Moto Guzzi V9 Morning Glory Is What Happens to Unsuspecting Italian Bikes in Texas

The project was commissioned by Moto Guzzi back in 2018, with a brand-new V9 Roamer acting as the starting point. From a mechanical standpoint, the motorcycle was an excellent basis for customization, drawing power from an air-cooled 853cc V-twin mill with 10.5:1 compression and two valves per cylinder. At 6,250 rpm, the longitudinally mounted engine is good for up to 55 hp at the crankshaft.

On the other hand, it can produce 46 pound-feet (62 Nm) of torque at around 3,000 revs, channeling it to the rear wheel via a six-speed transmission. This grunt moves a curb weight of 441 pounds (200 kg), and suspension duties are taken good care of by Marzocchi hardware at both ends. Ample stopping power comes from drilled stainless-steel discs and Brembo calipers, employing four pistons up north and two pistons out back.

We now know exactly what the Revival crew was working with, so let’s go ahead and examine the transformation process itself. The guys were free to customize the V9 Roamer however they saw fit, but it was decided that a large chunk of its OEM equipment would be retained. Whereas the wheels, brakes, and rear shock absorbers are all stock, Alan and his team deleted each and every piece of factory bodywork they could get their hands on.

Then, it came time for Revival’s in-house metal fabrication expert Andy to work his magic. He came up with a monocoque structure that fuses the fuel tank, side covers, and tail section into a single unit, with aluminum being his material of choice. This is the only bodywork component you’ll find here, because there’s no front or rear fender to speak of.

Near its southernmost tip, the alloy attire is topped with a circular LED taillight that’s nice and compact but also sufficiently bright. A bit further ahead, we notice a bespoke saddle with generous padding and two-tone upholstery, courtesy of Revival Cycles’ proprietary leatherwork department. The gas tank carries an offset aluminum filler cap built from scratch, as well as the Guzzi’s relocated OEM instrumentation.

In the cockpit, there’s a tall bobber-style handlebar supplied by TC Bros, sporting Posh grips and Motogadget bar-end turn signals. One may see a 5.75-inch headlamp replacing the stock part, complete with a yellow-tinted lens that keeps things looking classy. The headlight sits on custom mounting hardware nice and close to the forks.

Speaking of the front suspension, it now comprises a girder setup fashioned by Voodoo Vintage instead of the factory V9 forks. This new equipment features 4.7 inches (119 mm) of trail and a rake angle of 26 degrees. Down in the footwear sector, Revival fitted a pair of retro-looking tires fore and aft – an Avon Speedmaster at the front and Firestone’s classy Deluxe Champion rubber on the opposite end.

The bike’s original foot pegs are still present, but they’ve been moved forward ever so slightly to suit its updated ergonomics. Revival’s specialists relocated the Guzzi’s kickstand and ignition module, as well, while swapping its standard battery with a 12-cell alternative from Antigravity. Even though the V-twin engine remains unchanged on the inside, the project’s authors did install some fresh exhaust pipework that’s been manufactured from scratch.

It’s made of stainless-steel tubing and topped with dual cocktail shaker mufflers, which terminate right ahead of the lower shock mounts. Lastly, it appears that the project’s authors were inspired by classic choppers when it came to the paint job. This is made particularly clear by the use of fish scale and light beam graphics, all done in a stunning orange metal flake finish.

On the other hand, a glossy copper hue was chosen as the base color, and there are multiple areas left unpainted but adorned with a brushed alloy finish instead. Items such as the frame, foot pegs, and front suspension equipment got powder-coated black. Once completed and ready to hit the road, the V9 Morning Glory was put on the scales to check its new total weight.

As it turned out, the Revival treatment made the Guzzi about 24 pounds (11 kg) lighter than its stock iteration, with a wet weight of 417 pounds (189 kg). There’s nothing too crazy about this reduction, but it's sure to improve the bike’s agility in a subtle yet effective manner. The Austin-based customization gurus knocked this build straight out of the park, even if their mods didn’t go as far as they did on other projects.