From full- to part-time builder, Colin Cornberg hasn’t misplaced his contact—as evidenced by this good-looking Moto Guzzi V35.
We all know numerous tales of hobbyists turning into full-time customized bike builders—just a few years in the past, Colin Cornberg did the alternative. He packed up his bike workshop, Number 8 Wire Motorcycles, in Montana, USA, and moved again to his homeland, New Zealand. He now works for a company marine composites firm, however his ardour for bikes hasn’t waned a bit.
His greatest mission since then has been managing the 250 cc land velocity bike that he constructed a while in the past for his shopper and buddy, John McAleer. John lastly broke the AMA and FIM land velocity information for the bike’s class final 12 months, giving Colin respiratory room to concentrate on one thing else.
“I stored getting drawn again to the thought of constructing a enjoyable city bike,” Colin tells us. “I purchased a Guzzi as a derelict mission a few 12 months and a half in the past. Uncertain of how the method of rebuilding a motorcycle would go in my 1.5-car storage, relatively than the right store I used to be used to, there was nothing to do however crack on.”
The bike was a 1985 Moto Guzzi V35 that had seen higher days. It got here with a bunch of questionable mods, a lacking seat, and a hacked subframe. So as soon as Colin had whipped the body again into form, he turned to his newly acquired English wheel and a small set of hand instruments to manufacture new aluminum bodywork.
“I needed to pay homage to the unique by retaining the hallmark horizontal chine that so many Guzzi tanks of this period had,” he says. “I additionally needed to raise the tank, to point out off the body, which now actually established the bone line of the bike.”
“The tank popping up a bit, mixed with the admittedly foolish massive tires, gave it the perspective I used to be in search of—not taking itself too significantly, however nonetheless coming along with high quality work and finishes.”
Colin additionally created a pair of facet covers, plus abbreviated fenders that hover over the chunky Shinko tires. Subsequent, a brand new seat pan was formed out of carbon fiber, topped off with foam, and despatched for upholstery. With the Moto Guzzi taking form, it was time to flesh out all of the small issues that make a construct shine.
“Many small handmade elements are on the bike,” Colin explains, “together with the taillight, numerous brackets, and the kickstand—which was lacking when bought. I additionally did a full engine rebuild, a entrance fork rebuild and improve to the V7 sport dampeners, and an entire rewire with a easy customized loom I designed and a brand new Lithium-compatible charging system.”
“Renthal bars, a Motogadget speedo, micro handlebar switches, and, after all, Biltwell Kung Fu grips (outdated habits die onerous) full the construct. There are nonetheless just a few no-frills particulars—just like the outdated alternator cowl, unique foot pegs, and cork plugging the timing gap. It could be completely different if it had been for a paying buyer, however for me, as a commuter, they add some enjoyable character.”
Colin additionally constructed the Moto Guzzi V35’s brushed chrome steel exhaust headers, which terminate in a pair of Cone Engineering mufflers. Components just like the body and wheels had been despatched off for powder-coating, whereas Colin turned to a colleague to assist him out on the bodywork paint.
“The pinnacle painter at work used some leftover paint we had from a job—a customized Ferrari coloration, Grigio Silverstone. The paint is a fairly superb multi-tone brown, inexperienced, and silver-based metallic. It is principally not possible to {photograph}, however my mate Josh did pretty much as good a job as one can.”
Now that Colin’s Moto Guzzi V35 is all buttoned up, he plans to journey all of it summer season lengthy earlier than he sells it to fund the subsequent mission. “Constructing a motorcycle in a tiny area with a minimal setup was tremendous rewarding, though the storage is turning into a bit extra geared up now,” he provides.
“I’ve a gradual stream of labor for word-of-mouth prospects, somewhat KTM construct for my spouse on the go, and some individuals pushing me to take the subsequent step and open store below the brand new title of Quantity 8 Moto. Something might occur!”
Number 8 Moto | Instagram | Photographs by Josh Cole
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