Moto Guzzi The Trip at EICMA 2026

Moto Guzzi has something completely new at EICMA 2026 in Milan, and you get the best view of it from higher up on the podium. It's called The Trip, and it's an accessible, laid-back, charismatic Guzzi. The first one is just standing on a podium, and so is the next one at the Moto Guzzi stand, even though I'd love to sit on it so you can get a sense of the proportions. What stands out immediately: this Guzzi breaks with almost everything that has defined the brand so far. No shaft drive, no cylinders sticking out to the left and right of the bike. Instead, a compact twin sits in the frame. I'm curious what the critics will say about it. But the longer I stand in front of it, the clearer it becomes why Moto Guzzi is taking this step: the brand wants to reach people who have never even considered a Guzzi before.

Instead of the typical Guzzi "Tutteln", as the sideways-protruding cylinders are called in Austria, The Trip uses a regular engine from within the group. On the data board at the stand I read 457 cc, and according to reports it's a parallel twin already known from within the group. Moto Guzzi quotes just under 48 hp, exactly the maximum for the A2 licence, plus 43.5 Nm. Up front there's a 41 mm fork, and its preload is even adjustable. And then the weight: 180 kg wet weight. For me this is probably the lightest Guzzi, though I'm not entirely sure. It's accessible, it's compact, and it will be cheaper than the familiar models. That means it could open up a completely new customer segment for Moto Guzzi. What the critics say about it will be interesting. For me, these are new paths for Guzzi, and I dig them.

Then I do find a The Trip I'm allowed to sit on. And lo and behold: it fits, bang, just like that. The controls follow a logic you know from the Aprilias. This is a completely new Guzzi, and I find that fun. According to Moto Guzzi, seat height starts at 790 mm, with optional seats at 770 and 820 mm. The tank is made of metal and holds 15 litres, the round 3.6-inch TFT comes with smartphone connectivity, plus there are three riding modes. It will be at official dealers in early 2027, and at launch there will also be the special series The Opening. Is it okay for a heritage brand to open up a little? Yes! Young people should be able to ride a charismatic brand too. For me, that's absolutely spot on.

How the new Guzzi comes across next to the familiar models is shown in my four-hour walkaround of EICMA 2026 on the 1000PS YouTube channel. Moto Guzzi comes up after just under two hours, this link jumps straight to the stand. You'll see The Trip on the podium, my look at the data board with the performance figures, and the sit test, where I also take a close look at the controls. The stand segment is short, but it shows well how radically Moto Guzzi is rethinking things this time. If you stick around afterwards, you get more than 40 other stands, from Honda to Ducati to KOVE, with sit tests, stand chats and clear verdicts. Four hours of EICMA to watch on demand, with no crowds and no admission ticket.

• The Trip 500: 457 cc parallel twin (according to reports), just under 48 hp (A2-compliant), 43.5 Nm at 6,500 rpm, 180 kg wet weight, seat height 790 mm (optionally 770 or 820 mm), 15 l metal tank, 41 mm fork with adjustable preload, three riding modes, round 3.6-inch TFT, at dealers early 2027, price not yet announced