An inquiry into Motorcycle
Gilera is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer founded in Milan in 1909 by Giuseppe Gilera and presently owned by Piaggio (also owner of the Vespa scooters).
Gilera now produces scooters althought the name once dominated Grand Prix motorcycle racing in the 1950s.
Gilera (gilera.com)
The Lambretta was a line of motor scooters manufactured in Milano (Milan), Italy. The name Lambretta comes from the name of a small river (Lambro) in Milan, near the factory.
I first learn of Lambretta from the Motorcycle Philippines. Impressed by their excitment, I dug further.
Here is a summary from Wikipedia.
The Innocenti company started producing Lambretta scooter after World War II in 1947 and production ceased in 1971. Lambrettas were also manufactured under licence in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, India and Spain, sometimes under other names but always with a recognizable design (e.g. Siambretta in South America and Serveta in Spain).
The Indian government bought the factory after the company went into financial difficulties in 1972. Scooters India Ltd. , a state-run enterprise, produced scooters up till 1998. Now the company produces a 3-wheeler pick-up truck powered by the Lambretta engine.
Like Vespas, Lambrettas have 3 or 4 gears and two stroke motors with capacities ranging from 49cc to 198cc.
Today Vespa and Lambrettas attracted an ecclectic following of “revival” mods, collectors and scooterists. Many owners customize these scooters with elaborate customizations and paintwork.
More of the Lambretta history from the Cambridge Lambretta Workshops.
Bimota is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1973 by Bianchi, Morri and Tamburini: the first two letters of each forming the name BI-MO-TA.
In the company’s early years, Bimota take existing engines and building excellent motorcycles around them. They first customised top-models of Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki and later also Yamaha and Ducati.
Today they make very expensive and exclusives bikes. The Bimota Tesi 2D was nominated and came in third for Object of lust – a motorcycle we most want but can’t afford in the Motorcycle Bloggers International (MBI) – 2006 Motorcycling Star Awards.
Bimota (bimota.it)
Still on Italian motorcycle brands. This time Cagiva.
Cagiva is reatively small by global standard but they make nice, power bike. My personal favourite is the Planet 125.
Cagiva Planet 125 is one of the very few motorcycle below 200cc that has a stunning look. For countries where new riders can only ride bikes of a smaller capacity, this IS the dream bike.
Are they still making this bike? It is not on the website anymore
Cagiva (cagiva.it)
Aprilia was acquired by the Piaggio Group in 2004. At the time of acquisation, Aprilia owns Moto-Guzzi. So in one fell swoop Piaggio acquired 2 Italian motorcycle marques.
Aprilia (aprilia.com)
Althought there are a number of Italian brands, most of them are really owned by one company – Piaggio Group which in turn is held by Immsi. Take a look at their turbulent history (see also wikipedia).
Just like Piaggio consolidated the brands in Italy, will we see the same in China?
According to this article, Piaggio is the world’s fourth largest motorcycle group. Who are the top three?
Piaggio (piaggio.com)
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