Italian Motorcycles

Today in Motorcycle History

Motorcycles Built in Italy (V-Z)

Notes on some of the rarer Italian marques

This page lists brands for which limited information is available. For a more complete listing visit the Italian Index.

See also Obscure Italian Marques.

Vaghi 1920s


Veggetti

Veggetti 1941~c.1955


Verona 1970s & 80s Motocross


Vertemati


Victory
1950-1955
Motocicli Giovanni Francesconi of Padua (Padova) built lightweight motorcycles powered by Villiers 98cc and 123cc engines.
Source: wikipedia.nl


Villa

Manufactured by Amleto Villa of Strada Maggiore 10, Bologna, c.1953 to c.1959.

Established before 1928, Amleto Villa built and sold bicycles, accessories and spare parts. The young Marco Cimatti won a Gold Medal on a Villa bicycle at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1932. After the war, Villa built mopeds; at least one type in 1953 and two others released in 1959. Competition from larger manufacturers made it impossible to compete, and moped construction ceased. Villa continued with his bicycle business.

The marque is unrelated to that of Walter Villa

Source: Museo del Patrimonio Industriale, Bologna


VOR
1996~
VOR Motori, Ronco Briantino, Milan
Associated with the Vertemati brothers, the firm built large capacity motocross and enduro machines. The brand was acquired by Mondial.
Source: wikipedia.nl


Vyrus

W

WRM

Manufactured in Almenno San Bartolomeo, Bergamo, 2004-2007

With extensive use of carbon fibre and light alloy, the 450 MX1 model appeared in motocross events and in the Supermoto World Championship.

Sources: wrm-motorcycles.com, it.wikipedia.org


Z

Zanzi

Manufactured by Officine Meccaniche Zanzi of Ivrea, Torino, 1953 to 1956

This was a moped named "Piviere" with a 49 cc twostroke engine mounted below the pedals. It had rigid rear and pressed metal parallelogram forks.

Source: OTTW

N.B. Another source gives dates of 1953-1960.




Zoppoli

Built in in Genova by Fillipo Zoppoli between 1948 and 1954 ¹ the Zeta was more of a scooter than a motorcycle due to its quite small wheels. It was powered by Ducati two-strokes and later by engines from MV Agusta.

Models

Motopiccola Z48, Ducati 48 cc 2T engine, 2 speed, 2.50 x 13" tyres, max speed 50 km/h
Motozeta 60 Ducati engine, 3-speed
Z46 MV Agusta engine

N.B. 1. Possibly 1947 to 1952

Sources: ottw.es, et al


Rarer Italian Marques