Paul Führmann’s Mission in life is building custom motorcycles that “smoothly combine art and technology”. Not only is that a lofty goal, but it’s also a great way to describe the machines he chooses to work with. Paul specializes in classic Moto Guzzis—especially the legendary Tonti frame Moto Guzzis of the 1970s.
This Moto Guzzi cafe racer is one of his best builds. It creates an elegant silhouette, while still creating a raw, mechanical feel. And it’s a bit sleepy, combining the engine of the Moto Guzzi V11 with the Tonti frame of the 1970s Le Mans Mk II.
Based in Vienna, Austria, Paul builds custom bikes called the Horizontal Moto. His background is in engineering, so he tends to do most of the heavy lifting on his projects himself, outsourcing only a select few. His closest collaborator was Carl Auböck; the fifth-generation metal forming machine takes care of all of Horizontal Moto’s primary fabrication work.
Paul explains: “The name ‘Horizontal Moto’ represents my commitment to creating motorcycle designs that exude sleekness and elegance, while emphasizing horizontal lines. “After delving into the history of Moto Guzzi, I appreciate Lino Tonti’s significant contribution to frame design, which has become a must for my custom projects.”
This Guzzi cafe racer has been dubbed the ‘Horizontal 723’, and despite its minimalist appeal, it boasts an exhaustive list of trims. Paul started with a 1978 Moto Guzzi Le Mans Mk II, but the original machine was not much left. The Tonti-designed frame and OEM front fork remain the same—but everything else has been upgraded in some way.
The first major highlight is the bike’s new powertrain. Paul attached the 1,064 cc engine, transmission and final transmission from the Moto Guzzi V11 to the Tonti frame. However, like the rest of the bike, the engine is out of stock.
It now has a lighter flywheel, high-torque camshaft, larger intake valves, dual ignition and a pair of 41 mm Dell’Orto carburetors. Paul also redesigned the engine’s ventilation and oil separation systems, and installed an expansion tank and CNC machined oil pump. All-new wiring, including an upgraded alternator, keyless ignition and a host of Motogadget components.
Paul tells us: “Every part has been evaluated, refurbished or replaced with constant consultation from Moto Guzzi tuning legend, Peter Horvath. “He has been pushing the limits of Moto Guzzi bikes for over 40 years.”
Next, Paul turned his attention to the suspension. The original Le Mans fork has been lowered and fitted with Bitubo internals, and a new YSS shock has been fitted at the rear. The 18-inch rims are tightened for a more classic look, with Metzeler Roadtec tires providing modern grip.
The brakes are improved with a new rotor and stainless steel braids. The rear brake caliper is now attached to a custom CNC machined stand.
Paul tapped multiple sources to reassemble the bodywork in the classic cafe racer style of the Moto Guzzi V11. Polished aluminum fuel tank supplied by Tab Classics in the UK; it wears a Monza-style side hat and handcrafted bronze tank badges. Beautiful suede chairs made by a local upscale upholstery shop, Ledernardo.
Paul designed Guzzi’s new shield in collaboration with his shopmate, Carl. After that, Carl went on to build it out of aluminum, along with a refined front fender, a subtle inner rear fender, a license plate holder, and some smaller parts.
Located behind the bib is a CNC-machined speedometer holder that holds the analog and digital speedometer from Motogadget. There are also clip-on gadgets, fitted with a Tomaselli throttle, Motogadget pushbuttons, turn signals at the end of the bar and mirrors. Completing the controls is a rear-mounted foot controller from Motocicli Veloci in Italy.
Smaller details are scattered throughout the rest of the building. A CNC machined battery panel adds extra braces to the motor and transmission; a popular Tonti framework mod. The bib mount and cylinder head guard are also custom CNC machined parts, while the electronics tray underneath the box is 3D printed.
The muscular twin exhaust system comes from the Italian company MASS and is built according to Paul’s design. The discoloration on the headers adds a subtle pop of color to the otherwise monochromatic Guzzi.
With 90 hp to the touch and weighing just 419 lbs on the scale, the Horizontal 723 is not only a good-looking car, but also a passenger car. It’s also completely street legal in Austria – which Paul says is one of the biggest challenges facing the project.
However, making bikes that fit the road was a necessary evil, because every bike Paul built was sold after that—including this one. “There are no pre-orders from customers,” he explains. “I work on projects based on my own design ideas, and continue to iterate and refine those ideas as I build.”
This Tonti-framed Moto Guzzi V11 looks so good, we bet it will sell out fast. And we can’t wait to see what Paul comes up with next.
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