Its no secret that I am a fan of Moto Guzzi. It is unique among its Italian brethren; a friend calls it the Italian Harley Davidson, with its quirky handlebar pull and frame shake and rumble, courtesy of its longitudinal v-twin engine. I prefer the moniker "Gentleman's Sportbike" which that same friend uses to describe his peerless Guzzi V11 Sport Ballabio.
The Guzzi is settled and mature, unlike her schizophrenically seductive, irresistibly sexy, always expensive, and endlessly temperamental Italian sisters.
Sleek Italian lines always end up a bit more rounded, voluptuous, or even well-fed, on a Guzzi. But she'll get you where you want to go, in classic comfortable style.
The others? They're the hot girlfriend you just can't quite resist, even though you know she'll try to kill you just when you believe you've finally tamed her.
So, while Guzzi has a "racer" in its model line-up (EMD: The New Retro), it remains unique among Italian moto brands in another way: MV Agusta, Ducati, Bimota, and Aprilia, produce superbike works of art that sit atop the sportbike foodchain. Guzzi offers nothing in the way of a true modern sportbike.
Nothing? No sportbike? The horror! Who cares if Guzzi is supposed to compliment Aprilia as the gentleman's brand to Aprilia's cutting-edge, performance bikes!
What's an (Italian) sportbike girl to do?
Well, hang on to that chassis, sportbike fans, because Luca Bar Design has an answer to that question:
A Guzzi longitudinal v-twin, settled into an Aprilia RSV4-derived frame and tail, with a front-end Hossack suspension system (not exactly your usual fork-tubes):
The end result: proof positive, once again, that Italians know their sportbikes.
Here's to hoping Moto Guzzi takes notice - Cheers!
For the original Asphalt and Rubber article, click: HERE.
The Guzzi is settled and mature, unlike her schizophrenically seductive, irresistibly sexy, always expensive, and endlessly temperamental Italian sisters.
Sleek Italian lines always end up a bit more rounded, voluptuous, or even well-fed, on a Guzzi. But she'll get you where you want to go, in classic comfortable style.
The others? They're the hot girlfriend you just can't quite resist, even though you know she'll try to kill you just when you believe you've finally tamed her.
So, while Guzzi has a "racer" in its model line-up (EMD: The New Retro), it remains unique among Italian moto brands in another way: MV Agusta, Ducati, Bimota, and Aprilia, produce superbike works of art that sit atop the sportbike foodchain. Guzzi offers nothing in the way of a true modern sportbike.
Nothing? No sportbike? The horror! Who cares if Guzzi is supposed to compliment Aprilia as the gentleman's brand to Aprilia's cutting-edge, performance bikes!
What's an (Italian) sportbike girl to do?
Well, hang on to that chassis, sportbike fans, because Luca Bar Design has an answer to that question:
A Guzzi longitudinal v-twin, settled into an Aprilia RSV4-derived frame and tail, with a front-end Hossack suspension system (not exactly your usual fork-tubes):
The end result: proof positive, once again, that Italians know their sportbikes.
Here's to hoping Moto Guzzi takes notice - Cheers!
For the original Asphalt and Rubber article, click: HERE.