{"id":6184,"date":"2025-07-31T13:14:29","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T11:14:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/en-eu\/?p=6184"},"modified":"2025-07-31T13:14:29","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T11:14:29","slug":"the-spirit-of-venice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/en-eu\/the-spirit-of-venice\/","title":{"rendered":"The Spirit of Venice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Venetia 1947 isn\u2019t just a motorcycle \u2013 it\u2019s a handcrafted masterpiece blending old-school muscle with design innovation and artistry<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Words and photos by Polina Krasnova\/Bikers Insider<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the world of custom motorcycles, where artistry meets engineering, \u201cVenetia 1947\u201d stands out as a one-of-a-kind creation that bridges history, heritage and craftsmanship. Built by Boccin Custom Cycles \u2013 a renowned workshop in Venice, Italy \u2013 this extraordinary machine is a tribute to Venice itself, channelling the city\u2019s opulence, symbolism and storied traditions into a two-wheeled masterpiece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The name Venetia \u2013 Latin for Venice \u2013 harks back to the city’s ancient roots and enduring identity. By choosing this name, the creators honour not only the aesthetic and cultural grandeur of the city but also its timeless role as a beacon of innovation and artistry. \u201c1947\u201d references the year of the vintage Harley-Davidson\u00ae<\/sup> Knucklehead engine that powers the bike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boccin Custom Cycles, under the meticulous eye of founder and builder Lorenzo “Boccin” Solighetto, has long been a name synonymous with bold vision and timeless technique. Known internationally for their American-style restorations and handcrafted customs, the Jesolo-based workshop also serves as a living museum proudly displaying work from Lorenzo\u2019s impressive 30-year career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The concept of Venetia 1947 began with a simple but potent vision. It was commissioned by Fabio De Pellegrin, a native of Belluno, who wanted a machine that honoured not just his personal roots but also the grandeur of Venice, whose reach once extended to his hometown during the era of the Serenissima Republic. The idea was to build an extreme old-school Knucklehead that would push artistic and engineering boundaries and bring the soul of Venice into every curve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t want just another show bike,\u201d says Lorenzo. \u201cThis had to be Venice on wheels. Something that didn\u2019t just look Venetian but felt<\/em> like it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The references to Venice within the bike itself are as elegant as they are deliberate. The seat, for instance, is draped in lush red velvet \u2013 the same deep crimson used in traditional Venetian gondolas. It\u2019s a tactile homage to Venice\u2019s floating taxis, evoking memories of moonlit canals and whispered serenades. \u201cWhen you sit on this bike,\u201d Lorenzo smiles, \u201cyou should feel like you\u2019re stepping into a gondola.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just behind the seat, the rear of the bike carries a strikingly sculptural element in steel: the taillight is housed within a form modelled after the fero da prora<\/em>, the distinctive metal prow found on Venetian gondolas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe fero<\/em> represents the six districts of Venice and the Doge\u2019s cap,\u201d explains Fabio. \u201cIntegrating that into the tail wasn\u2019t just decoration \u2013 it was declaring the bike\u2019s origins.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But perhaps the most daring feature of Venetia 1947 is its use of Murano glass \u2013 a material rarely, if ever, seen in motorcycle construction. Enter Damiano Carrer, a master Murano glassmaker with a passion for breaking boundaries. Working with molten silica and centuries-old techniques, Damiano shaped the bike\u2019s most spellbinding components: a shimmering glass fuel tank and an exquisite gas cap crowned with a miniature sculpture of the winged Lion of Saint Mark \u2013 the very symbol of Venetian identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe gas tank was a real challenge,\u201d Damiano admits. \u201cIt had to be strong enough for the road but still carry the clarity and grace that Murano glass is known for. We worked with layered techniques to ensure both beauty and endurance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the gas cap, Damiano didn\u2019t just create a part, he told a story. The translucent Lion of Saint Mark gleams from its perch like a jewel. \u201cThat lion is Venice\u2019s protector,” he says. “We wanted it to stand guard over the heart of the machine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Capturing Venetia 1947 on camera was no ordinary task. The team opted for nothing less than Venice\u2019s beating heart \u2013 the Grand Canal \u2013 as the backdrop. But that level of authenticity wasn’t easy to achieve. The photoshoot started at 5am in a dense, ghostly fog. The February chill bit through layers of clothing and choppy waters rocked our two small boats, one of which was carrying the bike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cJust getting the permits to shoot on the Grand Canal was a marathon,\u201d recalls Lorenzo. \u201cWe went through weeks of requests, paperwork and a bit of Venetian diplomacy. In the end, I think the city took pity on our obsession.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fabio laughs, \u201cOr maybe Venice was just feeling generous that day. Either way, we had an opportunity and we ran with it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brief breaks in the fog allowed golden sunlight to flood the water, casting the bike in a painterly glow, with reflections dancing over the Murano glass tank and the lion crest gleaming like a relic. \u201cIt was surreal,\u201d says Lorenzo. \u201cThat moment with the boat drifting, sun breaking through, Venice watching\u2026 it was as if the city said, \u2018Okay, show me what you\u2019ve made.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond its visual majesty, Venetia 1947 rides as fiercely as it looks. The old-school Knucklehead base gives it a visceral rumble, while the custom frame and attention to traditional build techniques make it a rider\u2019s machine. Lorenzo emphasizes that despite the fragility associated with glass, this motorcycle was built to be ridden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople look at the Murano tank and think it\u2019s too delicate,\u201d he laughs. \u201cBut we engineered it to last. Like Venice itself: it\u2019s elegant, but it endures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venetia 1947 captures the theatricality of the canals, the mystery of twilight alleys and the craftsmanship of artisans who turn raw materials into poetry. Through its red velvet seat, its gondola-inspired fero lighting, its Murano glass tank and lion-crested gas cap, this machine whispers the language of Venice as it roars down the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Fabio, it\u2019s the realisation of a dream; for Lorenzo, it\u2019s a pioneering step into the fusion of sculpture and speed. But for anyone who lays eyes on Venetia 1947, it\u2019s a reminder that true beauty isn\u2019t just built, it\u2019s crafted, remembered and reborn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Venetia 1947 isn\u2019t just a motorcycle \u2013 it\u2019s a handcrafted masterpiece blending old-school muscle with design innovation and artistry<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":6183,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[7],"class_list":["post-6184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories","tag-riding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/en-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6184","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/en-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/en-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/en-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/en-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6184"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/en-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6184\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6212,"href":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/en-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6184\/revisions\/6212"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/en-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6183"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/en-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/en-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/en-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}