heritage naked – Mel Lapid

Taste Test: 2018 Moto Guzzi V7 III Stone

You’ve heard of Moto Guzzi, the quirky classic Italian brand from the Piaggio Group that doesn’t get enough fanfare with moto-fans.

Did you know, that the Guzzi offers its most affordable model to compete with the Street Twin, Scrambler Icon, W800, & R nine-T Pure? This is the V7 III Stone, the brand’s most affordable model!

Hailed from its deep root all the way from 1968, this 3rd-generation iteration of the storied V7 line has become a mainstay by keep giving incremental improvements as years go by!

Despite ever fierce competition with its rivals, it’s the ever-iconic longitudinal V-Twin engine and the only mainstream manufacturer that offers shaft-driven motorcycles. Will there be enough to sway hipsters, trendsetters, and heritage naked fans for this V7? I am here to find out!

Taste Test: 2020 Triumph Bonneville 1200 Street Scrambler

Of all of its Triumph Modern Classic (ie. Bonneville) line: if you want a small, functional, a bit of ruggedness on the side without sacrificing style; look no further than this 900cc Street Scrambler!

While the Scrambler 1200 might be too much in size and price for some and the Street Twin may not be capable enough for the tougher stuff, this Bonneville 900 flagship is somewhat the goldilocks of the bunch.

With increasing heat with rivals such as the Ducati Scramblers, BMW R nine-Ts, and Moto Guzzi V9s; Triumph has to hold on to its crown as the king of Heritage Classic motorcycle.

I actually like the package that Triumph brought here, it shows that it’s not afraid of measly potholes, yet compact enough to be treated like a normal standard motorcycle.

I was impressed with the Speedmaster 1200 almost two years ago, will this smaller Bonnie continue the trend?