Ritmo Sereno’s work is nothing less than automotive art. The latest special edition to roll out of the Tokyo workshop is this lovely custom Moto Guzzi V7 — based on a US-spec Ambassador imported into Japan and then torn down and rebuilt to Ritmo’s customary high standards.
There’s also a raft of enhancements to make the V7 even more desirable. The mods include a lightened flywheel, Keihin CR carburetion, K&N air filters and (what appears to be) the alternator from a small car. The 750cc V-twin is hooked up to a 5-speed Le Mans gearbox; a custom stainless steel/aluminum exhaust system extracts the maximum power from the motor. Ritmo has also fitted sharp-looking black Excel rims and 300mm AP floating disc brakes at the front.
The brake and gear linkages are hand-fabricated, developed from those on the vintage Guzzi racer campaigned by Ritmo CEO Shiro Nakajima. Moving the speedo down to the lefthand side of the fuel tank has cleaned up the front end, while an LED taillight tidies up the rear.
The most visible modification is the solo seat, which can be supplemented by a passenger pad that takes a minute to fit (see photo below). It helps make the bike eminently usable: as Nakajima comments, “Even with custom bikes, spoiling the usability and driving creates a bad bike.”
To get an insight into Ritmo Sereno’s production process, head over here.
