1950s - 1960s Twostrokes and Fourstrokes
Manufactured: 1949-1962 (and later by Benelli)
FAMOSA (Fabbrica Auto Motocicli Officine Strada Adriatica) was founded by Giuseppe Benelli when he left the Benelli company as a result of a family disagreement.
The first model, built in 1950, was the 98 B, using an egg-shaped single-cylinder two-stroke engine with rear suspension of the balestrino style.
In 1952 Motobi announced a model named the Spring Lasting, a twin-cylinder 200cc two-stroke designed to challenge the Benelli Leonessa (Lioness) and which won a Milano-Taranto race.
In the mid-1950s they built a series of motorcycles with four-stroke engines including the 125cc Imperiale and the Catria 175cc, the names honouring Pesaro locales.
The Catria was MotoBi's first 4-stroke model and appeared in 1955 in both 125 & 175cc sizes, followed by 200cc and 250cc versions. The engine was designed by Piero Prampolini later designed the Benelli 500GP of 1972.
Giuseppe Benelli died in 1957, and his heirs rejoined Benelli. The last MotoBi recognizable as such was a twin-cylinder two-stroke 250cc sports machine built in 1968.
The British market saw new Motobi mopeds and lightweights introduced in 1964 with 48cc engines and pressed-metal frames. They were quite attractive machines but did not fare well and were dropped by the UK distributors after just two or three years.
See also Motobi Mopeds
Model: B98 (Balestrino)
Capacity: 98cc
Production Years: 1950
Model: B Super
Capacity: 115cc
Production Years: 1951
Model: B100
Capacity: 98cc
Production Years: 1952
Model: B Rurale Motofurgone
Capacity: 98cc
Production Years: 1952
Model: B 115 Super
Capacity: 115cc
Production Years: 1952
Model: B 125
Capacity: 123.6cc
Production Years: 1952
Model: B 200
Capacity: 195.4cc
Production Years: 1952
Model: B 200 Spring Lasting Extra Lusso
Capacity: 195.4cc
Production Years: 1953
Model: Ardizio Extra Lusso
Capacity: 123.6cc
Production Years: 1953
Model: Ardizio Turismo
Capacity: 123.6cc
Production Years: 1955
Model: Ardizio Sport
Capacity: 123.6cc
Production Years: 1955
Model: B 200 Spring Lasting Lusso
Capacity: 195.4cc
Production Years: 1955
Model: B 250 Spring Lasting Gran Sport
Capacity: 195.4cc
Production Years: 1955
Model: Ardizio Standard
Capacity: 123.6cc
Production Years: 1956
Model: Ardizio Lusso
Capacity: 123.6cc
Production Years: 1956
Model: Catria Lusso 175
Ignition: Magneto
Power Rating: 8.5bhp @ 6,800rpm
Bore x Stroke: 62mm x 57mm
Displacement: 172cc
Valves: Overhead, pushrod activated
Fuel System: Dell’Orto 20mm carburetor
Transmission: 4-speed
Suspension: Front telescopic forks, rear twin shock
Brakes: Front and rear drum
Weight: 215lb
Top Speed: 75mph
Production Years: 1956-1957
Model: Imperiale Standard
Capacity: 123.6cc
Production Years: 1957
Model: Imperiale Lusso
Capacity: 123.6cc
Production Years: 1957
Model: Catria 175 Sport
Capacity: 172cc
Production Years: 1957
Model: Catria 175 Formula 3
Capacity: 172cc
Production Years: 1958
Model: Catria Scooter
Capacity: 172cc
Production Years: 1959
Model: Picnic 75
Capacity: 75cc
Production Years:: 1960
Model: 1960 Catria Scooter
Capacity: 172cc
Production Years:: 1960
Model: 1960 Ardizio 125
Capacity: 123.6cc
Production Years:: 1960
Model: 1961 Imperiale
Capacity: 123.6cc
Production Years:: 1961
Model: 1961 Catria 175
Capacity: 172cc
Production Years:: 1961
Model: 1961 Imperiale Sport
Capacity: 123.6cc
Production Years:: 1961
Model: Catria 175 Sport
(note that the Catria designation was used for both this motorcycle and for several scooters)
Capacity: 172cc
Production Years:: 1961
Model: 1962 Ardizio
Capacity: 123.6cc
Production Years:: 1962
Model: 1962 Picnic 125
Capacity: 123.6cc
Production Years:: 1966
Model: 1963 200 Sprite
Capacity: 197.9cc
Production Years:: 1963
Model: Cicloscooter 48 1963
Model: Motobi Sprint 48
50cc 1964-65 (The Sport Special 48 is very similar)
Model: Motobi Sport Special 48
50cc 1961-64
For 48/50cc models see Motobi Mopeds
Model: 1966 125 Sprite America
Capacity: 245cc
Production Years:: 1966
Model: 1966 125 Sprite America
Capacity: 245cc
Production Years:: 1966
Model: 1966 250 Sprite
Capacity: 245cc
Production Years:: 1966
Model: 1966 250 Sprite America
Capacity: 245cc
Production Years:: 1966
Model: 1968 125 Sport Special
Capacity: 123cc
Production Years:: 1968
Model: 1968 250 Sport Special
Capacity: 245cc
Production Years:: 1968
Model: 1968 125 Scrambler
Capacity: 123.6cc
Production Years:: 1968
Model: 1968 250 Scrambler
Capacity: 245cc
Production Years:: 1968
Model: 1969 125 Sport Special
Capacity: 123cc
Production Years:: 1969
Model: 1969 250 Sport Special
Capacity: 245cc
Production Years:: 1969
The marque name was acquired in 1995 by Andrea Merloni who planned to build scooters under the MotoBi banner.
Subsequently an Austrian company, Michael Leeb Trading GmbH, assumed the rights to the name and built a number of machines of 50 and 125cc named Imola, Pesaro Misano and Modena.
Sources: MC Storico Conti, scooterdepoca.com, wikipedia.it, Museo Migliazzi, et al.
