If you’re a regular reader, you’ll know that Filippo Barbacane is one of Italy’s leading craftsmen, specializing in classy Moto Guzzi customs. The builds coming out of his Officine RossoPuro workshop are refined, elegant and desirable, and I’d be happy to put one next to the V7 in my garage. This is Barbacane’s latest work, an 850 T3 christened ‘Metallica.’ (And no, that’s probably not a reference to the band.)
The T3 is an early Tonti-framed Guzzi that lends itself very well to customization. Torquey and reliable, it’s one of those motorcycles that owners often fall in love with and hang on to. And if you find one in the classifieds, it’s likely to be running just fine, despite tens of thousands of miles on the clock.
For this build, Barbacane has gone back to the basics. “I wanted to make a motorcycle that was light and with a retro look, but with modern technical solutions,” he says.
There’s little paint to obscure the metal, and the custom bodywork harks back to an age before designers fell in love with plastic. The tank and fenders are hand-made; the seat not only flows with the lines, but also looks comfortable enough for long trips—a traditional forté of the 850 T3.
The electrical system is completely new, and mostly hidden under the tank. In the small leather bag mounted on the side of the bike is a toolkit, including a set of wrenches that can be used to remove all the bodywork in minutes. The mounts for the engine and brake calipers have been redesigned, and the bike now rolls on 18” Borrani wheels.
The stock 850 T3 Marzocchi forks have been upgraded with new internals, including progressive-rate springs. The handlebars are Rizoma, and carry simplified modern controls. The sinuous exhaust system, snaking into one exit on the lefthand side of the bike, has been produced by Mass Moto to Barbacane’s own design.
‘Metallica’ is now cruising the streets of Monte Carlo, the home town of its new owner, a hardcore Guzzisti. Head over to the Officine RossoPuro website for more images of Barbacane’s builds, and follow his news via the company’s Facebook page.
