Photo: GMB99
Few workshops can build a custom Guzzi like GMB99 over in Catalonia, and the specimen we’ll be looking at today is a perfect example of what they can accomplish. This striking cafe racer was put together a couple of years ago in honor of Moto Guzzi’s centenary, but we reckon it’ll be worth talking about for a long time to come.
GMB99 used a bulky Bellagio as the project’s basis, giving it a much sportier demeanor and improving upon Mandello del Lario’s stock recipe in just about every way. First things first, the mill saw its capacity boosted to a whopping 1,500cc, while the stock carbs have been ditched in favor of Mikuni substitutes measuring 45 millimeters (1.8 inches).
HP Corse exhaust silencers are also present, and all these mods were able to raise the V-twin's power output to 130 ponies. Down in the footwear department, things are kept nice and light thanks to laced aluminum hoops from Kineo, with Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa rubber hugging their rims. Of course, some additional stopping power was also on the menu, so as to complement the extra grunt now delivered by the engine.
At the front end, GMB99 installed 320 mm (12.6-inch) floating discs and four-piston Brembo brake calipers, which are operated through a Beringer master cylinder. The custom sorcery made a big splash in the suspension sector, as well, with all the factory Moto Guzzi hardware making way for higher-spec replacements. Using CNC-machined triple clamps, the Catalan specialists retrofitted the gas-pressurized forks of a 2020 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R.
These are a colossal improvement over the OEM items, and they’re accompanied by a fully-adjustable piggyback monoshock from Ohlins at the rear. Up in the cockpit area, you will now find clip-on handlebars outfitted with Beringer controls and bar-end mirrors. A potent LED headlight is placed a bit further ahead, right beneath a tailor-made speedometer bracket.
Out back, there is a swingarm-mounted license plate holder equipped with dual-function LEDs, but what really keeps us staring at this reworked Bellagio is the new bodywork. GMB99 shaped all these handsome garments out of aluminum, and the subframe was thoughtfully revised to accommodate the cafe-style tail unit. A stunning fuel tank can be seen further ahead, along with a slim front fender held in place by handmade brackets.
In order to keep road debris well away from the velocity stacks, the subframe’s underside was discreetly covered with bespoke alloy plates. It would have been a real shame to hide GMB99’s metalwork beneath any paint, so the tail, tank, and front fender were simply treated to a brushed finish. Just about everything else was painted black, further highlighting the motorcycle’s rad aluminum overalls. For the final touch, the guys added a black leather seat with red stitching.
HP Corse exhaust silencers are also present, and all these mods were able to raise the V-twin's power output to 130 ponies. Down in the footwear department, things are kept nice and light thanks to laced aluminum hoops from Kineo, with Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa rubber hugging their rims. Of course, some additional stopping power was also on the menu, so as to complement the extra grunt now delivered by the engine.
At the front end, GMB99 installed 320 mm (12.6-inch) floating discs and four-piston Brembo brake calipers, which are operated through a Beringer master cylinder. The custom sorcery made a big splash in the suspension sector, as well, with all the factory Moto Guzzi hardware making way for higher-spec replacements. Using CNC-machined triple clamps, the Catalan specialists retrofitted the gas-pressurized forks of a 2020 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R.
These are a colossal improvement over the OEM items, and they’re accompanied by a fully-adjustable piggyback monoshock from Ohlins at the rear. Up in the cockpit area, you will now find clip-on handlebars outfitted with Beringer controls and bar-end mirrors. A potent LED headlight is placed a bit further ahead, right beneath a tailor-made speedometer bracket.
Out back, there is a swingarm-mounted license plate holder equipped with dual-function LEDs, but what really keeps us staring at this reworked Bellagio is the new bodywork. GMB99 shaped all these handsome garments out of aluminum, and the subframe was thoughtfully revised to accommodate the cafe-style tail unit. A stunning fuel tank can be seen further ahead, along with a slim front fender held in place by handmade brackets.
In order to keep road debris well away from the velocity stacks, the subframe’s underside was discreetly covered with bespoke alloy plates. It would have been a real shame to hide GMB99’s metalwork beneath any paint, so the tail, tank, and front fender were simply treated to a brushed finish. Just about everything else was painted black, further highlighting the motorcycle’s rad aluminum overalls. For the final touch, the guys added a black leather seat with red stitching.
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