The Italian Alternative
Bike SA|June 2020
SWM Superdual X
Harry Fisher
The Italian Alternative

A new player in the motorcycle market is always interesting to see, even if the operation is small-scale and has no ambitions to challenge the existing big brands. Often the people behind these new ventures are businessmen as much as motorcyclists and they’ve seen a product that they like and that there is a market for, no matter how small.

SWM may be a name unknown to many but, in fact, the brand has been around for a while. SWM was formed in Milan, Italy, in 1971 by two off-road racers, Piero Sironi and Fausto Vergani. The range initially comprised three small capacity, Sachs-engined models for enduro, motocross and trials riding. They enjoyed not inconsiderable competition success against rivals Fantic, Montessa, and Bultaco in Europe but ceased production in 1984.

Fast forward to 2014, and Chinese firm Shineray announced the resurrection of SWM, to be led by ex-Husqvarna engineer, Ampelio Macchi; a range of six dirt and street bikes was displayed at the 2014 EICMA show in Milan. But it’s not that simple! We have to go back in time a bit to decipher what the current SWM actually is.

In 1987, Cagiva purchased the motorcycle division of Husqvarna. In 1991, they bought MV Agusta and changed the name of the parent company to MV Agusta Motor S.P.A.

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