Like many of Japan’s top motorcycle customizers, Kenji ‘Katsu’ Katsumoto got his start with vintage Harleys. But he’s not bound to any one brand or style these days?so when a client requested a Moto Guzzi Griso café racer with street fighter underpinnings, he didn’t hesitate.
Operating as Katsu Motorworks in Fukuoka, Japan, Katsumoto-san built his first Moto Guzzi café racer four years ago. Based on a rare V11 Sport Scura, it bagged him the ‘Best Café Racer’ award at the massive Mooneyes show. And it inadvertently led to this project.

According to photographer Kaz Matsumoto, the client for this build originally reached out to Katsu about the possibility of buying the V11 Sport Scura, and the two struck up a friendship. Before long, the client had commissioned his very own custom Moto Guzzi, requesting the Griso as a donor. The 1,151 cc Griso 8V would have been the ideal platform, but Kaz tells us they’re hard to come by in Japan. So Katsu sourced a 2006-model Griso 1100 instead, and decided to upgrade it with a few key Griso 8V parts.

Even though Katsu’s award-winning V11 inspired this build, this is no carbon copy. As the project materialized it headed in a fresh direction, dictated by the client’s proclivities and a couple of particular requests. ?The customer said he liked street fighters and café racers,? explains Kaz, ?so Katsu decided to combine both.?
?Also, the owner is a speed freak, and so Katsu...