Report From Italy
REPORT FROM ITALY
NEW 125 H-D AERMACCHI
AERMACCHI-HARLEY DAVIDSON after long tests have started production in considerable quantities of a 125 two-stroke specifically designed for the U. S. market, but also available in Italy and all other countries later in the year.
Light and inexpensive, the new model looks humble but its 56 x 50mm "oversquare" engine churns out 10 bhp at the wheel at 6,750 rpm on 7.5:1 compression ratio, so one can easily expect "wheelies" during acceleration. The top speed of 70 mph flat out or just over 62 mph sitting up equals the best sports four-strokes onetwo-fives made in Italy.
These good performances have prompted the experimental department to prepare a racing version which, when tried out at Monza in spite of the normal inner gearbox ratios, easily lapped like the best Italian four-stroke production racers. Power of this model has been hinted to be 18 bhp, quite good for an orthodox twostroke, still very much open to development! So, with the necessary modifications (also to the frame), this mount will be built in series.
Features of the normal model include 6V-35W flywheel magneto (on the left) with external H-T coil, 4 percent (or 25:1 ) petroil lubrication (but a version with a mechanical oil pump is under test and may be available later), 24mm Dellorto carburetor with a big, easily serviced twopaper-element air filter-silencer, primary drive (ratio 3.21:1) by gears and multidisc clutch, both on the right, and final drive by chain on the left (ratio 3:1). The overall ratios are 24.07, 13.48, 8.89, 6.97, respectively. The tubular frame is very simple and has teledraulic suspension to both wheels, shod with 2.50-17 tires and 135 x 25mm full-width drum brakes.
The rubber-mounted tank holds 2.5 gallons, good for an autonomy of over 150 miles, since consumption, even on fast going, never drops below 25 kmplitre. Weight is 172 pounds.
"SIXTY" RACERS IN ITALY
In Italy there is no racing for the 50cc class, like there is everywhere else. Minimum limit is 60cc, and this unusual figure deserves an explanation. The Government gives special consideration to up-to-50cc machines (no insurance, no driving license, no registration, small annual tax, minimum age 14 years), but insists, by code, on a 1.5 bhp maximum power output and a 25 mph top speed.
However, 99 percent of the Italian built "fifties" and particularly the sports models for the youngsters, largely exceed those limits. So, the various manufacturers are under the Damocle sword of the Government, who is imploring them to "return" to 25 mph jobs, which would cause a tragic sales drop in this up-till-now excellent field. The manufacturers cringe at publicly aired evidence concerning the brilliant performances of the present 50cc machines to a point that the Italian Federation meets very strong opposition, often unsurmountable, including the 50cc class in the Monza World Championship program, and has been forced to increase to 60cc the capacity of the class for the "tiddlers," abandoning the classic 50cc!
Now, let's introduce the three best 1967 Italian 60cc mounts, specifying that the only restrictions laid down by the Italian Federation for this class are: four-speed gearbox, 15mm carburetor for four-strokes and 17mm for two-strokes, plus, of course, no supercharging.
Benelli is the most complex of them all, being a double ohc driven by gears on the right which also actuate the contact breaker and the rev counter drive. The engine is actually a "slice" of the four-cylinder, GP racing jobs, employed to test separately some parts. The nice frame and tank are also a copy, on a reduced scale, of the GP machines, with Ceriani suspension and 2.00-18 tires. Maximum power output is very difficult to push over 8.5 to 9 bhp because of the regulation 15mm carburetor, which is too little to feed this GP style engine. Primary drive by gears and exposed multiplate dry clutch are both on the left. Lubrication is by wet sump and gear pump.
CARLO PERELLI
The F. B. Minarelli, derived from a 75cc model which set up some world records at Monza last year, is also unusual in that it features reed-valve-controlled feeding into the crankcase. Bore and stroke are 41.4 x 44, compression ratio is 11:1, and maximum power output is 9.5 bhp at 10,800 rpm. The flywheel magneto is on the left, the primary drive by gears and the multidisc clutch in oil are on the right. Here again we have double cradle tubular frame and 2.00-18 wheels sprung by Ceriani.
Finally, a "rotating disc" couldn't be left out. It comes from Guazzoni, specialists for years in this field. Bore and stroke are 45 x 37.5, compression ratio is 12:1, output is 9.7 bhp at 11,500 rpm, primary drive is by chain, and the flywheel magneto and clutch are both on the right. Weight is only I 10 pounds without fairing; in this case, also, there is a double cradle tubular frame, Ceriani suspension and 2.00-18 tires.
These machines, which reach over 90 mph, make for interesting racing on circuits and hillclimbs. Benelli and F. B. Minarelli for the moment are not on sale; Guazzoni, on the contrary, is available "over the counter" at $430.00, without enclosure and rev counter, and also in the 50cc version with a six-speed gearbox.
A TWO MILLION "SPECIAL"
As reported earlier, the "special" or oneoff craze is not yet widespread in Italy, but the rare examples of this art are quite noticeable. For instance, we have recently spotted a supermodified Bonneville in Milan, owned by Signor Achille Rossi, who has spent some two million liras on it! (A big sum for Italy.) After having bought it new two years ago, Signor Rossi started to have one thing changed, then another, and another again, but now he feels completely satisfied since the machine is a beauty, can still be used fairly well in town, and during recent tests at Monza, topped 130 mph with plenty of acceleration.
The engine has been fitted with practically all the best equipment available from England and the U. S., plus dual ignition. The frame is original but features Ceriani racing suspension, with 18-inch racing Borrani alloy rims, FD brakes and Dunlop racing tires. The tank, saddle support, guards and enclosure are in light alloy, which help to reduce the weight down to 320 pounds. Other changes include clipon molybdenum racing bars, quick action fiberglass throttle twistgrip and the nice ammeter, rev counter and speedometer panel over the headlamp.
ANOTHER ITALJET
Specially designed for the U. S. market, the Italjet 350 twin is yet another product of the fertile brain of Leopoldo Tartarini, the firm's founder and boss. The new model is powered by the well-known Jawa twostroke twin (58 x 65 x 2) developing 22 bhp at 5,250 rpm and featuring the semiautomatic clutch actuated by the gearchange lever on the left. The four-speed gearbox is, of course, in unit.
The double cradle tubular frame has teledraulic suspension (the rear ones are adjustable to three positions), 3.25-19 front tire and 4.00-18 rear, 180mm front brake and 160mm rear, weight 290 pounds, and tank capacity 9 litres. ■
