autoevolution
 

“Fenice” Is the Hottest One-Off Moto Guzzi Bellagio You’ve Ever Come Across

The endless list of delicious upgrades is absolutely mind-blowing. From carbon fiber bodywork and a complete Ohlins suspension kit to Brembo brakes and powertrain enhancements, this beauty has it all.
Fenice 14 photos
Photo: South Garage
FeniceFeniceFeniceFeniceFeniceFeniceFeniceFeniceFeniceFeniceFeniceFeniceFenice
When it comes to bespoke motorcycles, Italy is home to some of Europe's most ambitious enterprises. In Turin, there’s Luca Pozzato’s revered Officine GP Design, while the picturesque city of Pescara hosts Filippo Barbacane’s Officine Rossopuro. And let's not forget about the gifted moto masters over at South Garage, which go about their daily business in Milan.

Over the past few months, we checked out these folks’ portfolio on several occasions to admire their pieces of rolling artwork. As such, the autoevolution pages have featured some of the most notable creations crafted on this firm’s premises, including a cafe racer-style Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200C and a Ducati Monster S4R-based superstar named “Kelevra.”

All things considered, South Garage means business. Not convinced? Let’s take a quick look at how this workshop managed to transform an undistinguished 2010 Moto Guzzi Bellagio into a unique titan that’ll make any moto-loving petrolhead go weak at the knees. Ladies and gentlemen, meet “Fenice,” the custom ride of your wildest fantasies.

Fenice
Photo: South Garage
To give you a clear idea about the sheer level of craftsmanship that’s at work here, let's kick things off by analyzing the donor bike’s main specs and features. Within its tubular steel twin cradle frame, Piaggio’s fiend houses an air-cooled V-twin powerplant fed by a multipoint sequential electronic injection. The Italian monstrosity prides itself with two valves per cylinder and a sizeable displacement of 935cc.

This engine supplies up to 73 feral horses at around 7,200 rpm and a ruthless torque output of 57 pound-feet (78 Nm) at 6,000 revs. A six-speed gearbox sends the engine’s force to the rear wheel by means of a shaft final drive, enabling the Bellagio to reach 62 mph (100 kph) from a dead stop in 5.1 seconds.

Right, now that we’ve covered this thing’s powertrain characteristics, let’s see what South Garage’s Fenice is made of. The makeover process began in the bodywork department, where Milan’s specialists replaced the standard gas tank with a one-off aluminum item painstakingly fabricated in-house. It wears an alloy filler cap and one handsome three-tone paint scheme consisting of black, gold, and silver.

At the opposite end, we notice a carbon fiber tail section, which comes together with Fenice’s new side panels to form a single unit. The curvy garment packs a slim pair of LED lighting strips that keep things looking clutter-free, while an Alcantara-clad saddle sits between the tail and fuel chamber. With these parts installed, the surgeons turned their attention to the bike’s handling.

Fenice
Photo: South Garage
Thus, its front and rear suspension setups were blessed with a premium selection of Ohlins goodies. The entire structure crawls on 17-inch Kineo wheels that boast carbon rims and Diablo Red Race III rubber from Pirelli’s inventory. Stopping power is summoned by top-shelf Brembo calipers and floating brake rotors on both ends of the machine.

In terms of accessories, the aftermarket wizardry continues with an assortment of high-grade components from Rizoma, such as bar-end turn signals and mirrors, as well as fresh levers. Furthermore, FG Racing’s catalog was consulted to obtain a state-of-the-art headlight, CNC-machined foot pegs, and custom triple clamps. The cockpit received a Motogadget Chronoclassic gauge, which has been nested inside a bespoke alloy housing to round it all out.

Last but definitely not least, a comprehensive overhaul was applied to Bellagio’s 90-degree V-twin brute. On the exterior, the firm’s enhancements come in the forms of high-flow air filters and a vicious exhaust system developed by Spark, but the internal magic is where the real party’s at. Not only did Milan’s experts equip Dynatech coils and a Rapid Bike ECU from Dimsport, but they also added a set of high-compression pistons, lightweight cams, and a revised clutch mechanism.

Ultimately, this whole ordeal leads to a healthy power output bump to 95 wicked ponies—at the rear wheel, that is. To be quite frank, we totally dig South Garage’s Fenice, and I’ll bet my bottom dollar that you feel the same.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Silvian Secara
Silvian Secara profile photo

A bit of an artist himself, Silvian sees two- and four-wheeled machines as a form of art, especially restomods and custom rides. Oh, and if you come across a cafe racer article on our website, it’s most likely his doing.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories