Written by Andrew Jones
Moto Guzzi?s V9 Roamer is an interesting exercise in motorcycle marketing. Most manufacturers would have taken the approach whereby a ?standard? model is released (think the V7II Special or there abouts) and then followed it up with more ?niche? models like a scrambler, racer and the like. But not Moto Guzzi. Throwing convention to the wind ? or possibly into their famous Mandello wind tunnel ? they launched their new V9 range with their ?Bobber? and ?Roamer? models. Looking for a cafe’d version" Well, you’d be completely out of luck if it weren’t for Switzerland’s Gannet Design and Fuhrer Moto.

The bike was designed and built by Ulfert Janssen from Gannet Design and Stefan Fuhrer from Fuhrer Moto. But Fuhrer’s claims to fame go way back; he was the former racing mechanic of Dominique Aegerter (now racing in Moto2) and Tom Lüthi (now racing in MotoGP). Now Stefan adds his racing know-how, precise engineering skills and his team of artisans to the usual Gannet creative shenanigans. In fact Ulfert?s design studio and Stefan?s workshop are just 100 metres apart, so it is a perfect set up to ensure that Ulf?s creative prowess is accurately translated into Stefan?s slick metal handiwork.
The project started with some loose sketches by Ulfert to find the best way to morph the Roamer?s proportions into a forward leaning, racer look. “Firstly, I worked on the stance and changed the frame angle from slanted backwar...