Bimota “KB1”, 1978, Italy Unveiled in Milan in 1978 and designed by Massimo Tamburini, the KB1 was built in 827 examples all sold as a kit. Just 16 KB1 were sold already assembled. The frame is designed to make the operations on the engine simple. Except for a few bikes, the Bimota models name always followed a simple name with two...

Bimota “RB1 Furya”, 1980, Italy Bimota is an Italian company founded in 1966. The name is the acronym of the first two letters of the members’ last names: BIanchi, MOrri and TAmburini. Initially operating in the field of air conditioning and heating systems, the company started producing motorbikes in 1975, offering them both as a kit...

Bianchi “Aquilotto”, 1953, Italy During the fascist regime the factory founded by Edoardo Bianchi reached its peak and the company is called to account many orders from the government. The factories had been heavily bombed though (like Ducati’s) and starting over is difficult. The Brand is still associated to quality and reliable products and the new products...

Bianchi “Bianchina”, 1950, Italy  The Italian economic boom after WWII was characterized by the search for cheap vehicles with low fuel consumption; therefore in the mid-40s the market for small displacement motorbikes began to grow, especially under 125cm3. The Bianchina was designed by Marco Baldi in 1945 and the production started in 1946 with many...

 Benelli “Leoncino 125 Sport GT”, 1956, Italy The Benelli workshop was born in 1911 thanks to Teresa Benelli, who wanted to guarantee a future for her 6 fatherless kids. In 1919 a 75cc 2-stroke engine was produced, the prelude to the first Benelli motorcycle in 1921: the Velomotore, a 98cc light motorcycle. From this moment on the production...

Benelli “Tornado 650 S”, 1972, Italy The 60s and 70s marked a golden era for the motorbike world: the race to higher displacement and power figures is on and Italy participates to the challenge. In this context, Benelli unveiled its new 650cc twin-cylinder bike in 1968: the Tornado. The newborn of the brand from Pesaro...

 B.S.A. Cycles, 1910s, England The Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) is a British company that produces vehicles, guns and military equipment, still producing compressed-air rifles. During the peak years, BSA was the largest motorcycle producer in the world. Born in 1861, during WWI BSA became the main supplier for the Brithish army and at the end...

Ariel “Square Four” with sidecar, 1932, England Ariel is one of England’s oldest companies, one of its founders was J. Starley to whom we owe the majority of innovative inventions on bicycles back then (for instance, tangent-spoked wheels with Hillman). The Ariel name comes from the spirit who appears in William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest...

Alcyon, “Alcyonette”, 1925, France Alcyon was a French bicycle, automobile and motorcycle manufacturer between 1902 and 1954. Born as a bicycle company in 1890, in 1902 Alcyon started producing motorcycles. The first models were powered by V-twin engines and inline-2s, later in 1912 even single-cylinder racing engines. In the years that followed Alcyon became famous...

Alcyon “2 1/2 cv”, 1927, France Alcyon was a French bicycle, automobile and motorcycle manufacturer between 1902 and 1954. Born as a bicycle company in 1890, in 1902 Alcyon started producing motorcycles. The first models were powered by V-twin engines and inline-2s, later in 1912 even single-cylinder racing engines. In the years that followed Alcyon...

Alcyon “BMA”, anni 20, France Alcyon was a French bicycle, automobile and motorcycle manufacturer between 1902 and 1954. Born as a bicycle company in 1890, in 1902 Alcyon started producing motorcycles. The first models were powered by V-twin engines and inline-2s, later in 1912 even single-cylinder racing engines. In the years that followed Alcyon became...

Bianchi, 250 Sport, 1935, Italy In 1934 Bianchi decided to make a 250cc motorcycle and did so with two models that kept the “Freccia d’Oro” name (previously used on the 175cc and the 220cc models) for marketing reasons, followed by 250 T for Turismo or 250 S for Sport. The chassis is not much different from the 220cc...

Galloni “SS”, 1921, Italy Alberto Galloni started making motorcycles with the P.G. brand in 1914, but soon the production stopped because of WWI. It restarted after the war and the bikes were branded M.G. -Moto Galloni-, widening the range in a short time. In 1932 the company went into liquidation. TECHNICAL DATA: Magneto ignition Amac...

Bianchi “Freccia Azzurra”, 1934, Italy Bianchi started as a simple repairshop and developed in different industry sectors: from bicycles to motorcycles, from cars to commercial vehicles leaving an indelible mark in every sector. 500cc Bianchis, made in different versions, went down in history as Bianchi Freccia Azzurra. Unveiled at Milan “Ciclo e del Motociclo” show in January 1933 this bike...

Benelli “4TN”, 1939, Italy The Benelli workshop was born in 1911 thanks to Teresa Benelli, who wanted to guarantee a future for her 6 fatherless kids. In 1919 a 75cc 2-stroke engine was produced, the prelude to the first Benelli motorcycle in 1921: the Velomotore, a 98cc light motorcycle. From this moment on the production increased and...

Moto Guzzi “G.T.W.”, 1948, Italy The Moto Guzzi GTV was produced from 1934 and represents a turning point in Moto Guzzi production: it’s in fact the first model to be powered by an overhead valve engine, replacing the opposite valve one. The GTW, cosmetically identical to the GTV, was the sports version, with a higher compressione...

Gilera “Saturno Sport”, 1952, Italy One of the most important models for Gilera, the Saturno is considered a masterpiece of Italian motorbike production. According to experts it had just one rival: the Moto Guzzi Falcone. The successore of the Otto Bulloni was designed by Luigi Salmaggi in the late 30s and presented at the 1940 Milan...

Bianchi “Freccia Oro”, 1933, Italy With its elegant livery and the gold and blue badges, this carefully restored motorcycle had a huge success in the 30s thanks to an important person who was photographed while riding it: Benito Mussolini. The press wrote the first Italian motorcyclist to praise the Dux, Bianchi shined and the sales increased especially...

Henderson “1300 De Luxe”, 1925, USA Henderson was not the first 4-cylinder motorcycle built in the US, but it’s probably the best known. Bill and Tom Henderson started making motorcycles in 1912 in Detroit. The first bikes had odd peculiarities, such as the passenger seat on the tank, in front of the driver, that soon was moved to its...

Bianchi “Tonale 175cc” record, 1956, Italy In 1956 the Tonale 175 won the Motogiro d’ Italia with Gino Franzosi and the Milano Taranto with Daminelli in the class “Stock derivatives“. At the end of 1956 Franzosi again in Castelfusano beat the mile record and missed the kilometer one by an inch. In 1957 the Tonale is wrapped with a special long fairing for the endurance records where Eng. Nardi, plane designer, worked on too. The frame...

Fongri “5 1/2 Hp”, 1921, Italy Fongri was born in Turin in 1910 from the Grignani brothers, motorbikes manufacturers, and Fontana. Fongri initially built single-cilinders side-valves JAP-powered motorcycles. Eugenio Grignani, cofounder of the brand and technical manager of the company, was a meticulous technician and cared for details, so much so that contrary to the use, he...

Triumph “Model H”, 1923, England The Triumph model H (also known as “Type H” and “The Trusty”) is a British motorcycle produced by Triumph Engineering Co ltd in Coventry, England. 57.000 Model Hs were made from 1915 to 1923. In early 1914 the English governement needed an efficient way to communicate with the troups at the front and...

Scott “3 3/4 HP”, 1914, England Alfred Scott popularized the water-cooled 2-stroke engine The Scott kept at the Museo Nicolis is an unprecedented model that stands out for its innovation and design. Moved by a twin-cylinder 2-stroke 486cc engine, it in fact features several technical refinements including water cooling, as is evident from the large...

Alcyon “Light Touring motorbike,” 1924, France Alcyon was a French bicycle, automobile and motorcycle manufacturer between 1902 and 1954. Born as a bicycle company in 1890, in 1902 Alcyon started producing motorcycles. The first models were powered by V-twin engines and inline-2s, later in 1912 even single-cylinder racing engines. In the years that followed Alcyon...