Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber Sport

11th September 2018

Bobber Sport | 853cc | 2019 | V9 Roamer

Actually, there's not a lot to tell about this bike. But we're gonna tell it anyway because that's what we're here for—and note how we've cunningly filled up a few lines of copy and told you absolutely nothing, which is exactly what you have to do when there's nothing much to say.

That aside, Moto Guzzi has released details of its new V9 Bobber Sport which looks pretty much the same as the standard Guzzi V9 Bobber and, for that matter, the V9 Roamer—and in view of how tame and docile these factory "chop jobs" look, we think they should have been called B9, not V9.

Not that this is a bad looking motorcycle in an everyday, no-big-deal kind of way. Moto Guzzi pretty much always serves up a decent enough basic package—and occasionally surprises us with something special. But this newcomer is fairly run-of-the-mill and doesn't even vaguely convince us that this motorcycle is about performance, which is what real bobbing is all about. It's therefore a pseudo bobber. A pretender.

Of course, Triumph's highly successful (and lardy) Bobber doesn't exactly warp space-time either, but at least it's got a kind of raw, earthy, musclebound, macho stance à la V-Max that hints at speed and performance.

2019 Moto Guzzi V9 engine

The now familiar 853cc, longitudinal, 90-degree, air-cooled, two-valve per cylinder, shaft drive V-twin is said to be good for around 54bhp @ 3,000rpm—which is probably the same output as, say, an Olympic cyclist [Oh, that's cruel-Ed]—and needs a huge shot of adrenalin to be worth of the "bobber" epithet.

Features include fat 16-inch tyres front and rear. Wide and low "drag" bars. Slip-on aluminium pipes. Shorty front 'guard. A lower and single saddle. Fork gaiters. Ohlins shock absorbers (adjustable for compression and rebound). And a metallic orange/bronze paint job.

Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber Sport

There's no word on pricing. The accountants are probably still trying to figure out what the market will stand. But it's likely to be upward of £8,500 and less than £9,000.

Overall, this bike is probably decent enough and will ferry you around comfortably in the time-honoured Moto Guzzi way. But it feels like it's a little late arriving at the party, and it's still sipping soft drinks.

It needs a better effort than this, especially in view of the fact that Moto Guzzi consider this one a "sport" version.