Built to accomodate the daily commute or a bare bones cross country ride, the V7 Wayward from Hammarhead Industries is your minimalist’s dream motorcycle. Unveiled in late January of this year and based on the Moto Guzzi V7 Classic, the V7 Wayward is a loud, powerful mid-sized bike designed to take shit from no one–like everything HHI makes. So, when owner, designer and builder James Hammarhead asked if we’d like to be the first to take it for a spin, of course the answer was yes.
Upon laying eyes on the V7 Wayward for the first time we were surprised at its rather modest size, though any thoughts of inadequacy were instantly lost when the head-turning 744cc V-Twin engine kicked over. After a few hot laps around Nolita with our contributor Joel Niedfeldt at the helm we headed over the Williamsburg Bridge for the chance to really open her up. Once in Brooklyn we got a feel for the bike’s nimble nature and responsive suspension, impressing us at variable speeds in and out of traffic.
Outfitted with two permanently attached waxed cotton panniers and peppered with a slew of other custom components—riser bars for a more upright ride, bar end mirrors, tucked in taillights—the V7 Wayward skips unnecessary bells and whistles. For more information visit Hammarhead Industries online where the V7 Wayward is available for custom order from $15,500.
Images by Gregory Stefano