Paul Führmann’s mission in life is to build custom motorcycles that “seamlessly blend artistry and engineering.” That’s not only a noble goal, but it’s also a great way to describe the machines that he chooses to work on. Paul specializes in classic Moto Guzzis—especially the mythical Tonti frame Moto Guzzis of the 1970s.
This Moto Guzzi café racer is one of his best builds yet. It cuts an elegant silhouette, while still giving off a raw, mechanical vibe. And it’s a bit of a sleeper, combining the engine of a Moto Guzzi V11 with the Tonti frame of a 1970s Le Mans Mk II.
Based in Vienna, Austria, Paul builds custom bikes as Horizontal Moto. His background is in engineering, so he tends to do most of the heavy lifting on his projects himself, outsourcing only a few select jobs. His closest collaborator is Carl Auböck; a fifth-generation metal shaper that takes care of all of Horizontal Moto’s major fabrication jobs.
“The name ‘Horizontal Moto’ represents my commitment to creating motorcycle designs that embody sleekness and elegance, and embrace horizontal lines,” Paul explains. “Having delved deep into Moto Guzzi’s history, I appreciate the significant contribution of Lino Tonti’s frame design, which has become a must for my customization projects.”
This Guzzi café racer is dubbed ‘Horizontal 723,’ and, despite its minimalist appeal, it boasts an exhaustive list of mods. Paul started with a 1978-model Moto Guzzi Le Mans Mk II donor, but there’s not much of the original machine left. The Tonti-designed frame and OEM front forks remain—but everything else has been upgraded in some way.
The first major highlight is the bike’s new drivetrain. Paul wedged the 1,064 cc engine, transmission, and final drive from a Moto Guzzi V11 into the Tonti frame. But, like the rest of the bike, the motor isn’t stock anymore.
It now sports a lightened flywheel, a high-torque camshaft, bigger intake valves, a dual ignition, and a pair of 41 mm Dell’Orto carbs. Paul also redesigned the engine ventilation and oil separation systems, and installed an expanded sump and CNC-machined oil pump. The wiring is all-new, featuring an upgraded alternator, a keyless ignition, and a smorgasbord of Motogadget components.
“Every single part has been assessed, and refurbished or replaced, with continuous advice from Moto Guzzi tuning legend Peter Horvath,” Paul tells us. “He’s been pushing the limits of Moto Guzzi bikes for over 40 years.”
Paul turned his attention to the suspension next. The original Le Mans forks were lowered and fitted with Bitubo internals, and new YSS shocks were installed out back. A set of 18” rims was laced up for a more vintage look, with Metzeler Roadtec tires offering modern-day grip.
The braking system was spruced up with fresh rotors and braided stainless steel lines. The rear caliper now mounts to a custom CNC-machined bracket.
Paul tapped multiple sources to piece together the Moto Guzzi V11’s classic café racer-styled bodywork. The polished aluminum fuel tank was supplied by Tab Classics in the UK; it wears a Monza-style filler cap and handmade brass tank badges. The gorgeous suede leather seat was done by a local high-end upholstery shop, Ledernardo.
Paul designed the Guzzi’s new fairing in collaboration with his shop mate, Carl. Carl then went ahead and fabricated it out of aluminum, along with the bike’s front fender, a subtle inner rear fender, the license plate bracket, and a handful of smaller parts.
Sitting behind the fairing is a CNC-machined speedo mount, holding a combination analog-and-digital speedo from Motogadget. Also present are clip-ons, fitted with a Tomaselli throttle, and Motogadget push-buttons, bar-end turn signals and mirrors. Rounding out the controls are rear-set foot controls from Motocicli Veloci in Italy.
Smaller details are sprinkled throughout the rest of the build. A CNC-machined battery plate adds extra bracing to the engine and transmission; a common Tonti frame mod. The fairing mounts and cylinder head protectors are also custom CNC-machined parts, while the electronics tray under the box is 3D printed.
The burly twin exhaust system comes from the Italian company MASS and was built according to Paul’s design. The discoloration on the headers adds a subtle hint of color to the otherwise monochrome Guzzi.
With 90 hp on tap and a mere 419 lbs on the scale, Horizontal 723 is not just a looker, but a goer too. It’s fully street legal in Austria too—which Paul cites as one of the biggest challenges on the project.
Making bikes roadworthy is a necessary evil though, because every bike that Paul builds gets sold afterwards—including this one. “There’s no client order upfront,” he explains. “I do projects based on my own design ideas, and keep iterating and refining those ideas during the build process.”
This Tonti-framed Moto Guzzi V11 looks so good, that we bet it’ll sell quick. And we can’t wait to see what Paul comes up with next.
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