There is a hell of a lot to think about when you’ve decided to have a custom motorcycle built; most people first select a donor make and model, before choosing the exact style they’d like to have. Then, of course, there is the budget, which has been the death of many but by far the most important selection you will ever make is who you choose to actually build the bike for you. And few machines prove that point better than this stunning Italian classic, built from the bones of a 1987 Moto Guzzi 850 T5. What you see is the end result, a series of exquisite photos of the completed dream machine, on the grounds of Highcliffe Castle. But to turn that ’80s parts bin special into Moto Guzzi ‘V85T5’, you need a master of the trade, like Pete Hodson of Bournemouth’s Side Rock Cycles.

Pete’s built more cool customs than most people have had hot dinners, and not only is he incredibly talented on the tools, he’s been in the game since the 1970s. So, he has a huge advantage over the rest of us; he was there when many of these donor bikes were actually brand new and released to the public. For a machine like the Guzzi 850 T5, that can be the difference between building a brilliant bike and a terrible one. Because when it was first released in 1983, this is what Motorcycle International had to say, “When a venerable marque prostitutes itself in order to follow trends, the results are inevitably crass and invariably technically compromised.”

Ouch! And just reading that would probably have you skip buying a T5 at all, and looking elsewhere for a donor. But what Pete knew, because he was around at the time, was that the problem with the T5 was really just the ridiculously small 16-inch front wheel and the compromised geometry that came along with it, all of which had been fixed by 1987, the very year this example left the factory! “Having recently owned a Moto Guzzi V85TT adventure bike in the same colour scheme, affectionately known as ‘McDonalds’, and needing a second bike to exhibit at the 2025 London Bike Shed Show, it was decided to build a ‘restomod’ mimicking that colour scheme using a ‘Guzzi 850 T5 donor bike we had in stock.”

Before he’d even started, Pete knew the way forward for this “rather overlooked model”, and it wasn’t long before he had all of that less than attractive ’80s bodywork ripped off and had the Guzzi stripped back to its glorious Tonti frame. That’s the thing with the T5, some of the parts Moto Guzzi used from its back catalogue are great, others, less so! But to take that famous frame to the next level, Pete’s next task was to add a rear loop, where the factory frame rails normally run straight. Not only does it look good, but it adds extra clearance for that flowing alloy rear guard that is mounted to it. The front fender has the same classic flow, just the right size and is mounted under the fork brace.

The factory cowl, tank and rear tail section are frankly, all god awful, and so Pete decided to grab a Le Mans tank he had on the shelf and beautifully modify it to fit. “A new seat base in alloy was then fabricated and foamed up to blend in with the new tank, be comfortable and be pillion friendly. Glenn Moger, our ‘go to’ upholsterer did a great job covering the seat in black leather with a central stripe that carries on from the tank stripe and a neat tricolore SRC logo on the rear.” That new seat exposes the lines of the classic Tonti frame, meaning the factory side covers would never work. So, it was out with the cardboard to create a template to his liking, before Pete transferred the design onto alloy sheet, before bending the sides and welding them all up.

One thing you’ll always hear about classic Italian bikes is how bad the electrics are, and given the quality aftermarket options these days, there is no point risking the originals. A custom fabricated under seat tray, therefore, holds a Motogadget M-Unit to act as the brains of the bike and a new Sasche digital/programmable ignition control unit, to help tune the engine to perfection. The entire wiring loom is bespoke and built from scratch, with new push button switches, a full array of LED lighting and mini indicators also from Motogadget. To reduce the weight of the bike, a small Antigravity Lithium-ion battery was chosen, but given the horrific results if these things overheat, a Rick’s reg/rec was added to ensure the charging is spot on.

“With the frame at the powdercoaters getting a Ferrari Red makeover and all the bodywork at our paintshop, Wicked Coatings, it was time to turn our attention to the motor and transmission.” Although in good nick, the engine was still completely gone through and refreshed, as was the transmission that features a new clutch and lightened and balanced flywheel.

Pete has it running like new, and to give the intake the same treatment, the Dell’Orto carbs have been completely rebuilt and topped with slick alloy trumpets. “The exhaust needed something nice, so a full OS Pipes stainless system was fitted, which gives a lovely deep tone without being too loud for the noise police.” To bring the suspension up to standard, the front forks, which were improved throughout the T5’s production, have been fitted with air assist cartridges and rebuilt with new seals and oil. At the back of the bike, slightly longer and fully adjustable piggyback YSS shocks are incredibly plush and the springs are hit with Ferrari Red to match the frame.

The rest of the paint work is absolutely first class, the colour scheme just works and adds a real vibrancy to the whole show. The silly little 16-inch wheel was never fitted to the ’87 model, and the much improved 18s are shod with Avon Roadrider rubber. Then there is another benefit to a Side Rock Cycles build, Pete uses his racing experience to set the bike up to perfection, and it’s supplied with an MOT. So, it’s no wonder then that sitting on his booth at the Bike Shed Show, ‘V85T5’ had a host of admirers, one being its new owner who quickly slammed down the cash.

[ Side Rock Cycles ]