This 4 Valve Super Sport model was advertised as the fastest motorcycle in the world. Designed by the engineer Giuseppe Remondini in 1922, it remained in production until 1925. It features a high-performance 4-stroke vertical single-cylinder engine with overhead valves, parallel in pairs and inclined to each other with pushrod and rocker arm control, and hairpin springs.
Lubrication is mechanical with a special Frera pump and an additional foot pump. The gearbox is a three-speed Frera patent, separated with hand control. The dry clutch is operated by handlebar lever, and the transmission is entirely by chain. The very stable tubular frame has front suspension with a parallelogram fork and two Frera-patented springs, and a rigid rear end. The handlebars have a double attachment. The brakes are rimless on both wheels.
The machine won numerous competitions in its day. Mario Colombo began riding for the factory in 1924 and had his first win in the Biella-Oropa hillclimb. The following year he took the SS to three wins including the Gran Premio Reale in Rome. Mario had his first ride at the Circuito del Lario in 1926, taking a creditable 3rd place in the gruelling race against the best riders in the country.
Photographed at Museo Nazionale del Motociclo di Rimini, courtesy inEmiliaRomagna at Flickr. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 2.0, and at the Museo Frera by Mike Ricketts.
Adapted from an article by Giovinazzo
