Death Machines of London, founded by English designer James Hilton of AKQA, has unveiled its debut project: the Moto Guzzi Airtail, based on the 1981 Le Mans Mark 2. The entire motorcycle, engine and gearbox was completely disassembled and vapor blasted in preparation for a “forensic inspection” of all original parts.
The original instrumentation has been completely restored and housed in a bespoke dash, which incorporate parts from a 1940 Merlin Spitfire fighter. The bike features a utilitarian Airtail design, an idea proposed by the client, to provide a refined minimalism, ensuring all electrical components are hidden from view. It runs on a 950cc engine with a balanced crankshaft, gas-flowed cylinder heads and all-new valves. Additional details include a lightweight R.A.M. clutch, a pair of 40mm Dell’Orto carbs with accelerator pumps, and an in-house developed exhaust system.
The custom bike is rounded out with a precision paintwork in Italian Red gloss and a satin finish Old English white, with a hand painted Moto Guzzi logo. To learn more about this pretty one, be sure to pay the Death Machines of London website a visit.