Thursday 14th July 2016

2016 Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber and Roamer: PH2 review

Guzzi's two new models prove that air-cooling isn't dead

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This year marks Moto Guzzi's 95th anniversary, which is an impressive achievement when you consider just how many famous Italian two wheeled brands have risen and fallen from grace during that period. But, despite some tricky odds, Guzzi has continued to soldier on and the company is still knocking out bikes from its historic factory in Mandello del Lario, on the shores of Lake Como. And at the moment things are going rather well for them. Since 2011, Guzzi's worldwide sales have grown eight per cent every year and in 2015 the UK saw a 40 per cent growth in numbers, mainly driven by the popularity of the revitalised V7 range. OK, the reality is that worldwide that only accounts to 10,000 bikes a year and the UK only sell 300, but upwards is the right direction. What has caused this increase in popularity? At the moment heritage sells and alongside Ducati, Triumph and Harley-Davidson, Moto Guzzi certainly has the right name on its tank. As well as the right style of motor.

Euro4 beater
2017 will see a massive upheaval in the two-wheeled world as Euro4 emission laws come into play. The long and short of it is that most manufacturers will have to fit huge ugly exhausts to their bikes (see the Ducati 959 Panigale as a perfect example) and the chances are that air-cooled bikes will virtually become extinct as it's harder to make them meet the regulations. However for a company such as Guzzi, whose whole heritage relies on a transverse V-twin, this simply won't do; therefore the firm has been busy making its engine Euro4 compliant. The result of its efforts is the new V9 range, which is based on a heavily reworked V7 engine that now even has a sixth gear (!).

Passing Euro4 requires making the engine cleaner running, something Guzzi has achieved by improving the combustion chamber's shape and the position of the two valves within it, as well as altering the pistons. However a better burn means a hotter head and where water-cooling would usually have been required, the fact Guzzi's heritage demands a transverse location of its cylinders means they are nicely situated directly in the line of a cooling air flow. Traditional cooling fins and a new neat duct channels cool air around the heads mean Guzzi has done what many thought wasn't possible - made its V-twin Euro4 compliant. But was it worth the effort?

Bobber and Roamer
To show off its new V9 motor, Guzzi has built two new models. The Bobber, as its name suggests, is a US-styled bobber with fat balloon tyres on 16-inch rims and stripped back bodywork. The Roamer, unlike its name suggests, isn't a sexual predator and instead is a more traditional Guzzi-styled bike with a 19-inch front wheel, dashes of chrome and skinnier tyres. Both machines share the same basic platform, and so the engine, frame, electronics and brakes are identical, and it is only the tyres, styling and bars that define their individual character. But, surprisingly, they are two very different feeling machines.

Let's get bobbing
Personally, I love the look of the Bobber - its fat tyres give it real street presence while the low, flat, seat and moody paint all help the cool persona. Though there is no denying that they look good, the balloon tyres do some odd things to the bike's handling. Turn into a bend and the huge tyres give the impression that the Bobber has a really steep head angle, making the bike flop onto its side before forcing you to hold it down in a corner. At first it's a pretty unpleasant sensation, but you kind of get used to it after a while and, anyway, this isn't a bike to rush around on. This is mainly due to its attitude, but also its terrible suspension. While the performance of the forks is acceptable, the dampers are truly awful, transferring every single jolt in the road's surface directly through the thinly padded seat and up your spine. Again, at slow speed in town it's acceptable, but on faster roads its quite soul destroying. However, and here is the odd thing, I'm inclined to forgive it all these issues as the Bobber is stacked full of Moto Guzzi spirit and brio.

The new V9 engine has that wonderful torque reaction that throws the whole bike to the right when you blip the throttle, the exhaust note is pleasingly rough and the gearbox clunks with an agricultural feel you secretly hope for. On the go the clutch action is nice and light and, although the initial pick up of throttle is quite abrupt when the twin's power kicks in, the engine has a nice and authentic feel about it as well as enough power for gentle riding. Quite why Guzzi gave it traction control is a mystery as there isn't really enough power for it, but I guess it is nice to have in the background. ABS, on the other hand, is more vital as those balloon tyres do mask a lot of the front's feedback. And if you opt for the Roamer, you will be very pleased indeed that you have ABS...

Roaming along
Historic Guzzis don't do anything for me, so while some riders will go all misty-eyed at the fact the Roamer looks like an old Guzzi, for me it just appears antiquated. That's personal taste. However, while I understand style variation, I don't get sticking a huge 19-inch front wheel with a narrow tyre on a bike as it destroys the Guzzi's handling. The Roamer gives absolutely no feedback from the front end and its lazy geometry caused by the wheel makes the bike slow to turn and ponderous in bends. If the road is wet, which is was when I rode the Roamer, you have to be super cautious and, should you need to stop, the ABS is called into play a lot. You really have no idea what that front tyre is doing! But to some Guzzi fans this is the style they want, and they will be accustomed to this odd feel; if that's you then the Roamer's engine is full of spirit, its riding position comfortable, the suspension soft for cruising (but horrible over bumps like the Bobber's) and it sounds and feels like an old Guzzi should.

To Bob or Roam, that is the question
Both of the V9 models deliver exactly what you would expect from a Guzzi. In a world of sanitized machines they are pleasingly raw and in many ways unrefined. The V9 engine is undoubtedly the star of the show and manages to meet Euro4 regs while still remaining authentic in sound and feel, which is a big plus point. The bikes themselves are quirky and a bit frustrating, but equally they are stacked full of traditional Guzzi character. If you are after a refined retro, the V9 Moto Guzzis probably aren't for you - look at the V7 models instead. However, if you want a bike that looks and feels old but has modern technology, there is no denying the V9 range has a certain charm. Frustrating though they are, I did thoroughly enjoy riding them. Well, once my spine recovered...

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MOTO GUZZI BOBBER/ROAMER
Engine: 853cc air-cooled transverse V-twin
Power (hp): 54@N/A rpm
Torque (lb ft): 45@N/A rpm
Top speed: 110mph (est.)
Weight: 199kg (dry)
MPG: 52 (est.)
Price: Bobber £7,999, Roamer £7,899

 

 

[AW111]

Well done MotoGuzzi!

I would have to de-badge it ("roamer" ffs!), but a roamer would suit me just fine; I am sure there will be aftermarket suspension options out shortly.

• Too old and stiff to fit a sportsbike, don't want a cruiser - this looks about the right compromise for me.

I just need to find the money...