Ducati Motorcycles
The Ducati story starts in 1926 when Ducati brothers founded a company in Bologna, Italy to produce radio components. In 1935 was opened a new factory in Borgo Panigale, where is presently located the Ducati Motor Holding. During the war Ducati starts developing a small engine to be mounted on a bicycle, called Cucciolo. It was the most innovative vehicle on the market in Europe, the motor could be attached by the owner to a normal bicycle. Thanks to the success of Cucciolo, in the 1950 Ducati offered its clients a complete motorcycle based on a 60cc engine and a top speed of 64km/h (40mph).
Ducati vintage
Then the market required bigger engine motorcycles, and Ducati’s management started diversification and producing several models. In the ’60, Ducati become worldwide known for high performance motorcycles thank to the 4 stroke, 2 cylinders at 90 degree, engines with desmodromic valve design.Still today the desmodromic valve design allows Ducati motorcycles to be a leader in Moto GP race.
Ducati 2009
In all combustion engines valves are opened and closed thanks to springs. Ducati engine uses a dedicated cam lobe and lifter to open valves. The opening and closing of the valves is more quickly without the risk of floating, it allows to reach higher engine speeds (rpm) compared to traditional engines. An other big difference between Ducati engine and other engines is the “dry clutches” eliminating the loss of power due to oil viscosity, rather than wet clutches mostly used by motorcycle manufacturers. Most Ducati motorcycles were designed by Fabio Taglioni, a young designer that worked in Ducati from 1950. In 1979 he introduced a very innovative engine, nowadays still used on all Ducati Super Sport motorcycles. In 1993 was introduced the Ducati Monster, an high performance naked bike probably the most popular Ducati round the world.
Vespa Piaggio
Vespa is the most popular scooter worldwide, born in1946 by Piaggio in Pontedera, Italy, still manufactured today. During the second world war, Piaggio factory, an aircraft manufacturing company, was completely destroyed by bombing. Because of post war economic crises, Piaggio left producing airplanes and decided to manufacture a cheap vehicle for all poor Italian people that couldn’t buy a car. It was an extraordinary success, and Vespa was widely used in the ‘50s and ’60s. Vespa has a pressed steel chassis that protects rider’s legs from rain and mud.
Vespa engine
The direct drive engine placed on the right of rear wheel rather than between rider’s legs as on all motorcycles. Vespa by Piaggio revolutionized the motorcycle industry developing the vehicle of freedom for all European young people appreciated by both men, and women thanks to the pass through leg area design. Piaggio gave to Corradino D’Ascanio, an aeronautical engineer, the task to design a cheap, robust, and easy to drive for both men and women, vehicle. D’Ascanio designed a revolutionary vehicle that had nothing in common with any other motorcycles on the market. The name Vespa come from an exclamation of the president, Mr. Enrico Piaggio when he saw the first Vespa “is it a wasp?” Because of its shape and noise of the 2 stroke engine. the evident aerodynamic design, the design of body is part of chassis and come from aircraft technology.
Vespa front light
Piaggio sold 2.000 Vespa in the 1947, the first year, and more than 60.000 in 1950. In the 1952 Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck used a Vespa in the film Roman Holiday for a ride through Rome, it was the biggest ad campaign for a vehicle, Vespa sales growth to more than 100.000/year.
Vespa front wheel
Vespa was manufactured under licence in several European countries, in India and South America. The original Vespa born as utility vehicle, become a symbol of freedom, in the 1960, the original Vespa was improved introducing a rear suspension, bigger engines 125cc and 150cc, and a more comfortable saddle, and a small size frame powered by a 50cc.
Vespa 50cc 1980
The large frame Vespa is still in production while the production of small frame was stopped in ’80. In the ‘90 Vespa was in a big crisis, sold less than 1000 Vespa /year because of several reason such as high pollution of the 2 stroke engine compared to Japanese 4stroke scooters, and old desigyn and technology. In 2000 it was launched a new model, modern style, lighter frame, a 4 stroke engine, and with an automatic gearbox rather than the classic 4 speed.
Moto Morini
Moto Morini was founded by Alfonso Morini in Bologna, in 1937. He had a workshop repairing motorcycles, when a businessmam asked him to build a single cylinder 125cc 2 stroke racing bike. In 1927 the motorcycle named MM took 6 world records at Monza. In 1937 Alfonso Morini founed the Moto Morini and started producing a 350cc and a 500cc 3 wheelers. During the second war, Morini manufactured aeronautical components. Aftrer the war, in 1946 Moto Morini went back to produce motorcycles, a new single cylinder, 2 stroke 125cc, 3 speed transmission that had a great success in competitions, followed by a 125cc 4 stroke that exceed 140km/h. In 1958 it was designed a 250cc that won at Monza, with a speed of 225km/h. Moto Morini because very famous thanks to Giacomo Agostini that was Junior Champion in 1963.
Moto Morini Corsaro
In 1963 Moto Morini missed the World Championship by only 2 points. In 1970 after Alfonso Morini died, Mr. Franco Lambertini became the new manager and designer.In the ’70 Moto Morini launched a very revolutionary new 350cc V twin engine motorcycles, followed by a 500cc in 1981. All components were the best on the market, Dell’Orto carburetors, Marzocchi front fork, Grimeca discs. In the 1987 Gabriella Morini, Alfonso Morini daugther, decided to sell the firm to Cagiva Group, that after a few years sold the firm to Texas Pacific Group. In 1999 the Morini Franco Motori, a small engine manufacturing company founded by Alfonso’s nephew, became the new owner of Moto Morini.
Moto Morini 1.200cc
Now Moto Morini launched 2 new models, the Corsaro 1.200cc, and the Corsaro Veloce, naked bike both powered by an 1.200cc V twin cylinder engine that develops 140HP, designed by Franco Lambertini.
Triumph Motorcycles
Triumph began in 1884 when Mr. Siegfried Bettmann emigrated from Nuremberg, Germany to London, England and founded an imp-exp company of bicycles. After 3 years the company changed name in Triumph Co. Ltd. and became a bicycles manufacturing company opening also a subsidiary in Nuremberg. After a few years Triumph Co. Ltd. decided to start producing also motorcycles, using a bicycle frame with a engine built in Belgium. During the first world war the production of motorcycles increased to more than 30.000 pcs. In the 1920′s Triumph purchased a car factory and start producing both motorcycles and cars well appreciated also overseas. Because of great depression of 1929, Triumph had some problems, and sold the Nuremberg company that anufactured motorcycles till 1960. In 1933 the founder, Mr. Bettmann had to retire and Triumph sold the manufacturing bicycle company to Raleigh. A few years later, Triumph went bankrupt, the car company was acquired by the Standard Motor Company, and the motorcycle was acquired by Ariel Motorcycle Company.
Triumph Scrambler
The name was changed into Triumph Engineering Co. Ltd, and the company began to export to the USA. During the second world war, the company moved to West Midlands in order to save factory devastation. After the war more than the half of Triumph production was exported to the USA. To satisfy the American client needs for long distance, Triumph manufactured a 650cc motorcycle named Thunderbird. Thanks to this 650cc motor, Triumph got the world’s speed record for motorcycles till 1970. Triumph became very popular after the movie “The Wild One” where Marlon Brando rode a Thunderbird. In 1959 was born the Bonneville, the most famous model by Triumph, and sales in the USA increased a lot, becoming a strong competitors for Harley Davidson. For years the half of the 500cc motorcycles USA market belong to Triumph. But in few years Triumph motorcycles became obsolete lacking electric start mechanisms, vibration, and leaked oil, compared to Japanese motorcycles that improved their bikes, adding advanced high technology solutions and electrical systems. Triumph developed a 3 cylinder engine and introduced a 5 speed gearbox to compete against Honda that launched on the market the first 750cc 4 cylinder. Despite the success of the Trident and Bonneville new design, the group made losses of 8 million pounds in 1971.
Triumph 2008
To avoid bankrupt, the government decided to create a new group named Triumph including the 3 UK motorcycle companies in 1973 was launched the new Bonneville powered by a 750cc engine. NVT stopped the Trident production in 1975, and all best engineers left the company. After 2 years the company went bankrupt, and the brand rights were sold to the Meriden Cooperative. After several years, a new investor Mr. John Bloor, re launched “Triumph Motorcycles Ltd”. In 2006 the Triumph Group announced sales of 37,400 units with a range of modern motorcycles using famous model names from the past.