111:, Italy in 1949, by Giuseppe Benelli, initially trading under the name Moto 'B' Pesaro. This was shortened to Motobi in the 1950s. After a family disagreement in 1948, Giuseppe Benelli, one of the six brothers and an engineer of some talent, decided to go his own way. He stayed in Pesaro, but moved to separate premises. Giuseppe launched the Moto 'B' marque selling small two-stroke motorcycles and scooters. In 1953, Motobi introduced a 200cc horizontal two-stroke twin called the B200 Spring Lasting. Its innovative pressed steel frame and horizontal cylinder layout were to become the trademark for many future Motobi bikes. The B200 motor was a clean, streamlined, very modern appearing unit, which was soon nicknamed the "egg" for its distinctive shape. Giuseppe and his sons Luigi and Marco continued to work on improving Motobi products, and envisioned a four-stroke, single-cylinder variant of the B200. In late 1955, the two-stroke twin cylinder B200 was abandoned entirely, and two different new models, both called "Catria" were introduced, one at 125cc and the other at 175cc. Both were four-stroke four speed singles, designed by freelance engineer Piero Prampolini. These improved singles became the focus of Motobi production, beating Moto Aermacchi's 175cc Chimera (which had a similar horizontal single-cylinder engine configuration) to market by a year. Not long afterward, Giuseppe Benelli died, leaving the company in the hands of his two heirs. Once in charge of the company, they hired a young former racer and tuner named Primo Zanzani to develop the new Catria machine into a factory racing machine. Italian semi-professional road racing (called MSDS for Moto Sportive Derivate dalla Serie) and road hill climbing races were popular, and the tough little motorbike was soon earning a reputation among the Italian riders, who called it the "power egg". Bright decals lauding Motobi's racing championships started appearing on the little bikes' gas tanks, each version more colorful than the last. In America, where the Eisenhower-era economy was good, sales of motorcycles and other leisure products were booming. The Benelli company saw opportunity in the New World, and also right next door, under the roof of their little cousin, Motobi. Motobi was acquired by the larger Benelli company in 1962, a move that would not only bring the family back together under the Gruppo Benelli-Motobi name, but also swell the workforce to around 550 employees, and increase production to a notable 300 machines per day. Many of these machines were exported to the United States badged as Benelli models.
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manufacturer in production between 1950 and 1977. The brand was revived by
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In 2010, as well as selling a range of 50 cc (3.1 cu in)
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Storica Marchigiana, Storia della MotoBi
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Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1977
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Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1949
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181:(in German). Austria. 2010-05-05. Archived from
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742:Defunct motorcycle manufacturers of Italy
83:, the brand provides sponsorship for the
240:Mick Walker's Italian Racing Motorcycles
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243:. Redline Books. pp. 38–41.
156:List of motorcycle manufacturers
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772:1977 disestablishments in Italy
103:1970 Motobi 125cc Sport Special
16:Italian motorcycle manufacturer
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87:motorcycle racing team in the
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107:Motobi was established in
762:Companies based in Marche
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151:List of Italian companies
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282:Motobi history website
211:. 2010. Archived from
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757:Benelli (motorcycles)
747:Scooter manufacturers
684:Maserati (motorcycle)
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380:Di Blasi Industriale
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400:Ghezzi & Brian
325:Major and notable
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215:on 17 April 2010
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235:Walker, Mick
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213:the original
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187:. Retrieved
183:the original
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129:Italy portal
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52:Headquarters
702:(1946–1967)
691:(1925–1989)
680:(1920–1956)
669:(1956–1986)
658:(1949–2006)
647:(1944–1975)
641:(1953–1974)
639:Iso Rivolta
630:(1934–1955)
624:(1932–1957)
618:(1905–1936)
612:(1909–1948)
606:(1920–1934)
600:(1937–1984)
594:(1947–1962)
577:Autozodiaco
568:(1953–1959)
562:(1923–1925)
556:(1923–1925)
550:(1974–1982)
544:(1958–1965)
518:(1923–1927)
450:Moto Morini
425:Lamborghini
329:motorcycle
726:Categories
711:Santamaria
673:Morbidelli
445:Moto Guzzi
420:KRC Motors
256:2010-07-23
209:www.jir.mc
162:References
74:motorcycle
38:Motorcycle
651:Lambretta
634:Innocenti
628:Galbusera
527:Aermacchi
522:Accossato
490:TM Racing
455:MV Agusta
435:Minarelli
662:Malaguti
390:Energica
237:(2000).
205:"Motobi"
115:See also
81:scooters
34:Industry
700:Parilla
689:Moretti
667:Malanca
656:Laverda
598:Cimatti
592:Ceccato
587:Caproni
582:Bianchi
566:Aldbert
509:Defunct
465:Piaggio
440:Mondial
415:Italjet
410:Garelli
355:Benelli
345:Aprilia
338:Current
331:marques
327:Italian
219:23 July
189:23 July
91:class.
44:Founded
777:Pesaro
695:Motobi
542:Agrati
480:Tacita
470:Polini
405:Gilera
395:Fantic
385:Ducati
375:Cagiva
370:Borile
365:Bimota
350:Askoll
247:
109:Pesaro
70:Motobi
57:Pesaro
20:MotoBi
616:Frera
572:Atala
560:Alato
554:Alano
537:Aetos
500:Vyrus
495:Vespa
460:Paton
430:Magni
89:Moto2
62:Italy
706:Rumi
645:Itom
622:Fusi
516:Abra
360:Beta
245:ISBN
221:2010
191:2010
47:1949
678:MAS
604:CNA
548:AIM
475:SWM
85:JiR
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177:.
60:,
318:e
311:t
304:v
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193:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
