c.1953 Moto Guzzi Motoleggera 65
Frame no. B.20121723
Engine no. B.20121723

Two-strokes did not feature in the Moto Guzzi range until after WW2, when the extraordinarily successful Motoleggera 65 - known initially as the 'Guzzino' - put a whole generation of Italians on two wheels. As Italy emerged from the chaos of war, the insatiable demand for basic transportation was met by cyclemotors, scooters and lightweight motorcycles, which hitherto had had little impact on the domestic market. Introduced in 1946, the Motoleggera was by far the most successful of the latter, selling by the tens of thousands. This modest ultra-lightweight was powered by a 64cc disc-valve two-stroke engine, which drove via an integral three-speed gearbox and was carried in a simple tubular spine frame boasting swinging-arm rear suspension and blade-type girder forks. A 'right-first-time' design, the Motoleggera changed little over the next eight years, improvements being confined to the addition of a horn, modified silencer, stronger swinging arm and a switch to cast-iron for the cylinder barrel. This beautifully restored Motoleggera represents a rare opportunity to acquire one of these iconic little Guzzis. There are no documents with this Lot.