Moto Guzzi has been synonymous with tradition, remaining loyal to the air-cooled 90-degree longitudinally mounted transverse V-twin engine for 100-plus years. But when CEO Roberto Colaninno told his engineers that he wanted to celebrate that centenary milestone in ‘21 by building a completely new motorcycle (designated the V100 Mandello), this allowed the company to dream up a new engine that would take the company into its next century. The powerplant employs the same basic architecture, but now with a liquid-cooled chain-driven DOHC setup with the four-valve heads turned 90 degrees for tighter packaging that makes the new compact block more than 4 inches shorter than the air-cooled engines. Closed-loop EFI allows the engine to be Euro 5 compliant while producing a claimed 115 hp at 8,700 rpm and 77.4 lb.-ft. of torque at 6,750 rpm. A full electronics suite utilizing a six-axis IMU manages lean-sensitive ABS and traction control via ride-by-wire throttle management. Multiple ride modes and cruise control round out the features.
Although the V100′s engine is arguably the bike’s greatest attribute, the team felt the bike needed something else to make it stand out. They decided on semi-active aerodynamics; not for the motorcycle, but for the rider and passenger, something that had never been brought to market before. The winglets on each side of the front upper portion of the fuel tank pivot outward at around 30 degrees to bend airflow around the lower torsos of the rider and passenger, leaving upper torso protection to the rider-controlled electronically adjustable windscreen. The speed at which they are deployed is adjustable, with a minimum speed set at 70 kph (around 45 mph).
That engine is a stressed member as part of the steel trellis frame, and its shorter length allows the swingarm pivot to be optimized at the angle the engineers wanted for best suspension performance. The standard V100 Mandello gets manually adjustable rebound damping and spring preload Kayaba suspension front and rear, while the Mandello S version receives Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 semi-active suspension. Both the base and S models will have the same radial-mounted Brembo Monoblocks with twin 320mm discs up front and a twin-piston, 280mm disc combo out back. Cast aluminum wheels are mounted with Pirelli Angel GT II tires in 120/70-17 upfront and 190/55-17 on the rear.
The 2024 Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello is available in two color schemes: Bianco Polare or Rosso Magma, retail is $15,490. The V100 Mandello Aviazione Navale is a limited edition made up of just 1,913 numbered units to commemorate the bond between Moto Guzzi and the Italian Navy, with a dedicated livery inspired by the F-35B fighter jets now deployed with the group; this edition sells for $16,990. The V100 Mandello S features Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 semi-active suspension, quickshifter, heated grips, TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system), and the Moto Guzzi MIA system connectivity system. The two available liveries are Verde 2121 or Grigio Avanguardia, with an MSRP of $17,490.
