Killer Concepts

KILLER CONCEPTS

2009 Milan Motorcycle Show

Moto Guzzi’s V12 LM, V12 Strada and V12 X

Moto Guzzi is not going through its best times under the wing of the Piaggio group. Two Wheel Vehicles Operation CEO Daniele Bandiera has resigned his position. To prove that Moto Guzzi is still alive and kicking, Piaggio requested chief designer Miguel Galluzzi to formulate a series of new concepts. To complement pure design with real-life functionality, Galluzzi hired Pierre Terblanche, the former Ducati design chief who introduced motorcycling to practical concepts that have made the sport a more pleasant experience.

Together, the two designers have brought to life a number of sketches, three of which became concept bikes that Guzzi displayed in Milan. They are the V12LM,V12 Strada and V12X. The element that ties all three together is the mighty 1200cc Twin in its latest cam-in-head, eight-valve evolution—still a very good engine with more performance to come. To better cool the cylinder heads, and thus extract higher performance from the oil/air-cooled Guzzi V-Twin, Terblanche installed a heat exchanger in the air stream in front of each head.

The engine is integrated in a cast aluminum frame that features an unconventional and complex structure that might be called a “unibody,” ensuring great torsional and flexional rigidity, and providing rational accommodation for components and ancillary parts.

The basic concept has been dressed in three slightly different styles, including the sporty LM, the touring/commuting Strada and the X supermoto.

For the moment, the three concepts are non-functional, but they provide a refreshing and insightful glimpse into what we hope is a healthy future for Moto Guzzi. —Bruno dePrato