Nuovo Nuovo Falcone Cafe

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.

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!

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.