Moto Rumi
An Italian Masterpiece
Moto Rumi
A Brief History of the Marque
Manufactured: 1949-1954
The Prina bicycle company was formed in 1929 in Asti (between Genoa and Turin) by Antonio Prina who was born in Asti on 3 September 1897.
There was a huge flood in Asti in 1948 which inundated the factory floor with over 1.5 metres of water, and as a result the workshops moved from Corso Alessandria to Viale Pilone. During this period the firm build cyclemotors with front suspension and drum brakes powered by Mosquito and Cucciolo engines.
The firm built a 125cc two-stroke scooter in 1949, and in 1950 this was joined by a light sports motorcycle with the same engine. In 1952 the Orix-Prina scooter was released powered by a 4-speed JLO engine of 173cc. The machine was quite beautiful and was built with the best available components. It had large diameter spoked wheels with wide tyres, a very solid steel frame, and attractive bodywork. Priced at 265,000 lire, it was 100,000 lire more expensive than its competitors Lambretta and Vespa. Buyers may well have been impressed with the scooter classy looks and specification, but the price, not so much.
Only about 100 examples were produced, one of which is in the Lambretta museum.
Prina was associated with Orix
Antonio's brother-in-law was Giovanni Gerbi.
Sources: MC Storico Conti, archivio.astigiani.it, et al.
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