Recently unveiled in the presence of Simone
Niccolai, managing director of Asia Pacific 2Wheeler, Piaggio Asia Pacific is
the 2018 Moto Guzzi V7 III Rough, priced at RM 75,000. However, there are a
limited number of V7 III Roughs available to early birds at an introductory
price of RM 69,900.
This brings the number of versions in the V7 III
family to six with the addition of the Rough, Carbon and Milano to the current
model range of the Stone, Racer and Special. The V7 III Rough is dressed in
what Moto Guzzi calls “an urban country style” that resembles the classic
scrambler motorcycles of the 70s.
Carrying the traditional tranversely-mounted Moto
Guzzi 744 cc V-twin, with two pushrod-actuated valves per cylinder, the V7 III
Rough has 52 hp at 6,200 rpm and 60 Nm at 4,900 on tap. Fed by single throttle
body Marelli EFI, power gets to the ground via a six-speed gearbox and shaft
drive.
Standard on the Rough, as with all V7 III bikes in
the range, is two-channel ABS and switchable two-mode traction control. The
modes on the traction control can be changed by the rider to dry, rain or off,
as desired.
Setting the V7 III Rough apart from its siblings is
semi-knobby tyres mounted on spoked wheels – an 18-inch in front and a 17-inch
hoop in the rear. Seat height on the Rough is 770 mm, making it easy for a
range of riders to mount and wet weight is claimed to be 209 kg.
Fuel for the 2018 Moto Guzzi V7 III Rough is carried
in a 21-litre tank and the seat with special stitching is unique to the Rough.
Also unique to the V7 III Rough are the aluminium side covers and front
mudguard.
Suspension on the Rough is traditional telescopic
forks in front, protected by rubber gaiters for that authentic “retro” look and
twin preload-adjustable shock absorbers in the rear. Braking is with a single
320 mm disc in front, grabbed by a Brembo four-piston calliper and single 260
mm disc on the back wheel.
