While we are on the subject of custom nakeds created around iconic twin cylinder engines (see today’s earlier article on the BMW Concept Roadster), we present here the Scighera from the noted Italian Guzzi dealer Millepercento.
Millepercento already makes two other limited production Guzzi derivatives, the Alba and BB1, and the Scighera shows a similar level of effort and refinement.
With the 1151 cc motor from the Moto Guzzi Griso 8V, the Scighera benefits from Piaggio’s refinement of this iconic lump, including fuel injection, six-speed transmission and four-valve heads.
Millepercento strips the Scighera down to the essence of a naked, claiming a dry weight under 420 pounds. In addition to the custom frame, many custom parts adorn the machine, including gorgeous 24-spoke aluminum wheels that allow mounting of tubeless tires. Brembo brakes and Ohlins suspension join the party.
Like it has with its other specials, Millepercento plans to sell the Scighera out of its Italian dealerships. Expected availability is next year at a price approaching 30,000 Euro.
I can’t help comparing this machine’s refreshingly simple-yet-dramatic aesthetics to the tangled mess of Ducati’s new Monster 821 (especially that bike’s unbelievably-cluttered left side). This Guzzi speaks to me, in the same way my Bonneville does, but much more forcefully. I wonder how close a production model could come to the purity of this bike?
That huge lump of Guzzi engine simply cannot be beat for sheer,,,well words escape, machineness. There is almost no way you can go wrong designing a motorcycle around it. There is just something compelling about it.
There are many things one can say about its only direct competitor the BMW boxer but kind words much less ones of praise about its appearance are deservedly lacking.
Much cooler than the BMW, though…..good looks shouldn’t cost more unless there’s obvious material costs involved. I love good looking bikes, but I refuse to pay extra for it.
Okay….it’s more like “I can’t”.
re: “good looks shouldn’t cost more ”
why not, if the designer with the talent and portfolio to create the design costs more…? their costs go up, your costs go up, it’s only logical. (Liam Neeson voice)
re: “I love good looking bikes, but I refuse to pay extra for it.”
but wait, I thought you LOVED motorcycling…? why do you begrudge profitability of the people and companies who produce kit that not only brings you enjoyment…? but kit you lack the talent and resources to produce yourself, and back with a warranty…?
talk to me goose.
+1.
Considering the copy cat designing within the transportation industries, the best & original designers don’t (and shouldn’t) come cheap
Forgive me, but – if you gave me a nice brand new Guzzi I could lop off pieces like crazy and present it as a ‘radical’ new direction in motorcycle styling, and I never studied design. I don’t see the value in this empty-headed, ‘style first, form and function last’ approach. In fact that’s the problem today – bikes are being designed by non-riding graphic ‘artists’, not by mechanical engineers who love to ride. Works great for choppers, but for everything else, phewwww.
Piaggio needs to make something like this and breathe some sporting life back into Guzzi. Such unique machines with so much more potential in the marketplace if only they had an aggressive and progressive owner…
Impractical exhaust routing under the crankcase. Needs more seat padding. Appealing form, otherwise.
At least it has more seat padding than the BMW “wasp”! 🙂
Whaddya mean “impractical exhaust routing under the crankcase”???? Have you seen most sport bikes? Heck, a good many have the entire exhaust system “under the crankcase”.
Much nicer to my eye than the BMW concept in the previous thread.
Seconded.
Less is more. Especially the price.
I’ve always found this one quite pleasing to the eye: http://thekneeslider.com/images/2009/06/marrano1160.jpg
Go to your favorite browser, images, and then search “Moto Guzzi Cafe Racer” and there are lots of very tastefully done Goose (Geese?).
Impractical, but totally gorgeous.
Yeah, you wouldn’t get far without a plate, blinkers, mirrors etc. But ommiting them does make any bike look much better.
I agree. Those are signs of submission to authority which is contrary to spirit of riding or at least its prime intention.
“Impractical, but totally gorgeous.”
Why should that stop you from buying a bike? Plenty of us used that criteria when getting married!
LMFAO, GREAT comparison!!
Get rid of those lousy Alpina STS o-ring sealed spoke wheels and you’d have another buyer. Better yet. Guzzi should make this for the public straight from the factory and sell it for $11,000 instead of near 30,000 euros.
I anxiously awaited the sale of the MGS-01 only to be disappointed. They should try again.
I agree on the MGS-01. Sigh.
I wish they would’ve brought out the MGS-01 too. They scrapped the race project when they realized they’d never have competitive horsepower without liquid cooling. Too bad they believed the bike needed to be raced in order to sell. One of the best looking sport bikes ever made…
That was a problem IMO. Being worried about being competitive with horsepower. Who cares? Nothing to do with selling bikes to the public.
I’ve owned more than a handful of Buells since 1992. Underpowered compared to the liquid cooled competition. But I’ve done over 20 years of very satisfying and fun miles all over the continent on them. Even my BMW R1100GS and S were more underpowered than my latest Buells and same thing. A couple hundred thousand miles of fun all over the continent.
The MGS-01 was supposed to be the next level replacement for my Buells and R1100S.
Re: ” Nothing to do with selling bikes to the public.”
Unfortunately market performance doesn’t bear that out. The best selling sport bikes are almost always the ones with the biggest power numbers in their classes. The Ducati 916 famously broke that cycle for a little while, but not very long.
There are always enlightened customers like yourself who know that the HP number is not the be-all, end-all but unfortunately for us, we don’t often result in a large enough chunk of the market for the makes to chase. Viva la’ aftermarket.
this is art…not your production bike at $11,000…good art always cost lots of money…
Mid-century Steam punk. Where we take some classic parts and design some really clean lines around them.
It seems to me to be a study of how fast can you make a Goose look. I like it.
I love it. Needs a round headlight though.
Gorgeous.