Moto Guzzi is a Italian carmaker founded in 1921, now part of Piaggio Group. 8 models are tracked here (1990–2026). Reliable? yes, and comfortably so — 4.5 out of 5 across 8 rated models, though the spread between model years is far wider than the badge suggests (every model ranked →).
Who makes Moto Guzzi
Moto Guzzi S.p.A. is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer headquartered in Mandello del Lario, Lombardy, on the eastern shore of Lake Como, and a subsidiary of Piaggio Group since 2004. Founded in 1921 by aviator Giorgio Parodi and engineer Carlo Guzzi, Moto Guzzi is the oldest European motorcycle manufacturer in continuous production. Every Moto Guzzi motorcycle since 1967 has used the brand's signature transverse-mounted V-twin engine. Moto Guzzi's lineup centers on the V7 retro-roadster, V9 mid-twin cruiser, V85 TT adventure-tourer, V100 Mandello (the brand's first liquid-cooled V-twin, launched 2022), and the California cruiser. The brand's eagle (Aquila) logo, derived from the original Italian Air Force eagle that founder Giorgio Parodi served under in WWI, has been continuously used since 1921. Annual production runs approximately 5,000-7,000 motorcycles. Moto Guzzi's parent Piaggio Group trades on the Borsa Italiana under PIA. Recall data for every Moto Guzzi VIN sold in the US is reported to NHTSA. ForCar.org decodes any Moto Guzzi VIN to surface trim, factory options, open recalls and original delivery price.
Carlo Guzzi designed his first motorcycle while serving in the Italian Air Force during WWI; comrades Giovanni Ravelli and Giorgio Parodi promised to fund the project after the war. Ravelli died in a 1919 plane crash, and the company's eagle logo honors his memory. Parodi and Guzzi founded Società Anonima Moto Guzzi in March 1921 in Genoa with $4,000 in startup capital. Production moved to Mandello del Lario in 1924. Moto Guzzi won 14 motorcycle Grand Prix Manufacturers' titles in the 1950s and 1960s.
| Moto Guzzi | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1921 |
| Founded by | Carlo Guzzi, Giorgio Parodi |
| Headquarters | Mandello del Lario, Italy |
| Owned by | Piaggio Group |
| Slogan | «The Eagle Has Landed» |
Technology it is known for: Transverse 90-degree V-twin engine architecture, CARC drive shaft (Cardano Reattivo Compatto), Liquid-cooled V100 platform, Marzocchi suspension (Factory), MGCT (Moto Guzzi Control).
This page covers Moto Guzzi S.p.A. (the Piaggio Group motorcycle brand) — not Carlo Guzzi personally or Giorgio Parodi personally.
All Moto Guzzi models 8
Every Moto Guzzi model we track, grouped by body type. Click any model for its VIN decoder, recalls, MPG, safety and ForCar Reliability Score — broken down by year.
Moto Guzzi Motorcycles 8
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moto Guzzi V7 | 2010–2026 | 1 | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| Moto Guzzi V7 Sport | — | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| Moto Guzzi V7 Stone | 2005–2025 | 1 | 2 | — | 4.5/5 |
| Moto Guzzi V7 Special | 2005–2025 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| Moto Guzzi Stelvio | 2005–2026 | 3 | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| Moto Guzzi V85Tt | — | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| Moto Guzzi V100 | 1990–2026 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber | 2017–2025 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
Moto Guzzi by the numbers
What the federal records say about the marque. Each line links to the full breakdown by model and year.
| Topic | Moto Guzzi | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 5 campaigns | Across the lineup |
| Owner complaints | 2+ filed | Most reported: V7 Stone |
Compare model years like a dealer does.
- Full research report on any model year
- Market chart: how this model holds value
- Exact values with mileage adjustment
- Price-drop alerts on the trims you're watching
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Get a Moto Guzzi window sticker by VIN
Recreate any Moto Guzzi's original Monroney label — MSRP, factory options, EPA MPG and safety — free from the VIN.
Moto Guzzi window stickers →How to read a Moto Guzzi VIN
Every Moto Guzzi built since 1981 carries a unique 17-character VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). It encodes where and when the vehicle was made, its engine and body — here's what each part means:
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Moto Guzzi and the country it was built in (real Moto Guzzi codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled it.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- ItalyZGU
The remaining digits — engine (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard. The whole position-by-position breakdown — year codes 2001–2026, country codes, stamping locations — lives in our VIN decoder tool.
Who owns Moto Guzzi, and what you get
Moto Guzzi belongs to Piaggio Group. Moto Guzzi competes in the global retro and cruiser motorcycle segments against Triumph Bonneville, Royal Enfield Continental GT, Indian Scout and Harley-Davidson Sportster. The brand's positioning combines Italian heritage and engineering with the unique transverse V-twin engine architecture as a defining mechanical signature. Within Piaggio Group, Moto Guzzi handles cruisers and retro motorcycles while Aprilia handles sport, Vespa handles scooters and Gilera handles entry-level scooters.
| Moto Guzzi | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Italy |
| Ownership | Piaggio Group |
| Basic warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
⚠ Worth knowing before you rely on it: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, while basic cover here runs 3 years / 36,000 miles. See when Moto Guzzi models actually start to break →
Moto Guzzi — frequently asked
Is Moto Guzzi italian?
Moto Guzzi is a Italian company, headquartered in Mandello del Lario and founded in 1921.
Who owns Moto Guzzi?
Moto Guzzi is part of Piaggio Group.
How many Moto Guzzi models are there?
We track 8 Moto Guzzi models spanning 1990–2026. The full list is above, ordered by how often each is searched.
What is the Moto Guzzi warranty?
New vehicles come with 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Terms vary by model year and market — confirm with a dealer.
Is Moto Guzzi reliable?
It depends far more on the model and year than on the badge. Every Moto Guzzi model is ranked by complaint rate here, along with the age at which each starts to fail.
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