Something for everyone this week: The classic perfection of a Moto Guzzi café racer, a stealthy R18 commissioned by BMW, and a slinky CB650R from Honda?s European dealer build-off. Plus a look at BMW?s very, very radical new CE 04.

Moto Guzzi California 1100 EV by Bernd and Robin Mehnert The Mehnerts are a German father and son duo who normally make woodwind instruments. But when a friend offered them a California 1100 on the cheap, they snapped it up and turned their attention to shaping metal.
The California may be a cruiser, but it converts surprisingly well to a café racer format?mostly thanks to the Tonti frame. It?s far too heavy though, so Bernd and Robin focused on dropping weight, using as many aluminum parts as possible.

Inspired by Axel Budde and his acclaimed Kaffeemaschine builds, the Mehnerts installed the lower frame tubes from a Le Mans, an aluminum tank from WBO Racing, and a seat-and-tail unit made from GRP. The German Moto Guzzi specialist Dynotec supplied the leather seat, reprogrammed the fuel injection, and also helped with paint for the few parts that aren?t raw metal.

Power gets a boost from a modified airbox (with hi-flow air filter) and a Mistral exhaust system, lifting the output from 68 to 86 hp. Weight is down from around 250 to 210 kg, allowing the Guzzi to pass the 200 kph mark. And with a lowered, refurbished front fork and Öhlins 36PRCLB piggyback shocks at the rear, the California has now got the stance to match. [Via]

BMW R1...