Their Restomods It may seem simpler in nature than fully customized motorcycles, but they are often harder to get right. The customization gives you the freedom to change anything you want, but fix requires good judgment and even better taste. You need to know when to zig and when to zig—treat the stock bike with respect while making the right amount of changes.
It is a dark art that Unikat Motorworks has mastered. Based in Wroclaw, Poland, this custom workshop’s latest project is a classic Moto Guzzi V7 has been cropped and hidden to great effect.
This job came from a former customer who had previously asked Unikat to build one Godden GR500 speed bike as a gift for his wife. This time, he decided to treat himself to a restrained and stylish recovery. Choosing the 1969 Moto Guzzi V7 Special as a sponsor was an easy choice as the bike and owner share the same year of birth.
Unikat has imported the V7 engine in classic police bike trim from Italy, complete with fairings and bags to police standards. It appeared to be in good condition – although the team soon realized how much effort would be needed to make it sound mechanically.
Unikat’s first visit was to the bulky bodywork of the classic Moto Guzzi V7. The spoiler and police panniers were immediately removed, as were the engine crash bars and giant front and rear fenders. The crew kept the fuel tank, but it needed to be cleaned and resealed before it could be operated.
The classic V7 has been rebuilt with hand-made slim fenders and a smart leather seat. Unikat kept the OEM side covers but fabricated additional panels to fit where the toolbox used to be. A custom-designed luggage rack sits at the rear, just ahead of the LED taillights, with LED tail signals mounted to custom mounting tabs on the subframe.
Next, Unikat refurbished the front suspension and replaced the shock absorber with a modern shock absorber that is slightly longer than the original. They decided to keep the original wheels and brakes, but ultimately decided that the rims needed to be replaced. So they rebuilt the wheels with new San Remo rims, before wrapping them with modern tires for a classic look.
The old and new parts sit next to each other throughout this build, but it’s hard to tell them apart. Anything that isn’t upgraded or replaced should at least be restored to better-than-new condition.
It’s a similar story in the cockpit, where the original handlebars and controls are combined with leather-wrapped grips, Motogadget LED turn signals and vintage switches. The dashboard is also an original Moto Guzzi part, although this was the type most commonly found on civilian V7 models at the time.
The original Moto Guzzi headlight and headlight bracket are at the front; a subtle consideration that has a big impact on the overall aesthetic. New wiring runs under the hood, ensuring a reliable ride.
Although the 1969 Moto Guzzi V7 Special never came in black, the Ambassador V7 did. But while the Ambassador featured stripes and a chrome knee on the tank, Unikat opts for a more muted all-black paint scheme here, enhanced by subtle graphics. And it looks so exquisite.
If there’s a perfect formula for reworking a beloved classic, Unikat has it.
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