CARBON EVERYWHERE
From then on, the willing mill, with
improved braking from a 320mm Brembo
up front and slightly stiffer chassis,
provided fun, with a competitive and quick
ride amongst bigger bore companions.
But back to the designers. Why is it
called the Carbon? Well, it’s black, innit?
Everywhere. Except for the bright red
accents, which pop like firecrackers to the
eye. Red rocker-covers atop each cylinder
are the most obvious, but there are other
spotlights too, like red calipers on the front
disc, and the wings logo and Moto Guzzi
name on the matte black 21 litre tank.
The fenders are carbon, as are the side
fairings, with black headlight, bars, gas
cap, double skinned pipes and shaft drive
assembly. In some iterations this might
appear grim, but with that deft touch of
Italian designers, it is cracking smart.
Designed by Lino Tonti in 1971, the V7
accounts for over half of all Moto Guzzis
sold, and so popular are they that there
are over 25,000 members of Moto Guzzi
Owners Clubs worldwide. The Carbon is
part of a numbered series, something
Moto Guzzi have done before, with 750
numbered bikes for the 50th anniversary
for one example, but for this new
edition they have released 1921 bikes
to commemorate the year Moto Guzzi
was established. Carlo Guzzi formed the
company with Emanuelle Parodi, and the
bird wing logo was a tribute to their friend,
pilot Giovanni Ravelli, who died while
testing a plane in 1919.
KIWI RIDER 51