Photo: Gannet Design
Few riders know that the Moto Guzzi V8 motorcycle was one of the fastest and most badass bikes of its time, and was doing over 170 mph (270 km/h) in the mid-50’s. However, even though the bike was only produced for racing purposes for a few years only, the heritage of the 500cc-class V8 beast has endured the passing of time, and designers like Ulfert Janssen of Gannet Design are not afraid to make use of its almost magic allure.
Janssen’s latest concepts are blending the unmistakable design cues of the Moto Guzzi V8 with the more contemporary Le Mans transverse twin architecture and the result is a truly interesting one, even though some might find it too peculiar. We can definitely understand that such bulbous shapes are not your thing, the same goes for Craig Vetter’s streamlined highly –aerodynamic creations. They’re made for speed and thrills, and not for showing off.
The Sprinter concept is somewhat inspired from the shapes of a gannet, and it sort of connects the drag race speed with the way the gannet dives from 200 feet (60+ meters) into the sea to fish. “An interesting dialog between retro design and contemporary elements that blurs the lines between them,” as Ulfert himself says, the use of carbon fiber elements is aimed at performance and looks alike, bridging the gap between the 50’s and the modern times.
The blue Moto Guzzi Sprinter is a drag racer, hence the small winglets on either side of the fairing, heling add some extra down force to keep the nose on the track. The black machine also boasts dual projector headlights and is more suitable for longer road races, which also involve nighttime laps, say even Le Mans or other 24-hour endurance competitions.
While it’s pretty obvious that these concepts will most likely never be made, it would be truly awesome to see someone putting Janssen’s ideas in practice, at least for the fun of it. Old Guzzis are not hard to come by and some of them come really cheap… ideas, anyone?
The Sprinter concept is somewhat inspired from the shapes of a gannet, and it sort of connects the drag race speed with the way the gannet dives from 200 feet (60+ meters) into the sea to fish. “An interesting dialog between retro design and contemporary elements that blurs the lines between them,” as Ulfert himself says, the use of carbon fiber elements is aimed at performance and looks alike, bridging the gap between the 50’s and the modern times.
The blue Moto Guzzi Sprinter is a drag racer, hence the small winglets on either side of the fairing, heling add some extra down force to keep the nose on the track. The black machine also boasts dual projector headlights and is more suitable for longer road races, which also involve nighttime laps, say even Le Mans or other 24-hour endurance competitions.
While it’s pretty obvious that these concepts will most likely never be made, it would be truly awesome to see someone putting Janssen’s ideas in practice, at least for the fun of it. Old Guzzis are not hard to come by and some of them come really cheap… ideas, anyone?
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