25 replies to this topic

[tonyed]

Correct me if I am wrong but concerning the single cyclinder pushrod Aermacchis of the 60s and 70s was not the 350 the Ala Doro and the 250 the Ala Verde.

There seem to me to be many 250s advertised as Ala Doro.

[Rennmax]

Correct me if I am wrong but concerning the single cyclinder pushrod Aermacchis of the 60s and 70s was not the 350 the Ala Doro and the 250 the Ala Verde.

There seem to me to be many 250s advertised as Ala Doro.

The Ala Verde was the street model, Ala d'Oro the racer

[tonyed]

The Ala Verde was the street model, Ala d'Oro the racer

Thanks Rennmax. That has answered my question.

[Russell Burrows]

Ah, cue for a nice pic....what's this one I wonder?

Edited by Russell Burrows, 22 July 2013 - 06:51.

[GD66]

CR-TT?

[Herr Wankel]

CR-TT?

Quite likely, Magneto sparks !

HW

[Russell Burrows]

Yeah, the Harley variant. They look like Oldani stoppers so it must be around '66. From the following year they fitted those massive Ceriani double siders - but still kept those crappy forks.

Edited by Russell Burrows, 22 July 2013 - 12:04.

[Herr Wankel]

Yeah, the Harley variant. They look like Oldani stoppers so it must be around '66. From the following year they fitted those massive Ceriani double siders - but still kept those crappy forks.

Ceriani forks ,but not the GP type it looks like, which had larger O.D at the bottom.

HW

[JnJ]

Who knows what's what nowadays there are more Ala d'Oro's about now than were ever built by the factory ! Sadly they allow the replica's to be called classics when in fact they are new bikes

[jgr]

First attempt at attaching a photo ....

 

This is a 1967 US 250 version of the Ala d'Oro, allegedly as new and never used:

 

 

As noted by Russell and HW, this one had the Ceriani brakes, but still had the non-GP Ceriani forks:

 

[Russell Burrows]

First attempt at attaching a photo ....

 

This is a 1967 US 250 version of the Ala d'Oro, allegedly as new and never used:

 

 

As noted by Russell and HW, this one had the Ceriani brakes, but still had the non-GP Ceriani forks:

 

Nice shots of what appears to be an original version - wrong rubber of course.  Where were these taken please, jgr ?  I raced a '67 bike in Australia, photos of which, albeit not brillant, are on this site elsewhere.   

[jgr]

Russell,

 

This bike is in the Barber museum in Birmingham, Alabama.  Highly recommended, especially if you can tie in your visit with the Barber Vintage Festival which is usually in October.  I only had my phone with me so poor quality shots, I'm afraid, but here is one more:

 

 

As an aside, I have been investigating the original colours (I have a 68 model) and this one clearly has a lighter coloured frame than the fiberglass.  It's hard to see on these photos so you'll have to take my word for it  .  Any insights on that, Russell?

 

Jim

[Russell Burrows]

Russell,

 

This bike is in the Barber museum in Birmingham, Alabama.  Highly recommended, especially if you can tie in your visit with the Barber Vintage Festival which is usually in October.  I only had my phone with me so poor quality shots, I'm afraid, but here is one more:

 

 

As an aside, I have been investigating the original colours (I have a 68 model) and this one clearly has a lighter coloured frame than the fiberglass.  It's hard to see on these photos so you'll have to take my word for it  .  Any insights on that, Russell?

 

 

Thanks for your response, Jim.  I dont think I've ever sighted any macchi of that vintage with different colour paintwork.  As you probably know they were all a fairly brillant red. Do you ride yours ?

[jgr]

Yes, Russell, I am a great believer in bikes being used.  I get out on track for 5 or 6 weekends most years, having owned the bike since 2006, but only use it for parades as I am a bit past racing.  I was asked recently if I ever raced competitively and the wife butted in to say "no, but he did race!"    Even for parades, many events require a silencer these days, but I prefer to focus on events where the original exhaust is tolerated or, better still, celebrated.

 

The bike is ex-Antonio Zappa , Stuart Morrell and Keith Hill.  There is a photo of Keith on it at Cadwell in the great selection of photos on Flickr by Keith Nunns, mentioned on another thread here.  To my great surprise (I only took it along to make up the numbers for the SCRMC stand), it won first place for race bikes at the recent Scottish bike show, as judged by a certain David Hailwood, no less!

 

I'll post a photo later.

 

Jim

[jgr]

Here's mine:

 

[jgr]

Also, here's a brochure from 1968:

 

 

 

 

 

Jim

[Robin127]

Here's mine:

 

 

 

I've always loved the look of the Aermacchi single cylinder racers, I think they're one of best looking racing bikes ever produced.

[Russell Burrows]

I've always loved the look of the Aermacchi single cylinder racers, I think they're one of best looking racing bikes ever produced.

I agree.  They were designed for midgets though.  Thanks for posting this Jim, very impressive.

Edited by Russell Burrows, 06 April 2015 - 09:22.

[Arted]

Hi all, first post so here goes.

jgr - I used to race a 350 Aermacchi in the early/mid 70's and raced against Keith Hill many times ( often racing to be first non-yamaha home ! - not many four stroke only races then ). It was a great sadness that Keith lost his life at Cadwell in 1975 riding a borrowed Yamsel.

When my swing arm cracked during a race at cadwell ( common problem with the standard swing arm ), keith was watching ( being a local lad and great friend of Malcolm Wheeler who was racing that day ) and offered to lend me his swing arm since his engine was away at Francis Beart's for rebuild. We went to his house, took it off his bike ( yours ) and I used it the following meeting while mine was repaired. Such was the camaraderie of the bike racing paddocks.

Nice to see the bike in great condition and being used.

Russel - You are right, they are very small, I could never tuck away on mine, it was either elbows in and knees out or vice versa. Great bike though.

[tonyed]

I had a 350 Metisse framed version in 1971/2.

 

Nice machine but I wish I'd bought a TR2

[jgr]

Arted,

 

Thanks very much for the info, especially about Keith.  When going through some old programmes recently, I discovered that I had raced at a meeting where Keith was riding the Aermacchi (Cadwell, early 1975) though I was on a 250 Suzuki back then and didn't know him.  Perhaps you were there too.  I think it was a Racing 50 club event, but I can't locate the programme right now - it's at the back of the loft somehwere.  I will dig it out later.

 

I have talked to Malcolm a couple of times about the bike and his fond memories of Keith.  I shall be at Donington this w/e if you (or anyone else) wants to drop by for a cuppa (#P26).

 

Jim

[jgr]

Arted,

 

Found it - Saturday 29th March 1975, Racing 50 club.  It looks like you were there too, if I interpret your alias correctly.

[Arted]

jgr

I was a member of the racing 50 club, I have'nt found the programme for that event but I almost certainly was at the meeting. I will be at Donington on the Sunday. I am coming with the two lads I used to race with who can remember rather more than I can, it would be good to have a chat. We are going to give the bikes a run to the meeting so lets hope the weather is kind.

[Classicpics]

Saw this for sale on ebay.

 

 

Aermacchi 350 1960's racing motorcycle - race or parade very light and quick

 

 

 

 

£3,950.00

Buy it now

 

 

 

Aermacchi Ala verde/Ala dora

 

350 cc Racing motorcycle

 

LONG STROKE

DRY CLUTCH

 

Year of manufacture : late 1960’s

 

Dry Clutch right hand gear change total loss 12v volt ignition through points & coil. 

Twin drum front brakes single drum rear

Originating from Italy very recently and the bike formed part of a private collection near Milan 

where it’s spent a very quiet life for the past 20 years. Now deserving another enthusiastic owner who will continue to 

cherish this piece of racing history. Not many early 350  race bikes ever their way onto the open market 

making this bike quite a rare opportunity. 

Very competitive in historic racing and hill climb also superb addition as a showpiece in offices, or reception area.

Can arrange delivery  for £80 but please  send post code to confirm price 

Genuine reason for sale as extra funds required to fund the  purchase  a Vincent Black Shadow 

 

 

We have just recommissioned the bike and got it running - not a bad start up after a 9 year lay off

just click on the link below and you will see the bike running - really starts up towards the end of vid

 

https://youtu.be/59n-HjOr3AA

Edited by Classicpics, 22 January 2016 - 19:49.

[mdvineng]

Hi, red paints are notorious for fading in daylight over time. If you see some older cars for example they can have a different shade on each panel, so the tank may be either a gel coat or just painted at a different time or even a from a different pot of the same paint colour. Either way these bikes always look sweet.  

[jgr]

Yes, I think you are right.  All the metal parts were the paler colour, while the fibreglass had retained the deeper red.