Moto Guzzi, the world’s second oldest continuously operating motorcycle manufacturer, is a storied brand offering unmistakable bold styling. To the uninitiated, most Guzzi sport bikes look big, are not necessarily the easiest to handle although they very stable and able to zoom around the bends. But after losing weight, the Sport Guzzis are cheap and great for the building of nimble Cafe Racers with the unique look of an eye catching transverse mounted engine. A Cafe Racer doesn’t have to be British to crack the Ton (100 mph)
Trimming all the fat of unnecessary factory parts from a 2001 Moto Guzzi Sport 1100 let Alan Bernard saved at least 70 pounds in just a couple of hours. Then, began the task of mixing and matching parts from other brands (mostly Italian) to give the Guzzi its new Cafe personality almost always and at least a fuel tank with dents to allow the rider’s knees to grip it, a small wind fairing, a sporty suspension, low slung/narrow racing handlebars and a single-person humped seat.
The modified frame and subframe were modified by Abel (ex Evel Knievel mechanic) and now support a 750 Yamaha TZ aluminum gas tank and an Ducati Imola aluminum seat pan and a reshaped Ducati wind splitter. Engine work consisted in removing the stock EFI to return to a more Cafe 41 mm carburetor. Inverted front end was modified at the shop . Alpina wheels Italy. New exhaust was fabricated using the Guzzi Griso system as a base. Ignition by Silent Hekiik Germany. Frame paint by Craig Skiver. Assembly by R. Jones and A. Bernard at Santiago Chopper. Time: 4 months. For sale $45,000. (photography Erik Runyon for Cyril Huze)
Ace’s Alan….!!
Steve Carr
There’s something about a Guzzi engine in this trim that is just so right , love it…………
Phil (UK)
Santiago Choppers continues to build some of the finest motorcycles in the world. Not only are they true works of art, but they are functional, rideable, reliable motorcycles. Kudos to Alain Bernard.
Alain builds some real nice Cafe Racers. He doesn’t get the credit he deserves.
It’s a Moto Guzzi V 11 not an 1100 Sport.
Please note these are Tubeless Spoke wheels
I can’t see two months or 45K value there.For a bike that could nudge 150 mph a single front disc is marginal braking.Unless the bike was a bespoke creation for a giant I can’t see why the tank is mounted about five inches too high.It ruins the lines to my eye and raises the C.O.G. of the bike by quite a margin compared to stock when full of gas.His bikes are getting better with every new edition.
Terence their is no 45k worth of value there at all he buys these Guzzies cheap and doesnt even do a thing to the motors and puts these high prices on them , ask him what kind of motor work has he done and the bike is lucky to do 75mph before the motor dies, his work is all cosmetic.
For once I’m with Rodent 100%. Never thought that would happen!
Looks “Just Right”…..
And very cool……… 🙂
-nicker-
I have seen this bike in real life and looks very right…Alan does build very nice bikes with looks and functionality.
where are all the bikes you build greaser?
Steve Carr
greaser.I did think all the bikes this mob makes are for slow traffic posers and shiny latte lip lapping cats with too much loose loot.Thanks for confirming my impressions.
That is beautiful,
Like Guzzis !
Like Cafe racers !
And polished alloy has so much more depth than chrome.
If that bike was a Woman it would be Sophia Loren………..
Always had a liking for Guzzis and this really looks great! Nice work!
Love the Guzzi builds. It looks like the frame was bored out in a few places. Nice fab work. Those flatside carbs and a loss of 70+ lbs should make this one an impressive performer. The tubeless Alpina wheels are gorgeous! First time I’ve seen a griso exhaust on a V11. Bad A$$!
For the trolls on this thread, spread your hate somewhere else. These custom builders dedicate their life to this trade for almost no profit. Have some respect. If you don’t like something, that’s cool, no reason to be a hateful jerk@ff.
Terence Tory,
Ditto – nice bike, for $45k though, suddenly she is no more so pretty.
I can do a 100mph on my 2005 CVO Fat Boy – that can hardly be a near 50k incentive…
With respect to the work done here – for that kind of money I would head towards Deutschland – specifically Kaffeemaschine in Hamburg.
SUPER NICE SANTIAGO
Stop sniveling about the price, no one is holding a gun to your head to buy it.
Looking at and appreciating this scooter is “Free.”
Moreover, if all your interested in is horse power then go buy a Hyabusa…..
-nicker-
Steve from Stockholm,just stating the obvious is not hating.It looks Café,but there is about zero Racer there.How you hang on to a bike with chrome grips on clipon bars has me beat.If it hasn’t got a lightened flywheel and cams the flatslides would just pop and fart for zero horsepower gains.Some guys like bikes that “sound” fast I guess.A stock Moto Guzzi le mans 850 mk1 looks far superior IMHO.”These custom builders dedicate their life to this trade for almost no profit”,I doubt that very much.At 45K he sure ain’t doing it for love.
and all the bikes you have built are where Terence? You are qualified to make your statements how….?
please show us all of your qualifications to back up your expert analysis….
Steve Carr
Steve Carr,trust me I’m qualified.
Terence Tory: what makes you think I was referring to you? Guilty conscious?
I get it. You prefer stock Guzzi’s and you think the asking price is too high. Great. Thank you for your input. It was meaningful and added tremendous value.
Regarding your qualifications, I can’t comment because I do not know you. However, your comments don’t support you. You don’t need a lightened flywheel to get a significant performance boost from those Keihins. I know this because I own several and have the dyno’s to support it. The right jetting and exhaust results is a different animal altogether. Don’t believe me? There’s plenty of threads on Guzzi forums to confirm your misunderstanding.
As far as this build, custom builders and profits: it’s a fact, most builders don’t make much money. Unless you have a television show and your making Easter eggs on wheels for corporations that will never ride the “un-rideable”, you’re probably just getting by. These guys build because they love it. It’s their passion. And thank god for the builders that push the envelope. They inspire us. It’s their builds that make us want to see more from sites like Cyril’s. Don’t like some? That’s cool. Just don’t be a c*ck about it. Regarding the price: seriously? They can ask whatever they want for it. Who cares? Someone will pay it or they won’t. If they get $45k, good for them. If they don’t, I hope they make enough to fund the next build…
I personally know builders who have got over 100K for bikes they have built.I guess it more than paid the rent.Every bike I lay my hands on makes me a good profit or I’d stay in bed on Monday with the lady and drink bourbon and laugh at the worker ants.The price is irrevelant,but value is not.You may get more Guzzi power with minor mods,but you need lighter flywheels to get fast faster.At least we are not discussing Ducatis.
“Trust me, I’m qualified” Steve Carr I think this statement gives it away. Terence Tory is obviously a used car salesman. Or maybe he works in a haberdashery shop. Terence, when you are challenged you should either put up and list your qualifications, or shut up. That’s the only way you’ll gain respect is to justify your strong opinions on just about everything on this blog. I hope that you will do this and not resort to invective.
Doc Robinson.I’m not the least interested courting the respect of a mere writer.The many people who respect me,do.The rest are a blur of meat.I’m never challenged by a man of woman born,and certainly don’t except terms dictated by others.I don’t consider goads or feel the need to justify anything I’ve ever done so far.
Your time would be better spent,IMHO penning yet another puff-piece for a grossly overpriced item of questionable function and utility than offering advice to me.I consider your credibility to be rather scant as you never seem to offer criticism or any worthwhile technical analysis.Its always Ya-Ya and Ga-Ga and Go-Go for next overpriced consumer item.
Its a big planet and I’ve got my half.
A critical thinking exercise for our resident expert on all things custom motorcycles, Terence Tory:
If Terence Tory = Troll; and Troll = A$$ Clown; then Terence Tory = ?
As the old saying goes…….
“Those that can…do, those that can’t…don’t, but instead, criticize others that can”
“IMHO”
Steve Carr
Ah Terence you didn’t disappoint me with your argumentum ad hominem, which you can look up on Wikipedia by the way. You exhibit all the hallmarks of a keyboard commando sitting in your mother’s basement in your underpants and pretending to be knowledgeable on all things custom. Where are your builds? Never mind courting my respect, what about the thousands of people who read Cyril’s blog? Sorry mate, but you are the quintessential sad sack. You can look up quintessential on one look.com by the way.
Amen Doc, and to Terence Happy Kwanzaa!
Doc Robinson.I studied Latin for years.
Puer autem ambulaverit triste ad medicum in Harley-Davidson.
I got to go now and practice a bit of reductio ad absurdum,and then maybe a bit of litotes and metaphore.But that’s all Greek to me.I’m not bad at litotes.
Steve Carr, I don’t have to prove anything to anyone , I speak facts,all santiagos work is cosmetic , just like his Norleys he does nothing to the drivetrains he buys the bike for cheap and doesnt even do anything to the motors, and no one is going to buy a bike with high mileage , go to his shop and ask to see the title for the Guzzi , why do you think the origanal speedo is missing, but then again what would you know about building bikes, havent seen you build anything lately , spending all that cash on the hard stuff ….
thanks to all of you i laugh a lot
and happy thanks giving
i will ride a guzzi all week end and do the tone a lot of time
Hey just to set the record stright, Im not knocking the way it looks yea its cool looking and cosmedically appreciated, but like I said before, nothing on his Norleys/ Guzzies or anything he builds is mechanically sound. HE BUYS CHEAP SPRORTSTERS PAINTS THE MOTORS AND PUTS THEM IN A FRAME THAT REPLICATES A NORTON AND CALLS IT A NORLEY. His workman ship is poor and I can assure you he does no fabricating himself. go to his shop and ask to see the titles on any norley and if it say zero miles then he’s changing the titles easy to do when your a lisc. manufactor, and have access to titles and stickers to put on the frames. check out his customer comments people have been waiting for months and years to receive items already bought and paid for I’ve checked out his customer complaints, dont take a rocket scientest to figure this guy out. if all you positive commentors are so sure go buy a bike from him …….
The question,me hearties,is who would we eat first in the SS Huze’s lifeboat? A ha rrrrrr.I say Doc because he’s old and tender and well pickled in fine spirits! A ha rrrrrr.
the question was, where are the bikes you build greaser….
you may want to check your facts on what I have been doing lately my friend….
and once more, where are the bikes you build and what are your qualifications on all of your expert analysis.
It’s amazing how these guys that know everything about everyone’s bike builds and building capabilities, try and defend themselves by stating “I don’t have to prove anything to anybody”
Actually you should say, I can’t prove anything to anyone.
just put up or shut up.
Steve Carr
Steve Carr,it seems greaser knows all about this guys shiny builds using decades old tired motors.Why shoot the messenger? He may be speaking the truth.I’ll put my cards on the table when I’m in a cowboy movie,you do know that life is not a cowboy movie right Chuck?
if anyone on this blog knows how and what Alan builds it’s me.
Alan does a great job building custom bikes and has been doing so for decades.
Until either of you can show anything of value to reflect any qualification at all, none of your statements have any value or Merit.
Our peers who read this blog know and can tell who the wannabe’s are here simply by the content of the post and by the hiding behind the fake names.
Stop pretending to be something you clearly are not and will never be …
Steve Carr
Steve Carr,thanks for your opinion.greaser and I have somewhat different opinions than you.You and your peers must be psychic with so much certainty based on zilch,zero and zippo facts.None of the pro builders,racers,race techs and MC engineers that are my peers could care less of what other people think in the least.I guess I just lucked into a good mob of guys not weighed down with egos to feed,foster and puff.Relax jack and enjoy your sweet home.
Beautiful bike.
Look, some can only view the post and judge it by what we see.
Those who know the scooter and/or builder can give their opinion.
All that works for me.
But when i hear landless prattle that ends with “…I studied Latin for years…”
I’m think-n this dude needs to “get a grip”……. Seriously…!!!
(credibility = 0)
-nicker-
What about the bike?
motojefro:It’s Latin.
“None of the pro builders,racers,race techs and MC engineers that are my peers. TT” – more huff and puff from this nobody pretending he is somebody. Get a life TT. Maybe actually try your hand at building a bike. Ask your mum for some spanners for Christmas . . .
I just rolled a race bike into the workshop about four hours ago Doc,to make a new gas tank for it.Got plenty of tools,Doc.
Doc / Steve,
I know he is an annoying ass hole
but every time you answer him he won and you lost
“I just rolled a race bike into the workshop about four hours ago Doc,to make a new gas tank for it.Got plenty of tools,Doc.” – prove it, come out from behind your pseudonym and say who you really are and what business you run in the motorcycle field. Won’t? Ah, no surprise there . . . faker.
john reed – I don’t agree with your conclusion about the wins and losses but I don’t really care as I enjoy jousting with mental midgets. And TT is one of the smallest out there.
I don’t get a bristled glow of fevered enjoyment in a battle of wits with unarmed men.john reed,is the arbiter of dignified repose and clear vision.
well for sure one part of his statement may well be accurate ….
Steve Carr
Steve Carr ; First of all you don’t even know where Santiago Chopper is located, and never have been to his shop, your just judging Alan because you think hes a friend. and the only thing I ever see you do is get wasted drunk so again I did put up and told any of you to go and see the titles on any of his bikes, none of his motors are new or even rebuilt, all used high milage motors with nothing but cosmedic work done pulls the motors takes them to be cleaned up and drops them right back in , why does he change the speedos out on all his builds, dahhhhhhh doesnt want anyone to see the correct milage go back and look at any of his builds, all new speedos. Doc R. know your friends with Alan and from abroad, but friends are friends and business is business
Love the metal work on the tank.
ahh, good defense on your part, and I might add, not to bad on the trying to prove your qualifications. It would be a little better if you actually had your facts about me correct, but… again you miss the mark.
Once again, like I said, where are your builds, where is your contact info, all if mine is easily accessible because I don’t have to hide behind a fake name. I can stand tall and be proud of my accomplishments over my 40+ years of motorcycling, and everything I have done is right out in the open for anyone to check on.
Usually when a person can’t support his own comments, that person will lash out at others with negative and misleading comments, and at this point this is getting just a bit boring, so with that I wish you nothing but the best in your future expert advise and analysis on all things motorcycle.
Steve Carr
oh and just for clarification, I lived in Tampa Bay for 25 years, I know Alan, and I have been to several of his shops, and talk to Alan quite often still even though I no longer live in Florida.
Again, please do yourself a true self service and at least know your facts before you spew false information about others, it really makes a person look bad my friend….
Steve Carr
Steve Carr , I am not trying to to defend anything but the truth, and you said it your self SEVERAL of his SHOPS , why would such a honest, fabulous, bike builder , move as much as Santiago Chopper , I have the facts, all of them , go to his many shops where ever he may be now and ASK to see the title of this 45k GUZZI, ask to see the titles of his ever so famous NORLEY’S with used sportster motors in them , I am supporting my comments, all you have to do is ask to see the titles of any of his bikes , and I agree this is getting boaring , you want to defend a friend and thats understandable and honorable , but I have given you and anyone else who doubts me the facts , go to his shop,pose as a buyer, ask to see the title and the build work done on his 45k Guzzi or Norley’s Then come back and defend him , business is business Mr Carr , and yea before I forget Woody the tanks are bought out of the USA as well as the seat pans , I deal with the same company…
Hey all you ass holes are like a bunch of cry babies, I worked for Alan for years and everything he does is lagit , he has some good ideas and makes them work , his bikes are pretty cool like no one else does, he’s been in the business longer than most bike shops and will be around for many more. so take a break find some other shit to talk about. Steve Carr didn’t know you moved out of Fl. hows things going ?
So greaser,now I guess all the body work is made in India and bolted on stateside.Nothing wrong with Indian high quality engineering.
There is a person commenting here that really has no clue about the way the custom motorcycle industry works.
Somewhat like a gnat flying around not knowing what it’s doing but for sure will get squashed soon enough….
Steve Carr