Create your own Guzzi

[Rox]

It's worth noting that the Honda CTX1300 has an across the frame V4 with the exhausts facing outwards and the fuel tank believe it or not is actually under the seat. OK I don't find the styling appealing at all but Honda knows how to engineer stuff.

I own a CTX. It looks much better in person . I actually chose it over the 1400 California. The V4 has less power but more torque and just takes off smoother. Plus it was more comfortable for going long miles. Though Japanese it still has Italian quirks like have useless compartments and looking through the mirrors were an afterthought. But even with the quirks it is all function like LED lighting that resemble death rays, good aerodynamics, a bulletproof motor and starts every time with zero worries.

 

[yaithouri]

I like this kind of setup. Seems like air cooling would be better as it is not preheated by the exhaust. Keeping the pipes in tight so nobody gets burned may require some tricks. The inlets could be a straight shot from an under tank airbox and the fuel tank could go down behind the engine where the inlet is now so there should be good fuel capacity. I hate small tanks. This setup is one I had never thought about. They could even do a performance model with DOHC driven by a chain or belt off the front of the crank. So many possibilities.

On a separate issue. Another 'out of the box' idea
Mandello racing(V2), Motus motorcycles(V4) and Honda (V4) are building across the frame engines with the exhaust and inlet ports rotated 90 degrees.
BMW has already done this with the latest boxer twin engines. (have a look at the new R1200R photos)
This maintains the across the frame layout we all love but the riders knees can move further forward (no throttle bodies in the way) and the engine can be moved forward to the front tire because the exhausts no longer get in the way. The end result is a shorter wheel base, less reach to the bars and better forward weight bias.
I find the engine block castings unattractive and the side exhausts do a good job of covering those..

Following on from this previous chat.
I had a thought.
It's a bit 'out there' but here goes:
OK, so the area above the engine is only an air box because the fuel tank is behind the engine yeah?
What if the engine was mounted to the frame using flexible engine mounts (that isolate vibration and allow the engine to move freely like a car) and the air box is mounted SOLIDLY to the engine block?
The air box could have an aggressive, forward facing, ram air duct styling. (Think 60's American muscle car or fighter jet).
When the engine is idling the air box and engine would visibly shake from side to side and when accelerating, the air box would snap left to right every time you changed gears.
Of course this serves no functional purpose but I think it would be insane to look at. It would definitely add to the visceral feel of riding an Italian V Twin and is something that could not be replicated by a conventionally mounted engine.
You wouldn't have trouble getting attention at traffic lights that's for sure.
The combination of:
- Side facing exhausts
- Ram air box
- Shaking engine/air box
would definitely give it a muscle bike feel reminiscent of the 60's American muscle cars and attract a lot of new buyers that weren't the Guzzi 'type'.

There's my fantasy bike.
WDYT?

 

[ZClark73]

A Griso, but with more of the dimensions of a KTM SuperDuke. The Giso is a fun naked bike, it's just BIG. I'd love that same engine/drivetrain in a smaller, more nimble package. I even think it could sell really well.

Someone else mentioned Guzzi needing to ditch the retro styling...I'd say keep a few models around, but with the ability to make Guzzi that looks like the attached picture, they could aim right for the heart of Ducati and give them a real run for their money.