The Moto Guzzi V7 platform has gained a reputation for being a practical modern classic, but it’s not often that we see wild customizations of this bike. However, when Efraon Triana at UFO Garage in Madrid was tasked with building a family-friendly Moto Guzzi V7 sidecar rig, he knew it was time to go all out.
The customer, Mike, wanted a bike that he could enjoy with his wife and two daughters in the Swiss countryside. This meant that the sidecar needed to have two seats, so Efraon and his team got to work. They started by building a tubular steel frame for the sidecar, matching the 18″ wheel to the V7. The sidecar’s suspension system is cleverly hidden within the spokes of the wheel.
The capsule itself is a work of art, with hand-formed steel sheets and exquisite details. The sidecar features government-approved child car seats upholstered in vegetable-tanned leather, as well as a sidecar headlight and wood-trimmed sidestep. A modified windshield from an early Kawasaki GSX-R and a flowing side fender protect the passengers from the elements.
To integrate the sidecar with the V7, the bike’s frame was modified and its subframe chopped and looped. The finished frame, rocker covers, and alternator cover were then sent off for chrome plating. The stock seat was reshaped and covered in the same vegetable-tanned leather as the sidecar’s interior.
In order to handle the unique characteristics of a sidecar rig, Efraon used an Earles fork, which is a type of leading-link front end. He built the front suspension himself, based on a BMW R69, and added a steering damper for stability. Custom mounting brackets hold the custom front fender in place, while a 3D-printed headlight bucket based on early BMW designs houses the factory Moto Guzzi speedo.
The rest of the trim includes Renthal handlebars, leather-wrapped grips, and Motone switches. Matching taillights were added to both the V7 and the sidecar, and a custom-made roll bar was installed at the back. The bike was painted in a Candy Apple Red color from House of Kolor, giving it a vintage hot rod vibe.
Efraon describes the project as both fun and challenging, as it was his first time building a motorcycle with a sidecar. However, he is confident that the Moto Guzzi V7 family wagon will turn heads on the Swiss roads and provide Mike and his family with a lifetime of memories.
This Moto Guzzi V7 sidecar rig is a testament to the joy of motorcycling and the ability to create something unique and practical for the whole family to enjoy.