Moto Guzzi has been tied to its transverse V-twin for over a century. That is why The Trip, unveiled at EICMA 2026, stands out: it is a 500 roadster with a parallel twin and chain drive. It is the first Guzzi without a V-twin in more than 40 years, and the brand presents it as the first of a new generation.
It is designed for the A2 license, for new riders and for those coming back to bikes: light, low and easy to use every day, but with the design and name of a historic brand from Mandello del Lario.
A new design for Moto Guzzi
Moto Guzzi talks about design "by subtraction": clean surfaces, few parts and the black-painted engine in the spotlight. The tank is metal and holds 15 liters, a lot for a bike in this class. The round headlight is LED and its light signature recalls the brand's eagle.
The details are well finished: backlit switchgear, a gold fork and the model name embroidered on the seat. There are three colors, Black Metropolis, Green Grove and Red Beat, plus a launch special edition called The Opening, whose details are not yet known.
Parallel twin and chain: goodbye (for now) to the V-twin
The engine is a liquid-cooled parallel twin with four valves per cylinder and a 270° crank. Moto Guzzi bills it as a "500" and has not published the exact displacement, but the specialist press agrees it is the 457 cc unit from the Aprilia RS 457 and Tuono 457, from the same Piaggio group.
It makes almost 48 hp, right at the A2 limit, and 43.5 Nm. According to the brand, 82% of the torque is already available at 3,000 rpm, so it pulls well from low down and vibrates little. It has ride-by-wire and a slipper clutch, and the final drive is by chain, not shaft as on the rest of the range.
Equipment
- Three riding modes: Road, Sport and Rain, which change engine response and the traction control level.
- Dual-channel ABS and traction control as standard.
- Round 3.6-inch color TFT with smartphone connectivity.
- LED lighting for headlight and indicators, and backlit switchgear.
- Accessories: quickshifter, turn-by-turn navigation on the screen and a USB socket.
Chassis and running gear
Unlike the Aprilia 457s, which use an aluminum twin-spar frame, The Trip has a tubular steel trellis frame. With a full tank it weighs 180 kg, making it the lightest Moto Guzzi in the range. The seat is 790 mm off the ground, with optional 770 and 820 mm seats.
Up front there is a 41 mm inverted fork and at the rear a shock mounted on the right side, both adjustable for preload. From that side it looks like a twin-shock bike, like a V7. The brakes are ByBre, with a 320 mm disc and a four-piston radial caliper up front and a 220 mm disc at the rear.
Specifications
| Engine | Parallel twin, liquid-cooled, 4 valves per cylinder, 270° crank |
|---|---|
| Displacement | Billed as a "500"; 457 cc according to the press (not confirmed by Moto Guzzi) |
| Power | Almost 48 hp (35 kW) |
| Torque | 43.5 Nm (82% at 3,000 rpm) |
| Fuel system | Electronic fuel injection with ride-by-wire |
| Clutch | Wet multi-plate, slipper |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Electronics | Dual-channel ABS, traction control, Road, Sport and Rain modes |
| Frame | Tubular steel trellis |
| Front suspension | 41 mm inverted fork, preload adjustable |
| Rear suspension | Side-mounted monoshock, preload adjustable |
| Front brake | 320 mm disc, ByBre four-piston radial caliper |
| Rear brake | 220 mm disc |
| Instruments | Round 3.6-inch color TFT with smartphone connectivity |
| Lighting | Full LED |
| Seat height | 790 mm (optional 770 and 820 mm) |
| Weight | 180 kg wet |
| Fuel tank | 15 liters, metal |
| License | A2 |
| Colors | Black Metropolis, Green Grove, Red Beat and The Opening special edition |
| Price | To be announced |
| Arrival | Early 2027 |
Moto Guzzi has not yet published the full spec sheet. Displacement, suspension and brake details come from the specialist press that attended the launch; we will update the table when the official data is out.
Price and arrival in Spain
Moto Guzzi has not given a price yet: it will announce it together with the exact launch date, planned for early 2027 at official dealers. To compete with its A2 rivals it should sit well below the V7, but until the brand confirms it, that is only an estimate.
The Trip vs the V7 and its rivals
The V7 remains the classic Guzzi: an 853 cc transverse V-twin, shaft drive and a more 1970s look. The Trip is lighter, more modern, A2-legal without any restriction and uses a chain. It is not meant to replace the V7, but to open the brand up to younger riders.
Its rivals will be A2 roadsters with some character: the Triumph Speed 400 and the new Bonneville T40, the Honda CB500 Hornet or its cousin the Aprilia Tuono 457. Against the singles, its argument is the twin; against the Aprilia, a calmer design and the Moto Guzzi name.
What we like and what gives us pause
We like that it is a good-looking, simple bike with no unnecessary plastic, a big tank and moderate weight. The Aprilia engine has already proven pleasant and reliable, and the equipment (TFT, modes, traction control, radial brake) is above what is usual in the A2 class.
What gives us pause is that, for many Guzzi fans, a Guzzi without a V-twin and shaft drive loses part of its identity. The price and full official specs are also still missing. And its style is more modern roadster than classic: it has a round headlight and clean lines, but it is not a retro like the V7.
A base for a cafe racer?
With its tubular steel frame, round headlight and compact engine, The Trip could be a good base for a light cafe racer or street tracker. If you convert one in Spain, these are the modifications to check first, case by case and depending on your registration document:
- Handlebar: clip-ons or a low bar change the riding position and the steering lock.
- Exhaust: a new silencer must be type-approved and meet the noise limits.
- Subframe: a solo tail affects the passenger seat.
- Headlight: replacing the stock LED headlight needs approval.
- Turn signals and taillights: type-approved and fitted where the rules say.
This is general guidance and does not replace the judgment of the ITV (the Spanish roadworthiness test) station. Find out how legalizing modifications works (in Spanish). In the shop you will find handlebars and clip-ons. And if you want ideas with the classic V-twin, take a look at the Moto Guzzi V7 II Racer or the V7 cafe racer by Macco Motors.
Source and credits
Official information: Grupo Piaggio (EICMA 2026 press release). Extended specs: Motorcycle.com and Moto.it. Photos: Moto Guzzi. This article is our own summary and commentary.
