Motorcycles - Italy: Books - History, Types and Construction

Italian Racing Motorcycles

Italy has a reputation for style in all things, not least in motorcycles. The first pure-bred Italian motorcycles made their appearance at the beginning of the 20th century and included Bianchi, Borgo, Prinetti & Stucchi and Ferrera.
By the 1920s these companies had been joined or replaced by a number of newer concerns. Then came the period of the pentarchia, comprising Benelli, Bianchi, Garelli, Gilera and Guzzi, who fought tooth and nail for a share of the market.

The golden age of Italian motorcycling lasted until 1957 when the three largest and most successful teams, FB Mondial, Gilera and Guzzi announced their retirement from the sport. This improved the chances of marques such as MV Agusta, Bianchi, Benelli, Morini and Ducati who continued to fly the red, white and green flag of Italy with considerable success.
Italy not only produced a host of world-beating machinery, but also a number of top riders including Carlo Ubbiali, Umberto Masetti, Tarquinio Provini, Libero Liberati and most notably Giacomo Agostini.

Contents: Aermacchi, Aprilia, Benelli, Bianchi, Bimota, Cagiva, Ducati, Garelli, Gilera, Laverda, FB Mondial, Morbidelli, Moto Guzzi, Moto Morini, MV Agusta, Parilla, Paton & Rumi.

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Motos italiennes, 100 ans d'histoire

While MV Agusta, Benelli, Ducati, Morini, Laverda, Gilera, Parilla, Mondial, Motobi and Moto-Guzzi are undoubtedly among the most famous Italian firms in the motorcycle industry, they actually represent only a tiny fraction of it. Over the course of the 20th century, more than 300 brands were born in Italy.

Some have fallen into oblivion, while others, having made a fresh start, are now carving out the lion's share of what is otherwise an extremely competitive market. The journey of the creators of these legendary motorcycles is tinged with such romanticism that it deserves to be mentioned.

This book contains almost all the machines produced in Italy during the 20th century. And let's not forget that many titles acquired in recent years in motorcycling have been thanks to motorcycles "made in Italy".

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Italienische Motorräder - Motorradlegenden der 70er

NEW

Italian motorcycle production in the 1970s was a remarkable phenomenon and an exception in international motorcycle construction.
While traditional motorcycle nations such as England and Germany declined after 1954, Italy impressed with a large number of manufacturers who successfully stood up to the emerging Japanese.

Frank Rönicke offers a comprehensive overview of the iconic two-wheelers from Bella Italia. From Aermacchi to Ducati and Moto Guzzi to SWM, 28 legendary brands and around 400 motorcycle models are presented in detail.
The unique presentation is rounded off by numerous unpublished images and technical data. A book that provides a complete insight into the fascinating world of Italian motorcycle production in the 1970s.

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Il grande libro delle moto italiane - anni '80

Giorgio Sarti takes on the fascinating subject of the Italian motorcycles of the 80s, maybe a less extraordinary period than the preceding decade, but no less captivating. The names are those of always, from Moto Guzzi to MV Agusta and Ducati. Constructors recounted through a text which does not just speak of history and technical matters but also of trends, culture, men, providing the reader with an exhaustive picture of those years.

The book comprises three parts. The first examines the historical and cultural context in which these machines appeared. The second is devoted to a panorama of the biggest selling models and the history of the relative marques. The third shows the 10 most significant Italian bikes of the 80s, minutely analysing all to provide enthusiasts with many essential and useful elements for the recognition of the various series.

For each model there is a gamut of detail ranging from technical history to technique, from maintenance, riding the motorcycles, including production numbers and collecting. The wealth of illustrations is especially varied, comprising an ample collection of images and documents of the period.

The 10 italian bikes that made the '80s:
- Bimota 550 KB2
- Bimota 750 DB1
- Bimota 750 YB4 E.I.
- Bimota 851/904 Tesi 1D
- Ducati 500 Pantah
- Ducati 750 F1
- Ducati 750 Paso
- Ducati 851 Superbike
- Laverda 1000 RGS
- Moto Guzzi 1000 Le Mans.

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Il grande libro delle moto italiane - Anni 10-20

Italian motorcycle production in this 20-year period saw the passage from the motorised bicycle typical of the 1910s to the true motorcycle of the following decade, with considerable progress in terms of performance.
Naturally, along with the engines, the frames and suspension saw rapid evolution and a maturity that brought great satisfaction to the enthusiasts who were eagerly racing the new machines.
The period saw the birth of great names such as Benelli (1911) and Moto Guzzi (1921), while others continued to go from strength to strength, including Bianchi (1885), Frera (1905) and Gilera (1909).
All the motorcycles of the period were of the "underslung" type with the fuel tank suspended from the frame's top tube.

This book places the bikes in their historical and social context, offering an overview of all the various models. There are also features on technology, advertising, production data and military motorcycles.

Text in Italian.

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Il grande libro delle moto italiane - Anni 30-40

The Italian motorcycles of these years were produced within the context of a very unusual historical period. It was from 1930 that all motorcycles adopted the new configuration with the tank being installed on the top of the frame tubes. This meant the end of the "underslung" era and the emergence of the rounded tank that is still prevalent today.
The styling of the machines also evolved, with the introduction of models such as the powerful 500s that entranced the enthusiasts with their appeal and performance.
This was the sector dominated by the bikes produced by the "big five": Benelli, Bianchi, Gilera, Moto Guzzi and Sertum. It was actually this last, today perhaps the least well known, that launched a fabulous 500 cc twin.

This book places the bikes in their historical and social context, offering an overview of all the various models. There are also features on technology, advertising, production data and military motorcycles.

Text in Italian.

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Il grande libro delle moto italiane - anni 50-60

The 50s and 60s comprised an extremely significant epoch in the history of the motorcycle in which the foundations of what became known as the "economic miracle" were laid. When the car was still inaccessibly expensive and out of reach of most Italians, it was these two-wheeled machines that were the individual means of transport par excellence.
But the scenario that evolved in subsequent decades was a different one, starting with the debut of the first small, much less expensive "utility" cars. It was then that the motorcycle began to lose popularity and remained the dream of just a few enthusiasts. The book returns to those two fascinating decades and brings them alive once more with its thousands of pictures, blended with a text brimming with interest.

The 10 italian bikes that made the '50s and '60s:
- Aermacchi 250 Ala Verde
- Ducati 250 Elite
- Gilera 500 Saturno Sport
- Motobi 200 Spring Lasting
- Morini 175 Settebello
- Moto Guzzi 500 Falcone Sport
- Motom 98 TS
- MV Agusta 175 Disco Volante
- Parilla 175 Special
- Rumi 125 Sport.

Text in Italian.

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