For Sale: Guzzi ADV Bike from Officine Rossopuro…
Moto Guzzi launched the NTX 750 in 1988 as a shaft-drive adventure bike with the Mandello factory’s signature transverse 90° V-twin. The X Publicca Amministrazione (X PA) police model might be the best known version of the bike, swathed in the blue and white livery of the Polizia.
Virgilio Motori has called the NTX one of the ugliest modern motorcycles ever produced. We certainly wouldn’t go that far — it resembled many of the big “trailies” of the era, themselves inspired by the Paris-Dakar rally bikes of the time. That said, it’s safe to say no one is buying up stock NTX’s to preserve for posterity, and few tears would be shed over transforming one into a unique, better performing machine.
That was the vision of Filippo Barbacane of Italy’s Officine Rossopuro:
“The idea was to build a lightweight and fun adventure bike with the personality of a Moto Guzzi.”
Highlights include a zero-mile fuel-injected Breva 750 engine, Marzocchi forks, Bitubo rear suspension, Brembo brakes, aluminum tank / side panels / sump guard / toolbox, lightweight lithium battery, rear rack, Givi bag mount, Daytona dashboard, USB socket, and much more.
This is no aesthetics-only transformation. There are many practical considerations here, such as mounting the electrical system high under the tank for water crossings, a focus on easy disassembly and access for maintenance, and making the bike as light as possible. The bike weighs just 175 kilograms (385 pounds) — 60 pounds lighter than the original, and very light for a bike of this class.
Nicknamed the “Gran Sasso 750” after the highest mountain in Italy’s Abruzzo region, this Italian adventure machine is ready for just about anything, combining the utility of an ADV bike with the character of a Guzzi.
“The real difference is the weight. It’s certainly not a motocross bike, but it’s still a 750cc twin-cylinder. The bike is extremely fun; the authentic and famous Guzzi chassis, having undergone upgrades, is even more rideable in any situation, whether on the road or on dirt or mountain roads. In short, a 360° bike that can be used for any occasion.”
Best of all, the Gran Sasso 750 is for sale! You can contact Filippo on his website, Instagram (@officinerossopuro), or Facebook for more information. Below you’ll find our full interview with builder himself about the project, along with a full build sheet and more photos.
In the Builder’s Words…
The Gran Sasso 750 is a very complex and structured project. Everything has been designed for a true adventure bike. From the very simple disassembly, the accessibility for maintenance, the ease of finding spare parts if necessary, functionality such as the electrical system under the tank in case of fording rivers and a whole series of very “practical” features. Furthermore, great attention has been paid to saving weight, in fact the bike now weighs about 175 kg, a record for a bike of this type.
The Gran Sasso 750 instead is a work made on the NTX 750 base where in reality only the frame is from Guzzi the rest has been changed. Furthermore, the shapes have also been designed to respect the old NTX but modernized in every aspect. The bike is practically completely new.
- Electronic injection engine derived from Breva 750 (therefore the last and most reliable of the small series) with zero KM.
- Electronic ignition
- Valeo electric starter
- Bitubo adjustable rear suspension with separate gas
- Marzocchi front suspension
- Brembo brakes with 320mm front and double piston calipers
- Brembo brake pump
- 18 rear and 21 front aluminum spoked rims.
- Tires to be chosen at the time of delivery therefore new
- Digital Daytona instrumentation with fuel level
- Aluminum airbox with washable Sprint Filter filter
- Lithium battery
- Ducati voltage regulator and generator
- Tommasselli aluminum handlebar with crosspiece
- USB socket
- Aluminum Tool Box
- Givi bag support (also possible to have bag)
- Saddle opening with key
- Rear luggage rack
- Aluminum tank with internal pump and original cap same ignition key
- Domino control blocks
- Acerbis and UFO plastic mudguards
- Aluminum side panels
- Pipe engine guard
- Aluminum sump guard
- 2 in 1 INOX steel complete exhaust from MASS approved
- and many other things.
• What inspired the project?
The idea was to build a lightweight and fun adventure bike with the personality of a Moto Guzzi.
Everything was designed according to this concept: the bike now weighs only 175 kg, all the electrical components are protected under the tank, the bike can be disassembled very quickly with very few tools, the aluminum tank allows for long journeys, the suspension has been improved, the digital instrumentation includes fuel level, etc.
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?
I think the real difference is the weight. It’s certainly not a motocross bike, but it’s still a 750cc twin-cylinder. The bike is extremely fun; the authentic and famous Guzzi chassis, having undergone upgrades, is even more rideable in any situation, whether on the road or on dirt or mountain roads. In short, a 360° bike that can be used for any occasion.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
It’s called Gran Sasso 750 in honor of the highest mountain in my beautiful region of Abruzzo in central Italy. I had already built a special based on a Syelvio in the past, which I called the Gran Sasso 1100.
• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
I build everything myself in my workshop because I like to be in control of every step of the construction process, so thank myself! ;)))
Follow the Builder
Web: www.officinerossopuro.it
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
Instagram: instagram.com/
Pinterest: it.pinterest.com/rossopuro/
Many if us are sick of all black motors.
But this bike certainly is an improvement over stock