8:34 AM
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| Straight from the AMD press office, their pic of Don Cronin's 'Rondine', winner of the 2013 AMD World Championship of Custom Motorcycles, based on a Moto Guzzi Nuovo Falcone |
Just when you thought all Custom shows were tail-chasing exercises in better-bobberism, Don Cronin delivers a Moto Guzzi Nuovo Falcone updated for the 21st Century. Don's custom shop in Ireland - Medaza - focusses on Italian powerplants for his creations; Ducati, Moto Morini, Moto Guzzi.
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| Love that the 'bologna slicer' flywheel echoes the wheels |
While plenty of customizers have messed around with the Moto Guzzi v-twin engine, few have worked around the far more venerable flat-single design with which Guzzi established its name back in 1921, and was the mainstay of their business until the introduction of their transverse 750cc v-twin in 1967, the 'V7' - a hilarious designation from the company which famously built a racing V-8!
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| The large-diameter discs (two up front) are clearly visible in this shot from the Medaza website. Also note the flat 'waffle box' silencer suspended from the motor |
Cronin's 'Rondine' ('Swallow' in Italian) just won the top prize at the AMD World Championship of
Custom Bike Building in Essen, Germany, which is as good as it gets in the world of modified bikes. A close inspection of the machine reveals H-D V-Rod wheels and swingarm (modified), rim disc brakes, and a very café-inspired look; a Nuovo Falcone hotted up for the present, using the old workhorse engine originally pressed into service as a police and military mule, and never a sports machine. A few people have upgraded their Falcones to café style, but never quite like this! Congratulations to Don Cronin and Michael O'Shea for their build, and their win.
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| Don Cronin aboard his Morini V-twin based custom, the Medaza. Wonder if he's seen Paladin's sketches from the 1980s? |
(Top photo c.AMD, next 3 pix c.Medaza, taken from their website)
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