“Customs” don’t have to be based on older, used machinery. Several companies have taken new, street-legal models from other manufacturers and modified them for sale. Bimota comes to mind.
Pictured is a model designed by Stefano Venier, founder of Venier Customs. Venier intends to produce it and other bikes based on brand new Moto Guzzi V7s. This particular model is know as the Tractor 04, and includes several customizations (such as aluminum body work unique from the production model). Venier describes the Tractor 04 as follows:
The Tractor 04 is the first Moto Guzzi Scrambler we make that features the new generation of hand made aluminum bodywork. The tank has been elongated and reshaped, and the tail section completely redone featuring a new hand made leather seat with a recessed LED tail light and new rear fender. The bike also features an Led headlight with custom brackets, black aluminum handlebar, GPS custom speedo with our logo, new grips, custom mufflers made for the bike from Mass moto in Sicily. Hand made aluminum sides and front fender complete the bodywork. Suspensions are from Ikon, always aluminum adjustable. The big change from the old Tractors are the tires now without the big knobs from Continental we are using the Golden Tyres that also Guzzi is featuring on their kits and I have to say they handle very well. Vintage head covers replace the newer versions.
This bike is completely street legal with all homologated components. Even the frame of the bike is not touched making this build a very special version of the V7 more than a custom, the goal is more re-design a motorcycle rather then work only on taking off and cut parts, which is sometimes easier to do than have a clear and complete idea on what you want to design and build. The build is a two seater, using the word comfortable maybe would be too much, but can easily bring somebody on the back.
Venier started with purely custom machines based on used bikes, and describes his desire to produce limited series, new models in the following way:
Venier Motorcycles is the natural evolution of Venier Customs. Venier Motorcycles transitions from the production of custom limited edition motorcycles using vintage donor bikes to a production that is still in limited series but based on new motorcycles. This allows the collector to have the reliability of a new product and the advantages of cutting edge technology while still featuring the distinctive design and aesthetics of Venier products.
This is a third option for buyers interested in “custom” motorcycles. Manufacturers, of course, like to label some of their models “custom” even though they are mass produced. On the other end of the spectrum, you have garage-built bikes where the starting point is a used machine. This is an option in the middle, and it might prove a successful business model given the current demand for custom bikes. What do you think?
See more of MD’s great photography:
That’s pretty. Hoping the new V7 III will be a major leap forward though.
They borrowed Harley’s ” Lets take the slowest thing we’ve got and make it look cool” concept and perfected it. IE even slower and cooler looking than an 883 Iron. If they applied this same treatment to a Triumph scrambler you might end up with something that looks cool and is fun to ride. Or you could take it to it’s logical conclusion and start with a Ural.
Tasteful. Give me more motor though.
Love the look of this. What they got right was not eliminating all concessions to practicality – in the real world one needs fenders and effective air cleaners, since we don’t all live in a desert, and we don’t all ride some 40 year old UJM crock that we don’t give a crap about the engine life of. I’d probably prefer something like this not built around a somewhat heavy, shaft-drive Guzzi lump – I’d have to ride it to say for sure.
That is really nice. I also am fine with the power output. Sweet.
I like it in an elemental sort of way.
Nice and simple. The motor cycle.
That’s sure one sweet little bike! I’d hit that! Not wild about the paint, but I’d scratch it up eventually and get to pick the color. Same with the tires, shocks, mufflers. Things wear out and get replaced with better, or my choices. I hope the gas tank holds a fair amount.
This bike looks great just the way it is. But a brighter, painted one could look great too. Nice understated job!
Nice looking build. Nice coat of primer but someone forgot to paint it.
Yeah, really nice, just shoot a few coats of clear gloss on it and it would look great.
I used to say, “Flat Black is the new chrome”, that’s changed to Satin Black.
Nice looking bike.
I like it, the only thing I would change is a 919 headlight, the brackets look extremely flimsy and I’m not sure if illumination was the goal or “looks chic”.
Painting custom aluminum bodywork flat charcoal ?
Strip it and send it to the polisher.
Nice looking bike.
I like some of the retro-looks, but I just can’t get used to seeing dual shocks on a bike.
Funny, that is the only thing that I thought looked out of place though I bet most people think the bike would only look “right” with the dual shocks. I don’t really think they look mind you, but I prefer the cleaner look of a tucked away mono.
I, on the other hand, love the look of them from the rear. Maybe even more so to balance with the two mufflers.
What is with the semi-knobby tires every “custom” has on it?
When the zombie apocalypse happens, then you’ll understand.
🙂
The model shown is called the Tractor 04. It must be able to plow the south 40 when you’re done with your Saturday morning ride.
Its all part of the “Me Too” design. Fat knobby tires, tiny headlight, nothing past the centerline of the rear tire, flat black everything, a one inch high seat fit perfectly into the rear frame loop, I could go on. This was all being sold by the Japanese 15 years ago, but many think they just “invented” it.
Really? I’m trying to think of Japanese models from 10 to 20 years ago that fit this description, I can’t think of anything.
“Even the frame of the bike is not touched making this build a very special version of the V7 more than a custom”
My brain hurts from trying to understand this
great stuff…has that get on and ride to anywhere, chill, ride further…no colour, just there, would draw attention without trying..so cool.
I think it’s a genius idea! This is a unique newly created market where you can buy a brand new scaled down, legal motorcycle that meets your weight / horse power ratio and with unlimited opportunities to personalize the bike.
You can always change the color or extend the fender length. The bike would become more your bike rather than a Ducati, Yamaha, Honda etc.. That’s how I read into Stefano Veniers’ vision.
The motor on this looks like a 350 Guzzi. Don’t even know if they are still available new. Bikes like this have very limited practicality.
Practicality? Buy a Camry. The article says it’s a V7.
To be fair, he’s ‘kinda’ correct – the 350, 500, 650, and V7 Guzzis all used essentially the same engine. Externally, they differ precious little. One could easily see a V7 and assume it’s a 350 or 500…
And having ridden a V7, I could easily see where one might mistake it for a 350 after twisting the throttle.
When I test rode a Breva 750 someone asked me what it was like and I said like getting hit with a marshmallow in the butt. Barely could feel a thing on acceleration.
However I recently test rode a Griso. It was a lot quicker once you got it up above 4000 rpms.
I know it’s a 350 by the small size of the valve cover. I ride a 750 Breva whose motor looks the same but it has a bigger valve cover.
The jugs are different, too, with the 350 having the stepped finning around the plug.
From the article:
“Vintage head covers replace the newer versions.”
I am pretty sure Randy is correct. That looks to be a different head, not just a different valve cover. There are pictures of V35s receiving this same treatment on their website, and I believe the pic above to be a V35 as well.
I this this bike is awesome. Really like it
Where yo gonna hang the license plate. Here in Boulder this style is perfect.
I’d like to see some of these custom builders offer more choice in assembly. For myself, I’d prefer larger fenders, better seating, and solid wheels. Bikes likes this are attractive, but they reflect the taste and preferences of a limited group of people. Then agai, maybe they do, I’m just not aware of it.
Sorry guys, these bare bones customs do nothing for me.
To each their own, of course. But, I’m with you. Bland as porridge. Milquetoast. Samey-samey.
You know, I really loved the V7 – when it was in Breva 750 form. Functionally superior in every way (and a blast to ride!) to the retro series of bikes they’ve built since. But, the Breva was never a big seller, so…
I thought the Breva was a very nice looking machine. People seem more than willing to tolerate (even celebrate?) meager power and performance out of retros, but not so in more modern kit which is why I think the Breva never really became the showroom staple that Guzzi had hoped it would.
Can’t argue with that point at all. But (and maybe it’s just me), I did think that was part of the Breva’s (any V7, actually) charm – you could *HAMMER* that engine, ALL THE TIME. The bike loved it, and it was great fun. At what, $8000 new or whatever, they were an awful buy, but they were easy to find on discount for under $6k, which actually made them a pretty reasonable bike! You could easily get 55-60MPG with them, too, so you got to wring the bike’s neck for hours without stopping. 🙂
I’ve been meaning to pick one up for many years, but they’re rare as hens’ teeth these days in my region, now that I have the money to. When I had no money, they were swarming like black flies. Go figure.
I too mourn the loss of the Breva 750, but only in the way that it worries me about replacing my own Breva 750 when the time comes! 🙂 Had her 12 years, great bike, taken her to France and Ireland and all over the UK (up and back to Scotland a few weeks ago), and in a few weeks down to Spain through France and back. I like the V7s, but they are not as practical as the Breva. I have H&B hard luggage on mine, and I’m set to go.
Yes, handsome and well done but the need for some conspicuous color is needed for safety if not style. Between the baby boomers driving around half dead and the millennials distracted and counting on airbags to save them (edit-just read they are playing this pokemon bs while driving too) and cars having headlights on in the daytime too we need to stand out at least a bit. Dayglo orange helmet for me seems to help some.
Sorry, off topic a bit, nice Guzzi.
That is a very good looking machine. I would have loved to see them splash some color on it.
You can’t be dark and brooding with color splashed all over the place 🙂
Lol! Apparently, all-terrain tires are also mandatory for dark and brooding these days.
You’d be dark and brooding, too, if your parents were killed by a street thug after leaving the opera.