OzVMX Forum
Marque Remarks => Italian (Moto Villa, Beta, SWM etc) => Topic started by: paul on April 19, 2009, 06:21:35 pm
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you dont see one off these for sale every day
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/1980-SWM-175-COLLECTORS-ENDURO-BIKE_W0QQitemZ180348119798QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Motorcycles?hash=item180348119798&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
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FFFfffark $5k, I thought Kool, I like that,...until I saw the starting bid :-\
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never heard of it
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probably not to many around i would imagine
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never heard of it
SWM=Speedy Works Machine ;D.
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SWM (motorcycles)
SWM was founded in 1971 by Piero Sironi and Fausto Vergani and was based in Milan, Italy. SWM manufactured Observed Trials, Enduro, Motorcross and off-road motorcycles in the 1970s and 1980s. They started with small capacity Sachs engined enduro bikes and began making Rotax engined trials bikes in 1977. The other main manufacturers at this time included Fantic, Bultaco and Montesa.
History
Trials Bikes
SWM started making Rotax TL125 and TL320 trials bikes in 1977. Rotax built a special trials version of their rotary valve motor, with development input from Sammy Miller and Charles Coutard. Acerbis made the plastic mouldings, and suspension was by Marzocchi. These first trials machines were red and white. [http://www.motoswm.com/] MotoSWM.com Select "SWM History" (retrieved December 3 2006)]
In 1979 yellow and black models appeared, and in 1980 these were fitted with Girling Gas shocks and Betor forks.. Gilles Burgat won the 1981 Trials world championship on an SWM.
In 1982 a 240 model was produced with a blue frame, acknowledging Pernod's trials sponsorship.
In 1983 all bikes got alloy swing arms, and the TL350 Jumbo was introduced. This was a new reed valve motor and frame wearing the same yellow and blue colours.
In 1984 the 125 and 320 were put in the new frame, but then production ceased.
Enduro Bikes
SWM RSGS and SWM TF1 in capacities 125, 175, 250, 350, 370, 440, 506
Joan Riudalbá, riding an SWM TF1 of 125 cc was Enduro Spanish Champion in 1980. [ [http://www.museumoto.bassella.com/en/exposicions/motoscampiones.aspx] Museumoto. Bassella.com Champion Bikes (retrieved December 4 2006)]
When SWM went into liquidation Armstrong of Bolton, England bought the rights to the SWM XN Tornado, a Rotax engined enduro machine of 350cc or 506 cc. With CCM, Armstrong developed and marketed a military version, the MT-500, which was so successful Harley-Davidson bought the manufacturing rights in 1986, [ [http://www.dropbears.com/m/models/harley/armstrong.htm] Dropbears.com Armstrong Military Motorcycles (retrieved December 3 2006)] and further developed the bike as the MT350E. [cite web | url= http://www.realclassic.co.uk/snarley.html | work= RealClassic.co.uk | title= Harley-Davidson MT350E Army Bike | accessdate= 2007-12-29]
WM today
SWM went in liquidation in 1984 and production ceased. There are still people out there riding SWMs in classic and twinshock trials in the UK. Rotax engines spares are still readily available, with many of the other spares that went out of production, like the Acerbis plastics, are being produced and distributed by specialist companies such as MotoSWM in the UK and MidWest SWM in the U.S..
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Worth every cent, but i've already got one ;D
Noel
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You need a spare Noel.
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Not a spare but I would like another. Although I like that model maybe even more than my 81, the blue 79 TF1 125 is IMO one of the best looking bikes ever.
Noel
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never heard of it
SWM=Speedy Works Machine ;D.
Don't you have a different name for it Noel ?
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one raced at the BMCC mx here in brisbane on sunday and the boys were joking in the pits at the start of the day that is Still Won't Move {SWM}
the thing flat flew all day... very nice ;) :)
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SWM silly wog machine ;D
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Not going there Gilletty. I was told today "5K What's he think It's a Maico" ;D
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I parked next to the guy with the SWM at Nudgee, really nice guy, and a really nice bike. It looked to be very well put together too, the type of detail you usually only see on another brand's footpegs.
The only trouble he had all day was when a Husky ran into him and broke his silencer mount.
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never heard of it
SWM=Speedy Works Machine ;D.
Don't you have a different name for it Noel ?
Small Willy Machine
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one raced at the BMCC mx here in brisbane on sunday and the boys were joking in the pits at the start of the day that is Still Won't Move {SWM}
the thing flat flew all day... very nice ;) :)
That's my old bike, but raced a whole lot quicker & more successfully now by GB in VMX, even tho its a GS model, not MX. Engine has killer top end. Handles sweetly & plush supension. He was at CD6 (pic posted as GB's SWM under CD6 thread in General Discussion).
I said to him, "You'd get plenty of hole-shots w that". He replied, "All the time, even against 400s"