a few months ago, my eye and ear have been fine tuned to notice the lines and sound of the Italian V-twins, so much so that I bought a ’97 Centauro for my own garage. If you look at these photos too long, you may find yourself in the market for a Guzzi, as well. If that happens, trust me, I’ll understand.
More photos below:
Link: Combined Design via Motorcycle Classics
Link: Moto Guzzi motorcycles for sale
NewSpeak says
Sex on wheels.
John says
Very nice!
Chris says
I don’t like metal-flake paint — what is this thing, a life-sized jelly fishing lure? — but that red frame is the hottness. Beautiful bike, shame about that crazy paint (which admittedly looks a lot better in the first two photos than in the last).
todd says
This isn’t metal flake, it’s translucent paint over a polished surface. A little too “fancy” for my tastes but then I’m not the type to leave shiny, non-running motorcycles on display in my living room.
Really, I think people like this because of the bike, not because of how it’s finished. Come on, shiny tires?
-todd
David says
Beautifully done and I think very appropriate color for a stud Italian bike
Rick Manning says
Hi Kneeslider,
We love your site, thanks for thinking of us. A southern gentleman at Barber last year walked up the bike and exclaimed,”Damn, that thing looks like a bass boat”! The paint is H.O.K. candy apple red over primer with seven coats of clear.
Rick
Jacquie says
I want another Goose so badly.
WT says
Terrible job on this one.
They have taken a truly rare motorcycle and butchered it. The exact same look could have been achieved with one of the most common Guzzi models, the 850T or 850T3.
It looks as though they put no thought into this bike’s paint. They pretty much just said, “Let’s paint everything the same.” The tail light housing, gauge cluster, valve covers and lower fork legs are all the same.
I would consider this a sub-par effort and if the bike was a CB750 it wouldn’t get a second look from most.
Terrible job.
Joe says
i really dig the extra color accents: the frame, the swingarm, the front forks, the license plate holder, and especially the cylinder heads.
WRXr says
The color totally sells it! nice.
PeteP says
Saw this in Motorcycle Classics a while back, and hated it there, too. Woould have been much better to restore it to stock colors.
Tony Ray Keisman says
Paul, Thanks for picking up on the article in Motorcycle Classics about Cherry O and the T 3 custom, Lil Red. We knew that the paint on Cherry O would be a love/hate with people. The original colors for the bike were awful in my opinion. I have seen some restored “original” bikes and none have the same “eye candy” appeal as Cherry O. The fact that it won the People’s Choice Award in the 2008 Motorcycle Classic’s Bike Show at Barber sort of backs this up. We took a 3 day tour thru nothern Georgia on both bikes after the show so they don’t have shiny tires any more! It’s a shame more people can’t ride these bikes to see how good they are.
Tony Ray Keisman
Richard Gozinya says
Beautiful bike, really amazing work.
PeteP says
True, just because I don’t like it, doesn’t mean you didn’t do a great job!
Shawn says
Opinions really are fun. I don’t usually like Moto Guzzi but I really like this bike. Makes me want to by one. Evrything is well detailed and in proportion.
Tina says
All the V7s are great but this one definitely does not have that old ’73s tired look! It was an easy choice when we picked the colors and the detail. Love it!! Glad “some of you” do too.
Chris says
I love everything about this bike except the paint. A couple of shades darker and a little flatter and it’d have been absolutely perfect. Still, you can’t please everyone all the time!
MB says
It is hard to judge a color in a photograph, although these are exceptional, so the rush to color judgement is a little harsh. I have seen this bike in person and the color is extraordinary. From stem to stern, this is a classy, sexy ride.