De Giusti: Moto Guzzi Concept Bikes

Concept Motorcycles

Hailing from the Olevano Romano, east of Rome, Italy, Paulo De Giusti has designed some of the most striking Moto Guzzi concept motorcycles that we’ve ever seen.

The 33-year old has studied industrial design and mechanical engineer at various universities in Rome, and has gone on to work on everything from graphic design to furniture for the disabled to designing a reservoir-free coffee maker for Viceversa chain.

First up is the 900 SD Big Mono Naked. De Giusti tells us the SD BMN is “inspired by the old Moto Guzzi productions single cylinder. In the past, before the production of famous V90, Guzzi built motorcycles like Guzzi 500 S, Condor, and Falcone.

In these motorcycles, the mechanics are organized along an ideal axis that connects the front hub to rear. I wanted to design a ‘romantic’ bike, deliberately limiting the aerodynamic protection. This makes the bike very stable…forcing the pilot to lie down on the tank. It even has an handle on the side to accommodate the left hand, removed from the handlebar to increase the aerodynamics.”

According to De Giusti, the Big Mono Naked would be powered by a long-stroke single-cylinder turbo diesel motor displacing 903cc and utilize a hydraulic transmission. This would be placed in a carbon fiber and aluminum frame that uses the motor and fuel tank as stressed members.

Paolo De Giusti says: “Ideally this bike, with a range of 550 miles, is designed to run for hours in the now-defunct Milan-Taranto open road endurance race. In the mechanical features you can find exotic solutions- the wheels made of two parts, aluminum channels, and carbon spoke fixed on large empty hubs. The front suspension follows a classical parallelogram scheme, led by an air spring shock.”

“The main design structure runs on an axis that includes the cut on bottom of the tank, the seat and tail, axis is related to the long dark line defined by the mufflers. There are many asymmetrical details, such as support for the tail, the front suspension, tank or headlight, make the line more dynamic and rich. In conclusion, form and function are not separable in this concept. Every mechanical component is part of the design project.”

Next up is the more forward-looking SE Big Battery Naked. It uses the same frame as the 900 SD, but, as the name implies, is powered by electricity.

Paolo De Giusti says: “In the wheels you can find two electric motors for traction and braking energy recovery. The central part of the bike contains a large removable battery pack and two fixed backup batteries.”

De Giusti works from a simple premise, and then expands on it: “The electric motor is superior in every situation to a traditional engine. From a very long technological evolution this, kind of motor has delivered excellent performance. One of the most significant problems in electrical vehicles is the time to recharge battery. Even creating a super battery that you can charge in a second, you’ll have the problem of providing an electrical connection with very high voltage, surely inappropriate to domestic use.”

“With a ‘shared system battery’, the battery used, a standard size for cars and motorcycles, is recharged at a service station specially equipped with robots that programmed with the instruction of how to remove the battery in every kind of vehicle,” De Giusti explains. “The rider stops the bike on the Extraction Zone, inserts a connector that registers the brand and model of bike, and its spatial position respect to the robot. The robotic arm, using the “extraction path” dedicated to the vehicle, extract and stock the battery (and put in charge) and replaces with a charged one.”

According to De Giusti, this system based on standard removable batteries brings many advantages:
-The standard form factor optimizes the industrial cost of batteries.
-The batteries will be regularly updated in terms of technology and vehicles that use them will improve their performance after every technological step.
-The batteries can be charged within a reasonable time from the service robot station, and the time to replace the power pack is less than that required for a full tank of gasoline.
-The traditional network of service stations can be maintained and converted.

Certainly, De Giusti has some interesting, and practical, concepts up his sleeves.

Specs

900 SD “Big Mono Naked”

Engine type: Single cylinder turbo diesel
Displacement: 903 cc
Bore x stroke: 100mm x 115 mm
Valves: 4
Fuel system: Diesel “Common Rail”
Cooling system: Air and oil
Oil capacity: 3 quarts.
Power: 150 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque: 133 ft/lbs @ 1500 rpm
Transmission: Hydraulic
Frame type: Carbon fiber and aluminum–engine and tank structural
Rake fork angle: 23°
Front suspension/travel: Parallelogram, single-aluminum arm/4.3 inches
Rear suspension/travel: Aluminum swingarm/4.1 inches
Front brakes: 420mm w/ 8-piston brake caliper
Rear brakes: 300mm w/ 4-piston brake caliper
Tire, front: 120/70 – 21″
Tire, rear: 200/90 – 18″
Overall length: 90.5 inches
Overall width: 21.2 inches
Overall height: 42.9 inches
Seat height: 29.9 inches
Ground clearance: 6.2 inches
Wheelbase: 63.0 inches
Dry weight: 397 lb.
Fuel tank capacity: 6.6 gallons
Maximum speed: 150 mph
Cruising speed: 137 mph

SE “Big Battery Naked”

Engine type: 2 electric motors fixed to wheels
Front motor: 220 mm ø
Rear motor: 300 mm ø
Total power: 170 hp
Torque: 177 ft/lbs
Transmission: electric
Frame type: aluminum monocoque, double perimeter beam
Rake fork angle: 23°
Front suspension/travel: Parallelogram, single-aluminum arm/4.3 inches
Rear suspension/travel: Aluminum swingarm/4.1 inches
Front brakes: 420mm w/ 8-piston brake caliper
Rear brakes: 300mm w/ 4-piston brake caliper
Tires, front: 120/70 – 21″
Tires, rear: 200/90 – 18″
Overall length: 90.5 inches
Overall width: 21.2 inches
Overall height: 42.9 inches
Seat height: 29.9 inches
Ground clearance: 6.2 inches
Wheelbase: 63.0 inches
Dry weight: 463 lb.
Maximum speed: 150 mph
Cruising speed: 137 mph

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