Moto Guzzi modernizes its streetbike lineup and the 2023 Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello S.

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Earlier this season, we test rode Moto Guzzi’s 2023 V100 Mandello S from the official international press introduction in the Mandello del Lario region of northern Italy. This is an all-new sport-touring rig for Moto Guzzi. Moto Guzzi has manufactured motorcycles out of its factory on the shore of Lake Como for more than 100 years. The 2023 V100 Mandello S ($17,490) is the first truly new and modern Moto Guzzi that we’ve seen in the company’s recent history.

Looking back a few decades, this V100 most resembles, in our minds, the Griso eight-valve that Guzzi offered. We loved that motorcycle and always wondered when it would get a revamp or a refresh. Although this V100 Mandello is positioned a little differently, it’s actually very similar in application.

The 2023 V100 features an all-new, water-cooled transverse-mounted 1,042cc V-twin. Unlike a traditional V-twin in which the engine is mounted underneath you with the front cylinder facing forward and the rear cylinder facing back, this engine is mounted sideways. The pistons are on either side of the motorcycle, much like a boxer twin from the Motorrad factory. But instead of the pistons working at an opposed angle, this is a V angle.

Moto Guzzi has done a number of really important changes to this iconic powerplant. First, the engine is significantly shorter than before. Those old, air-cooled Guzzis have long transmissions. Moto Guzzi was able to shave 4 inches off the depth of the engine from front to back. The cylinder heads have also been reconfigured. Historically, it had the exhaust aimed out from the front of the motorcycle. Now they are positioned at a 90-degree angle and exit from the side. The V-block is still positioned in a 90-degree orientation. Other improvements include dual chain-driven camshafts and adjustable ride-by-wire throttle.

We love that this 1,042cc engine offers loads of character. It still has a degree of Guzzi’s signature longitudinal rumble but it is less intrusive than past Moto Guzzis. The counterrotating crankshaft does a lot to make this motorcycle very nimble. This bike weighs 514 pounds with a full 4.5 gallons of fuel, but when we were riding around the shores of Lake Como, you would never know that this motorcycle weighed so much. It is very nimble and apt to change direction.

The roads in northern Italy are small and narrow. Typically you wouldn’t want to operate a 500-pound streetbike on these types of surfaces, but the V100 Mandello S, it offers excellent handling. We rode the up-spec S model, which adds $2,000 to the US MSRP. For that extra two grand you get semi-active Öhlins suspension and heated grips. There are also some nice styling touches that make that motorcycle stand apart from the base $15,490 motorcycle.

The Öhlins semi-active EC 2.0 suspension that a lot of high-end bikes employ nowadays performs well. It takes all the fuss out of having to adjust the damping of the fork or shock. You set it, you forget it. Of course, the suspension is tied to each of the four riding modes—Rain, Touring, Sport, and Road. Each setting delivers a different ride quality. We prefer the Sport riding mode. It offered the most intimate throttle response, and made that V100 really fun to ride on the back roads around Lake Como.

Ergonomics-wise we appreciated how narrow it felt between our legs. Even though it’s a 500-plus-pound bike, it doesn’t look or feel that large. It’s nice and compact from front to back and fairly narrow in terms of width. It’s a good urban touring bike. It’s the type of bike that you can be comfortable on and still have a good degree of maneuverability in the city, yet if you wanted to, you could fit the OE accessory hard cases ($849.50) and go on light touring missions. The electronically adjustable windscreen is a handy feature with adequate range of adjustment...

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Photography: The Piaggio Group and Adam Waheed
Video: The Piaggio Group and Adam Waheed

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