vendredi 28 mars 2014
OFFICINE ROSSOPURO GUZZI CAFE RACER
The custom world is rife with fads and fashions, but there are a few one-marque specialists taking the slow and steady route to win the race. On the east coast of the USA, Walt Siegl springs to mind for his high-performance Ducati builds. In Italy, if you want a Guzzi cafe racer you give Filippo Barbacane a call.
Barbacane aims to make his bikes “elegant and refined,” and he invariably succeeds. “It’s a bit against the trend,” he acknowledges. “It seems to be the fashion to leave bikes looking well ‘lived’.”
There’s nothing ‘lived-in’ about this Moto Guzzi 1000 SP, called Purosangue(Thoroughbred). It’s clean, well-balanced and ready for the road, a precision tool crafted for Mandello Del Lario enthusiasts. Unlike most Officine Rossopuro builds, this bike was not a commission—Barbacane built it to suit his own tastes. But before you ask, it has been sold.
The handling is a quantum leap from the 1982 original, with modified 45mm Marzocchi forks matched to Bitubo shocks. The brake system is built around Brembo’s upscale Serie Oro components, with 320mm discs and four-piston calipers. And the wheels are now lightweight spoked Borranis, shod with Metzeler rubber.
Barbacane is not afraid of CNC work to create new components, and for this bike he’s designed a custom mount for the rear caliper and a new engine mount. He also designed the minimal exhaust system, which was built by MASS. Despite the straight-through look, concealed baffles in the end pipes reduce the sound to acceptable levels.
Adding to the super-clean look are a compact battery, a clever rewire that hides the electrics behind the left-hand side panel, and discreet hand controls originally designed for custom Harleys. The engine and frame have been refinished in matte powder, leaving just the tank to provide a splash of color.
Fine work from a master at the top of his game. Visit the Officine Rossopuro website to see more exquisite Guzzi cafe racers, or hit up our Archives.
EMPORIO ELABORAZONI BRIGANTE
It’s been a little while since we heard from Dopz and the crew at Emporio Elabroazoni Meccaniche in Rome, but the boys are back with a new build, and they’re back in a big way with this stand-out custom CB400N, which has been given the moniker Brigante, which pretty much translates from the Italian as Rascal.
The bike follows the EE philospy of recycling and reusing original bikes and parts to give them new life and “new dignity”. We like that. It sounds kinda noble, and this bike does have a noble look about it.
“The donor bike was a Honda CB400N. We worked on the idea of doing a very short bike using and old mopped Piaggio Ciao seat.” The frame was shortened and reinforced to accommodate the stubby rear end with new shocks. The indicators were built in to the chopped ends of the frame to keep the seat clutter-free, while the rear LED light fitting is cleverly integrated into the cross bracing in the sub-frame that supports the seat spring.
The wiring was simplified and tucked into the frame tubes to keep it clean, but the guys are not fans of the empty rear subframe trend. “We do not love this trend of the empty hole from side to side under the seat, so we had fun reworking an old Kawasaki filter to hide the battery and fuses.” This is mounted to the left side with a round painted panel.
On the opposite site to the battery there is an old hip flask fitted – which isn’t there to sip by the roadside while you wait for the RAC, it’s actually for your tools – so you can fix it yourself and get home in time for a beer with your mates.
The tank is from an old Gilera, which has been re-worked to fit the frame. The Piaggio Ciao seat was recovered in leather, and the same leather was use to make a belt to affix the tank. The machine-gun exhaust is from a Triumph Scrambler which has been chopped and split into two exit pipes.
The rest of the mods include bates style light with a yellow lens, upgraded brake master cylinders, aluminium footrests, a flat handlebar, hand made fenders and a host of parts too numerous to list. The colour scheme was inspired by the original Gilera tank which has been graced with the Emporio Elaborazini spanner emblem, made from two opposing Es.
It’s a classy looking bike in its red & gold livery, with a clipped, truncated look, and it adds nicely to the range of builds from Dopz and the crew. There are plenty more builds from Emporio Elaborazoni on The Bike Shed Emporio Elaborazioni pages or you can check them out on their own Website.
Max Hazan's 1996 Royal Enfield Bullet 500
by Graham Hiemstra in Design on 14 June 2013
The former airplane and boat builder's artistic take on custom motorcycle design
With a background in building airplanes, boats and even custom furniture, Max Hazan has an endless list of references to pull inspiration and ideas from. Through this varied experience Hazan has found motorcycles to be his be all and end all in terms of artistic medium. Using a range of materials, Hazan's custom designs achieve a beautiful balance between mechanical art and functional machine. A stunning example of which is his recently completed 1996 Royal Endfield Bullet 500. 
Rarely seen outside of India, the Royal Enfield is a rare find in the first place. And this one has been custom built from the ground up—from frame to every single lever and linkage—over a span of two solid months. It's something really special. While each detail is impeccable, nothing demands the attention quite like the solid wood seat. Referencing boat and furniture building techniques, the hardwood seat acts as both a beautiful place to sit as well as a rear fender, embodying the functional sculpture concept.
For more insight into Hazan's design inspiration and execution, as well as a closer look at his 1996 Royal Enfield Bullet 500, see Hazan's recent interview with industrial designer Dave Mucci for his motorcycle and design blog Moto-Mucci. Images courtesy of David Hans Cooke and David Browning
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