Moto Guzzi The Trip 500| Coming Soon
Curiously-named A2 class roadster brings Guzzi style to a more affordable price, though there’s no trad V2
Words by: Dan Trent
Published on 3 November 2026 | 0 min read
While there’s much talk of a demographic timebomb with an aging rider cohort here in the UK there are parts of the world where motorcycling is a much younger pursuit. And manufacturers have responded with a new and increasingly diverse range of affordable bikes capped within the restricted A2 licence power rules to cater to them.
We’ve just ridden Harley-Davidson’s new five-grand Sprint 440 and Norton is also getting in on the act with its distinctive looking 450 Urban. And here’s Moto Guzzi with its new The Trip 500, reviving fond memories of smaller-capacity bikes from its past with a combination of modern-retro styling and tech.
What is The Trip 500?
More details will likely follow but we’d speculate The Trip 500 shares much with the Tuono 457 from its Piaggio partner Aprilia, which would explain the parallel-twin engine format likely to upset Guzzi purists who associate the brand with its traditional longitudinal V-twin and shaft drive arrangement.
As much an aesthetic signature as it is a technical one, the absence of the classic V-twin and its outboard cylinder heads does rob The Trip 500 of some visual drama. But in all other respects it follows the lead of bigger Guzzis like the V7 and Stelvio with its smart mix of trad looks and modern engineering. Power is bang-on the 47 horsepower A2 limit, this and the 180kg weight promising lively performance like that we enjoyed on the Tuono 457. One obvious difference with that bike is the Guzzi’s twin-shock rear end, which helps differentiate it from its racier cousin. A big 15-litre tank is another brand signature, and should see the 500 go a long way on a fill.
The younger riders it’s aimed at like their tech, and there’s apparently a 3.6-inch TFT with optional integrated nav, backlit switchgear and an optional quickshifter if you want it. Colour options range from the classic green seen here through black and red options also.
Pricing will be key, the Tuono 457 costing a little over £6,000 the benchmark Honda CB500 Hornet priced around the same and always a popular bike in the class. If Moto Guzzi can put itself among them it could be onto a winner, with or without that signature V2.