The originality of the V7 was spectacular. No details were spared and in fact, the restoration has been so intensive that even the ignition key is the real deal – Magneti Marelli. The original Veglia meters tick away like they were made just yesterday. We would like to thank Md Yousuf Hussain and Harpreet Singh Gugnani (Prince) for allowing us to put on some miles onto this Italian machine.

EAGLE TAKES FLIGHT

In the final years of World War I, three young officers in the Italian Air Corps had a vision. Carlo Guzzi, Giorgio Parodi and Giovanni Ravelli dreamt of a motorcycle marque that would build world beating motorcycles. Guzzi was to design the bike, Ravelli would pilot the bike to victory and Parodi would bring in the finances. Things took a cruel turn when Ravelli was killed in an air crash.
 
However, the other two persevered and completed their first motorcycle in 1920 with a novel (for that era) unit-constructed single cylinder engine and four valves driven with an overhead camshaft. The engine’s flywheel was fitted externally and this layout was part of Moto Guzzi for many years.
 
The new marque, whose name was suggested by Parodi, was born. And true to their dreams, a Moto Guzzi ridden by Gino Finzi won the Targa Florio event which was only the second race the company had entered. Since then, Moto Guzzi actively entered and excelled in various races till they pulled out of racing in 1957, but not before they had won 14 world championship titles and 11 tourist trophies. Some of the most significant Guzzis were the Motoleggera, Falcone, Le Mans, Galletto scooter and of course, the V7 Ambassador and V7 Sport. After the company changed hands thrice, Moto Guzzi was acquired by Aprilia in 2000. However, in 2004, Piaggio bought over Aprilia, which meant that Moto Guzzi was now theirs too and it still is to date.