Centauro Cafe Project Help

[footgoose]

6 hours ago, Lucky Phil said:

There's an old saying that comes to mind "just because you can doesn't mean you should" These type of projects just about always end up going nowhere simply because the time it takes to try and assemble parts takes so long and the modifications so labour costly the person naturally runs out of enthusiasm

I must go with Phil on this one. I have certainly been there and with a considerably less daunting project. I have no idea what you're capable of so I can only offer encouragement. Because - I like to witness passion based accomplishments.

That said, I'm not a fan of the Centauro. A complicated machine that looks odd, and such a deviation from the Daytona's original purpose, it's hard to believe it made it to production. So I get why someone would want to improve it.  I think it's only redemption is leaving it as it is. A brutally extraordinary motorcycle.

Edited Tuesday at 03:46 AM by footgoose

[Lucky Phil]

If you wanted to convert a Centy into something else then the V11 Sport is the natural choice. Petrol tanks, seats, subframes and seat cowls are all pretty much readily available at somewhat reasonable prices. Thats the most popular and easy way of building a replica of my bike it's just you don't get the 6 speed gearbox and a few other things. Engine parts are a big issue though.

Phil  

[Lucky Phil]

The Image docc posted takes me back a bit to the old days of images taken on film. Anybody notice the obvious issue with the image?

Phil

[footgoose]

10 minutes ago, Lucky Phil said:

obvious issue

a reversed image. the sidestand on the right.

[Lucky Phil]

bingo, as is the final drive and everything else. The reversed negative.

Phil

Edited Tuesday at 05:11 AM by Lucky Phil

[docc]

9 hours ago, footgoose said:

a reversed image. the sidestand on the right.

 

9 hours ago, Lucky Phil said:

bingo, as is the final drive and everything else. The reversed negative.

Phil

Ha: docc, busted again!

I was so determined to have the two images facing the same direction, and the bikes the same color, that I looked no closer at the details.

You sharp-eyed guys are impressive.

[Pressureangle]

13 hours ago, Lucky Phil said:

One of these two bikes in the images was shaped by function and the other was a styling exercise. Guess which is which.

 

Phil

Yeah, that Dondolino two-tone paint job is *bussin*!

...or... Gumbo-Lino, or wtf ever that said

Edited Tuesday at 03:19 PM by Pressureangle

[docc]

4 hours ago, Pressureangle said:

Yeah, that Dondolino two-tone paint job is *bussin*!

...or... Gumbo-Lino, or wtf ever that said

Anyone with a V11 Sport has to able to say "Gambalunghino" . . .

 

[GuzziMoto]

Personally, I like the OP's idea. But, as mentioned, I suspect it would be easier to use V11 Sport and Lemans parts then older models. They should all be similar, but you may find that they are only similar and not identical. But with some creative engineering you should be able to adapt them to suit. 

I think as long as someone has the time and or money to do it, go for it.

[Pressureangle]

1 hour ago, docc said:

Anyone with a V11 Sport has to able to say "Gambalunghino" . . .

 

GumboLimbo...GamblingProblemo...I'll work on it.

[docc]

On 1/25/2025 at 8:17 PM, HadaDaytona said:

I purchased a 1997 Centauro to convert into a Daytona / Cafe Bike. 

Before I start down this rabbit hole $$$ any advice would be appreciated.

Note : I bought the bike as is cheap. I have a video of it running. Fairings are all off the bike. I pulled the spark plugs and manually turned over the engine to verify the belts are still intact. Having owned a 1993 Daytona I got this pipe dream of converting a Centauro into something fun. Now the dream has started….

 

2 hours ago, Pressureangle said:

GumboLimbo...GamblingProblemo...I'll work on it.

Rather appropriate to OP's query, I must say . . .

[pete roper]

‘Gambalunga’ means ‘Long-Legs’ I believe and from memory was the name that was given to the 120* V-Twin GP bike. ‘Gambalungino’ means ‘Little Long-Legs’.

The 120* twin was very innovative for its time and used offset crank pins for perfect primary balance. Something not used by other manufacturers until the 1980’s I believe.

[docc]

14 minutes ago, pete roper said:

‘Gambalunga’ means ‘Long-Legs’ I believe and from memory was the name that was given to the 120* V-Twin GP bike. ‘Gambalungino’ means ‘Little Long-Legs’.

The 120* twin was very innovative for its time and used offset crank pins for perfect primary balance. Something not used by other manufacturers until the 1980’s I believe.

Pretty sure* the 120º twin racer was called Bicylindrica and the Gambalunga/Gambalunghino were horizontal single racers 1949-1951.

Luciano Marabese was quoted saying, 

"I started to draw . . . the V11 from Gambalunghino . . ."

 

Before knowing these design references, neither the V11 Sport nor the Centauro made sense to me.

 

[pete roper]

13 hours ago, docc said:

Pretty sure* the 120º twin racer was called Bicylindrica and the Gambalunga/Gambalunghino were horizontal single racers 1949-1951

I think you are correct. Memory loss is a thing……who knew?

[docc]

8 hours ago, pete roper said:

I think you are correct. Memory loss is a thing……who knew?

There could be a distinction between "memory loss" and "too much to remember" . . .