Photo: 46Works via Pipeburn
By now, the bike-modding mastermind that is Shiro Nakajima requires no introduction whatsoever, as we’ve seen what he can pull off many times before. Known to the wider public as 46Works, he operates out of rural Japan near the Yatsugatake Mountains, where custom gems like the one shown here are born. In its previous life, this unique head-turner was a Moto Guzzi Le Mans 1000 from 1987.
Shiro’s aim was to create a Brat-style gem, but the donor was purchased in pieces rather than as an assembled bike in working order. That was totally fine, though, because only its frame and engine would be retained by our protagonist anyway. He kicked off the custom work with some structural mods up north, revising the bike’s steering stem to make its front end sit a little lower.
The suspension department was up next, and we now find a pair of Ceriani replica forks taking care of suspension duties at the front. They came courtesy of CR Suspension, while the adjustable shock absorbers located out back are top-shelf STX 36 items from Ohlins. Unsprung territory is now home to 18-inch Excel hoops, both linked to the stock wheel hubs by way of stainless-steel spokes.
In terms of rubber, the project’s author went with retro-looking Dunlop tires fore and aft. Also seeking to improve stopping power at the front, he gave the old Guzzi a pair of four-piston Brembo calipers that pinch drilled Sunstar brake rotors. Fresh hoses and a Brembo master cylinder are part of the package, as well, but Shiro hasn’t overlooked the rear drum brake altogether.
On the contrary, he blessed it with a comprehensive refurbishment to make sure it’ll perform optimally for a long time to come. The specimen’s fuel tank, fenders, and side covers are all custom parts manufactured from scratch, with aluminum acting as Nakajima-san's material of choice. This sublime metalwork is complemented by a black leather seat from Razzle Dazzle, as well as plenty of high-grade aftermarket bits.
These include billet rearsets, Daytona Velona instrumentation, and Motogadget bar-end turn signals mounted on a new handlebar, among many others. Front-end lighting comes from a Brat-style headlamp, while the rear is illuminated by a small LED taillight. Of course, the engine-related mods are just as intriguing, because the 46Works treatment saw the Guzzi’s V-twin rebuilt inside out.
While he was at it, master Nakajima fitted a pair of Keihin FCR 39 carbs topped with K&N pod filters, but the exhaust side of things is where his skill really shines. It does so through bespoke titanium plumbing built in-house, running a two-one-two configuration toward reverse megaphone silencers. Finally, Stupid Crown took care of the paint job, wrapping the gas tank in a gorgeous shade of blue and black pinstripes.
The suspension department was up next, and we now find a pair of Ceriani replica forks taking care of suspension duties at the front. They came courtesy of CR Suspension, while the adjustable shock absorbers located out back are top-shelf STX 36 items from Ohlins. Unsprung territory is now home to 18-inch Excel hoops, both linked to the stock wheel hubs by way of stainless-steel spokes.
In terms of rubber, the project’s author went with retro-looking Dunlop tires fore and aft. Also seeking to improve stopping power at the front, he gave the old Guzzi a pair of four-piston Brembo calipers that pinch drilled Sunstar brake rotors. Fresh hoses and a Brembo master cylinder are part of the package, as well, but Shiro hasn’t overlooked the rear drum brake altogether.
On the contrary, he blessed it with a comprehensive refurbishment to make sure it’ll perform optimally for a long time to come. The specimen’s fuel tank, fenders, and side covers are all custom parts manufactured from scratch, with aluminum acting as Nakajima-san's material of choice. This sublime metalwork is complemented by a black leather seat from Razzle Dazzle, as well as plenty of high-grade aftermarket bits.
These include billet rearsets, Daytona Velona instrumentation, and Motogadget bar-end turn signals mounted on a new handlebar, among many others. Front-end lighting comes from a Brat-style headlamp, while the rear is illuminated by a small LED taillight. Of course, the engine-related mods are just as intriguing, because the 46Works treatment saw the Guzzi’s V-twin rebuilt inside out.
While he was at it, master Nakajima fitted a pair of Keihin FCR 39 carbs topped with K&N pod filters, but the exhaust side of things is where his skill really shines. It does so through bespoke titanium plumbing built in-house, running a two-one-two configuration toward reverse megaphone silencers. Finally, Stupid Crown took care of the paint job, wrapping the gas tank in a gorgeous shade of blue and black pinstripes.
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