THE Vespa
Bike SA|October 2020
Is there anything more Italian than the Vespa? It can be mentioned in the same sentence as pasta and pizza as a definition of Italian lifestyle. Imitated a thousand times but never bettered, it got the Italian population mobile after the second world war as much as the FIAT 500 did and remains in production in virtually the same form 75 years later.
Harry Fisher
THE Vespa

After the second world war, Italy was forced to drastically reduce its aircraft production capacity and capability. Piaggio, a large industrial concern since the turn of the century, had, before the war, produced trains, nautical fittings, aircraft engines, aeroplanes, trucks, trams, buses and aluminium windows and doors. With the Piaggio factory completely bombed out, the company needed to start building something that would enable it to keep its workforce employed.

Italy's crippled economy, and the disastrous state of its roads, were not immediately conducive to the re-development of the automobile market. Enrico Piaggio, son of Piaggio's founder Rinaldo Piaggio, decided to leave the aeronautical field in order to address Italy's urgent need for a modern and affordable mode of transportation for the masses.

In 1944, Piaggio engineers Renzo Spolti and Vittorio Casini designed a motorcycle with bodywork fully enclosing the drivetrain and forming a tall splash guard at the front. In addition to the bodywork, the design included handlebar-mounted controls, forced air cooling, wheels of small diameter, and a tall central section that had to be straddled. Officially known as the MP5 (Moto Piaggio no. 5), the prototype was nicknamed Paperino (either duckling or “Donald Duck in Italian). Piaggio really didn’t like the MP5, especially the tall central section.

This story is from the October 2020 edition of Bike SA.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the October 2020 edition of Bike SA.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BIKE SAView All
A Ladies Perspective What a Surprise Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX
Bike SA

A Ladies Perspective What a Surprise Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX

I’m sure as everyone knows by now there is little that compares to my BMW K1200S and out of the 13 different bikes I’ve been lucky enough to ride over the 18 months I’ve been riding, I finally came across one that I’m almost certain I’d swap my bike for…

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2022
Goodwood's 79th Members Meeting - Hunting, Shooting and - Racing
Bike SA

Goodwood's 79th Members Meeting - Hunting, Shooting and - Racing

For that’s what marked the 79th Goodwood Members Meeting aka 79MM, held this year on April 9-10, which this time included two thrilling motorcycle races, each with a blanket finish which in Race 1 saw less than a second covering the first four bikes home.

time-read
10+ mins  |
June 2022
MIDWEIGHT PUNCH - TRIUMPH TIGER SPORT 660
Bike SA

MIDWEIGHT PUNCH - TRIUMPH TIGER SPORT 660

The Triumph brand seems to be going from strength to strength worldwide. New models are seeing the light of day in various sectors, and here in South Africa there is a carefully planned dealer expansion program in action.

time-read
7 mins  |
June 2022
Isle of Man TT-winning ABUS NORTON NRS588 GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Bike SA

Isle of Man TT-winning ABUS NORTON NRS588 GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

Exclusive track test of the last British bike to win the Isle of Man Senior TT in 1992, after what's widely considered to be the most exciting race ever held in the Island

time-read
10+ mins  |
June 2022
NORTON ROTARY RACERS HISTORY - Rotary Race Record
Bike SA

NORTON ROTARY RACERS HISTORY - Rotary Race Record

For eight successive seasons the world’s first - and so far only - Rotary-engined racebikes swept to serial success on British racetracks. Here’s a timeline on their ebb and flow.

time-read
7 mins  |
June 2022
MOTO MORINI'S Alberto Monni - INTERVIEW
Bike SA

MOTO MORINI'S Alberto Monni - INTERVIEW

Exclusive interview with Moto Morini's CEO Alberto Monni, responsible for directing its ride along the comeback trail since its 2018 takeover by Zhongneng Vehicle Group/ZVG

time-read
9 mins  |
June 2022
KAWASAKI NINJA 1000SX - Surprise Package
Bike SA

KAWASAKI NINJA 1000SX - Surprise Package

I’ve recently written in my Editor’s note bemoaning the lack of available Sports-Touring motorcycles nowadays.

time-read
5 mins  |
June 2022
DRYSDALE HISTORY PART 4/5: 25 YEARS ON FROM CREATION OF FIRST 750-V8
Bike SA

DRYSDALE HISTORY PART 4/5: 25 YEARS ON FROM CREATION OF FIRST 750-V8

2002 1000-V8 Bruiser mega-Monster was a Naked roadster with added muscle - the answer to the question of how to out-max a Yamaha V-Max!

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2022
GODIER & GENOUD KAWASAKI 1000 - Enquring Excellence
Bike SA

GODIER & GENOUD KAWASAKI 1000 - Enquring Excellence

Exclusive track test at France's Carole circuit of what's arguably the first motorcycle of the modern era - the title-winning Kawasaki Endurance racer built in 1975 by Frenchmen Georges Godier and Alain Genoud

time-read
10+ mins  |
June 2022
Unnecessarily Fast, or Unnecessarily Dangerous?
Bike SA

Unnecessarily Fast, or Unnecessarily Dangerous?

“The bigger they are, the harder they fall.” This truism comes from boxing, but applies to all walks of life. Innovative MotoGP superstar Marc Marquez, however, adds a new twist.

time-read
4 mins  |
May 2022