My 2024 V7 Special Edition had an RRP of £9500. The new V7 Sport - which adds an IMU for lean sensitive ABS and traction control, cruise control, upside-down forks and a second front brake disk had an RRP of £9700.
From all the videos of new bike releases etc this figure seems pretty standard for new model years, even when new kit is added.
The two versions of the V100 is something other manufacturers do too when adding expensive kit like electronic damping.
Right on! Lean in, gas it and go. Most of the time unless you think you are Hicky, your tyres have about 15% more than you think. If that fails then you low side and slide. Better than hitting a tree or a drystone dyke. 
I agree - these driver safety aids in cars… lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition etc are hideous. I volunteer for blood bikes and drive the fleet cars (a Toyota and a Kia) and those bongs and beeps and messages on the dash in tiny text, and the thing trying and failing to keep a straight line on a dark wet road with no defined edge… all just a distraction (especially at three in the morning). I’ve driven for three decades with zero at fault accidents and no tickets/points - it’s not hard and these things don’t make me any safer.
However, bikes don’t (yet) get that stuff. Cruise control and smarter ABS aren’t distracting and aren’t trying to think for you.
I can’t imagine any biker ever would jump on a bike and think ‘it’s got an IMU I can put less effort in’.
With fuel injection and even basic ABS many bikes have had electronics for decades. No reason to think electronics have suddenly got less reliable.
Are those that want the old experience really riding bikes with kick-starts and rod brakes? If not, are you cross at what you already have?
Those of us who enjoy the simple, old bike experience are riding an old bike to get that experience. Even the best retro bikes are far more refined and easier to ride than the real thing.
Modern performance is great but I think electronics have become to intrusive for me. ABS and TC generally sit there in the background and don’t effect the ride at all unless its already going wrong.
I thought I made the point that I have no issue with proven electronics that serve a functional and worthwhile purpose but do it efficiently in the background. No I don’t want to revert to outmoded vintage hardware that is less efficient or functional. Upgraded braking systems, traction control and the like are an advantage on two or four wheels. I do not however need an IMU to test the limits of my feel and control and certainly would not rely on them to remind me when to back off. They are not there to encourage me to explore stupid limits and save me paying attention as you seem to suggest.
An example if you like to which you seem to have experience of? I recently undertook a 900 mile round trip in a long wheelbase rental van doing 90% on motorways. During the first 100 miles I seriously thought there was something wrong with either tyres or the steering due to subtle sideways skips on white lines. Then I began to get aggravating repeated warnings flashing up of “driver fatigue!” Visually distracting and also functionally having to keep cancelling the screen. I was constantly having to actively control the steering every time I changed lanes.
The return journey was even worse as there were long stretches of near monsoon level rain resulting in huge restrictions on the M6 due to flooding. The steering corrections became quite concerning for long periods. Finally the fatigue warning started being a bright red full info screen wide affair reacting not to any problem with me but misinterpretation of my necessary corrective inputs.
I have driven all manner of large commercial vehicles all my life including three periods for a living, long distance and day and night driving.
My daily driver in retirement is a13yr old diesel Accord in perfect mechanical shape but none of these nonsensical ‘driver safety aids’ as they claim to be so admit I was unused to being subjected to interference with my vehicle control which I only later clocked the damned lane keeper was what was initiating the distracting and, in my view, dangerous interventions.
It has gotten silly! Marketing ploys disguised as safety features to keep peoples attention on what they should be doing without prompting. That is what encourages lack of “putting effort in!” As I said above somewhere it is “dumbing down” predicated on the idiot lowest common denominator road users.
Over the last decades we have seen introduction of mandatory crash helmets, laminated windscreens, stricter and better airbags and child safety seats. All tremendously useful and life saving. Good tech! What we have failed to do is teach people to be better drivers.
I think this discussion may have departed from whether a new factory is good or not and on to writing spec sheets for new models.
I once had a discussion with Jaguars design director (not the current one) and he said whatever you do is wrong. They’ll complain the F Type isn’t an exact recreation of an E Type but if it were, they’d complain the faults hadn’t been fixed. If they recreated the E Type and fixed the faults, they’d complain the character was gone. If they made it super modern and amazing then they’d complain its not a real Jaguar. Whatever a historic manufacturer makes will always be wrong!
I think we’re agreeing. The only difference is I don’t think IMUs are fitted so riders can test anything, or push too far - they are simply a box that works in the background to step in if you should really cock something up. It can’t make riders do anything different to what they already do.
As for the new Guzzi factory and the experience that goes with it I say bring it on. It’s still at the home of Guzzi and, being something new, might make people that have visited previously think they ought to go again to have a look. I don’t see it as a death knell that some seem to worry it may be.
Choice is a good thing and change isn’t always something to be scared of.
As long as they don’t try to become a lifestyle brand rather than a motorbike manufacturer, we’re all good.
That was exactly my point having watched HD go into an era of utter turmoil . Fingers crossed 
for MG
I can’t see them going that direction. Harley are owned by capital investors with an interest in money, not bikes. Moto-Guzzi are owned by Piaggio who have never shown any interest of making anything other than motorbikes and scooters
Yeah, marketing is always best left to someone with NO IDEA.
My biggest bug bear is the non-availability of spare parts in the UK for the older machines plus the dealer network being sparse.
They seem to be moving in the right direction so maybe in a few more years time we will see more dealers and service centres.
“ Moto Guzzi has experienced recent production growth, with over 10,000 units produced in 2023. In the first half of 2024, combined sales for Moto Guzzi and Aprilia in Europe reached a record 11,888 motorcycles driven by the popularity of the V7 and V100 Mandello models. The brand operates as a niche, premium manufacturer with a production capacity of up to 40,000 units annually at its Mandello factory.
Key Sales and Production Trends
These savings may also stimulate increased sales but I still believe they are missing a trick by not playing in the 500cc market either with a lower cost MG entry cruiser/classic or adventure for new owners or oldies wanting something that’s even lighter and useable.
More UK dealerships would definitely be an advantage. Our nearest (Fowlers) is over an hour away and that puts me off buying a new V100 because a service will need a day off work. Ill buy a used one and get it serviced locally, but I want a new one.
Luxury! My nearest 3 dealers are 71, 85 and 90 miles away.
I don’t think any manufacturer can force you to use one of their Dealers for servicing, in fact, I don’t think they can actually force you to go to a dealer at all.
They’ll try, they’ll threaten you with a voided warranty, but I don’t think they can legally.
For cars, but the Law’s the same.
As for needing a 500cc ‘Entry’ Bike in the line-up, I feel the ‘base’ V7 Bikes cover that, aren’t they A2 Licence friendly?
Having said that, I’d love to see a modern version of the Horizontal Single layout, a 400/450 should be plenty.
The V7 may qualify as an A2 bike, but imagine a new V50, or ideally two, a standard and a Monza version, when you see how well things like the CB350 are selling, I reckon they’d easily shift em.. at the right price.
The V7 is A2 compliant but its heavy compared to the 400/500cc bikes that are selling in huge numbers at the moment. Its not just beginners buying them, its a lot of older riders as well who like the light weight, compact dimensions and relative simplicity.
Yeah, you’re spot on.
I actually bought my V7 from an older chap who was changing to a lighter Triumph 400.
IMO Guzzi need a 400-500cc bike asap