Customising more modern bikes leaves builders nowhere to hide, patina and character are no excuse for second-tier craftsmanship, throw in the keen and demanding eye of passionate Italian customers and the job just got that bit harder. Filippo Barbacane has been in the game since 1993, initially trying to buck the American flaked, flamed and raked out trend by bringing his own take on the custom scene. In Abruzzo, Italy at least, this newfound originality gained customers looking for something fresh, but of course patriotically waving il Tricolore and favouring Moto Guzzi donors. Firestarter Garage was Filippo’s full time venture that succeeded in producing some pretty awesome machines before morphing into Officine Rossopuro. Ipothesys is an award winning ‘Guzzi Griso, admittedly from a couple of years ago but we figured it handsome enough to share again.
The brief was to strip unnecessary weight and stick the thing on its nose with a more sporting riding position, the side profile certainly suggests a tick in that box.
Filippo started with the chassis and removed the original subframe to make way for a bespoke aluminium-tubed trellis unit and machined mounts. The shortened cafe-esque tail and seat envelop the rear of this new structure, with the sides open to reduce visual and actual weight whilst giving the single air filter fresh, cool air to breath and somewhere for the induction roar to make itself heard.
The conversation regarding budget must have been a short one as the components are all high-end and suitably wallet-busting. A tasty Bitubo XXF-11 monoshock props up the rear and 50mm SBK-spec Marzocchi RAC forks with
Ergal triple clamps look the business and should perform well. Red anodising features on many of the upgraded parts here and signals intent whilst maintaining a cohesive colour theme. Trick Brembo ‘Groove’ stoppers have machined and anodised centres which shed further weight and look like they were made especially for this project.
Marchesini don’t make a specific Griso wheel set so the CNC mill was fired up, frankly on this build it might never have been switched off, to machine a completely new rear hub to suit. Tyres are non-Italian Metzeler Sportec M3s, so presumably the man from Pirelli was out to lunch when the rubber order was put in. Carbon fibre is the material of choice for the rear hugger and front mudguard for its obvious lightweight properties, and left unpainted the dark weave blends with the all-black lower half of the machine.
The front fairing is bespoke of course and looks like blend of perhaps a ‘Guzzi MGS and more classical, rounded lines from yesteryear. The side panels flow neatly under the large diameter frame tubes to the tank, again a bespoke, handcrafted unit.
To make up for the unpatriotic tyre purchase, Mass Exhausts from Sicily were instructed to fabricate the Griso’s system, and a lovely job they’ve done with a hint of MV Agusta F3 about the upswept, slash-cut tips.
The customer that commissioned this build has had another produced and a limited run is planned. Those of you with a penchant for svelte Italian twins, sporting exotic suspenders should register your interest, but make sure your chequebook has a large enough box where the numbers go.
via PIPEBURN
