# x name xxxxxxxxxxxx  maker           N A M E   I N D E X   a n d
# x name xxxxxxxxxxxx  maker        T A B L E   O F   C O N T E N T S
01. Aprilia  xxxxxxxxxxx  Aprilia?
02. Arciero xxxxxxxxxx   Italtelai
03. Aspes xxxxxxxxxxx    Italvelo
00. Baretta xxxxxxxxxx   Piccoli
00. Benelli xxxxxxxxxx    Benelli
04. Benvenuti xxxxxxxx  Lem Motor
05. BETA xxxxxxxxxxxx   BETA Bianchi, Enzo e Tosi, Arrigo
00. Bianchi xxxxxxxxxx   Italvelo
00. Bimotor xxxxxxxxxx  Bimotor see Moto Bimm
06. Carnielli xxxxxxxxxx Carnielli
07. Chiorda xxxxxxxxxx  Chiorda?
08. Chris Cycle xxxxxxxx Willier
00. Cimatti xxxxxxxxxxx Cimatti
00. Concord xxxxxxxxxx Fantic
00. Cosmo and Colt xxxx Piccoli
00. DEMM xxxxxxxxxxxx DEMM Daldi e Matteucci Motori
00. Di Blasi xxxxxxxxxxx Di Blasi Industriale
00. Fabbrica Motoveicoli Fabbrica Motoveicoli see Garelli
00. Fantic xxxxxxxxxxxx Fantic Motor
00. F. Morini xxxxxxxxxx Lem Motor
09. FMB Telaimotor xxxx FMB Telaimotor Fabbrica Motocicli Bologna
00. Gadabout xxxxxxxxx Moto BM
00. Garelli xxxxxxxxxxx  Agrati Garelli
00. Gary xxxxxxxxx xxx  Fabbrica Motoveicoli see Garelli
10. General TE xxx Xxxx Moto Bimm
11. Gilera xxxxxxxx xxx  Gilera, Piaggio
00. Gitane xxxxxxxx xxx Testi
00. Harley Davidson xxx  Aermacchi
00. Indian xxxxxx xXxxx Italjet
00. Innocenti xxxxx xxx  Innocenti see Lambretta
00. Intramotor Gloria x x Intramotor Gloria
00. Italjet xxxxx xxxxxx  Italjet
12. Italtelai xxxx xxxxxx Italtelai
00. Italvelo xxxx xxxxxx Italvelo
13. ITOM xxxxxxx xxxxx  ITOM Industria Torinese Meccanica
14. Lambretta xxx xxxxx Innocenti
15. Lem Motor xxx xxxx  Lem Motor 
16. Maico xxxxxxxx xxxx Moto Bimm
17. Malanca xxxxxx xxxx Malanca
00. Malaguti xxxxx xxxx  Malaguti
18. Moto Bimm xxxxxxxx Bimotor
00. Moto BM xxxxxxxxxx Moto BM Bonvicini Marino
19. Moto FBM xxxxxxxxx Moto FBM Fabbrica Bolognese Motocicli
00. Moto Guzzi xxxxxxxx SEIMM Società Esercito Industrie Moto Meccaniche
00. Moto Meteora xxxxx  Moto Meteora
00. Motobecane Sebring  Motobecane-MotoMeteora
20. Motobee xxxxxxxxxx Testi
00. Motobi xxxxxxXXxxx Motobi see Benelli
21. Motom xxxxxxXXxxx Motom 
00. Motomarina xxXXxx  Moto Meteora
00. Motori Minarelli xx x Motori Minarelli
00. Motori Morini Franco Motori Morini Franco
00. Motron xxxxxxxxxxx Motron
00. MW xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Benelli see Wards Riverside
00. MZV xxxxxxxxxxxxx  MZV see Safari
00. Negrini xxxxxxxxxxx Negrini
22. Omer xxxxxxxxxx xx Omer
00. Pacer xxxxxxxxxx xx Italtelai
00. Piaggio xxxxxxxXxxx Piaggio
00. Rizzato xxxxxxxxxxx Cesare Rizzato
00. Safari xxxxxxxxXXxx MZV
00. Testi xxxxxxxxxxxxx Testi
23. Silver Foxi xxxxXxxx Testi
00. Snark-Bianchi xXxxx  Italvelo or Italtelai
24. Velomec xxxxxxxxXx Italvelo
00. Vespa xxxxxxxxxxxx Piaggio
00. Wards Riverside   xx  Benelli
25. West Wind xxxxxxxx Spisni Lino
26. Yankee Peddler xxxx FMB Telaimotor
00. Zanetti xxxxxxxxxXx Zanetti

There are many Italian motorcycle names. Wheels of Italy has 543 motorcycle sections.
These here are the Italian brands that sold mopeds new in the USA, plus a few others.
The bike identity (brand, maker, model, year, version) helps to know the parts identity.
Most export models are “re-branded” and the true identity is concealed.  

 

 

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Aprilia Dany

This late 60’s or early 70’s model has an early Morini MO1 Gyromat engine.

 

 

 

 

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Arciero      made in Italy by Italtelai      Morini MO-1 or MO-2 engine

Arciero is not in the Wheels of Italy Encyclopedia, but Italtelai is. Italtelai began in 1972, and means “Italian frames”. They made chassis for Arciero, Bianchi, Pacer, Portofino, Snark, and other US export models. They all used Motori Morini Franco engines and Spisni Franzoni forks. 1970’s engines were Morini MO-1 or MO-2. 1980’s was Morini M1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arciero components: Morini MO-1 or MO-2 engine, Dellorto SHA 14/12 (or 14/9) carburetor, CEV lights and switches, Domino chrome levers, Grimeca hubs and 90mm brakes, Dansi magneto, Huret speedometer with LH driver. Gas cap for “monotrave” is clamp-on pop-up, for step thru is 30mm push-in or 30mm qtr-turn, for top tank is 40mm qtr turn wide wing.

 

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  Aspes      made in Italy by Italvelo     Minarelli V1 engine

Moto Aspes built quite successful 50 to 125cc sports bikes and offroad racers from 1967 to 1982, with mostly Minarelli or Sachs shifter engines. 

Italvelo is not in the Wheels of Italy Encyclopedia. Italvelo makes Aspes, Italvelo, Bianchi, Snark, Velomec step-thru mopeds.

 

Aspes components: Minarelli V1 engine, Dellorto SHA 14/12 (30mph) carburetor, CEV lights and switches, Domino chrome levers, Grimeca hubs and brakes, CEV 6932 magneto, CEV or Veglia? speedometer with LH driver. Gas cap is 30mm push-in.

 

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Benvenuti      made in Italy by Lem Motor        Morini MO-1 engine

Benvenuti is an Italian surname that also means welcome. The Lem-made Benvenuti Fabrizio A1 chassis is the same as Lem Pratikal, Safari Cobra, Safari 300, Safari MZVand F. Morini Chembol.

Benvenuti components: Monotrave aka “tubone” type frame, Morini MO-1 engine, Dellorto SHA 14/12  (or 14/9) carburetor, CEV lights and “round chrome” switches, OSL aluminum “finger bumps” levers, Grimeca hubs and brakes, Dansi magneto.

 

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BETA      made in Italy by BETA        BETA 1-speed engine

BETA was formed in the early 1900’s in Florence Italy, by Guiseppe Bianchi, a famous bicycle racer and entrepreneur. Originally it was called “Societe Guiseppe Bianchi”, and made bicycles. Later in the 1940’s when production of motorcycles began, the company was renamed “BETA”, after Bianchi, Enzo and Tosi, Arrigo, the chief officers at the time. Beta is still making motorcycles, mostly off road trials bikes. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BETA components: 2.25-16″ tires, 25mph or 17mph engine versions, Laura-type reed valve, Dellorto SHA 14/12 (25mph) or SHA14/9 (17mph) carburetor, CEV lights and switches, Domino chrome levers, Domino wrap-around throttle or sliding block, Grimeca hubs and 90mm brakes, CEV speedometer with LH driver.

 

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Carnielli   made in Italy by Carnielli    Sachs engine

This is a collapsible mini-moped with pedals. It has tie-rod steering and a front swing arm. This one was serviced at MM in the mid-2000’s.

 

 

 

 

Graziella is the name of a folding bicycle line made by Carnielli. 

Moto Graziella is the name of a their motorized folding bike. 

Moto G is the name on the gas tank.

 

 

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Chiorda  made in Italy by Chiorda    Morini engine

 

 

 

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Chris Cycle    made in Italy by Wilier    Morini engine

Wilier Triestina began in 1906 in Trieste, Italy as Ciclomeccanica Dal Molin. Craftsman Pietro Dal Molin from Bassano was fascinated by bicycles and the speed with which they were gaining popularity in daily life.  He purchased an almost unknown English brand, Wilier, and began producing bicycles. Wilier has produced winning racing bicycles for over 100 years. Here is the full story from wilier.com.

Vee’-lee-air: Although “Wilier” was originally a early 1900’s English bicycle, it is also W.I.L.I.E.R. Both Wilier and Triestina were inspired by Italian patriotism following the World Wars. Wilier is an acronym. W is an abbreviation for the word Viva, which means “Long live”, beginning the phrase: W l’Italia LIberata E Redenta – Long live Italy, liberated and redeemed. It is pronounced /Vee’-lee-air/. from Wheels of Italy

Motocicli Wilier produced small motorcycles and mini-cycles mostly 48cc in the 1950’s and 60’s. Here is the Wilier gallery on cybermotorcycle.com.

Chris Cycle was an American brand of mini-cycles, made in Italy by Motocicli Wilier in the 1960’s, imported and sold by Everywhere Inc. in Monrovia CA, near Los Angeles.

 

 

 

M-2 was a street-legal 3-speed grip-shift 50cc mini-cycle, painted green, with low right-side exhaust. Engine was a 1964-69 Franco Morini 3CV, fan-cooled with sideways head fins. 3.50 – 5 tires, weight 98 lbs.

 

 

 

M-2 components: Domino “70’s chrome” controls, CEV “short” headlight (no speedometer), CEV “all-in-one” switch right-side, CEV “early round” tail light, Dansi ASL223VS magneto.

 

M-2B Sport was a street-legal 3-speed grip-shift 50cc mini-cycle, painted red, with up-swept left-side exhaust, Dellorto ME16-BS carburetor, Franco Morini 3CV engine.

M-2B components: Domino “70’s chrome” controls, CEV “bullet” headlight with Huret speedometer, CEV “all-in-one” switch right-side, CEV “early round” tail light. Dansi ASL223VS magneto, 3-wire with external ignition ground green wire.

 

 

M-3 Super Sport was a street-legal 4-speed foot-shift 100cc mini-cycle. Engine was a Franco Morini 101, air-cooled. This same engine on a 1968 Indian (Italjet) Bobcat 100 made 15hp with a Dellorto UB22 carburetor.

 

 

 

 

 

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FMB Telaimotor     made in Italy by FMB Telaimotor    Minarelli V1 engine

FMB Telaimotor Fabbrica Motocicli Bologna Telaimotor (Bologna Motorcycle Factory that makes motor Frames) was one of the myriad companies in and around Bologna, Italy through the ’50s to the ’80s that specialised in building their own chassis. FMB was based at 38 Via Fossolo, but sadly now there’s a company building lab equipment instead.

 

FMB should not be confused with FBM (Fabbrica Bolognese Motocicli). FMB made chassis and nearby FBM made engines.

 

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General TE   made in Italy by Moto Bimm   Minarelli V1-L

Most Generals are made in Taiwan by Jui Li. This one is different. It is 100% Italian.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Gilera  made in Italy by Piaggio   Piaggio

Gilera was founded in Arcore, Italy in 1909 by Giuseppe Gilera. After four decades of making motorcycles, in the 1950’s Gilera had the technical expertise to win the 500cc motorcycle world championship 6 times in 8 years. In 1969, Gilera was purchased by Piaggio.

Gilera motorcycles were sold in the US, as a Sears brand in the 1960’s. Gilera mopeds, with pedals, were never sold in the US. These “sport mopeds” at left were for England in 1973 to 1977, where there was no limit on power or speed or transmission gears, only 50cc with pedals. Many of those “sport mopeds” went 55 or 60mph. Wow! 

The Vespa Grande, a US model, is 80% the same as a Gilera cbA, a Euro model, both made by Piaggio. The lights, electrical wiring, and long seat are the main differences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

These models are shown for information purposes. Myrons does not have parts for these, other than things that were on US model Vespa Grandes. Some of those parts have become scarce. 

 

 

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Itom       made in Italy by Itom     Itom 1-speed engine

ITOM stands for Industria Torinese Meccanica. They made quality 50 to 125cc motor bikes from 1948 to 1975 near Turin (Torino), Italy. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 1970’s Itom 1-speed automatic motor with horizontal cylinder is similar to a Morini MO1, but is different.

Here are both engines, side by side, for comparison. 

 

 

 

 

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Lambretta       made in Italy by Innocenti     Innocenti 1-spd engine

Innocenti was a steel tubing factory formed in 1922 by Italian businessman Ferdinando Innocenti. In 1947, after the factory was heavily bombed in WWII, they switched to producing motor scooters with the brand name Lambretta. The design was inspired by 1940’s Cushman scooters made in Nebraska USA. 

From Wikipedia: Lambretta is the brand name of a line of motor scooters initially manufactured in Milan, Italy, by Innocenti. The name is derived from the word Lambrate, the suburb of Milan named after the river which flows through the area, and where the factory was located. Lambretta was the name of a mythical water-sprite associated with the river which runs adjacent to the former production site.

In 1972, the Indian government bought the machinery of the Milanese factory, creating Scooters India Limited(SIL) in order to produce the Lambro three-wheeler under the name Vikram for the domestic market. Lambretta scooters were also manufactured under licence by Fenwick in France, NSU in Germany, Serveta in Spain, API in India, Yulon in Taiwan, Pasco in Brazil, Auteco in Colombia and Siambretta in Argentina. Innocenti S.A. (also known as Lambretta Consortium) based in Lugano, Switzerland is the owner of the international trademark Lambretta and has licensed the brand throughout the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Lem     made in Italy by Lem     Minarelli and Morini engines

Lem Motor srl was founded in 1974 by Vincenzo Marasco, in Calderara di Reno, Bologna, Italy. Lem produced small motorcycles with mostly 50cc and 65cc Minarelli and Franco Morini engines. In the 1980s the majority of models were for junior MX and trials. Later the company partnered with Italjet, and in 2017 produced a variety of pitbikes and minimotos up to 150cc along with electric motorcycles.

 

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Maico            made in Italy by Bimotor – Moto Bimm     Minarelli V1

Maico is a trade name used by importer/distributer M.P.I. A true Maico is German-made, usually a motocross or trail bike. Maico mopeds are made by Italy by Moto Bimm.

Moto Bimm was founded in 1965 by Jose Becocci in Florence, Italy. They produced off-road motorcycles from 50 cc through 125 cc using Minarelli engines. Later there were sport bikes and mopeds with various small engines. The Maico moped is one, famously known as the Billo in Italy. Sometime in the 1970’s Moto Bimm became Motori Bimm and then Bimotor, which lasted until 1980. Note that “Moto Bimm” is not Moto BM (Bonvicini Marino) and “Bimotor” is not Motobi (Benelli). The names are all similar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maico components: Minarelli V1 engine, Dellorto SHA 14/12 (or 14/9) carburetor, CEV lights and switches, Domino controls and levers, Grimeca hubs and brakes, CEV 6932 magneto, CEV speedometer with LH driver.

 

 

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Malanca         made in Italy by Malanca     Malanca Z engine

From Google: Mario Malanca founded the company in Bologna, Italy in 1956 by building motorcycle wheel hubs and mechanical parts. In 1960, Malanca built a new factory and began producing its own engines. The company was successful in Italy before expanding to produce bikes for Asia and America, and eventually went out of business in 1986.

1976 Malanca step-thru mopeds (Italy models)

with Malanca vertical-cylinder engine:
Duepiu
Mascote-B, Jolly-B 3M
Leoncino 3M-4M
Lord 4M-5M
Tigre 4M-5M TN

with Malanca Z engine:
Roxi (formerly Zeta)
Big
Mini Zeta
Tigrotto

More Malanca models are here: Malanca Models part 2 and Malanca 50cc.

 

1976-77 Malanca (US models) Zeta, Roxi, Tigre and Roxi green

with Malanca Z engine:
Zeta  with standard frame, painted fenders, standard fork
Roxi with standard frame, chrome fenders, deluxe fork
Tigre with monotube frame, deluxe fork

76-77 Malanca Z engine (US model), Dansi steel flywheel

 

1977 Malanca Roxi (US model) from John Miszuk
with Malanca Z engine, Dansi steel flywheel
with standard frame, chrome fenders, deluxe fork

 

1970’s Malanca Zeta (Canada model) from Vilmos Dobos
with Malanca Z engine, Ducati aluminum flywheel, anticlockwise
with standard frame, chrome fenders, standard fork

 

Malanca Z engine

The Malanca Z horizontal cylinder one speed two stroke engine resembles Demm horizontal cylinder. The clutch cover, cylinder and head look the same. The differences are only noticed when they are side by side.

1. Malanca and Demm, 2. Benelli clutch, 3. Minarelli piston

Clutch: Malanca Z, Demm and Benelli G2 all have the same Adler automatic clutch.

Piston: Both Malanca and Demm use Minarelli designs. The bore is 38.8 mm bore and stroke is 42 mm, for a displacement of 49.6 cc. Like Minarelli, restricted Malanca models have a 38.0 bore and a 47.6 cc displacement. The vertical dimensions 22-12-16 are the same as Minarelli and Sachs.

 

Malanca Roxi frame

1. Malanca Roxi (Euro), 2. Demm Smily (US)

The Malanca Roxi/Zeta frame resembles the Demm Smily/Scout frame.

 

 

 

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Motobee    made in Italy by Testi   Minarelli V1

Many of these bikes seem to be from Maine. They have a unique gas tank. Otherwise the Motobee RS100 is the same as a Gitane Sport. They are both made by Testi. See Testi/Gitane. The components are all the same as Gitane, except the Motobee speedometer is CEV, not Huret.

There is another bike called Motobi, made by Benelli. This is not that.

 

Here is a Gitane Sport moped. Same CEV lights, same PV controls, same frame, wheels, forks, fenders, handlebar, switches. The Minarelli engine has the plastic fan cover, not metal. The speedometer and gas tank are the main difference.

 

 

 

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Motom

Motom was founded in 1947 by Ernesto Frua De Angeli, and closed in 1970.

 

 

 

 

 

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  Moto Bimm (Bimotor)  

Moto Bimm (Motori Bimm, later Bimotor), founded in 1965 by Jose Becocci in Florence, produced off-road motorcycles with an engine displacement from 50 cc through 125 cc using Minarelli engines. Later there where sport motorcycles and mopeds with engines that were manufactured by other companies offered in their lineup. (from Wheels of Italy Encyclopedia)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The company name was “(Bimotor) Motori Bimm“, and later “Bimotor, Florence”.

1970 models:

V1 (Minarelli V1 one speed engine)
V2 (Minarelli V2 variator engine)
Mini (Minarelli V1 or V1-K)
Cross (Minarelli P4)

US model mopeds made by Moto Bimm were branded Motobimm, Maico, Gadabout, and General TE.

1978 Motobimm (US model)

 

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 Moto F.B.M.  made in Italy by Moto FBM   FBM engine

Moto F.B.M. (Fabbrica Bolognese Motocicli) 224 Via Battindarno, Bologna, Italy was founded in 1951 by Vittorio Minarelli and Franco Morini, nephew of Alphonso Morini. The two young Italian engineers produced 125 to 250cc motorcycle engines for other makers.

 

Testi and Sachs helped Minarelli: Since 1933 Testi was a bicycle company owned by Umberto Testi. Umberto’s son Erio Testi worked in his fathers bicycle factory. In 1953 Umberto sent his son Erio Testi to Austria to visit Fichtel and Sachs, and learn about small two stroke engines. After Erio returned, he was hired by Moto FBM, and transferred the Sachs two stroke moped engine manufacturing knowledge to his friend Vittorio Minarelli. In 1954 the Pettirosso (red breast) was born, a 50cc 2-stroke 2-speed cable-shift engine, destined to become the engine for most popular mopeds in Europe, and later the P3 3-speed version.  see https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/FBM_(azienda)

In 1956 Moto F.B.M. split into F.B. Minarelli and Motori Franco Morini. See Minarelli Motor and  Morini Motor.

 

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Moto Meteora    made in Italy by Moto Meteora 

Moto Meteora began in 1953 in Monteveglio, Bologna, Italy. They made lightweight motorcycles with 50 to 125cc OMS and NSU engines. In the early 1980’s they made mopeds with Franco Morini engines, such as the Motomarina Sebring. They closed around 1990.

Moto Meteora components: Minarelli P4 50cc 4-speed shifter engine, Grimeca hubs, CEV electrics. What other “tubone” is it the same as?

 

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        Omer          made in Italy by Omer           Minarelli and Morini engines

OMER (Officine Meccaniche Emiliane Reggio) made motorbikes and three wheeler pick up trucks from 1966 to 1981.

From Sheldons Emu: Based in Reggio Emilia, near Modena, the company built the Tanga and Skipper, conventional mopeds Vivo, Zoom, Mini Daytona, Mini Vallelunga Cross, and a folding minibike for MV-Agusta.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Silver Foxi           made in Italy by Testi                 Minarelli V1 engine

The Silver Foxi, made by Testi,  is one of four marketing names made by United Moped. The others are “Foxi GT” by Sparta (Holland), “Foxi Deluxe” by KTM (Austria) and “Foxi 47” by Jui Li (Taiwan). The Silver Foxi is a monotrave frame, compatible with the Gitane Cricket, and the Testi Cricket.

Silver Foxi components: Minarelli V1 engine 20(1.0hp), 25(1.5hp), 30mph(2.0hp) versions, Dellorto SHA 14/12 (or 14/9) carburetor, CEV lights and switches, PV controls and levers, Grimeca hubs and brakes, CEV 6932 magneto, CEV or Veglia speedometer with LH driver.

 

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Velomec   made in Italy by Italvelo   Morini MO-1 engine

Velomec is a trade name that is not on any list (except this one). The maker Italvelo is not in the Wheels of Italy Encyclopedia. See Bianchi. Italvelo makes Aspes, Italvelo, Bianchi, Snark, Velomec mopeds.  

 

Velomec components: Morini MO-1 engine, Dellorto SHA 14/12 or 14/9 carburetor, Grimeca hubs, brakes, 11mm axles, CEV lights and switches, PV controls, Huret speedometer with LH driver.

 

 

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West Wind   made in Italy by Spisni Lino   Morini MO-1

West Wind is a trade name made by the importer/distributor, American Moped Inc (AMI), who also imported the Indian 4-stroke, (before Derbi/Leone). It has a “tubone” style frame (thick tube with gasoline inside).

 

 

West Wind components: Morini MO-1 engine, Dellorto SHA 14/9 carburetor, Domino chrome levers/controls, Dansi magneto, CEV electrics, Grimeca Razze Incrociate style mag wheels with 90mm drum brakes, 11mm axles, CEV speedometer with LH driver.

 

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Yankee Peddler   made in Italy by FMB Telaimotor   Minarelli V1 engine

Yankee Peddler mopeds are mostly in the New England area of the USA. The US importer/distributor was Besser Marketing Assoc?, in Rhode Island?.

 

 

 

FMB Telaimotor Fabbrica Motocicli Bologna Telaimotor (Bologna Motorcycle Factory that makes motor Frames) was one of the myriad companies in and around Bologna, Italy through the ’50s to the ’80s that specialised in building their own chassis. FMB was based at 38 Via Fossolo, but sadly now there’s a company building lab equipment instead. FMB should not be confused with FBM (Fabbrica Bolognese Motocicli). FMB made chassis and nearby FBM made engines.

 

Yankee Peddler components: Minarelli V1 engine, Dellorto SHA 14/12 carburetor, CEV “console” switches, CEV lights, CEV 6932 magneto, Grimeca hubs, 11mm axles and 90mm drum brakes, CEV speedometer with LH driver, 40mm push in gas cap.