New In Town: Moto Guzzi's Grand Touring Sport

Italians and timing, this is a very complex story. See the Moto Guzzi V100 for example. The motorcycle was announced in September 2021, presented in November of the same year, entered production at the beginning of 2022, and landed in Israel at the beginning of 2023. The timing story here is important because this model, besides being a very important motorcycle category, is also to some extent a celebration of the manufacturer's 100th birthday, hence where its name comes from.

The V100 uses a entirely new platform from the manufacturer, including a completely new engine and for the first time with liquid cooling and dual overhead camshaft. The rest of the components are from Moto Guzzi's familiar repertoire - two V-cylinders with a transverse crankshaft that transmits power through a driveshaft. The displacement is 1,042cc, the power is 115 hp, and 10.6 kgm.

In terms of dimensions and features, the V100 with dual front discs 320mm each and a single 280mm at the rear, the wheelbase is 1,475mm, relatively short for a touring motorcycle and at least on paper should ensure good handling capabilities. The steering angle is 24.7 degrees and the ground clearance is 104mm. The fuel tank has a capacity of 17 liters and an additional 3 liters for reserves to achieve generous range. The dry weight is 212kg and the wet weight is 233 kg. The standard seat comes at a height of 815 mm, with lower (800 mm) or higher (835 mm) seat options available.

The V100 is the most advanced motorcycle by Moto Guzzi, also in systems located in the vehicle's envelope. It is equipped with a wire-controlled suspension, together with a six-axis measurement control (length, width, tilt) that allows for ABS during tilting, 4 riding modes, 3 engine management maps when the aerodynamic winglets on the fuel tank change their angle according to the riding mode. According to the manufacturer, they allow reducing air resistance by 22%. In addition, the front mirror is also electrically adjustable. The headlights turn directionally, in the premium version the motorcycle will be equipped with semi-active Öhlins suspension and more.

The model comes in two finishing levels, with the regular one costing NIS 109,000 and above it will be the S version where you will find the semi-active suspensions, the quickshifter, handlebar heating, and mobile connectivity that allows turning the mobile phone into part of the motorcycle's dashboard. However, mounting a smartphone on a motorcycle is not recommended and may damage the mobile processor and delicate camera sensors due to vibrations. This version will cost NIS 123,000.

In terms of competition, the V100 will need to find its place among vehicles that try to combine the upright and comfortable riding position of an adventure bike with the handling characteristics of road motorcycles. In the list are, among others, the Kawasaki 1000SX, Honda NT1100, BMW F900 XR which is cheaper by NIS 95,000, and the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT which is even cheaper with a price tag of NIS 86,000.