Aermacchi
Aermacchi began life as an aircraft manufacturer at Varese in northern Italy before the start of the First World War and turned to motorcycle production after the Second World War, producing small capacity motorcycles for the Italian market. In 1960, Harley-Davidson bought half of Aermacchi’s motorcycle division as it searched for a source of small capacity bikes. Aermacchi remained largely independent until 1973, when H-D bought the rest of the company and produced a range of two-stroke singles. This was before selling out to Cagiva, who used the leftover H-D/Aermacchi range to establish its foothold in the Italian market, with motorcycles continuing to be made at Varese.
Chimera
172cc OHV single || 300lb || 60mph || 1956-1960 A delightful period piece, the Chimera saw Aermacchi adopt full enclosure with more success than the British, and the bike has a distinctly 1950s space-age look. Only a few hundred were made, and more have been imported from Italy as classics than were ever brought in officially.
Prices
low £3500 || high £6000
SS/SST/SX 125/175/250/350
124/174/242/341 cc two-stroke single || 280lb || 70-90mph || 1974-1982 A range of rorty two-stroke singles badged as Harley-Davidson and sold alongside Sportsters and Electra Glides. Not especially popular, the singles were good-looking little machines with a fair turn of speed and good handling – but suffered badly from poor quality control and an indifferent finish, rusting quickly. Parts are scarce, but a good one will turn heads, with the trail bike versions the best bet if you can find one. Aermacchi also made a tiddler X90 version
Prices
low £1000 || high £3500