Category: Moto Guzzi motorcycles

Morning Glory: Revival’s custom Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer

Post author By Patrick Farrell
Post date January 21, 2019

Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer custom by Revival Cycles
Situated at the crossroads of passion and pragmatism, the team at Revival Cycles knows when it’s time to shred the establishment, and when to walk alongside.

Morning Glory, a fine and upstanding Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer, is the latest display of craftsmanship and creativity to roll out of the Austin, Texas shop—and it’s an official build too.

Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer custom by Revival Cycles
“Moto Guzzi approached us and asked if we would take one of their newly updated models, the V9 Roamer, and customize it to our liking … carte blanche with no limitations” says Revival’s top man, Alan Stulberg.

“As Guzzi fans from way back, Team Revival jumped at the chance to make it happen.”

Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer custom by Revival Cycles
Carte blanche. That’s a big leap for a storied manufacturer such as Moto Guzzi and Revival is a company not known for holding back.

They’ve built oddities like ‘The Six’, a masterfully crafted, minimalist frame fitted with a massive Honda CBX 6-pot mill and hub steering. Plus a neon-colored Ducati ST4 Sidecarcross bike and a BMW S1000RR wrapped using ancient bodywork techniques. They’re not afraid to tear into anything.

Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer custom by Revival Cycles
As it turns out, Revival actually liked most of what they were given from Guzzi.

“That’s probably the point, it didn’t gut me to leave some things alone on this one”, Alan says with a little surprise. “We love Moto Guzzi, there’s so much soul and heart in these machines”.

Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer custom by Revival Cycles
With the heart and soul set, Revival began looking to the skin. “They call it the ‘Roamer’, and we wanted to continue along that theme by bringing in some of the early 1970’s aesthetics.”

“The fish scales, high-and-tight bars, metal flake… We decided to actually stay on-brand for a change!”.

On-brand? Perhaps. On point? Unmistakably.

Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer custom by Revival Cycles
Though the stock controls from the Italian-bred Roamer stayed, the seat, tank, tail and side covers were binned and replaced with an all aluminum unibody, painstakingly hand-formed by Andy, Revival’s resident metalsmith.

“Andy knew what to do. He’s a 70s kind of guy. He lives in a 1978 Bluebird bus with a tufted ceiling. He knows the 70s”, Alan says of his metal shaping master.

Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer custom by Revival Cycles
“The idea was to create something resembling the musings of a mad scientist from the high-pile, shag carpet era”. Extensive wire framing, hammer work, shaping, welding, and polishing rendered the desired effect with enviable accuracy.

With the seat, tank and tail setting the tone, Revival looked to massage the Roamer’s stance.

Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer custom by Revival Cycles
Not known for staying with status quo, using the stock rims was an unlikely yet astute choice for the team. “The wheels are cast alloy units from the Guzzi factory. Most people who see them think they are a custom set specifically made for this machine.”

An aftermarket girder front end was sourced, and reworked a bit, to give the functionality desired by Revival.

Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer custom by Revival Cycles
“With 4.7 inches of trail, the Guzzi has a rather stable cruising style, but still turns in well and has a reasonably light steering feel considering the narrow bars,” says Alan.

“Adding a Firestone rear tire and a skinny Avon tire up front give the bike the right stance and look and emphasize the OEM V9 Roamer wheels.”

Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer custom by Revival Cycles
After the stance was dialed and the look well underway, the merrymakers at Revival built out a fully custom stainless steel exhaust system with twin trumpets heralding the bikes presence. “They belt a mighty roar that sounds even bigger than the bike itself. The damn thing sounds GOOD!”

While it wouldn’t be unusual for Revival to rip the factory controls and electronics off and start fresh, the team agreed that many of components made the final cut straight from the factory.

Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer custom by Revival Cycles
“Uncharacteristically we chose to keep the factory electronics, switches and gauge package. Sure, we moved the speedo and LED readout to the gas tank and set it at a crazy angle, but the factory stuff is all really well done”, Alan says.

“We kept it all. The factory fuel injection is great and keeping things factory meant we also ended up with a bike that has fantastic, usable ABS brakes and traction control!”

Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer custom by Revival Cycles
The result? A vintage whip with all things modern running the show. Passionate, yet pragmatic.

If you’re traveling through the great state of Texas and find yourself in Austin, ring the shop. Morning Glory is available for rent.

Revival Cycles | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Brandon La Joie

Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer custom by Revival Cycles

46Works BikeExif BMW cafe racer BMW motorcycles BMW R100 cafe racer Custom Motorcycles Moto Guzzi Le Mans Moto Guzzi motorcycles Other Motorcycle Blogs

Two new vintage style motorcycles from 46Works

Post author By Chris Hunter
Post date December 7, 2018

Two new vintage style motorcycles from 46Works
It’s around this time of year that all the top Japanese builders release their latest customs. Many workshops have spent weeks burning the midnight oil to get a bike ready for display at the Yokohama show, but Shiro Nakajima of 46Works has been even busier than most—he’s just revealed two amazing new builds.

We’ve been following Nakajima-san’s work very closely over the years, going back to his days as CEO of Ritmo Sereno, Japan’s premier BMW and Moto Guzzi restomod outfit. So when he told us he had not one but two motorcycles to show, we were almost as excited as Japanese game show hosts.

Nakajima has played to his strengths here, with a BMW R100RS and a Moto Guzzi Le Mans 1000—two platforms that he’s very familiar with. And he’s given both machines with an elegant vintage style that’s light years away from the slightly stodgy factory bikes.

Both bikes were commissions, but Nakajima was given completely free rein to do as he wished. Let’s look at the BMW first

It’s a 1991 R100 RS, which means it’s a 980cc boxer. This one’s a rare monolever model; only around 180 were sold in the USA, and a few more were sold in Japan.

Nakajima is focused on performance, so he’s upgraded the forks to a Yamaha/Öhlins and installed them using modified Ducati triple trees. Brembo calipers clamp down on Sunstar discs, aided by a Brembo Radial master cylinder.

The rear suspension is completely reconfigured, and carefully tuned: Nakajima is a racer as well as a builder. The monoshock setup remains, but he’s hooked the Öhlins damper up to a beautifully engineered cantilevered swingarm, with extra metal reinforcement between the tubes.

The rims are Excel’s finest, laced up to a Yamaha hub at the front and an R80G/S hub at the back. The tires are Bridgestone Battlax BT45, a sport/touring compound with good grip and a reasonably classic tread.

To bring the R100RS frame into the 21st century, Nakajima has reinforced it for extra strength. He’s reshaped the back end too, with new aluminum tubing concealed by a pert tail unit fashioned out of fiberglass and topped off with a classy black leather seat from RazzleDazzle.

The tank looks familiar, but it’s a transplant—from a US-spec R75/6. And it’s a perfect match to the custom fiberglass fairing, fronted by a classic Bates headlight.

The rebuilt motor now breathes easy via state-of-the-art Keihin FCR carbs, capped with K&N filters. For the exhaust end, Nakajima has crafted titanium pipework—no easy task, given the expense of the material and the thin walls.

The paint is a classic Spanish blue shade, shot by Stupid Crown, with a traditional BMW white pinstripe. (It’s based on a color Nakajima mixed up for one of his racing helmets.) He describes the effect as “simple beauty, without making a show of eccentricity. A stylish and high-potential cafe racer.”

We reckon he’s nailed it.

The BMW has quite a few parallels with the Moto Guzzi that Nakajima unveiled at the same time. It has the same timeless elegance, and it’s also sporting the Keihin FCR/K&N combo.

But there’s a more laidback vibe to the Le Mans. “The original styling was not simple, and it’s a heavy bike,” he tells us. “So I wanted to make a beautiful motorcycle with a 1970s atmosphere. A lighter weight bike with a comfortable seating position, and suspension and the brakes that work well.”

Nakajima’s installed 41mm Showa forks, using modified Honda triples to get them to fit, with classic twin shocks at the back made by Öhlins.

Everything else is a real mash-up, but it works: a Yamaha hub and brake rotors at the front, a Guzzi hub and Kawasaki rotor at the back, Excel rims, and Brembo calipers all round.

The Le Mans showcases Nakajima’s metal shaping chops, with a hand-made aluminum tank, a sharp upkick to the new subframe, and a stubby, scrambler-style rear fender.

The seat extends the curve of the tank, aligns with the frame ‘triangle,’ and looks exceptionally comfy too—proof that not every custom needs an ironing board perch to look stylish.

Adding to the 70s vibe are a stainless steel exhaust system with reverse cone mufflers, and Dunlop TT100GP tires, which are popular with classic racers.

Our favorite aspect is the paint, though—a most unusual shade of green. “It’s inspired by Porsche and Aston Martin,” says Nakajima, “called ‘olive green’ or ‘California Sage. A very refined and beautiful color that I like it very much.”

We like it very much too. Would it be too much to wish for both these bikes in one’s garage?

46Works | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Hiroshi Kikui

BikeExif Custom Motorcycles Moto Guzzi Le Mans Moto Guzzi motorcycles Other Motorcycle Blogs Wrench Kings

Jean Genie: A Moto Guzzi Le Mans for Vanguard Clothing

Post author By Wesley Reyneke
Post date July 20, 2018

Moto Guzzi Le Mans, built for Vanguard Clothing by Wrench Kings
Clothing labels have been leaning on motorcycle iconography to market their goods for decades. Just look at Belstaff—the entire brand is virtually built on the two-wheeled halo effect. It’s usually as basic as hiring in a cool bike for a shoot, but the Dutch menswear label Vanguard has taken it a massive step further.

For three years running, Vanguard Clothing has commissioned a custom Moto Guzzi every season to accompany its range. This 1981 Le Mans Mk III is the latest, and it’s an absolute jaw-dropper.

Moto Guzzi Le Mans, built for Vanguard Clothing by Wrench Kings
Vanguard pulls no punches in its approach. This Guzzi—and the two before it—was penned by the Swiss firm Gannet Design. It helps that Gannet’s founder, the German-born Ulfert Janssen, is a massive petrolhead with a ten-year stint at Renault in his résumé. Now he tackles everything from cars and motorcycles to lifestyle products and luxury goods.

Ulfert wanted to pay homage to the legendary Le Mans series and Moto Guzzi’s racing heritage. The project was dubbed ‘Master of Endurance’—going for an 80s endurance racer with a futuristic vibe.

Moto Guzzi Le Mans, built for Vanguard Clothing by Wrench Kings
At the same time, Vanguard developed a ‘V850′ capsule collection (named after the Le Mans’ motor), including a pair of moto-inspired jeans. So Ulfert was mindful to include details that would tie the clothing to the bike.

The builders commissioned to bring Ulfert’s vision to life were Joost and Take from Wrench Kings in Bilthoven, the Netherlands. And that meant countless hours of manipulating metal to get it spot-on.

Moto Guzzi Le Mans, built for Vanguard Clothing by Wrench Kings
The fuel tank, lower fairing and tail section are all completely bespoke, hand-formed from aluminum with the help of Marcel from The Custom Factory.

There are a ton of interesting details flowing through this Le Mans—starting with the nose. The bubble fairing itself is an aftermarket part, but the headlight arrangement is pretty unique. Inside the eye-catching bubble is a 7” bucket with modified lights, including two halogen spots.

Moto Guzzi Le Mans, built for Vanguard Clothing by Wrench Kings
Wrench Kings couldn’t find a bubble cover that fitted the style they wanted—so they made their own. “We made it from a flat layer of acrylic, and tried to mold it in the oven,” they tell us. “It resulted in a plastic blob…so we used plant pots and old headlights to force the shape.

In total it took about 30 attempts to get it right!”

Moto Guzzi Le Mans, built for Vanguard Clothing by Wrench Kings
At the tail end, Wrench Kings built a recess into the hump, and cut a ‘V’ out of it. The twin taillights were custom-made—each constructed from five layers of acrylic, with Vanguard’s logo laser-etched in.

The vestigial paint on the bodywork is intentional. “We wanted to get the bike to look as if it could have been a Le Mans racer,” the guys tell us. “With really rough aluminum and bright shiny red, for the perfect contrast.”

Moto Guzzi Le Mans, built for Vanguard Clothing by Wrench Kings
“We sanded the aluminum with rough sand paper to get the scratches in there, painted it all black and then sanded it down with smooth sandpaper, so that only the black remained in the scratches. On top of this we applied a layer of corrosive primer, on top of that we sprayed the color, and then a final 2k top coat.”

All the lines and logos are hand-painted, using templates as a guide. Compare the lines on the side of the tank to the ‘V850’ jeans, and you’ll notice that they mimic the stitching. There were at least three failed attempts before the team got it just perfect.

Moto Guzzi Le Mans, built for Vanguard Clothing by Wrench Kings
There’s a host of fine leather details throughout the bike too—thanks to Jeroen at Silvermachine. They include the seat, kneepads on the tank, grips, and a strap over the top of the tank.

More elements from the jeans tie in here—like the stitching style, rivets and even the zipper on the small stash pocket, on the side of the seat.

Moto Guzzi Le Mans, built for Vanguard Clothing by Wrench Kings
Under the hood, Wrench Kings edited the frame to accommodate the new tail section. They also de-tabbed it, and fabricated new tabs for the electrical bits under the tank. The wiring’s all new, and the battery’s hiding behind the transmission, hidden by the fairing.

The motor itself was in good nick, so they simply serviced it and overhauled the carbs. They then soda blasted the V-twin engine and gearbox, and polished up the heads. Lurking under the fairing is a full stainless steel exhaust system that “will scare little children and make men spontaneously grow chest hair if they ride it!”

Moto Guzzi Le Mans, built for Vanguard Clothing by Wrench Kings
The Le Mans been lowered too. Wrench Kings installed a set of custom-built shocks from YSS at the rear, and made bushings to lower and stiffen the front. They kept the Guzzi’s stock wheels, but painted them red and wrapped them in Dunlop Roadsmart 3 tires (“We do like to have a bit of grip while cornering,” they joke.)

Most of the OEM Brembo braking system was kept, but the team installed new master cylinders all around, which has reportedly made a tangible difference. The foot controls are from Tarozzi, but they’re mounted on one-off plates that were laser-cut from stainless steel.

Moto Guzzi Le Mans, built for Vanguard Clothing by Wrench Kings
But it’s the cockpit that really stands out. “The cockpit was heavily inspired by old fighter planes,” explains Ulfert, “with gauges and flip switches.” Wrench Kings fabricated a mounting plate, and then kitted it with a pair of dials from Daytona and a host of customized switches.

The clip-ons are still the original Le Mans items. “They were on the bike and we loved them,” the Wrench Kings tell us. “Only Italians can make a design like that!”

Moto Guzzi Le Mans, built for Vanguard Clothing by Wrench Kings
It’s a helluva lot of work to sell some jeans, but we’re glad Vanguard made the effort. This fresh take on the beloved Le Mans has us itching to see what this dream team cooks up next year.

For now, the Master of Endurance will be on display in select Vanguard stockists. But fear not—it’ll also be taking to the streets for this year’s Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride.

Moto Guzzi Le Mans, built for Vanguard Clothing by Wrench Kings

BikeExif cafe racer Custom Bikes of the Week Custom Motorcycles Moto Guzzi motorcycles Other Motorcycle Blogs

Custom Bikes Of The Week: 3 June, 2018

Post author By Matt Neundorf
Post date June 3, 2018

The best cafe racers, scramblers and bobbers of the week
Moto Guzzi’s Bellagio gets a glamorous new set of clothes. Vladimir Putin gets a new motorcycle, with a little help from Kalashnikov. And the French photographer and racer Dimitri Coste gets acquainted with the Indian FTR1200 prototype. It’s been a pick’n’mix kinda week.

The Rostec Izh: A motorcycle designed for President Putin
Rostec Izh concept Ever wondered what bike Vladimir Putin would ride, when he’s not shirtless on a horse? Wonder no longer. The Izh is a concept motorcycle developed by the Russian corporate juggernaut Rostec and the makers of everyone’s favorite assault rifle, Kalashnikov.

With a nine-and-a-half foot long wheelbase and a curb weight of 1,124 pounds (510 kg), the Izh probably isn’t the most nimble of machines. You may be thinking it’s because in Soviet Russia, bike rides you—but the extra payload comes from bodywork designed to stop bullets. Which seems unnecessary, since the rider is still fully exposed but looks and sounds as badass as Ivan Drago with a broadsword.

The Rostec Izh: A motorcycle designed for President Putin
Despite this, Kalashnikov cites a 0-60 mph time of an impressive 3.5 seconds: at 133 lbs-ft, there’s enough torque to uproot a Siberian Elm. They also claim 250 kph (155 mph) as the top speed for this beast, so we hope the binders are well in check too.

Details on the powerplant are scant but it’s obviously a boxer motor, presumed to be liquid cooled, with a reported 148 hp on tap. The first batch of Izh are apparently being commissioned as we speak, specifically for Putin’s motorcade, but you can expect a few oligarchs to place orders soon after. [More]

Moto Guzzi Bellagio cafe racer by South Garage
Moto Guzzi Bellagio by South Garage The crew at Milan-based South Garage has a reputation for subtlety: a nip here, a tuck there and smooth lines everywhere else. Their sublime creations exude style and attention to detail, and really grab the peepers around here.

The Phoenix is SG’s take on the Moto Guzzi Bellagio, Mandello del Lario’s cruiser-ish roadster from about a decade ago. The Bellagio’s shortcomings stemmed from odd proportions, so SG went to work in the fabrication shop to right those wrongs.

Moto Guzzi Bellagio cafe racer by South Garage
The new tank is a handmade aluminum unit, sculpted to look at home in a Guzzi showroom, and the rear is now a hand-laid, one-piece carbon fiber unit topped with an Alcantara seat. The visual change is utterly sublime and suits the bruiser stance to a T.

In terms of performance, the Phoenix has been treated to a plethora of niceties including carbon fiber Kineo wheels, custom mounted Öhlins suspenders, and extra sticky Pirelli rubber. But it doesn’t stop with the changes you can see. Engine work, combined with a custom exhaust, has coaxed an extra 20 ponies from this transverse twin. [More]

Suzuki Katana race bike by Team Kagayama
Suzuki Katana by Team Kagayama If you wanna see Chris, Wes and I nod in unison, roll up on a Hans Muth-designed first gen Katana. If you wanna see us start to salivate, roll up on this one—a race ready custom with the powerplant from a 185 hp Gixxer Thou.

This jaw dropping piece of 80s nostalgia is the creation of the Team Kagayama racing outfit, and the goal of team boss Yukio Kagayama is to win the ‘Taste of Tsukuba’ race. But there’s much more at play than a simple engine swap. The GSX-R1000 needed a full suite of custom electrical work to make everything communicate, and the lower half of the frame had to be custom built to fit the new motor and beef up rigidity for race duty.

Suzuki Katana race bike by Team Kagayama
When the original Katana hit the streets in 1980, Suzuki claimed it was the fastest mass production moto on the market. This one is undoubtedly faster, but rumors abound that a new Katana may be heading to market. Here’s hoping they follow Kagayama’s lead and look to the past for the aesthetics. [More]

Custom Yamaha SR400 by Benjies Cafe Racer
Yamaha SR400 by Benjies Cafe Racer Unfortunately, for most of us, lane splitting is a two-wheeled advantage we just can’t exploit. Despite the many documented benefits for traffic flow and rider safety, most legislation simply won’t follow the logic. But that didn’t stop Benjie Flipprboi from creating this lithe traffic scalpel when a local Yamaha dealer tapped him for a custom creation.

Custom Yamaha SR400 by Benjies Cafe Racer
‘Lane Splitter 54’ is based on a 2016 Yamaha SR400, and its width has been shaved to a slender 54 centimeters (21 inches). The work began with ditching the SR’s subframe, as the stock unit was just too bulky to get where Benjie wanted. A stainless steel tail and seat assembly was fabricated and mounted on the new, elevated perch. The metalwork is spot on and the custom exhaust exits through the tail unit.

Custom Yamaha SR400 by Benjies Cafe Racer
The front fairing and tank are both hand formed aluminum units, again designed to minimize girth while maximizing style. The dash has been re-jigged; the tach has been frenched into the tank and the speedo now resides below the windscreen. The only feature that added any width during this build is the disc brake: it now has an art deco-inspired vented cover, again crafted from aluminum, which looks fantastic. [More]

Dimitri Coste rides the Indian FTR1200 Every enthusiast with petrol pulsing through their veins must be waiting with bated breath for Indian to finally pull the wraps off the civilian-spec FTR1200. This pending street-tracker, provided it comes from the same mold as the prototype, is the exact weapon Indian needs to grab the extra market share it fervently desires. And just to make sure we’re all still paying attention, they’ve loaned a prototype out to photographer Dimitri Coste.

Dimitri Coste rides the Indian FTR1200
Dimitri didn’t just throw some diffused light onto the bike for PR shots, either. He’s pretty handy at going fast and turnin’ left too, and he got the chance to thrash the FTR1200 around the dirt oval, the way it deserves to be. He’s dubbed this bike ‘The Mistress’ because, in his own words, “Your wife’s gonna be jealous.”

Well, until an FTR1200 lands in our garage, we’re the jealous ones. So hurry up Indian! [More]

BikeExif cafe racer Custom Motorcycles Moto Guzzi motorcycles Other Motorcycle Blogs

One of One: A very limited edition Guzzi V11 from Japan

Post author By Wesley Reyneke
Post date March 28, 2018

One of One: A very limited edition Guzzi V11 from Japan, by Katsu Motorworks
Would you customize a limited edition motorcycle? Moto Guzzi only built 600 units of the V11 Sport Scura, but that didn’t stop Kenji Katsumoto from tearing one apart.

In his defense, the V11 Sport Scura isn’t very pretty. Launched in 2001 as an upgraded big brother to the V11 Sport, it came kitted with Öhlins suspension, Brembo brakes at both ends, its own bikini fairing, and a few carbon fiber bits.

One of One: A very limited edition Guzzi V11 from Japan, by Katsu Motorworks
By all accounts it was a decent enough ride (though not exactly mind-blowing), but it was also porky and pricey. Styling-wise, it awkwardly straddled the line between a café racer and a sport bike.

So the owner of this 2002-model V11 handed it over to Katsumoto-san, and tasked him with building something truly limited.

One of One: A very limited edition Guzzi V11 from Japan, by Katsu Motorworks
Katsumoto-san’s background is actually Harley-Davidsons. He previously worked for a Harley dealer for twelve years, where he obtained Harley’s ‘Master of Technology’ qualification and specialized in metal work and paint.

Then, just a couple of years ago, he decided to go solo, and opened Katsu Motorworks in Fukuoka, Japan. Now he builds everything from retro choppers to café racers and sport bikes.

One of One: A very limited edition Guzzi V11 from Japan, by Katsu Motorworks
This V11 Sport Scura is his first Moto Guzzi build, and it’s an absolutely stellar debut. His client didn’t give him much of a brief—but he did say he wanted a café racer, with a particular Motogadget speedo and FCR carbs.

Katsumoto-san started by liberating the Guzzi of its bodywork—and its subframe. He then fabricated a new subframe from stainless steel, deliberately nudging the seat a couple of inches higher for a more aggressive riding position. And he spent countless hours sanding his welds down, so that he could give the frame a clean, polished finish.

One of One: A very limited edition Guzzi V11 from Japan, by Katsu Motorworks
The next big job—and our favorite feature—was the stealthy exhaust system. Katsumoto-san hand-built the full setup from stainless steel, running the headers over the cylinders rather than under them.

They converge in a silencer, hidden in the tailpiece and exiting behind two mesh screens. Everything was kept close to the frame and tank, and we’re told the mesh covers don’t affect performance at all.

One of One: A very limited edition Guzzi V11 from Japan, by Katsu Motorworks
The fuel tank, seat and tail are all one-offs, shaped from steel. Katsumoto-san aimed for a more traditional café style than the Scura’s stock parts. He also built a new battery box, hidden away underneath the tank.

The black panel on top of the tank looks like it’s been repurposed from someplace else, but it’s actually a custom piece.

One of One: A very limited edition Guzzi V11 from Japan, by Katsu Motorworks
Katsumoto-san bent sections of tubing to form the ribs, and capped it off with a hand-made stainless steel fuel cap. (Look really closely, and you’ll notice that the fasteners on top of the tank have been given the same knurled treatment as the cap.)

On the mechanical side, Katsumoto-san wisely left the stock wheels, brakes and suspension alone, simply adding some new Metzeler Racetec RR hypersport rubber to the mix. The motor and six-speed transmission are stock too, but the EFI system’s been swapped out for a pair of Keihin FCR41 carbs, as per the brief. They’re fed via a pair of stubby velocity stacks.

One of One: A very limited edition Guzzi V11 from Japan, by Katsu Motorworks
Up top, the Guzzi’s finished off with a classic Daytona headlight, a Motogadget speedo on a custom bracket, and Tommaselli grips. Katsumoto-san didn’t throw away all of the Scura’s ‘limited edition’ bits; you can still spot its red heel plates and carbon fiber front fender.

With everything ready to be buttoned up, Katsumoto-san shot the tank and tail in a warm grey, infused with a bit of violet. The result is a slick café racer that keeps the Scura’s best parts, and trades up its worst parts.

And with those fat carbs and exquisite exhaust, it should scream as good as it looks.

Katsu Motorworks | Facebook | Instagram | Images by (and with thanks to) Kazuo Matsumoto

One of One: A very limited edition Guzzi V11 from Japan, by Katsu Motorworks

BikeExif Custom Bikes of the Week Custom Motorcycles Moto Guzzi Le Mans Moto Guzzi motorcycles Other Motorcycle Blogs

Custom Bikes Of The Week: 21 January, 2018

Post author By Matt Neundorf
Post date January 21, 2018

The best cafe racers, scramblers and bobbers of the week
Death Machines Of London return with an aero-inspired Moto Guzzi. A BMW R 1200 ST gets the radical supermoto treatment. And a pair of delivery-mileage icons go under the hammer at Bonhams: a Honda RC30 and a Yamaha FZR 750RT. Time to buy a lottery ticket?

Ducati SuperSport 1000DS by Barn Built Bikes It was many moons ago, but Sven Decoux’s work is no stranger to these parts: the Belgian master built one of the finest Ducati SuperSports I’ve ever seen. Well, Sven’s been at it again and this time around he’s upped the ante well beyond the application of a tricolore scheme.

A keen eye might catch the fact that the tank on this new cafe racer is a touch larger. The client behind the build had dreams of riding into the mountain passes without the need of a fuel stop. Nico Dehart was again tapped to fab the custom tank, this time with a 12-liter capacity, and has done another stellar job. Perched atop the bronzed Ducati trellis frame, Dehart’s work is finished finer than any 750SS that ever rolled out of the factory.

Ducati SuperSport 1000DS by Barn Built Bikes
To better accentuate the paint on both the body and the frame, the L-Twin has been completely blacked out, matching the new Alpina spoked rims. Other hard parts, like the swingarm and rearsets, have been treated to a brushed, raw finish. The end result absolutely nails that classic cafe aesthetic which, trends be damned, still stirs the cockles of our hearts around here. [More]

Moto Guzzi ‘Airforce’ by Death Machines Of London Working from a rusted out and long forgotten 1982 Le Mans MkII, James Hilton and Ray Petty have created one of the prettiest Guzzis we’ve ever seen. Everything that went into Airforce was meticulously and painstakingly crafted, and pays omaggio to Giovanni Ravelli, one of the WW1 fighter pilots who founded Moto Guzzi.

Before the pretty bits could be realized, the donor Guz needed to be stripped down. The transverse twin was rebuilt with new seals, bearings and heads. Dell’Orto carbs were bolted up and breathe through a set of impeccably milled velocity stacks—which have hidden integrated screens that could warrant wall space at the Guggenheim. But of course, many of the details here would.

Moto Guzzi ‘Airforce’ by Death Machines Of London
The bodywork was shaped by hand. Resting on a wooden skeletal frame, the aluminum panels were hand beaten, rolled, hammered and sanded into a fluid silhouette. Traditionally, this process involves the use of filler to smooth out dents and imperfections; DMOL used no filler and the raw finish here wouldn’t tear a tissue.

The custom touches, and there are many, have all been executed with the same levels of expertise. The internally activated throttle grip is the product of hours on the lathe. The inverse levers are perfection, and the ignition system—a proximity sensor-equipped guitar jack—is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. Oh, and let’s not forget that DMOL put this all together in 112 days. [More]

BMW R 1200 supermoto by Tony’s Toy
BMW R 1200 ST by Tony’s Toy The thought of turning a 500+ pound Bavarian into a svelte supermoto is just the kind of crazy that raises our eyebrows around here. Diabolika began life as a fully panniered, Bahn-burning BMW R 1200 ST—but after a stint with Tony Calasso, it found the SuMo within and shed the excess to get down to fighting shape.

Tipping scales now at around 400 pounds, little from the ST has survived the transformation. The weighty Telelever front end has been scrapped in favor of a traditional set-up, complete with USD forks. That meant some intricate re-working of the frame as well, but the result is said to be a much more nimble machine.

BMW R 1200 supermoto by Tony’s Toy
The bulbous touring tank is long gone too: in its place now sits a slender enduro cell from an Aprilia RXV450. Juxtaposed with the beefy boxer engine, the skinny tank and stunter’s perch give Diabolika a hooligan’s stance—that I’m guessing BMW’s engineers may have on a sketch pad somewhere in the R nineT development room. One can dream, right? [More]

1964 Triumph Bonneville 650 by Vintage Steele Chris John and Josh Steele, the duo behind Vermont’s Vintage Steele, aren’t the first dudes to have a crack at this 1964 Bonnie 650. Bonnies have long been a donor of choice for the custom scene, and in the 80s this one was raked out to within an inch of collapse as a chopper.

Thankfully, customizing tastes and haircuts have moved on. Named after the new owner’s restaurant, ‘Fat Crow’ is a clean sheet approach to the vintage bobber style. To make sure the British twin could still churn out some smiles, the engine was subjected to a complete rebuild. It was also treated to an overbore, punching displacement up to 750, before it was meticulously blasted and cleaned to the showpiece level you see now.

1964 Triumph Bonneville 650 by Vintage Steele
Josh and Chris admit that much of the effort on this build was focused on aesthetics—over 80 hours went into paint and pin striping alone—as fabrication needs were minimal. However, some necessities had to be sorted. Up front, a new set of forks from a ‘70 Trumpet were fitted and its tank was poached, too. The hardtail is a bolt-on affair, and the saddle is a Redtail Leather unit. For their first attempt at a bobber build, we’d say Vintage Steele knocked it out of the park. [More]

Original Honda RC30 for sale at Bonhams
Auction Watch: Honda RC30 and Yamaha FZR 750RT Sportbikes, unless they’ve been resto-modded back to glory, don’t usually find space on our servers. But every now and then one pops up that needs to be shared. Or in this case, two: hitting the blocks at Bonhams on January 25th are this 1990 Honda RC30 and an equally gorgeous 1991 Yamaha FZR 750RT.

They’ve left us wanting access to a time machine ASAP, or a winning lottery ticket. And not because the Honda is projected to snag upwards of $50k and the Yammie somewhere around $35k. It’s because bikes of this era are possibly the next big trend on the custom horizon, combining the lines and hairy chests of 70s endurance racers with the performance technology that’s got us to where we are now.

Original Honda RC30 for sale at Bonhams
The Honda RC30 was designed and engineered to deliver World Superbike wins at any cost. Which it did—as well as securing the TT F1 crown, with Carl Fogarty in the saddle. This particular example is quoted as having a mere “14 push miles from new” and is easily the cleanest example to exist today. It showcases VFR hallmarks like the single-sided swingarm, the quick-release front forks and of course, that sonorous V4 Honda engine.

Yamaha FZR 750RT for sale at Bonhams
In comparison, the Yamaha FZR 750RT (developed under the codename OW01) has been used and abused—it has a monstrous 74 miles showing on its odo. It is a pretty rare machine nonetheless, with only 500 examples seeing the light of day from the factory, and a mere 30 making it to North American shores. Much like the RC30, this Yammie is the closest thing to a ‘new old stock’ OW01 you will ever see.

Normally, I’d hope that whoever buys these bikes will actually ride them, but this time I’d be willing to give them a pass. Provided they let me stop by to drool on the display.

[More on the Honda and Yamaha]

Yamaha FZR 750RT for sale at Bonhams