This Stunning Italian Motorcycle Boasts an Unlikely, Sui Generis Innovation

The fact that it’s Moto Guzzi’s highest-performance bike ever only adds to the appeal.

Published June 30, 2025

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Updated June 30, 2025

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If I were to ask you which legendary brand engineered and built the first-ever motorcycle-specific wind tunnel, what would you say?

Based on their success at the highest levels of racing in MotoGP, most likely you’d pick Ducati, Honda or Yamaha. All good guesses, but way off. The correct answer is (wait for it) Moto Guzzi.

moto guzzi v100 mandello wind tunnel full — Literal translation: “Aerodynamic resistance offered by conventional scale test vehicles for use by pilots.”

That’s right; the brand likely best known these days for the charmingly retro-styled V7 roadster was on the cutting edge of aerodynamics in the mid-1950s, when its Mandello del Lario-based wind tunnel began measuring drag with actual riders, bikes and airflow.

Fittingly, some 71 years later, the 104-year-old Italian brand honors that innovation with a special edition of its highest-tech bike yet — the V100 Mandello Wind Tunnel.

Classic design, modern innovation

Perhaps no bike on earth manages to blend heritage and performance quite like this one.

Its liquid-cooled 1,042cc engine makes a robust 115 hp at 8,7000 rpm and 105 Nm of torque at 6,750 rpm.

moto guzzi v100 mandello wind tunnel face — The sideways jut of the V-twin engine is unique, if not exclusive, to Moto Guzzi motorcycles.

Even so, true to the brand’s history, you better believe it’s a transverse 90-degree V-twin.

In layman’s terms, that means its engine is rotated a quarter-turn so it sticks out the sides of the bike.

This feature is so distinctive that even with all branding removed, the cognoscenti could instantly recognize it as a Moto Guzzi.

That doesn’t slow the V100 down, however. After all, it’s the first moto to boast what the brand calls “adaptive aerodynamics.”

moto guzzi v100 mandello wind tunnel reverse angle — See that little cutout section above the eagle logo? That’s one of the auto-deploying deflectors.

It features two side deflectors, little flaps that deploy automatically once you hit a certain speed, protecting you from wind, water and adverse weather.

Bonus: the windscreen can be electronically raised and lowered for optimal wind deflection and comfort.

High style, higher tech

While the notes above apply to all three V100 bikes, a few touches make the Wind Tunnel edition stand out.

Its deep red livery is a stunner — and contrary to popular belief, not more likely to get you pulled over.

moto guzzi v100 mandello wind tunnel tribute detail — The deflectors are fittingly festooned with a bit of text and a graphic honoring Moto Guzzi’s early wind tunnel tech.

The striking body color is set off by a black tail and front mudguard —and complemented by gold, champagne and silver accents throughout the rest of the silhouette.

Printed in gold on the deflectors, meanwhile, are the words “Wind Tunnel 1954” and a classic propeller graphic.

Looks aside, I’d be remiss not to shout out the bevy of tech Moto Guzzi snuck into this bike.

From a pure performance standpoint, it features Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 semi-active suspension, Quick Shift bidirectional gear change, cornering ABS and IMU.

moto guzzi v100 mandello wind tunnel tech — The wind tunnel is still used to this day to test bikes and, surprisingly, bobsled gear.

For the safety and comfort, it boasts a built-in tire pressure monitoring system, heated handgrips and Moto Guzzi MIA, whereby you can pair your phone and interact with a full-color display between the bars to manage calls, messages, music, navigation and more.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering: the wind tunnel remains operational to this day.

Availability and pricing

The Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello Wind Tunnel is available now for $16,990.

Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello Wind Tunnel

Starts at $16,990

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.