Source: Bike Bound
Concentrated Power: Radical Speedshop’s Big-Bore Guzzi…
When it comes to Moto Guzzi performance, one name stands out from the crowd: Radical Speedshop of Schwarzenfeld, Germany. The Bronold family has been building, racing, and marketing high-performance Moto Guzzi specials for nigh on 25 years.
“In the Radical Speedshop, custom Guzzis are created, and parts are developed and manufactured in small series so that our customers can also optimize their bikes. We have turned our passion into our profession and have not regretted it for a minute.”
The Moto Guzzi engine is one of the few truly distinctive designs still in production, and these Mandello-built Italian bikes have a character, mystique, and riding sensation unlike anything else. Head engineer Giulio Cesare Carcano developed the company’s 90-degree V-twin in the early 1960s, even going so far as to build a 600cc version to power his own Fiat hot rod:
“I put it in a Fiat 500. I remember that it gave me a lot of satisfaction. It was a motor, the 600, giving 36 or 38 hp. Exactly twice the output of the original Fiat engine, giving 18-20 hp. The car was brilliant…it had very good acceleration and the maximum speed was almost too much: 140 Km/h for such a small car!” –Anima Guzzista
The Guzzi V-twin soon proved itself in the company’s military and police bikes, becoming a favorite among forces around Italy and beyond, and the engine is now iconic of the brand.
Radical Speedshop has been pushing the envelope of Moto Guzzi performance since their first generation of “flat iron” customs built to be slimmer, lighter, and faster than what comes rolling out of the Mandello factory, and Radical Guzzis have proven themselves on the street, track, and drag strip. The Brondolds themselves compete in events like the Glemseck 101, where air-cooled twins race an 1/8-mile length of the old Solitude race track.
Today we’re pleased to feature one of their latest creations, the “Ristretto.” Ristretto, meaning “restricted” or “limited” in Italian, is an especially concentrated shot of espresso. Similarly, the Bronold boys sought to condense this Guzzi down to its most vital elements:
“The bike is concentrated to the only things you need on a muscle bike: a lot of displacement and torque, two wheels, and no bullshit of electronic helpers or fuel injection.”
Silvain Berneron of Holographic Hammer penned the original sketch of the design, but the Bronolds made this build even sportier. The frame is from a Le Mans III, powder-coated black, but the real treat here is the engine: an 8-valve Griso 1200 punched out to 1500cc with Radical Speedshop’s own big bore kit.
To that the Radical boys added USD front forks, their in-house swingarm designed to accommodate a 180 rear tire, spoke wheels, modern Brembo brakes, an alloy tank and tail section, Rockers Meccanica leather seat, full LED lighting, and a raucous Titan Exhaust.
This muscular Italian thoroughbred now makes 130 horsepower, 118 pound-feet of torque, and weighs in at a relatively svelte 430 pounds — 70 pounds lighter than a standard Griso, with 50+ more power than an 850 Le Mans III. As you can imagine, the riding experience is completely transformed:
“The Ristretto is a pure muscle bike. When you turn the throttle the bike kicks your ass. From the start of the revs there’s so much of torque that the bike feels like a bull gone wild.”
If you’re a diehard Guzzista and want one of these Mondello ground-pounders in your own garage, reach out to Radical Speedshop…then held on tight.
Moto Guzzi 1500: Builder Interview
Below you’ll find our full interview with Stefan Bronold of Radical, along with more photos of the “Ristretto.”
• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?
Frame is from a Le Mans 3. Engine from a Griso 1200.
• Why was this bike built?
The bike was built for our showroom to show customers our work and is also for sale.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
The first sketch was from Holographic Hammer, and in this bike we changed the style a little bit to make the bike more sporty with the wheels and exhaust.
• What custom work was done to the bike?
- Engine swap to a 8V with our 1500cc big bore kit
- USD front fork
- Our rear swingarm for 180 tire on spoke wheels
- Alloy tank and seat
- Titan Exhaust
- Selfmade Speedo
- Modern Brembo brakes
- Mini electric with full LED
- Leather seat by Rockers Meccanica
- Our footpegs
- Frame powdercoat
• Where does the nickname “Ristretto” come from?
Ristretto is a highly concentrated espresso, like the bike is concentrated to the only things you need on a muscle bike: a lot of displacement and torque, two wheels, and no bullshit of electronic helpers or fuel injection.
• Any idea of horsepower and/or weight?
130HP, 160NM torque, and 195Kg.
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride Ristretto?
The Ristretto is a pure muscle bike. When you turn the throttle the bike kicks your ass. From the start of the revs there’s so much of torque that the bike feels like a bull gone wild.
Follow the Builder
Website: www.radicalspeedshop.com
Facebook: @radicalspeedshop
Instagram: @radicalspeedshop
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