If there?s a bike that symbolizes the uneasy relationship between Harley-Davidson and sporting performance, it?s the VR1000. Developed in the late 80s to compete in the AMA Superbike series, it finally appeared on track in the mid 90s.
By that time it was down on power compared to the competition, and despite excellent handling, never achieved the wins that Milwaukee hoped for. Still, it was an excellent machine in some respects, and it has many fans today, over 20 years after the race program was canned.

One of those fans is the Italian customizer Giacomo Galbiati?who builds under the name GDesign. He?s been working on bikes and engines since he was 13 years old, and has never stopped since.
?Double Face? is his brilliant homage to the VR1000, using a reworked Buell S1 that was registered in 1999?making it one of the final S1s to leave the Michigan factory.
Giacomo?s builds focus on details, design and aesthetic: his attention goes first to shapes and colors, he tells us, and then he works on performance. He also describes himself as being ?mad about history and motorcycles? and fueled by a desire to build something out of the ordinary.
?I?ve always liked Harleys,? he explains, ?but seeing them in the same custom context all the time made me give up on them?despite their engines, torque and unmistakable sound.?

But then Giacomo saw a VR1000 superbike?one of just 50 that exist today. It was love at first sight and he was inspired to create something new. ?I already...