Emilio Sanvenero (a building contractor) was an enthusiastic bike racing fan and already a sponsor of MBA when he set up his own company in 1980 to produce race bikes with the aim of competing in the following year’s 125 and 500 World Championships.
The 125 proved to be quite successful with team riders Guy Bertin and Richard Tormo both winning a race and finishing 6th and 8th respectively in the ’81 season. In 1982 MBA closed and most of the staff moved to Sanvenero.
Sanvenero 125cc GP Racer
Tormo was joined by Pier Paolo Bianchi in the 125 class, with Tormo winning the Belgian GP but finishing the season in 4th, one point behind Bianchi’s 3rd.
Sanvenero 125cc GP Racer
After Sanvenero folded (during the German GP!) Bianchi was able to obtain several 125s from the receivers and continued to race them during 1983, scoring three podiums and 8th in the championship.
Sanvenero 125cc GP Racer
This 125 is fitted with a special swingarm designed by Antonio Cobas.
Sanvenero 125cc GP Racer
The 500cc project was both far more ambitious and far less successful. The engine was inspired by Suzuki’s RG500, but used a shorter stroke.
Sanvenero 500cc GP Racer
The crankcases were made by Campagnolo, the crankshafts by Hoeckle and pistons by Mahle. The first frames were made by Nico Bakker but a home-grown chassis was soon used.
Sanvenero 500cc GP Racer
At least four bikes were constructed during the ’81-’82 seasons. Riders were Carlo Perugini (no points) in ’81 and Guy Bertin (no points) & Michel Frutschi (14th) in ’82.
Sanvenero 500cc GP Racer
Indeed Frutschi won the French GP at Nogaro after all the top teams boycotted the race due to safety concerns.
Sanvenero 500cc GP Racer
When the team was declared bankrupt during the German GP at Hockenheim in September the circuit took possession of the two bikes entered and one can still be seen in the circuit museum.
Sanvenero 500cc GP Racer
The two ’81 bikes are in English and Italian collections while the one I photographed is with a German collector, was mechanically restored over 2012-13 and was ridden at the Bikers Classic meeting at Imola in 2013. It is in original condition (apart from the tyres), including the paint.
Sanvenero 500cc GP Racer
Sanvenero 500cc GP RacerSanvenero 500cc GP RacerSanvenero 500cc GP RacerSanvenero 500cc GP RacerSanvenero 125cc GP RacerSanvenero 125cc GP RacerSanvenero 125cc GP RacerSanvenero 125cc GP RacerSanvenero 125cc GP Racer
As a change from obscure Italian marques how about an obscure Spanish one?
1944 96cc Soirano Tigre
R.Soriano SA was founded in Madrid in 1941 by the impressively named Ricardo Soriano Hermensdorff von Scholtz, Marquis of Ivanrey.
He was quite a talented engineer who lived in France, Switzerland and Spain at various times. He designed and built a range of small two-wheelers but not before some interesting stops along the way!
1944 96cc Soirano Tigre
In France he and a fellow marquis built the Soriano-Pedroso car from 1919-1924. In 1930 he turned his attention to outboard racing engines for hydroplanes.
Both four and six cylinder OHC designs were built with OSSA manufacturing a small run of the four cylinder motor (a supercharged 658cc unit).
1944 96cc Soirano Tigre
The six cylinder was closely based on the four and a modified (to DOHC) version powered Jean Dupuy to the World Speed Record of 79.04mph in 1939.
An intriguing development came in 1942 when the US Army Corps of Engineers asked Evinrude to adapt the Soriano motor to power what became known as Storm Boats.
While their modified design was highly thought of, without any original plans or machine tools, it could not be made in the required time frame, so the project was abandoned.
1944 96cc Soirano Tigre
In a precursor to Soriano’s own motorcycles, Manuel Giró (the founder of OSSA) fitted one of the supercharged fours to a BMW chassis, then later a sidecar, on which he won the Spanish Championship just after the war!
After a few prototypes made before the war, the first Soriano bikes were manufactured in 1942 and were designed to be a “people’s motorcycle” – not dissimilar to the Vespa concept of 15 years later.
1944 96cc Soirano Tigre
A feature of the bike was the use of small, 8 inch diameter wheels – which made for a very compact, “unthreatening” bike. In 1944 the improved Tigre model was released, followed by the Puma, Lince (Lynx) and Pantera.
About 6000 Sorianos were produced before the company quit the motorcycle business (they also made industrial motors, generators and the like).
1944 96cc Soirano Tigre
This bike is a 1944 96cc Tigre. And as a final piece of trivia, the Tigre featured on a stamp issued by the Republic of Equatorial Guinea in 2003!
Ciba-Geigy Bonded Aeroweb frame made by Nigel Leaper
With Phil Aynsley
1986 Heron Suzuki TSR08 GP Racer
At the end of the 1983 season Suzuki officially retired from the 500cc GP championship as their venerable square four design (first seen in 1973) was no longer competitive.
Heron decided to invest in a new, light weight chassis made from Ciba-Geigy Bonded Aeroweb (a honeycomb/composite) material, constructed by Nigel Leaper. The first two prototypes were made with an aluminium cladding (painted white) but the following six frames just used the (black) honeycomb material.
1986 Heron Suzuki TSR08 GP Racer
Records show that this bike (TSR08) was the last one constructed, in 1986, and was ridden at Spa by Kevin Schwantz to 10th place (in Rizla colours) – his first points in Grand Prix.
1986 Heron Suzuki TSR08 GP Racer
Later in the season it was ridden by Niall MacKenzie in the Skoal Bandit colours seen here. He scored three top ten places and was on the front row of the grid for the last race of the year, at Misano.
1986 Heron Suzuki TSR08 GP Racer
The motor was the final version of the square four, the reed-valve XR70RV which produced 148hp at 12,500rpm (with UK developed exhausts, heads & air-boxes). Dry weight was 115kg. Top speed 295kph.
The Heron Suzuki TSR1-0 in Barber Museum
The first bike (TSR1-0) can be seen at the Barber Museum in the US.
The Heron Suzuki TSR1-0 in Barber Museum
The Heron Suzuki TSR1-0 in Barber Museum1986 Heron Suzuki TSR08 GP Racer1986 Heron Suzuki TSR08 GP Racer1986 Heron Suzuki TSR08 GP Racer1986 Heron Suzuki TSR08 GP Racer1986 Heron Suzuki TSR08 GP Racer1986 Heron Suzuki TSR08 GP Racer
NMOTO, a Florida based motorcycle manufacturing company has unveiled its Nostalgia project: a beautiful design inspired by the 1934 BMW R7.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
Combining vintage aesthetics with modern technology, NMOTO’s Nostalgia Project allows consumers to own a piece of history that rolls on a BMW R nineT chassis complete with up to date electronics and a current spec’ air-oil cooled 110 horsepower R nineT boxer engine.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
With comfortable suspension and unique steering mechanisms encased in a canonical design inspired by the BMW R7 pre-war prototype, the Nostalgia motorcycle gives enthusiasts a slice of the past without sacrificing performance or rider experience.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
In just 9 months from concept and final product, the Nostalgia project’s streamlined profile mimics the dimensions of the 1934 prototype despite it’s modern R nineT base.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
Primarily constructed of aluminium, the final product is lighter than both stock BMW R nineT and the prototype from which it gets its design inspiration.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
In total, 74 custom parts were created in-house by NMOTO’s expert engineers and fabricators. This includes a new 12-litre fuel tank and custom exhaust system.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
NMOTO designers didn’t stop with a beautiful exterior. The entire electrical system was also re-designed to accommodate this unprecedented project. NMOTO is the first company to successfully integrate the BMW R nineT electrical system with non-standard, aftermarket control panels in the bars.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
The Nostalgia project imitates vintage design by reincorporating the ignition lock and speedometer into the headlamp housing, though both parts are modernized.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
LED indicator lights and a keyless ignition system were both worked into the redesign of the R nineT electrical system, which is mostly concealed within the framework itself.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
NMOTO also takes special pride in the exhaust system on the Nostalgia project, which is completely handcrafted from stainless steel.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
The 1937 BMW R7
The BMW R7 was one of the most innovative motorcycles of its time. It introduced the telescopic front fork, had a concealed gas tank, and also featured an 800 cc boxer M208 engine with a solid cast crankshaft. Despite this, many of the technical advancements found in the R7 weren’t seen again until 1969. Unfortunate timing and high manufacturing cost also buried the unique art deco design of the R7 for decades until it was rediscovered in 2005. Thankfully for motorcycle enthusiasts, the BMW R7’s original prototype was completely restored and reintroduced to the world at Pebble Beach in 2012.
Jay Leno on the R7
The primary objective of the Nostalgia project was more than simply creating a scale accurate look of the R7; NMOTO aimed to adapt the design to a modern chassis, taking into account the features of the serial BMW R nineT so as not to lose any modern performance dynamic.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
In particular, NMOTO engineers and designers worked together to design, develop, and fabricate completely new aluminum body parts. This also required them to narrow the rear subframe to better match the original prototype’s build. By concealing all the wiring into the framework of the motorcycle, NMOTO was able to maintain the sleek and streamlined appeal of the R7.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
Collectors know that vintage motorcycles require constant maintenance and attention, which is why they are more often kept as collectibles than for utility. NMOTO believes that the primary pleasure in motorcycle ownership is in riding and this project is aim to marry nostalgia with modern day comfort and reliability to provide a motorcycle that can be ridden every day.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
The serial BMW R nineT is modern, fast, and comfortable, with the latest generation of the legendary air-cooled Bavarian boxer engine. The 1170 cc and 110 hp engine, six speed gearbox, traction control and anti-lock braking system all help to propel the Nostalgia project into the modern motorcycle arena.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
While working on the Nostalgia project, NMOTO designers paid special attention not to disturb the balanced chassis or engine of the original BMW R nineT, as it closely resembled pre-war hardtail motorcycles which lacked rear suspension. Instead, they crafted a special bracket for the original wing mounting system and added the new mufflers to enhance the vintage style.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
With 11 colour combinations, adjustable steering and seat trim finish, NMOTO offers customers the broadest customization options. The rear of the motorcycle can be equipped with a luggage trunk or passenger seat, or customers can opt for a manual gear shift mount on the tank in the style of pre-war motorcycles. NMOTO also plans to have its own line of accessories for the BMW R nineT.
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