Gutso
Based on a '89 Moto Guzzi SP3 1000.
Initially this wasn't going to be a cafe racer but a classy roadster with upright bars, but all that changed when Nigel, our client, presented us with a rendering of a cafe racer and said make that instead and I want it a bit special! Luckily we'd only just started so could easily change tack.
We've got previous with Nigel as we built him a BM airhead cafe racer about nine years ago and he's still got it. Ideas were exchanged and we were off.
One of the 'must haves' was superbike size spoked wheels but with the standard swinging arm/ shaft set up it's not possible, so a call to Stefan at Radical Guzzi in Germany was made and soon one of their trick, super wide swinging arm and shaft kits was shipped out along with the heavily modified final drive sent to them earlier.
This kit not only benefits from putting more rubber on the road with the wider wheel but it also mimics the later models drive system which eliminates the torque reaction the earlier models suffered from. Now a 180 x 17 size Pirelli Angel GT2 rear tyre graces the Morad alloy rim while the new billet alloy hub was laced up using stainless spokes.
Top quality suspension was required so a set of Ohlins Blackline right way up forks and a pair of their fully adjustable Blackline rear shocks were ordered. Of course, fitting different forks requires making new yokes, axle and spacers so when the designs were finalised the huge lumps of billet alloy could be turned into things of beauty on the CNC machine.
Meanwhile, the motor and transmission were stripped for inspection, refreshed and treated to some upgrades. This model already had the big valve heads so after a refresh with new valves, guides and seats they were ported to suit the larger bore headers and new FCR flatslide carbs. A sport camshaft was slotted in and a new Ram single plate clutch with lightened and balanced flywheel fitted which gives a super light lever action and faster motor pickup, then all treated to a satin black heatproof coating.
There's no point in improving performance and handling if the brakes are not up to the job so new Brembo radial calipers with sintered pads were bolted on to the custom billet alloy mounts designed to fit the Ohlins forks. They bite on 320mm Brembo floating discs and powered by a radial pump Brembo RCS adjustable master cylinder with a matching clutch perch assembly. The floating rear brake is a twin piston Brembo caliper biting on a custom stainless disc.
We wanted an aggressive looking and sounding exhaust so once the big bore headers were in place, a new stainless centre section was fabricated and mated up to a pair of big bore titanium SC Project cans (you can't call them silencers). Wow, what a sound, and the motor certainly breathes freely now!
With the mechanicals sorted, it was time for the electronics. Electrowizardry has moved on big time since this bike was produced and we were going to take full advantage of the quality products that are now available. To provide a reliable, big fat spark, a pair of new Dyna coils were mated up with a Sasche programmable digital ignition system and a full suite of Motogadget's finest controls all the new LED lights along with keyless ignition. A classic style Acewell white faced speedo was chosen and although it looks basic, it contains all the info and warning lights in one good looking unit.
A Ducati red was nigel's choice of colour for the bodywork with no other colours or pinstripes but we thought it would be a shame to completely cover up the gorgeous custom alloy tank and seat so our paint partners Wicked Coatings in Poole created the Guzzi logo using the polished alloy to show through the deep gloss red.
A colour coded alloy front mudguard and Kevlar handlebar fairing finish off the bodywork.
Nigel came to see "Gutso" for the first time at the fabulous Bike Shed show London and was suitably impressed as were thousands of other show goers.
Side Rock Cycles