Love at First Chase: Big-Bore Moto Guzzi 850 GT California

“Gina” — Laurella-Pagema’s 955cc Art Deco Guzzi… 

In 1965, the original Moto Guzzi V7 broke cover at the Milan Motorcycle Show, featuring the bulletproof V-twin engine the Mandello-based factory had originally developed for military and police contracts — a motor designed to go 62,000 miles without major repairs. The public loved the new machine. 

In the early 1970s, the 850 GT (aka Eldorado) appeared, boasting an 844cc engine, and the full-dress California version soon followed. 

“Moto Guzzi’s American importer…was going to give Harley-Davidson a bit of competition for the lucrative police contracts. Also, the Eldorado had a lot of touring potential, especially with that maintenance-free shaft drive. A full-dress version, called the California, became available, with a windscreen, saddlebags and a host of other touring amenities, rather like Harley’s Electra Glide.” –Rider

A decade ago, an 850 GT California made a lasting impression on Pawel Janusz Wisniewski, who builds bikes under the name Laurella-Pagema at Al’s Chop Shop in South West London:

“It was a love from the first chase. Over 10 years ago I was following one for two miles. It was fast, it sounded great, and it was ridden with great finesse. Couldn’t take my eyes off of it. Wanted it ever since.”

Pawel picked up a 1972 Moto Guzzi 850 GT California and spent 2.5 years amassing parts for the project. Pawel and his friend and mentor, Alan Lawrence of Al’s Chop Shop, began the build in mid-March, with a goal of having the bike finished for the 2025 Bike Shed Show.  That only gave them about two months to complete the project, and they had a full engine / clutch / gearbox build ahead of them.

They finished just in time. “Gina” — named after the late Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida, whose red hair inspired the bike’s color — cut a marvelous figure under the show lights. We absolutely love what Pawel has done with the bike’s aesthetics, retaining the California’s original charm and character while upping its Art Deco flair.

“Styling of the bike is greatly influenced by art deco and that transpires. I just wanted to keep that deco-liner feel. That’s all.”

However, “Gina” is far from a style-only build — in fact, the performance upgrades may be more extensive than the aesthetic ones.  This Guzzi boasts a 955cc big-bore kit, high-compression pistons, rebalanced crank, polished cylinders, ported / polished heads, SS2 cam, stainless valves, larger carbs, Ram clutch, lighter flywheel, electronic ignition, and even a sump baffle plate for better oil delivery at high rpm.

Pawel is still breaking in the engine, but he’s expecting 80-90 hp when they put the bike on the dyno — stout for a California Goose! Truly, this is one of the classiest, coolest, and most gorgeous Guzzis we’ve come across. It looked absolutely stunning beneath the show lights, and we can’t wait to hear how it howls at full song. 

Below you’ll find our full interview with Pawel, along with more shots of this lovely Italian beauty. The photos above are all from our man at the Bike Shed Show, Roberto Garagarza (@roga______/), while the photos below are courtesy of Pawel himself (@paweljanuszwisniewski).

Moto Guzzi 850 California Custom: Builder Interview

• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.

I’m working and building bikes under the name Laurella-Pagema, at the Al’s Chop Shop belonging to Alan Lawrence. Great friend and a mentor. His shop is based in Tulse Hill, South West London.

• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?

It’s a 1972 Moto Guzzi 850 GT California.

• Why was this bike built? 

It was a love from the first chase. Over 10 years ago I was following one for 2 miles. It was fast, it sounded great, and it was ridden with great finesse. Couldn’t take my eyes off of it. Wanted it ever since.

• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

Styling of the bike is greatly influenced by art deco and that transpires. I just wanted to keep that deco-liner feel. That’s all.

• What custom work was done to the bike?

First, performance upgrades: 955cc big bore kit with high comp pistons. Crank re-balanced by Bassett & Down engineering. SS2 camshaft, Ram clutch with lighter flywheel, and silent hectic electronic ignition. Cylinder heads have been ported and polished, new stainless valves, new springs, bigger carbs. Internal walls of the engine have been polished and a sump baffle plate fitted, for a proper oil delivery during high rpm.

Wider rims, 3.00×18 instead of 2.15×18, 130 wide tyres, speedometer console from v700 model, panhead handlebars.

• Does the bike have a nickname?

“Gina” after an Italian actress, Gina Lollobrigida. Rootbeer red colour was chosen, as she was a redhead.

 

• Any idea of horsepower, weight, and/or performance numbers?

With all performance upgrades we are expecting between 80 – 90 hp. Haven’t dyno-ed it yet.

• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?

Plush and comfy, yet with defined maneuvering abilities. Still breaking it in and sticking to the instructions, so no idea how fast yet.

• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?

Collecting the “right” parts, took nearly 2.5 years but the actual build took us 8 weeks, which considering the amount of details, changes, aspects, it was a record time for us.

• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?

Jesus, my wife, my dear friends, and my daughters.

Follow the Builder

Builder: @paweljanuszwisniewski at Al’s Chop Shop
Photography: Pawel and Roberto Garagarza (@roga______/) 

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