Moto Guzzi’s New V9 Bobber Sport Is Unveiled In Italy

Now that September's here, you can expect new bike announcements to drop like hot cakes over the next few months, as the show season ramps up. The latest news comes from Moto Guzzi, who has just added the new V9 Bobber Sport to its mid-size range of standard motorcycles. The Bobber Sport, which joins theV9 Bobber base model and the V9 Roamer, made its debut this week at the firm's historic Mandello del Lario plant in Italy as the latest evolution of the V9 range.

So what’s the headline news here? We already know that the V9 Bobber has “a unique personality,” thanks mostly to that transverse-mounted 853cc twin engine, and that in stock form, is completely murdered out with totally darkened detailing. Guzzi says that post-WWII bobber racing origins “inspired the new Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber Sport series,” which sort of gave us pause - you mean this is now going to be a whole series of bikes? Hmm. Stay tuned.

Anyway, the main changes on the V9 Bobber Sport; it gets a lowered single-seat saddle which, according to Guzzi, combines with the low drag bar supported by lower risers, to give an even more accentuated “low ride.” If it’s lower than the already-low V9 Bobber, then get ready for an even more compact riding position.

What perked us up a bit more though was hearing that Öhlins shock absorbers, adjustable for spring preload and hydraulic compression and rebound, would be making an appearance on this V9. Having ridden the standard V9 Bobber once before, we’re all for wringing better control out of that chassis. Guzzi also says the new bike gets street legal slip-on exhaust pipes painted matte black with an aluminum bottom and an oblique shape at the end to enhance the 850 V-twin, though it’s not clear if these are all-new or merely different ends.

The front end of the V9 Bobber Sport looks pretty slick, though, with a shortened front fender and a lowered headlight framed by a black aluminum fairing. And who doesn’t like classic gaiters to cover the fork tubes? We also dig the special dedicated color scheme - the new, gritty orange on the fuel tank and side panels is kinda low-key and a nice fit with the Guzzi eagle logo done up in a burnished finish. It makes for a welcome change to the V9 Bobber's monochromatic blackness. BUT - you’ll still get the darker shades on the V9 Bobber Sport’s engine cooling fins, the billet aluminum fuel cap, the headlight frame and instrument cluster, and yes, the cast wheels, still shod with big balloon-y tires.

The 2019 Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber Sport will be available in the US starting in December of 2018, coming in at an MSRP of $10,690, or $200 more than the base Bobber ($10,490).

For more info visit the Moto Guzzi website.