Author Topic: Guzzi Cafe Racer Project (Read 38266 times)

simaster · « **on:** July 01, 2012, 12:30:03 PM »

I am relatively new to the forum. I have found it to be a great resource and my hats off to all the enthusiastic owners that post and keep it relevant.
I am a new Guzzi owner. I purchased a '96 Sport 1100 a few months back. The last of the carb Sports. I purchased it with the intention of creating a cafe racer from it.
When it was delivered I immediately fell in love with the bike. I was finally able to experience what I had been reading about for so long. What makes Guzzi owners so loyal. The quirks we come to embrace and character and soul.
In the short time that I have owned the bike I was brainstorming ideas for what I might do to it. I knew I wanted to put her on a diet. I wanted to create a bike that struck a good balance between the past, present and future. I wanted it to be consistent with the cafe racer mentality that "if it doesn't make it go faster it shouldn't be on it" yet still maintain safety, practicality and aesthetics.
I will use this thread to document the build. Hopefully it will help, inspire and/or inform those that may have an interest in doing something similar.
I will not be doing the build myself, I have hired a seasoned veteran. We have spent hours discussing the blueprint for our vision.
The process has begun. I will post pictures as the build progresses and provide updates on the challenges and progress as they become relevant.

hiro · « **Reply #1 on:** July 01, 2012, 12:51:56 PM »

I'm looking forward to following your progress, there have been some great threads on here with many ingenious ideas and ways round things. Just got a V7 Racer and love it, though I've removed the no.7 seat cowling and am going to replace the flyscreen with a Le Mans 1 bikini fairing. At some point I also intend to mould a new seat cowl, without the number roundels, out of fibre glass and colour code it.

Andy

simaster · « **Reply #2 on:** July 01, 2012, 03:00:24 PM »

Before image:

simaster · « **Reply #3 on:** July 01, 2012, 03:05:04 PM »

One of the first setbacks we had was around the wheels. I really wanted to do a modern spoke wheel on this build (see Alpina Pro Carbon Matrix as an example), but came to the realization it was not going to be possible without big dollars and fabrication. Will probably wind up painting the existing wheels to fit the build.

simaster · « **Reply #4 on:** July 01, 2012, 03:09:10 PM »

Here's the direction we are going with the body work and rear end:

Pancake · « **Reply #5 on:** July 01, 2012, 05:04:17 PM »

Looking good already

fotoguzzi · « **Reply #6 on:** July 01, 2012, 05:28:03 PM »

personally, what ever you do could not improve on the look in stock form.. the factory got it right that time. Tail included.

rbm · « **Reply #7 on:** July 01, 2012, 05:30:33 PM »

^^^ :+1

Guzzistaracing · « **Reply #8 on:** July 01, 2012, 05:50:58 PM »

:+1

Quote from: Muschi on July 01, 2012, 05:46:30 PM

that is true. ;-T ;-T

and it is not just about form, but about function too, if the "new bike" does not perform as good as the stock bike,
it is less and not more. With a package like the 1100 sport, it is hard to come up with something genuine and good,
as they have done a good job on it already.
I did something similar to a SS900 once, with regrets now, as it is a quite similar sophisticated package as the
1100 Sport is. It is easy to lose a lot but hard to gain something better looks and function wise IMO.

never the less, go on now that you are at it. ;-T :BEER:

moto510 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 01, 2012, 06:19:44 PM »

I still havent finished mine yet but here's a pic of one of the mock ups.
The front end is off of a 07 GSXR 1000 and it really improved the handling and braking. Much lighter than the stock setup.

simaster · « **Reply #10 on:** July 01, 2012, 07:10:12 PM »

IMO the Sport 1100 represents a timeless design and one of the best values for a used motorcycle bar none. I paid $4k for mine with 17k miles on it. That is more soul/$ than anything on the planet. The desire to a build a cafe racer out of the bike had less to do with improving the looks and more to promote an exercise in imagination. I think Guzzi represents a premier standard and all who may tinker with a stock bike pay the brand a sincere form of flattery. I will post some pictures of some of the bikes that have inspired me to try this build out in a future post.

There is no telling what the build will end up like. I'm sure some will love, some will hate and some will be indifferent. Regardless, We will push boundaries and see what happens.

Right now I have ordered a new Hagon mono-shock (existing rear suspension needed replacement) and Keihin FCR41 Carb kit. I would love to do a new front end, but am concerned with the cost/benefit right now. This is something that may be done post-project depending on overall performance and handling.

hiro · « **Reply #11 on:** July 02, 2012, 01:24:47 PM »

Some great knowledge and tips coming out here. I'm not so keen on the more upward pointed Honda tail and would prefer something more rounded, though the V7 seat and cowl might look quite good. Each to their own.

Quote from: Muschi on July 01, 2012, 01:00:26 PM

welcome to the board simaster. ;-T

Andy, make sure that you mount the Le Mans I fairing in the correct position, as in deep enough,
in a way the lower fork tripple is covered in full, relocate the headlight if necessary.

;-T :BEER:

Thanks for the tip. I hope I can get away without relocating the headlamp, it should arrive Wed so I'll measure up then. As well as coming up with a new seat cowl, I want to tidy up the rear end as the large mudguard is a bit too retro and would certainly have been changed in cafe racers of the period imitated

simaster · « **Reply #12 on:** July 03, 2012, 11:30:40 AM »

Looks like we will go with this tail. Made some mods to the exhaust. Will be breaking down the bike soon for paint.
The engine will be soda blasted and painted. Working on paint schemes now. Probably looking at a completion time in late August.

Drifter · « **Reply #13 on:** July 03, 2012, 09:04:59 PM »

I love a bike that looks like a big motor with wheels! Nice work!!

;-T

skippy · « **Reply #14 on:** July 03, 2012, 09:40:57 PM »

Keep up the work. from what I have seen, this build will push the boundaries of Guzzidom a little bit further. you are working with some of the holiest of holy pieces of Moto Guzzi artifacts and I am sure you do not need to be reminded of the sacredness of the material in which you possess. I am watching the build with barely a breath pass my lips.

simaster · « **Reply #15 on:** July 05, 2012, 10:27:47 AM »

Here are some Guzzi cafe racer inspirations for the build:

simaster · « **Reply #16 on:** July 05, 2012, 10:29:31 AM »

More inspiration:

simaster · « **Reply #17 on:** July 05, 2012, 10:30:55 AM »

Even More inspiration:

simaster · « **Reply #18 on:** July 05, 2012, 10:31:32 AM »

simaster · « **Reply #19 on:** July 05, 2012, 10:32:56 AM »

I loved the simplicity of this engine work. Zen.

wrbix · « **Reply #20 on:** July 05, 2012, 11:39:50 AM »

My work:

grassynoel · « **Reply #21 on:** July 05, 2012, 01:11:34 PM »

Let me know if you end up selling the stock bodywork

Kentktk · « **Reply #22 on:** July 05, 2012, 02:31:35 PM »

Like your exhaust system. ;-T

hiro · « **Reply #23 on:** July 05, 2012, 03:06:19 PM »

Some nice ones there, like the black and the chrome ones very much. The one with the quilted seat... not so much, doesn't do a Guzzi justice.

rbm · « **Reply #24 on:** July 05, 2012, 06:28:47 PM »

Quote from: simaster on July 05, 2012, 10:32:56 AM

I loved the simplicity of this engine work. Zen.

I've always wondered as to the difficulty / simplicity of converting a dual shock setup to monoshock, like this. Is it straight forward? Or is it fraught with issues? I just see more and more of the old chassis being converted in this manner.

Orange Guzzi · « **Reply #25 on:** July 05, 2012, 10:38:00 PM »

Mine may not be a cafe, but it is more user friendly for a guy with fused vertibrae's in the neck. Installed easton handlebars, givi windscreen and remounted the gages.

Pancake · « **Reply #26 on:** July 06, 2012, 05:28:51 PM »

Hi WRBIX

That is the best looking old small block I've seen. The tank is exactly right and the seat is a work of art.

Dominic

charlie b · « **Reply #27 on:** July 06, 2012, 06:51:20 PM »

Sorry, but, I like it too. Better than your Duc.

dxhall · « **Reply #28 on:** July 06, 2012, 07:31:33 PM »

Neat project -- keep up the photos. If you decide to go with spoked wheels, I'd buy the stock ones from you. DH

Kentktk · « **Reply #29 on:** July 06, 2012, 08:08:47 PM »

Quote from: Muschi on July 06, 2012, 05:47:02 PM

I'd say no, the Guzzi stripe does not match the knee cut out at all, the seat looks clumsy IMO,
tail looks all terrible, headlight brackets are mounted in the wrong way.

what is that atop the upper tripple ?, that looks clumsy too.

I like the pipes. ;-T ;-T

:+1

But do have to say there is nothing attractive about your Ducati cafe

News:

Author Topic: Guzzi Cafe Racer Project (Read 38266 times)

hiro

moto510

hiro

Drifter

grassynoel

Kentktk

hiro

Orange Guzzi

Kentktk