Chassis: Frame No. VK*11126*
Engine: VK*30086*
Among the Most Rare and Desirable Moto Guzzi Motorcycles
One of Only 104 “Telaio Rosso” Sports Produced for 1971
Hand-Built Pre-Production Model with High-Performance Features
Exceptionally Original and Well-Preserved Low-Mileage Example
Serviced in 2021 by Moto Guzzi Specialist and Accompanied by Ian Falloon Report
748 CC OHV V-Twin 4-Stroke Engine
Twin Dell’Orto VHB 30 Carburetors
72 BHP at 7,000 RPM
5-Speed Manual Gearbox with Shaft Drive
Front and Rear Hydraulic Drum Brakes
Front Telescopic Fork Suspension
Rear Swing-Arm Suspension with Twin Shock Absorbers
“The bike that saved Guzzi. I bought this ultra rare, extraordinarily original example over 30 years ago. It rides and handles like a dream.” -Adam Lindemann
Developed by Giulio Cesare Carcano and debuted in 1966, the all-new V-Twin-powered V7 represented the beginning of a new golden age for Moto Guzzi, the storied Italian manufacturer renowned for cutting-edge engineering and outstanding build quality. Originally designed for comfortable, long-distance touring, the V7 was further evolved under Lino Tonti, an engineer who had significant racing experience with firms like F.B. Mondial, Bianchi, and Gilera. Tonti’s influence resulted in the V7 Sport, which would become one of the most famous high-performance motorcycles of the 1970s.
Built to homologate the model for F.I.M. racing regulations, the first 150 V7 Sports were individually constructed by hand. These early production Sports featured unique mechanical specifications and high-quality construction techniques that set them apart from later, series-production models. Built on a special frame that was fabricated from thin-wall chrome-molybdenum tubing, the first V7 Sports were desirably equipped with sand cast engine cases, polished internals, and a special five-speed gearbox with unique ratios. Each bike was fitted with impressive four-leading-shoe front brakes, Borrani alloy-rimmed wire wheels, and rear KONI shock absorbers. The Sport’s striking lime green and red livery was inspired by a Milan design institute and earned the model its nickname “Telaio Rosso” or Red Frame.
Boasting 72 hp and unmatched build quality, the V7 Sport “Telaio Rosso” was among the finest, high-performance European machines of its day, with a top speed of 200 km/h. According to Moto Guzzi factory records, 104 examples were produced in 1971; most were sold new in Italy, delivered to VIP clients and factory racers, or supplied to magazines for testing.
In an accompanying report, motorcycle historian Ian Falloon gives his opinion that this particular “Telaio Rosso” is “one of the finest examples in existence.” Noted for its remarkably original, unrestored condition, this V7 Sport was discovered in the pages of a classic motorcycle magazine some 30 years ago by Adam Lindemann, and it has remained a fixture in his collection ever since. Benefiting from a major service in 2021 by New York-based Moto Guzzi specialist Moto Borgotaro, the “Telaio Rosso” displayed approximately 14,500 km at the time of cataloguing – a figure believed to represent the bike’s original mileage. As noted in Mr. Falloon’s report, this fantastic survivor appears to retain the special hand-built components that set these early V7 Sports apart, including the smooth transmission case, dimpled final drive housing, original tank decals, and optional Lafranconi mufflers.
Due to its iconic appearance, limited production, and desirable, hand-built specification, any V7 Sport “Telaio Rosso” is highly sought after by collectors. A fine, original, and unrestored example such as this, which has been prized by one discerning caretaker for the past three decades, is an incredibly rare find indeed and surely among the most desirable of all postwar Moto Guzzis.
