Brat-Style Moto Guzzi Le Mans 1000 From Japan Is Rather Easy on the Eye

Currently, his base of operations is located close to the picturesque Yatsugatake Mountains, in a workspace far cozier than your average warehouse or garage. The fabrication of individual components, furniture building, and classic car restorations are all part of the 46Works repertoire, but Shiro’s custom bikes are what we’re here for today.

More specifically, the stunning one-off showcased in this article’s photo gallery started out as a Moto Guzzi Le Mans 1000 from the model-year 1987. It was given the 46Works treatment over a nine-month period, shedding its stock garments to become a neat all-rounder with Brat-style elements. Astounding though it may be, this sort of transformation is just business as usual for master Nakajima.

With the donor on his workbench, he only kept its engine, wheel hubs, and Tonti frame, but even those were in for some considerable changes. For starters, the frame’s headstock was carefully reworked to lower the Guzzi’s posture up front, receiving a tailor-made steering neck that connects to the factory triple clamps. These clench a pair of conventional Ceriani replica forks from CR Suspension – a vast improvement over the standard Le Mans parts.

The rear-end suspension upgrades are equally significant, comprising top-grade Ohlins STX 36 shock absorbers with full adjustability. We’re sure these components take the motorcycle’s handling to a new level, and they’re not the only mods contributing to that cause. Others are located in the unsprung sector, where you will now find lightweight Excel rims measuring 18 inches in diameter on both ends.

Hugged by Dunlop rubber, these replacement hoops are attached to the OEM hubs via fresh stainless-steel spokes. Additional stopping power was also on the menu, so our protagonist fitted a full suite of modern braking hardware at the front. There you’ll see floating Sunstar discs bitten by four-piston Brembo calipers, with the latter brand supplying a premium master cylinder, as well. The rear brake has been rebuilt to complement these changes.

With the footgear, suspension, and brakes taken care of, Shiro turned his attention to the bike’s 81-hp, 948cc V-twin engine. He took the longitudinally-mounted powerhouse apart to then give it a comprehensive internal refurbishment, which left no stone unturned. Items like the valves and pistons were deleted in favor of youthful substitutes, and the whole ordeal was put back together with fresh seals and gaskets.

Gone are the original Dell’Orto carbs, making room for Keihin FCR 39s topped with aftermarket pod filters from K&N’s range. The Le Mans 1000 saw its exhaust system eliminated, too, receiving a handmade titanium replacement in its stead. This new pipework runs a two-one-two layout, terminating in twin custom mufflers on the right-hand side.

For a potent spark, 46Works refreshed the electronics by way of a Dynatek ignition module and an Enduralast alternator. The Guzzi was sure to perform like a charm with all the aforementioned upgrades installed, so making it look great was Shiro’s next port of call. He got straight to work crafting a bespoke aluminum attire from scratch, and what really amazes us is that no mock-ups were used to shape final parts.

The centerpiece of this custom outfit is, of course, the fuel tank. It bears a Monza-style flip-up filler cap and is shaped to fit on the host’s upper framework like a glove. Triangular side covers are placed a bit further back on the flanks, while a custom-made fender hovers above each wheel. The rear unit carries a compact license plate bracket and one of the tiniest LED taillights you’ll ever come across.

Up north, the creature’s lighting package comprises a vintage-looking headlamp and bar-end turn signals from Motogadget. Instrumentation comes in the form of a single Daytona Velona dial that sits right above the headlight housing, while the clip-ons have been swapped with an aftermarket handlebar to bring about a comfier riding stance.

CNC-machined foot controls and a tailor-made seat complete the rider triangle. The former were shaped in-house, and the black leather saddle was upholstered by a local collaborator who operates as Razzle Dazzle. As for the paint job, 46Works had it outsourced to Stupid Crown over in Tokyo for the best possible results, and they certainly didn’t disappoint.

The Le Mans’ color scheme is a clever mixture of unpainted alloy, black pinstripes, and light blue on the gas tank. By contrast, the frame and Excel rims are finished in black to keep your attention drawn to what really matters, but we also see some sneaky gold highlights on the front brake calipers and side covers. In a subtle way, these colors seem to echo some of the hues appearing on the titanium exhaust.