Looks-wise, the Moto Guzzi Breva 750 is one of the blandest motorcycles to ever roll out of the Mandello del Lario factory. But that doesn’t make it a bad bike—it just lacks the charisma of the several iconic Moto Guzzis that pundits usually drool over.
Rusty Brains didn’t pick the Breva for its looks though. For their debut build, the Italian custom shop wanted a classic Moto Guzzi V-twin motor in a reliable package. The Breva ticked those boxes—and with a full overhaul on the cards, its looks hardly mattered.
Based in Milan, Rusty Brains was founded by friends Luca Adami, Silvio Ferraretto, and Bogdan Lupu. Luca and Silvio each have over three decades of motorcycle design and modeling experience, and Bogdan is a pro photographer. So aesthetics matter to them.
Redesigning the aging Moto Guzzi Breva 750 meant more than just redressing it with new bodywork. The project called for a top-to-bottom transformation—starting with the Breva’s frame.
Collaborating with Giuseppe Ghezzi (of Ghezzi-Brian fame), Rusty Brain used CAD software to design a new frame and swingarm. Working with digital models meant that the team could run load calculations on the new mono-shock rear suspension design. It also meant that they could send files to their various suppliers, to have the relevant parts CNC-bent, waterjet-cut, and machined.
Armed with a set of ready-made tubes, mounting plates, and spacers, the team set everything in a jig and began assembling the bike. Very little of the original frame now remains, and the new swingarm has extended the Moto Guzzi’s wheelbase by 90 mm [3.5”]. The engine also now sits parallel to the ground; Rusty Brains altered its orientation to ensure perfect alignment of the powerplant and final shaft drive.
Next, Rusty Brains hand-shaped new bodywork for the Breva out of fiberglass, using mostly handmade molds. The bike’s chunky new fork covers and integrated headlight nacelle were particularly tricky, since they had to look cool without interfering with the functionality of the suspension and brakes. The whole arrangement is supported by a custom steel bracket.
The new fuel tank is actually a pair of covers that sit over a custom-made aluminum reservoir. A leather strap runs across the top of it, adding a vintage touch while also hiding the filler cap and fuse box. (The Breva’s key electrical components are also housed under the tank covers.)
Taking visual inspiration from 1930s motorcycles, Rusty Brains wanted to juxtapose the bike’s forward mass with a skinny bobber-style solo saddle. The seat wears two-tone leather upholstery, and is finished off on the underside with a handmade fiberglass tray. A two-in-one taillight and turn signal strip is embedded out back, while a bespoke bracket suspends the license plate behind the rear wheel.
The Breva’s OEM wheels were at odds with the bike’s new look, so Rusty Brains manufactured a set of fiberglass discs to cover them. Once again turning to CAD software, the guys designed them to fit seamlessly, not get in the way of tire changes, and allow space for drainage in wet conditions.
There’s more interesting stuff happening up top, where Rusty Brains designed and milled a unique top yoke out of duralumin, and then fabricated custom clip-ons that allow for adjustment on multiple axes. It also features mounting points for the headlight nacelle and speedo.
Some of the Moto Guzzi’s best bits are hidden from view. There’s a quick-release battery box that mounts to the same point as the custom-made foot controls, numerous tabs for holding electrical widgets, and a custom oil vapor recovery tank.
Looking for a suitably outrageous exhaust system for their Breva, Rusty Brains commissioned Rino Baldissin to create a pair of zig-zagging headers that point the mufflers forward. The stainless steel pipes flow into Exan mufflers, equipped with downturned tips. The system might look zany, but it’s been tuned for optimal performance.
Andrea Giancristofaro at ND Design added the finishing touches, by designing crisp graphics that emphasize the Breva’s sculpted silhouette. Rusty Brains’ custom Moto Guzzi Breva 750 not only looks heaps more interesting than a stock Breva, but it’s substantially lighter too—the guys managed to shave 30 kilos [66 pounds] off of it.
Rusty Brains’ goal was to create a machine that would buck convention to demand attention. “Every modification was conceived with design in mind first and then technically adapted,” they say. It’s a gutsy approach—but we’d say it paid off.
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