Review: 2011 Moto Guzzi V7 Racer

Most countries have their associated stereotypes. Apparently Australia is full of lunatic blonde animal hunters, the U.S. is populated solely by gun-toting Christians and the UK is full of pasty people who constantly complain about the weather and finish every sentence with the word “Guv’nor”. Of course, for the most part that is all baloney. Turns out that McCartney and Wonder were right – people are the same wherever you go. But there’s one particular cliché I have found to be true. Italians do dress well - very well indeed.

Enter stage left the Moto Guzzi V7 Racer – a very dapper version of the already pretty damn suave V7 Café. If the standard model is meant to conjure long-forgotten images of the “good ol’ days” with it’s upswept pipes and obvious design cues from the original 70’s V7, the Racer looks about as subtle as the moon hitting your eye like a big pizza pie. But is it "amore", or is it just a one-ride stand?

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Photos: Barry Sheene Festival of Speed

Barry Sheene, in case you were born yesterday or have spent all your life in a Shaker community, is a World Champion Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Yes yes, I know. Sure, he was a Pommie; but don't let that put you off. He was sensible enough to move to Australia in the late 80s and we accepted him with open arms - knowing full well that here was a man that was a legend in his own lifetime. Throughout most of the 70s and the first half of the 80s, Sheene reigned supreme as a Grand Prix master par excellence, challenged only by the American Kenny Roberts. Indeed, their battle at the 1979 British Grand Prix is the stuff of legends and is oft-sited as one of the best motorcycle races of modern times.

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Saint Motor Company Ural 650 Racer

Fish and bicycles. Icecream and oysters. Germans and humour. Some things just don't really go together. Up until about this time last week I would have happily added "Ural motorbikes" and "racing" to that list. Can you imagine? A racing Ural? People have be committed for suggesting less.

Then I laid eyes on this little green gem. I assumed, as you maybe did, that it was a BMW of some sort or another. But no, it's a government-issued comrade carrier from the hefty bossom of Mother Russia herself. And this one is built to go fast, not plough fields and carry plump babooshkas. Who's repsonsible for this fire and ice miracle, I hear you ask? May I introduce to you Jeff Yarington of Saint Motorbikes; bike builder and master alchemist par excellence.

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