2020 Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber 850/Roamer 850

If you’re a fan of Guzzi’s popular V7 models but just wished for a bit more muscularity, power, and grunt, then the Italian marque’s new-ish V9 platform, introduced in 2016, might be the ticket. There are two separate models, the V9 Roamer and the V9 Bobber, both sporting a more laid-back cruiser aesthetic, and both powered by the V9-specific, 850cc transverse V engine paired with a six-speed transmission, and of course, shaft drive. The painted and chromed Roamer may be more colorful, and it also sports a 19-inch front wheel, while the Bobber rolls on two 16-inch wheels with a fatter hoop up front. The blacked-out V9 Bobber also differs from the V9 Roamer with its more crouched and sporty riding position thanks to a lower, drag-style handlebar and the different footpeg positioning.

Our editors agreed that the V9s are “exceptionally user friendly, with an engine spec’d specifically for rideability. If you can ride a motorcycle, you will feel instantly instinctively at home on this motorcycle,” though they also thought the Bobber with the 16-inch front wheel handled slightly better in slow sharp-turning situations than the Roamer.

For 2020, the V9 series retains both the Roamer and the Bobber, both returning unchanged this year save for different color options on each.