A Brief History of the Italian Marque
Manufactured 1953-1961 in association with Roberto Stavini
Gino Bartali was a cycling legend, having won the Tour de France twice (1938 and 1948) and the Giro d'Italia three times (1936, 1937 and 1946). In 1953, having retired after three decades of competition, he turned to the manufacture of bicycles, and later to motorcycles, producing in his Florence workshop a range of two-strokes of 50cc to 160cc, and it seems likely that some of his engines were built by BRM. His last machines were built in 1961.
Bartali bicycles are regarded as highly collectible; the motorcycles are much rarer.
The 1950's witnessed a change in Italian society as the country recovered from the effects of the Second World War. Growing prosperity among the populace resulted in a surge in sales for lightweight machines encouraged by Italian vehicle regulations that were particularly kind to machines below 175cc. It is therefore not surprising that the company would endeavour to capture a slice of the booming Italian lightweight motorcycle market of the 1950's.
Production commenced in Florence during 1953 with Bartali motorcycles being offered in a range of capacities from 50cc to 160cc. The 160cc unit construction two-stroke Marziano, equipped with a four-speed gearbox, represented the top of the range in 1955 when this example was built. Beautifully restored, it is finished to a high standard in black and silver. Bartali motorcycles, like their pedal powered cousins, were built to the highest standards, and were priced accordingly.
Il bene si fa ma non si dice. E certe medaglie si appendono all'anima, non alla giacca.
"Good is done but not spoken. And certain medals hang on the soul, not the jacket." ~ Gino Bartali
Bartali Models include:
48cc 1957-1961
125 2T 125cc 1953-1960
125 Gabbiano 125cc 1953-1960
160 Marziano 160cc 1953-1960
160 Sport 160cc 1953-1960
175 175cc 1953-1959
Sources: Tragatsch p83, BBC, et al.
dennis.zimmer<AT>lpl dot com
I have a 160cc Bartali dirt bike complete except for the magneto side case cover. This is a very rare bike, A guy in Australia has one and maybe some owners in Italy. This company made bicycles and a small number of motorcycles in the early 60's, I would like to communicate with anyone that has a Bartali.
Dennis
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