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If you like the Moto Guzzi V11 Cafe Sport , then you may just be lucky enough to get its Limited Edition Scura R. Moto Guzzi is launching a limited numbers of the V11 Scura R in a black/red version, which is a "Sportier" model of the famed V11. Being a Guzzi, price will definitely be a high, but so thus the biker know that Guzzi stands for reliability, tradition and elegance personified.

The R model is of course a higher spec version of the SCURA, which was launched in 2002.

Priced at £8,579 OTR, the same price as the V11 Café Sport, it will be very rare, so rare that only four of the Scura Rs are for the UK market and probably none will leave the West European region. Looking at it, its difficult to say that its NOT a new model what with its high quality finish, sportier looks and the MG elegance in full glow, but a detailed look will bring the smile in your face for its every inch a Guzzi and of course the family lines are very much of those of the V11 Cafe Sports with some subtle changes like the gold coloured fork legs and front brake caliper finished in bronze or the carbon components like the front mudguard, starter motor cover and side panels which reflect the latest technology, designed for safe high performance riding. And with the dark carbon-fiber panelling and mufflers giving the bike a rather dark edgy look and chisseled to go with the mood, the bike is aptly named SCURA, meaning dark. The bikini fairing has the word SCURA written on it. And the R version is of course LE, Limited Edition that is.

That a Guzzi is one of the best road mannered bikes is a foregone conclusion, but the sportier V11 will make you forget all that. This fascinating Café styling could easily make you forget the exceptional road qualities of the V11 family with the natural, relaxed, high-bar riding position which will make city riding and touring both a pleasure and not to mention with the support of the Öhlins suspensions, which also provides the effective steering damper. The Cantilever swinging arm with Öhlins monoshock is adjustable in compression, rebound and spring preload. The engine is the evolved form of the classic 90° V twin. An inter-collector balancer pipe guarantees perfect power matching between the two cylinders and more muscle at midrange output. With a compression ratio of 9.8:1, expect more low & mid-range rev torque.

A little historian would tell you that Guzzi was among the first companies in the world to use professional designers, way back in the 60s. This company based in Mandello was taken over by Aprilia in 2001 and as such somethings do carry over especially the fork up front is actually titanium nitride coated , similar to the Aprilia RSV Mille R. The first Moto Guzzi V11 was launched in 1999 in the Moto Guzzi’s traditional and characteristic boxer 1100 V-twin shaft mated to a raft of top spec cycle parts. Since 2001 when Aprilia has taken over, there has been quite a few variants of the V11. and the Scura R is the latest to be launched in 2007.

Timeline-
1999: Moto Guzzi launches the V11 Sport.
2001: Takeover by Aprilia, launches Moto Guzzi V11 Naked, Moto Guzzi V11 Rosso Mandello and faired Moto Guzzi V11 Le Mans.
2002: Rosso Mandello discontinued. Moto Guzzi V11 Le Mans Tenni (Limited edition high spec version of Le Mans) and Moto Guzzi V11 Sport Scura (Limited edition high spec version of Sport with Ohlins suspension and carbon fibre) launched.
2003: Moto Guzzi V11 Sport Ballabio (high bars and headlamp fairing), Moto Guzzi V11 Le Mans Rosso Corsa (as Le Mans with Ohlins suspension) and Moto Guzzi V11 Café Sport (as Sport with Ohlins suspension, high bars and bikini fairing) launched.
Sport Scura, Naked and Tenni discontinued.
2004: Sport and Le Mans discontinued.
2005: Ballabio, Rosso Corsa and Café Sport discontinued.

2007: Moto Guzzi SCURA R launched
Source: Motorcycling News