The Goodwood Test: Moto Guzzi MGX-21 Flying Fortress

Heritage

Moto Guzzi is Italy’s oldest motorcycle marque, dating back to 1921 when the firm was founded by two friends from the Italian Air Force. Guzzi still builds bikes in its charismatic old factory in Mandello del Lario, on the banks of Lake Lecco. The history-steeped buildings include a pioneering wind tunnel that was used to develop world championship winning racebikes in Guzzi’s glory era of the Fifties.

But unfortunately for Guzzi, most motorcyclists in the US – an obvious prime market for its mostly retro-themed V-twins – are barely aware that the old firm still exists. That’s despite the fact that its most famous model is the California, originally developed in the Seventies with help from the Los Angeles Police Department. Hence the launch of the MGX-21 Flying Fortress, which has been created to raise Guzzi’s US profile and even gets a name to help.

Design

With its “batwing” fairing, sound system and panniers, the carbon-fibre clad, red-highlighted MGX-21 is a bagger, aimed at the popular US sector that includes Harley-Davidson’s top-selling Super Glide. The 21 in its name refers to its 21-inch diameter front wheel, an oversized feature popular with customisers. In the MGX’s case this has a carbon-fibre shroud that adds to the visual impact, and also to the weight.

The Fortress is a striking bike, also featuring carbon-fibre on its petrol tank and pannier covers, front mudguard and belly-pan. Apart from red cylinder heads its 1380cc, air-cooled V-twin engine is identical to that of Guzzi’s California Touring, complete with three riding modes and a maximum output of 96bhp. The tubular steel frame is strengthened for increased rigidity. Red-finished Brembo front brake calipers add further visual contrast to the bold black MGX.

Performance

Guzzi’s big, softly tuned V-twin engine is wonderfully flexible, happy to pull sweetly almost from idle with a gentle exhaust throbbing and a pleasingly long-legged character. Acceleration is strong for a bike that weighs a substantial 340kg. Its broad fairing and efficiently rubber-mounted motor allow smooth, effortless cruising at 80mph plus. But it’s best to slow down slightly if you don’t want the powerful, Bluetooth-enabled sound system to be drowned out by turbulence tumbling over the low screen.

Moto Guzzis have a reputation for sound handling and the MGX works well at speed, staying reassuringly stable and providing a compliant and well-controlled ride. But the heavy front wheel prompted Guzzi to fit a steering damper whose resistance increases as the handlebar is turned, which gives a slightly imprecise feel in town. Further plus marks are generated by the slick-shifting, shaft-drive transmission and the powerful brake system, which features radial four-piston Brembo front calipers.

Passion

The MGX-21 is a unique bike that blends Italian engineering with American glitz and generally makes the unlikely combination work. At £20,000 minus a few lire it’s expensive, even alongside Guzzi’s California Touring, which provides similar performance plus more traditional style for two grand less. But the Flying Fortress has the edge with its fairing and sound system, and most of all its radical, carbon-clad look.

It also has exclusivity on its side, because it is being produced in relatively small numbers, and sold only in a handful of Guzzi dealers. If you like the MGX’s radical look you’d probably love the bike, although its slightly quirky slow-speed handling divides opinion. Either way, the Flying Fortress is leading Guzzi’s renewed attack on the US market, and confirming that Italy’s oldest bike marque has a fashion sense that is bang up to date.

Price tag of our bike: £19,999