Custom Moto Guzzi SP1000 Is a Huge Visual Departure From Its Stock Incarnation

Anyhow, the specimen we’ll be looking at today was recently built by Filippo at the Rossopuro HQ near the Adriatic coast. The commission came from a client residing in Rome, and the goal was to create a Brat-style showstopper fit for daily rides on the capital’s busy streets. As the project’s starting point, the Italian mastermind went with a Moto Guzzi SP1000 he’d found in fairly decent shape.

With its 949cc V-twin supplying up to 71 hp and 62 pound-feet (84 Nm) of torque, the Guzzi was a very solid basis from a mechanical standpoint. However, its appearance was far from the Brat aesthetic that Signor Barbacane had in mind, so he promptly did away with every piece of factory bodywork he could get his hands on. Then it came time to build a unique aluminum attire from scratch.

First things first, the fabrication process started with the fuel tank, which is quite simply a work of art in and of itself. Our protagonist goes to great lengths in order to nail the gas tank on each and every build, always keeping it custom and never failing to craft something amazing. The fuel chamber is topped with a shiny Monza-style filler cap, and it tapers toward a gorgeous handmade saddle.

This new seat was put together in-house using plentiful padding and black leather upholstery, but Filippo wasn’t yet done with the metalwork. He came up with a pair of triangular side covers, as well, and a bespoke alloy fender can be seen at each end of the bike. The rear item is topped with a circular LED taillight and a minimalistic license plate holder.

As for the turn signals, they’re attached to the subframe tubing a bit further ahead, right behind the upper shock mounts. At the front, lighting comes from a retro-looking headlamp flanked by LED blinkers similar to those found at the back. The cockpit area is home to a red-anodized, low-profile handlebar and aftermarket instrumentation – an infinitely cleaner setup than the SP1000’s standard arrangement.

Filippo installed adjustable foot pegs to complement the handlebar and round out the Guzzi’s ergonomics, but this addition took place after the photoshoot. He went to town in the suspension department, too, rebuilding the original forks and fitting them with Bitubo cartridges in the process. At the opposite end, you’ll find twin fully-adjustable shock absorbers with retro looks, once again sourced from Bitubo’s range.

Unsprung territory is occupied by new wheel hubs, stainless-steel spokes, and shouldered Borrani rims on both ends. The fresh footgear is enveloped in Metzeler Perfect ME 77 rubber, and Filippo hasn’t overlooked the SP1000’s brakes, either. He refurbished all its Brembo calipers while hooking them up to braided brake lines, but we also spot a set of drilled rotors replacing the standard modules on both ends.

Officine Rossopuro’s makeover was really starting to come together at this point, and the motorcycle bore very little resemblance to its former self. All the bodywork components were finished in a layer of silver paint, which is accompanied by dark red accents and black pinstripes on the fuel tank and rear fender. With the cosmetic side of things mostly wrapped up, there were just two other aspects that Filippo needed to address.

We are, of course, talking about the creature’s powertrain and electronics. Its longitudinal twin-cylinder mill was blessed with a comprehensive overhaul inside out, and it now inhales via aftermarket air filters. On the opposite end of the combustion cycle, we notice a shiny stainless-steel exhaust system ending in dual reverse megaphone mufflers. Last but not least, our protagonist’s closing act had to do with the electrical paraphernalia.

He fitted an electronic ignition setup complete with fresh coils, as well as a modern voltage regulator and custom wiring all-round. Then, the Brat-style SP was ready to meet its lucky owner and head back to the Italian capital for a new life. We can see a pinch of Japanese influence in the specimen's overall design, seamlessly combined with its classic European heritage.

The whole ordeal speaks volumes about maestro Barbacane’s proficiency with metalwork, but it also highlights his incredible attention to the finest details. Officine Rossopuro is one of those workshops that never disappoint, always managing to keep things fresh one way or another. If you’re planning a vacation to Rome, perhaps you’ll get the chance to spot this ravishing SP1000 on the road during your visit.