Author Topic: New engine under development for Moto Guzzi (Read 25357 times)

Americano · « **on:** April 03, 2015, 05:26:13 PM »

Hi my name is Gil and I'm part of a team developing a brand new engine that we are putting into a Moto Guzzi.
The team consists of Steve Vergano: Steve is an auto mechanic by trade but has always had a thing for motorcycles.
Rob Cancilla: I introduced Steve to Rob Cancilla some years back when he needed head work done on a Pantera. Rob is a race car tuner and engine builder with a flow bench and an engine dyno with a full shop.
Ron Huch: Ron is the owner of the original engine ad engine design. Ron owns all the drawings and tooling for manufacturing specifications and has all the tooling ready for production.
Nik Levy is helping us manufacture needed parts utilizing 3D printing technology including throttle bodies and manifolds, valve covers, alternator cover etc.....

The engine itself is a 90 degree water cooled L Twin designed to be modular and available in displacements ranging from 750cc to 1,200cc and the option to go with either single overhead cam with 4 valves per cylinder or double overhead cam with 4 valves per cylinder. The engine has been under development for several years and the original engine design was road tested in a Porsche Speedster Replica car:
Here's a YouTube of that test drive:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szNDQMM2pYw

Engine continues to be further developed with improved castings, internals and heads. A huge effort was undertaken to catalog and number every single part and produce exploded parts diagrams for a parts catalog.

One day Steve asked me what about a motorcycle project and asked me what type of bike. I immediately thought of a Moto Guzzi. It had to be late model with good suspension and brakes.
The ease with which the engine could be swapped right onto the Guzzi transmission was a big deciding factor. So I set about finding Steve a suitable Guzzi.
I found him a 2002 Le Mans and he purchased it and started work. It's been slow going and a lot of hard work in his spare time. On March 28, 2015 there was a Euro motorcycle show locally and another friend asked if I knew of more bikes to show.
I immediately thought of the Guzzi project bike and Steve set to work making it presentable for show even though it had no exhaust and no EFI throttle bodies yet. There was enough there to show people the engine and how it fit in the bike. Steve fabricated some headers and mounted the radiator. The engine in the bike is 1,068cc and is the DOHC 4 valve heads. Steve purchased some Ducati Panigale throttle bodies for it.
The alternator will bolt to the front of the engine allowing the stock wiring harness to be used.
But the best thing is the engine is 34 pounds lighter than stock and is shorter which allows the radiator to fit. Power output is estimated to be about 1.5x over stock. This is an all new design and does not use anything from the Guzzi engine.
Here are photos of the first time the bike has been seen outside the garage by the public:

Triple Jim · « **Reply #1 on:** April 03, 2015, 05:43:15 PM »

Hi Gil, thanks for the very interesting post. I'll certainly be following your progress with interest.

ibis1 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 03, 2015, 05:43:52 PM »

Looks like a small version of the Flat Head V-8 in my "49 Ford! :BEER:

mtiberio · « **Reply #3 on:** April 03, 2015, 05:50:07 PM »

Some ask why, others ask why not. Twice the HP might be a bit much for the spine frame and ujoints. But what the heck, you are close, so DO IT.

Congrats, I wish I had your resources/problems

Perazzimx14 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 03, 2015, 05:50:58 PM »

I bet that exhaust is loud

mtiberio · « **Reply #5 on:** April 03, 2015, 05:55:55 PM »

You have a typo in article, ccs not 168... 1068? 1168? 1268? 1680?? How big

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #6 on:** April 03, 2015, 06:18:42 PM »

Compact, and fits pretty nicely. Throttle bodies eat up space in the fuel tank area?

Americano · « **Reply #7 on:** April 03, 2015, 06:23:46 PM »

Quote from: Chuck in Indiana on April 03, 2015, 06:18:42 PM

Compact, and fits pretty nicely. Throttle bodies eat up space in the fuel tank area?

We were very worried about the space for throttle bodies but to our surprise once the engine was in place there is plenty of room under the tank for the throttle bodies.
Steve and I often joke that it seems like this engine was just meant to be in the bike. It fit so well.
Steve fabricated some new front motor mounts and had the adapter to the transmission milled.

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #8 on:** April 03, 2015, 06:26:34 PM »

Kool..

krglorioso · « **Reply #9 on:** April 03, 2015, 06:28:22 PM »

I'm impressed. This is a very professional looking job. Hard to imagine a Guzzi without fins on the top end! Congratulations on your splendid achievment and please update as possible.

fotoguzzi · « **Reply #10 on:** April 03, 2015, 06:40:27 PM »

Quote from: Americano on April 03, 2015, 05:26:13 PM

a Euro motorcycle show locally

where is locally?

everything looks great accept the mondo cooler, does the motor really need that big of a radiator?

beetle · « **Reply #11 on:** April 03, 2015, 06:52:00 PM »

Very interesting. Thanks for posting! ;-T :bow

Americano · « **Reply #12 on:** April 03, 2015, 07:12:15 PM »

Quote from: fotoguzzi on April 03, 2015, 06:40:27 PM

where is locally?

everything looks great accept the mondo cooler, does the motor really need that big of a radiator?

I agree with you. I talked to Steve about that and since he got that one for free he used it. I think we need to find a smaller radiator.

Americano · « **Reply #13 on:** April 03, 2015, 07:14:15 PM »

Quote from: mtiberio on April 03, 2015, 05:55:55 PM

You have a typo in article, ccs not 168... 1068? 1168? 1268? 1680?? How big

Thanks for catching that. I fixed it.

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #14 on:** April 03, 2015, 07:39:45 PM »

Quote from: Americano on April 03, 2015, 07:12:15 PM

I agree with you. I talked to Steve about that and since he got that one for free he used it. I think we need to find a smaller radiator.

Guzzi content. <shrug>

Penderic · « **Reply #15 on:** April 03, 2015, 07:42:38 PM »

Wow! Looks like your friend put a lot of effort and money into the project!

Good luck with getting the final details completed. I would love to see it finished. ;-T

If the hot rod heads could be made to bolt on to an existing Guzzi big block motor, you could sell more parts via existing customizers and power hungry up graders.

flip · « **Reply #16 on:** April 03, 2015, 08:24:30 PM »

Looks and sounds good!

LowRyter · « **Reply #17 on:** April 03, 2015, 08:40:12 PM »

;-T

smdl · « **Reply #18 on:** April 03, 2015, 08:42:58 PM »

Very interesting! Will follow this with interest!

Shaun

Turin · « **Reply #19 on:** April 03, 2015, 08:54:02 PM »

Awesome ! Reminds me a bit of the MAS12.

Spuddy · « **Reply #20 on:** April 03, 2015, 09:33:41 PM »

Carry on!

Aaron D. · « **Reply #21 on:** April 04, 2015, 08:27:21 AM »

Wow! I'm actually a little freaked out, this is very sanitary and seeing the faith everyone has in it (pulling out into traffic!) I am very impressed.

I hope to learn more. Has anyone talked to Piaggio?

Turin · « **Reply #22 on:** April 04, 2015, 10:33:19 AM »

Soen is it going to be finished ? When are you going to post a video of it running ? :pop

Guido Valvole · « **Reply #23 on:** April 04, 2015, 11:22:06 AM »

I saw that at the show (San Jose, CA, Santa Clara Co Fairgrounds one-time home to the San Jose Mile in answer to Fotoguzzi's question). Was kinda rushed as I was mostly working the neighboring Brit show but thought it was twincam heads & water-cooled cylinders on a Guzzi bottom end, something which I think was pictured here in the past. Anyone else remember that?

Sounds like a good project, and a natural for a Guzzi upgrade. Keep us posted on developments!

That's a friend's Le Mans next to it.
cr

Antietam Classic Cycle · « **Reply #24 on:** April 04, 2015, 11:57:12 AM »

Quote from: Turin on April 04, 2015, 10:33:19 AM

Soen is it going to be finished ? When are you going to post a video of it running ? :pop

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szNDQMM2pYw

Quote from: Guido Valvole on April 04, 2015, 11:22:06 AM

... twincam heads & water-cooled cylinders on a Guzzi bottom end, something which I think was pictured here in the past. Anyone else remember that?

Quote from: Turin on April 03, 2015, 08:54:02 PM

Turin · « **Reply #25 on:** April 04, 2015, 01:54:28 PM »

whoops. shoulda asked "in the bike".

Muzz · « **Reply #26 on:** April 04, 2015, 05:32:06 PM »

Certainly has the makings! ;-T

fotoguzzi · « **Reply #27 on:** April 04, 2015, 06:30:02 PM »

Quote from: Guido Valvole on April 04, 2015, 11:22:06 AM

I saw that at the show (San Jose, CA, Santa Clara Co Fairgrounds one-time home to the San Jose Mile in answer to Fotoguzzi's question). Was kinda rushed as I was mostly working the neighboring Brit show but thought it was twincam heads & water-cooled cylinders on a Guzzi bottom end, something which I think was pictured here in the past. Anyone else remember that?

Sounds like a good project, and a natural for a Guzzi upgrade. Keep us posted on developments!

That's a friend's Le Mans next to it.
cr

Thankyou Guido !

Americano · « **Reply #28 on:** April 04, 2015, 06:48:01 PM »

Quote from: Guido Valvole on April 04, 2015, 11:22:06 AM

I saw that at the show (San Jose, CA, Santa Clara Co Fairgrounds one-time home to the San Jose Mile in answer to Fotoguzzi's question). Was kinda rushed as I was mostly working the neighboring Brit show but thought it was twincam heads & water-cooled cylinders on a Guzzi bottom end, something which I think was pictured here in the past. Anyone else remember that?

Sounds like a good project, and a natural for a Guzzi upgrade. Keep us posted on developments!

That's a friend's Le Mans next to it.
cr

Thanks Guido, in fact the engine is completely new from the ground up. It's 34 pounds lighter than stock and shorter too. That MAS12 bike is very interesting but that engine is using the stock crankcase. Our engine is a whole new design.

Americano · « **Reply #29 on:** April 04, 2015, 06:51:07 PM »

Here is a YouTube video Steve made of the engine being dyno tested:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YaXUSy08Rk

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Author Topic: New engine under development for Moto Guzzi (Read 25357 times)

Americano

Americano

beetle

Americano

Americano

Penderic

Americano

Americano