NUOVO NUOVO FALCONE CAFE

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.  

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!

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.

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)