If you’re looking at this Ghezzi-Brian Furia thinking, “what the hell is a Ghezzi-Brian Furia,” you’re definitely not alone. The engine should look pretty familiar to anyone into Italian motorcycles though: those sticky-outy cylinders should be a dead giveaway that this is Moto Guzzi’s venerable two-valve v-twin. So what’s going on here?
Moto Guzzi is a motorcycling brand with decades of motorsports heritage. But, like many European brands, they fell on hard times and didn’t have the development budget to keep pace with the cutting-edge sportbikes coming out of Japan. Their bikes still handled well, and the motors were praised for their “character,” but they weren’t really competitive on road or track. And when The Piaggio Group acquired Moto Guzzi, it spelled an end to any dreams of sportbike glory Guzzi may have had, as they’d have ended up being direct competitors of stablemates Aprilia.
Enter Giuseppe Ghezzi and Bruno (Brian) Saturno, a pair of Italian designers who knew that, to make a bike faster, you should “simplify, and add lightness.” Wonder where they heard that? The strategy worked, and they were successful in Super Twins racing classes and were even tasked with developing the stunning MGS-01.
The Furia is obviously Ghezzi-Brian’s naked/roadster offering and lacks their SuperTwin’s sleek bodywork. It’s not the prettiest thing, with the bolt-on headlamps, exposed wiring, and boxy exhaust. But the upside is that it’s nearly 100lbs lighter than Moto Guzzi’s own V11 Sport: a claimed 397lbs dry versus 511lbs for the V11 Sport. Power is pretty much unchanged, but that’s kind of the point: you get significantly improved performance from the same reliable Guzzi engine. Think of it as a sort of “Bimota MB1…”
From the original eBay listing: 2002 Ghezzi-Brian Furia for Sale
Remarkable concept–virtually unbreakable Guzzi engine in a lightweight sport chassis. Its architecture is same as the legendary Vincent, with the engine a stressed member suspended from airbox serving as the upper frame, with swingarm attached to the transmission for great weight savings– 407 lb dry. Unlike standard Guzzi the swingarm action is progressive. OZ forged aluminum wheels, CNC machined. Paoli upside down 41mm fork w/ three settings; rear is Ohlins monoshock w/ separate tank, three settings. Brakes: Front is perimeter disc 4 piston calipers, Rear disc 4 piston caliper. Projector beam headlights. Magneti Marelli electronic fuel injection and ignition. New Shorai lithium battery. I made new (smaller) taillight bracket; original bracket and signal lights included in sale, as is the factory rear stand and a new oil filter. A brilliant bike in “as new” condition.
The seller is asking $15,000 OBO for this weird little slice of Italian exotica. That’s not chump change but, if you’re looking for a very rare ride that’s easy to service and won’t have you searching your phone for “chiropractor” after a short Sunday ride, I can’t think of a better choice.
-tad
