Difference between revisions of "Ghezzi & Brian"
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'''Ghezzi & Brian''' is an Italian [[motorcycle]] engineering firm and manufacturer based in [[Missaglia]]. | '''Ghezzi & Brian''' is an Italian [[motorcycle]] engineering firm and manufacturer based in [[Missaglia]]. | ||
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'''Ghezzi & Brian Guzzi''' | '''Ghezzi & Brian Guzzi''' | ||
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Think of it as an Italian Buell? | Think of it as an Italian Buell? | ||
| − | By Yossef Schvetz | + | ''By Yossef Schvetz'' |
Blame the endless curvy roads that slice through Italy's Northern Lake District, blame the long and cold Alpine winters. For whatever reason, the locals seem to be afflicted with a strange pathology: creating power- assisted cycles in diverse fashions and sizes: MV Agusta, Aermacchi, Cagiva and Moto-Guzzi are just a few examples of this compulsive tendency. A contagious passion for two-wheelers seems to haunt this hilly area. Hard to think, then, of a better breeding ground for yet another soulful Italian creation. With its Moto Guzzi twin, produced just a few miles down the road in Mandello dell Lario, and its hand-built frame, the Ghezzi & Brian 1100 Sport Twin embodies the region's love for anything two wheeled. | Blame the endless curvy roads that slice through Italy's Northern Lake District, blame the long and cold Alpine winters. For whatever reason, the locals seem to be afflicted with a strange pathology: creating power- assisted cycles in diverse fashions and sizes: MV Agusta, Aermacchi, Cagiva and Moto-Guzzi are just a few examples of this compulsive tendency. A contagious passion for two-wheelers seems to haunt this hilly area. Hard to think, then, of a better breeding ground for yet another soulful Italian creation. With its Moto Guzzi twin, produced just a few miles down the road in Mandello dell Lario, and its hand-built frame, the Ghezzi & Brian 1100 Sport Twin embodies the region's love for anything two wheeled. | ||
Revision as of 12:41, 3 June 2008
Ghezzi & Brian is an Italian motorcycle engineering firm and manufacturer based in Missaglia.
History
Ghezzi & Brian was founded in 1995 to develop racing motorcycles using twin-cylinder engines.
Starting in 1999, the company began to also sell motorcycles for street use. A fundamental characteristic of all the Ghezzi & Brian machines is sportiness and personality derived from Moto Guzzi V layout twin-cylinder engines.
Models
The first model put in production is the SuperTwin 1100, derived from the Championship 1996 machine.
The Furia is a "sport naked".
The Pro-Thunder has been developed exclusively for the participation in the American A.M.A. Championship. It has a Moto Guzzi 1225 cc motor.
The latest model, introduced in 2004, is the Fionda.
Current Models
Engineering and tuning
Ghezzi & Brian are active, beyond as motorcycle manufacturer, also as:
- Engineering for the motorcycle industry. Activity begun in 2002 and that has given rise to the Moto Guzzi MGS-01 Corsa.
- Tuning, dedicated particularly to Moto Guzzi but not exclusively to them. It also produces parts and chassis the customer's specifications.
Ghezzi & Brian Guzzi
Think of it as an Italian Buell?
By Yossef Schvetz
Blame the endless curvy roads that slice through Italy's Northern Lake District, blame the long and cold Alpine winters. For whatever reason, the locals seem to be afflicted with a strange pathology: creating power- assisted cycles in diverse fashions and sizes: MV Agusta, Aermacchi, Cagiva and Moto-Guzzi are just a few examples of this compulsive tendency. A contagious passion for two-wheelers seems to haunt this hilly area. Hard to think, then, of a better breeding ground for yet another soulful Italian creation. With its Moto Guzzi twin, produced just a few miles down the road in Mandello dell Lario, and its hand-built frame, the Ghezzi & Brian 1100 Sport Twin embodies the region's love for anything two wheeled.
Giuseppe Ghezzi is just another head case, a young bloke that loved touring the area on his old Moto-Guzzi LeMans. As often happens, sporty road riding jaunts eventually led to the classic, "I wonder how I'd do on a race track?" and it all went downhill from there. Luckily, Italy's Super Twin championship caters to two-valved twins like Giuseppe's Guzzi, but in a field dominated by tuned-to-the-fuel-taps 900SS Ducatis and BMW's, the old Lemon had no chance. With the help of his good friend, Bruno Saturno, aka Brian, the owner of a dental equipment factory, Giuseppe started to build a proper racing machine around the LeMans engine in `93. By `96 Giuseppe's disease was in full swing and his home-made concoction conquered the Italian Sport Twin championship, winning over hordes of 900SS Ducatis and their race-bred frames.
That success brought demand for the G&B's special frame, and in `99 Ghezzi & Brian showed a road-going version at the Milan Show. Moto Guzzi agreed to sell engines to their cute neighbors, and the odd couple was suddenly deep in the motorcycle industry bizzniz. The bike I saw at their little stand was quite a sight: An anorexic fuel tank/seat unit perched atop two bold Guzzi cylinders, an almost non-existent frame, and not much else. By comparison, the official 1100 Sport at the Guzzi stand looked fat and ungainly.
External links