Back in the 1950’s the Italian motorcycle industry was hitting its stride. The war and its damages were receding and prosperity was returning. Beta, established in 1904 as a manufacturer of bicycles, was one of those companies that jumped on the prosperity bandwagon, beginning motorcycle manufacturing in 1948. Throughout the 50’s Beta manufactured sporty, road […]
Like cars, motorcycles have gotten bigger, heavier and more powerful since the malaise era. Nowadays most street motorcycles feature displacements over 1 liter and beginner bikes are considered to be 500cc’s. However, back in the bell-bottom era you could buy a 125cc two stroke street bike featuring 16 angry hp from Yamaha that you could […]
The Polski Fiat 125p was built under a license agreement with Fiat by the soviet state-owned manufacturer Fabryka Samochodów Osobowych (“FSO”). First offered in Poland in 1967, the 125p used the body and brake components of the soon to be released Fiat 125, but used engines and mechanical bits from the older Fiat 1300/1500 sedan. […]