Five decades ago, some of the best minds in the automotive world from America and Europe sought to engineer a new future for motorcycling. Today, this extraordinary prototype machine draws from the same sources: an American bike and a pair of European masters of their craft. The common connection between the two events, 50 years apart, is Erick Buell. His Buell CR1125 has been wildly transformed by Milan-based brothers Filippo and Giacomo Tagliabue, who founded FTG Moto to build true one-of-one creations. And in the machine they call ‘NYX’, developed in collaboration with CR&S and BeFuel, they’ve fashioned a motorcycle that enhances the essence of Erik’s engineering to its logical endpoint.
That original project that Erik Buell was part of saw Harley-Davidson work with Porsche in the mid ’70s to early ’80s on a V4 engine platform, secretly known as “Project Nova”. Engines were built, bikes were tested, and even California’s strict emissions tests were passed. But then HD sank the whole thing, sad, because today, Harley is hardly known for technical advancement and if you want to be top of the pack in the Superbike category, or winning MotoGP championships, a V4-powered machine is all that will do. But in the Cafe Racer 1125, the Brothers from FTG Moto saw another Buell bike that deserved to have its engineering prowess celebrated in a one-off prototype.
“Why settle for ordinary models when we can build extraordinary ones?” is the philosophy driving every project at FTG: each bike is conceived as a one-of-one, designed to amplify the rider’s connection to their machine. And this build begins with a structural transformation: the CR1125’s twin side-mounted radiators were removed and replaced with a single front-mounted radiator engineered with RC Racing. This not only reorganises the bike’s cooling system but also opens the central chassis, exposing normally hidden components and redefining the motorcycle’s proportions, while allowing the two big plastic pods to be thrown away.
FTG Moto’s philosophy prioritises mechanical clarity. And given that the Buell has its fuel in the frame and oil in the swingarm, the need for even a faux fuel tank was seen as something that had to be done away with. The airbox cover was reimagined as a tubular structure, preserving function while leaving the intake and engine architecture fully visible. A purpose-built subframe supports the seat and tail hardware without obscuring any key elements, turning the structural framework itself into part of the bike’s visual language.
The front fairing is minimal; again, the round bar subframe form uses negative space to highlight only the functional components of the machine, and expose just how minimal a Buell can be when stripped back to its bare bones. The shape of the cowl is inspired by a round headlight form and houses a homologated LED projector. This combines a classic reference with modern lighting performance, completing the bike’s balance between heritage and contemporary engineering
The intake system is treated as a technical focal point. A K&N air filter is paired with a plexiglass cover, giving a clear view into the intake runners. Normally hidden, these components are showcased, emphasising airflow, packaging, and the deliberate mechanical honesty at the heart of the project. The exhaust too is simplified, the big box muffler and twin exit pipes are all ditched for a more conventional system, that still floats under the bike to keep the mass low and centralised.
Controls and ancillary components follow the same logic. The handlebars carry Accossato radial master cylinders for clutch and front brake, complemented by FTG Moto CNC-machined switchgear. The configuration prioritises tactile feedback, precise function, and visual simplicity. At the rear, the license plate holder integrates the tail light, brake light, indicators, and plate illumination into a single compact assembly, eliminating clutter and placing all of these functions behind the fat rear tyre.
The black upholstered leather seat is designed to mimic the colour and simple shape of the frame, and the use of red across the build adds an extra element for the eye, highlighting many of the new components and deliberate customisations. NYX is therefore more than a transformed CR1125: it is an FTG Moto prototype, a machine that exposes its mechanics to reveal its soul.
The project exemplifies Filippo and Giacomo Tagliabue’s mission to rethink the relationship between rider and motorcycle, producing one-of-a-kind machines that demand scrutiny, reward technical appreciation, and elevate the ordinary into the extraordinary. The same philosophies that have always powered the mind of Buell himself.
[ FTG Moto ]