Milan Motorcycle Show
Milan Motorcycle Show
MV AND ITALJET SET THE PACE.
CARLO PERELLI
THE ITALIAN INDUSTRY is fighting hard to improve its position. This is clearly shown by the 39th Milan Show which opened in Milan, Italy, in early December, with a record entry of 599 exhibitors from eight countries. Each factory displayed either new models, or improved versions of previous models, and they were not limited to only one or two popular classes. Unlike in the past, the new models ranged
from It is utilitarian confidently mopeds expected to that heavyweights, this turn of events will boost home sales for the Italian industry, which have dropped considerably in recent years, as well as attract even more customers in foreign markets, particularly the United States. They are very conscious of this fruitful, and b> far the largest, export market in the
A new and interesting trend in the 50cc field is to off the-road models Racy clip on ban are still the fashion for Italian youngsters, but they are fast recognizing the fun to be had with the responsive off the-road machines Various types of ma chines were shown from the simplest, fit ted with only high bars and upswept ex hausts to the sturdier and more functional machines with four and five-speed gearboxes (and even six), scrambles tires Cer tani teledraulic forks, and seven and eight bersepower racers.
In the motor scooter field Italy leads the world, thanks to Piaggie and Innocenti The trend now is to compact, sporting models, such as Vespas Super-Sprint 90 With motorcycles in the 125cc class, where the sporty chp-ons are favored, the trend is to five speed transmissions to im prove perfarinance Motobi, MV and Gilera all fit them now, and each offers around 10 bhp in their overhead valve, single-cylinder engines Each will top 6570 mph Only completely new model in this category comes from Laverda with a neatly styled machine Interest in 125 s is also splitting, on one band the racy mod els, on the other the off the-road bikes Some are exact replicas of the factory trials bikes used in Italian and foreign events Latest Moto Ciuzzi is the Stornello Regolanta (regolarita means, "for tnals'), so now there are four on the market, from Morim, MV, Gilera, and Moto Guzzi All have 10 bhp four cycle pushrod engines, and can travel at over 60 mph on the roads, MV and Gilera have fivespeed transmissions.
Revival of interest is also evident in the 250s where there is a new MV twin and a new Moto (3uzzi Sport, plus the Morim Stobello Gil single Al! have about 18 bhp, single-cylinder, ohv engines,, so each is capable of over 80 mph MV has a fivespeed: gearbox, as do s~ Motobi, now~~o::ffer~ ed on the Italian market in two versions, one sport, the other for off the-road This Motobi is the only 250 dirt machine offer ed.
Finally the "big uns" Ignored in the Italian industry since the war, they are now coming into evidence again, not only to satisfy the home market but above all to do battle on the foreign fronts Sensation of the show was the 600cc, four cylinder MV roadster version of the racing bike It was introduced many years ago, then disappeared Let's hope this one will not follow the fate of its elder brother, since with proper modifications, it could attract many of the worlds buyers (Amen -Ed) Unusual in its engine layout is the Moto Guzzi V-7 700cc twin in civilian garb Far from being a sporty mount, since its design was dictated by the needs of the Army and Italian police, it is heavy and quite monumental But being ex treinely sturdy, having shaft drive and a top speed of over 140 mph and costing in Italy about $1,040 (quite a bit less than the big British and German twins), it should tempt many people Ital jet s Tri umph Tiger 100 engined machine with a duplex cradle frame and Ceri am forks and big brakes is very stylish indeed It will sell in Italy at about the same price as the British twins and it should gain success in sporting events Price will be around $1 168 in Italy
