Moto Guzzi The Trip 500: An A2 Roadster That Breaks Tradition
Moto Guzzi's The Trip 500 drops the V-twin and shaft drive for a 48 hp parallel twin and chain. Specs, expected price and what A2 riders should know.
Image: Property of Moto Guzzi
In this article
What The Trip actually is
Moto Guzzi officially unveiled The Trip on October 28, 2026 and called it the first of a new model generation. It is a 500-class roadster aimed squarely at A2 licence holders, riders coming back after a break, and experienced riders who want something light for everyday use. It is also the smallest Moto Guzzi in the range, slotting in below the 853 cc V7. The public premiere is at EICMA in Milan, which runs November 3 to 8, 2026, and the bike reaches dealers in early 2027.
It breaks two of the brand's oldest traditions
For decades a Moto Guzzi meant two cylinder heads sticking out into the wind either side of the tank, and a shaft drive instead of a chain. The Trip has neither. A liquid-cooled parallel twin sits in the frame, and power reaches the rear wheel through a chain. The engine comes from the Piaggio Group, which also owns Aprilia, where it powers the RS 457 and Tuono 457. Moto Guzzi is clear that this is not a rebadged Aprilia: the frame, tail section and styling are its own, and mainly the wheels and a few small parts are shared with the Tuono 457. Chain drive is not actually heretical for the marque, which used chains for a long time before the V-twin and shaft became its signature.
The numbers that matter for an A2 rider
Power is just under 48 hp, or 35 kW, which puts The Trip exactly at the A2 licence ceiling rather than near it. Ready-to-ride weight is 180 kg, or about 397 lb, against 218 kg (481 lb) for the V7 Stone, so the difference is not cosmetic. Seat height starts at 790 mm, about 31.1 inches, and the steel tank holds 15 litres, roughly 3.96 US gallons. The crank uses a 270-degree offset, so the parallel twin is staggered rather than firing both pistons together, which gives it a sound closer to a 90-degree V-twin than a typical parallel twin. Moto Guzzi has not published displacement or torque figures yet, so any number you see quoted for those is inference, not specification.
Chassis and equipment, and what is still unknown
The frame is a newly designed tubular steel item rather than Aprilia's aluminium twin-spar. Up front there is an upside-down fork, and at the rear a single shock mounted on the right side with no linkage, similar in layout to the V85 TT. ABS is standard. Standard equipment includes ride-by-wire with three riding modes (Road, Sport and Rain), a round 3.6-inch TFT display with smartphone connectivity, LED lighting and backlit handlebar switches. A quickshifter and navigation are accessories only. Moto Guzzi has not released suspension travel, brake disc sizes or whether traction control is fitted, so treat those as open questions until the full spec sheet lands at EICMA.
Price: expected, not confirmed
There is no official price yet, and Moto Guzzi has said it will announce one at EICMA. Reporting from the launch puts the expectation at roughly 6,000 euros, about 6,700 US dollars, plus on-road costs. That would place it below the Aprilia Tuono 457 it shares an engine with, and roughly 500 euros under the cheapest BMW F 450 R, the other new A2 naked for 2027. The BMW makes 48 hp (35 kW) from 420 cc, weighs 175 kg (386 lb) ready to ride, and runs 6,490 to 7,220 euros (about 7,250 to 8,065 US dollars) in Germany across four variants. On paper the BMW is 5 kg lighter and better equipped at the base level, with traction control, heated grips and a 6.5-inch TFT. The Guzzi's counter is character and a lower price, and only one of those is confirmed so far. No Canadian pricing or availability has been announced.
First impressions, and why to discount them slightly
Early riding impressions come from a single outlet, the German magazine Motorrad, so weight them accordingly. Its tester described the bike as very light, turning in easily and staying composed at lean, with a relaxed riding position that let a 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) rider put both feet flat. The clutch reportedly pulls with one finger, the three modes feel distinctly different, and the bike will roll through town at 50 km/h (31 mph) in top gear. Brakes are Bybre, Brembo's Indian brand, and were described as easy to modulate despite a simple master cylinder. The suspension soaked up most bumps, only reaching its limit over rapid successive impacts. Tyres are Eurogrip in 110 front and 150 rear, slightly vague when cold and fine once warm. That is one rider's read on one day, not a verdict.
Who should care, and who should wait
If you are an A2 rider in Canada, the relevant fact is that nothing about Canadian availability or pricing has been announced, and A2 licensing rules here do not map neatly onto European categories. If you are an experienced rider looking for a light second bike, the 180 kg (397 lb) figure and 790 mm (31.1 in) seat are genuinely appealing, and a 15 litre (3.96 US gal) tank is enough for a comfortable day without planning around fuel stops. The honest recommendation is to wait for EICMA. The full specification, the confirmed price and the first proper comparison tests all land within the next few weeks, and every one of those will change the calculation more than this week's preview does.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will the Moto Guzzi The Trip cost?
Moto Guzzi has not confirmed a price and says it will announce one at EICMA. Reporting from the launch expects roughly 6,000 euros, about 6,700 US dollars, plus on-road costs.
What engine does the Moto Guzzi The Trip use?
A liquid-cooled parallel twin shared with the Aprilia RS 457 and Tuono 457, producing just under 48 hp (35 kW), which is the A2 licence limit. Moto Guzzi has not published displacement or torque yet.
Does the Moto Guzzi The Trip have shaft drive?
No. It uses chain final drive, breaking with the shaft drive the brand has used on its V-twin models for decades.
When does the Moto Guzzi The Trip go on sale?
It has its public premiere at EICMA in Milan, November 3 to 8, 2026, and reaches dealers in early 2027. Canadian availability and pricing have not been announced.
Is the Moto Guzzi The Trip good for beginners?
It is aimed at A2 licence holders and returning riders, with 48 hp (35 kW), a 180 kg (397 lb) ready-to-ride weight and a 790 mm (31.1 in) seat height. Independent testing is still limited to a single first-ride report.