1981/82 Villa Seebring 125
Frame no. FV-S 4073
Engine no. FV125S4064

Brothers Francesco and Walter Villa began building their own machines in the mid-1960s. Walter raced Villa bikes before his rise to stardom, securing three consecutive 250-class World Championships for Harley-Davidson between 1974 and '76, to which he added one in the 350 class. Manufactured up to 1988, the firm's lightweight roadsters used proprietary engines at first, while its successful moto-cross and enduro models used motors of Villa's own design. From the early 1980s the roadsters featured water-cooled engines of Villa's own manufacture, such as the Seebring offered here (idiosyncratic spelling is correct).

The production Seebring's cockpit fairing was mounted directly on the front fork while this one's is fixed to the frame, as seen on the later version of this model: the Daytona. It also has a low exhaust pipe, whereas the standard Seebring had a high-level pipe. Probably this is a pre-production machine built for a trade show prior to the start of series production in 1982. Noteworthy features include reed-valve induction, a six-speed gearbox, Motoplat electronic ignition, mono-shock rear suspension, disc front brake and 18" alloy wheels. We are advised that the machine has been homologated but is not licensed.