Guy's 1100 Guzzi cafe' racer for sale

Guy's Moto Guzzi Jackal 1100-based cafe' racer is for sale. We think it's one of the best out there - the right lines, a very high build specification (Maxton suspension no less) and the donor Jackal owned from new. As cafe' racer Guzzis and Guzzis have become much more 'cool' and 'trendy' the last couple of years, and most of the stuff you see is either half-arsed or just plain wrong, it's good to see a bike that was built with skill and thought, used for its intended purpose, and now up for sale to pay for another project.

It's on Ebay now, right here

Rondine by Medaza Cycles wins the 2013 AMD World Championship

Congratulations to Don Cronin and Michael O'Shea of Medaza Cycles in Ireland, whose extraordinary Moto Guzzi Falcone custom has just won the 2013 AMD World Championship of Custom Building which took place in Essen, Germany. Well done lads!

Nice to be wanted

It's not often we get publicly praised for the magazine, but it's nice when it happens. We came across this small but straightforward mention on a blog by Kraut, but it means a lot. His blog is also worth a look, with an interesting ongoing Aermacchi build. Check it out here

And why not do what the man recommends, and subscribe to ITALIAN MOTOR here: http://italianmotor.bigcartel.com

Forking rubbish service

So at 9.30am last Tuesday morning I ordered two 35mm fork seals for my Guzzi from a Guzzi parts supplier beginning with an M, thinking that'd be plenty of time for them to turn up to fit on the weekend, seeing as I was also paying for 1st class postage. The bloke I spoke to just sounded a bit nonchalant, like he wasn't awake properly. "Should be able to get them out today mate.."

They eventually arrived on Thursday in the afternoon, and I put the packet to one side. Opened it Friday morning, fork seals weren't 35mm but 40mm. Called them. "You sure?" they asked. "They're all 35mm in the box here." "Yes mate, I've owned the bike for 22 years, I can tell at a glance, plus they've got 40mm written on them. Can you send the correct ones please, and special delivery so they arrive in the morning?" Well, after some mumbling and moaning about the post office (?) they said yes.

Anyway, they arrived this Monday morning, standard post, so couldn't fit them and couldn't go out on my bike yesterday as planned (though it was cold..). I'm aware mistakes can be made, but nowadays you have to do things right. Not impressed, and should have stuck with Gutsibits, who also advertise in the mag, so I'll be spending my money with them in the future.

Rust in peace

I last rode the 750 in November, and lazily threw it back into the shed not realising the roads I'd ridden over had been salted and gritted. I hardly ever wash my bike as it is, so no surprise then that the Italian chrome has protested now I've come back to it five months on. Oh well...

365er

Pete who gets out a lot more than we do and is always coming across interesting bikes sent us these pics from Newark Autojumble. A Ducati single used every day for example.

"Hi Adam - hope you are well and enjoying the weather (yeah..). This little Ducati is always at Newark Autojumble and always parked in the same place. I got to talk to the owner today, he uses it every day 365 days a year. It has a Condor 350 engine otherwise as nature intended. He had heard of you but not Italian Motor Magazine (he has now).       Cheers..   Pete"

Thanks Pete. Check out Pete's great and eclectic blog here: Eat The Rich UK

Moto Guzzi Lodola 175 start up - unrestored shed find from Italy

I still get such a kick out of starting up some old bike that's sat around for who knows how long. Dorian and I spent a bit of time yesterday on this cammy 175 Guzzi Lodola that I brought in from Italy some months ago, and the end result was satisfying. The motor sounds good, just need to fettle cables, brakes and whatever else needs it. Unrestored, that's how we love 'em...