There are many different motorcycle manufacturers in Italy, from the most well-known to the lesser-known but respected for making handcrafted motorcycles. Motorcycle enthusiasts worldwide have developed a collective memory for a few iconic brands. While Benelli, which has been making bikes since 1911, is the oldest Italian automaker, Ducati is arguably the most famous. On the other hand, MV Agusta is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer known worldwide for selling the fastest motorcycles in the market along with Ducati. Starting with Piaggio, whose Vespa, now also available in electric form, has become a Made in Italy symbol of style, elegance and attention to detail, several Italian motorcycle manufacturers are known worldwide. In this context, it would be difficult to talk about motorcycles without mentioning Moto Guzzi, but in general, Italian motorcycle manufacturers have never stopped improving. The Top Ten Famous Italian Motorcycle brands of All Time are listed below:
Top Ten Famous Italian Motorcycle Brands of All Times – Top Rated
Ducati
It is undoubtedly the most recognizable Italian motorcycle brand. Its former headquarters are located in the Borgo Panigale neighborhood of Bologna. The first Ducati motorcycles were produced in 1926. Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. has been owned by Ducati since 2012. It has been called the “Ferrari” of the motorcycle industry because of its success in the cutthroat market. The whole world appreciates its high-performance vehicles. The style has an Italian influence. There are now more than 30 motorcycle models available from Ducati, including the Scrambler, Hypermotard, Multistrada, Supersport, and the Panigale, Monster, and Diavel lines.
Piaggio
For countless generations of Italians, the iconic Vespa, built by Piaggio, has served as a status symbol. Navy furniture manufacturing was first established in 1884 by Renaldo Piaggio. Later, in 1946, the production of the Vespa scooter, designed by Eng. D’Ascanio began. Other notable successes in the pipeline include the Ciao, Boxer, Bravo, Si, and Zip as well as the Ape three-wheeler. Today, Piaggio is a world leader in scooters and owns the Gilera, Derbi, and Aprilia brands.
Moto Guzzi
It is a famous Italian motorcycle manufacturer with a long history dating back to the First World War. It was founded as a family firm in 1921, but after experiencing several corporate problems, it was also bought by the Italian state in 1966. The GP-Guzzi-Parodi motorcycle is the first, and the Moto Guzzi brand follows. The Guzzino 65, followed by the Falcone and various versions, was a trendy model. Even when the economic crisis hit later, the V-twin remained the symbol of Moto Guzzi, now a member of the Piaggio Group. The latest models of the company are the best in motorcycles.
MV Agusta
It was founded in 1945 and started making street and racing bikes, so it has a very recent history. The four-cylinder production superbike debuted in the early 1960s and was incorporated into the Cagiva group in 1992. In 2008, the Harley-Davidson Group briefly took ownership of the brand, but it was reacquired by Cagiva in 2010. It has even surpassed Ducati as the most successful Italian, or rather European, motorcycle company in history. Attractive models in the current lineup include the MV Agusta Brutale, F4, F3, and Dragster.
Aprilia
It was a great Italian bicycle manufacturer when it first started in 1945. It produced the Colbert and Daniela, the first mopeds, in the 1960s before introducing the Scarabeo variant two years later. The first motorbikes with competitive and enduro settings, a sport played on dirt roads and mule tracks and then engaged in sporting events, were, however, introduced in the 1980s. The Scarabeo 50 scooter, which would eventually have a 500cc engine, was launched in 1993. Currently, Aprilia is part of the Piaggio Group.
Benelli
Another well-known trademark was created in 1911 thanks to the estate of the widow Benelli. Here is the first 75cc prototype from a repair firm founded in Pesaro in 1920. It would eventually grow to 98cc and begin serial manufacturing. Benelli is closely associated with international and domestic tournaments. Unfortunately, Benelli discontinued the facility in 1988, and efforts to revive the brand in 1989 and 1995 failed to deliver the desired results. The final shutdown occurred in 2005. Now it belongs to a Chinese organization.
Moto Morini
Alfonso Moreni, an Italian pilot and designer based in Bologna for early production of engines and three-wheelers, founded the company in 1937. The Morini 350cc was a must-have for many teenage motorcyclists on Italian roads, and now, after many events, the brand is back on the road with new models with all the numbers to bring back the glory days. We miss the Corsaro (in several iterations), which along with the Scrambler and Gran Paso, are among its most recognizable models. Moto Morini joined the Chinese Zhongeng Vehicle Group in 2018.
Gilera
It is one of the oldest Italian motorcycle brands and the oldest motorcycle company still in operation. It was founded in Milan in 1909 and is owned by the Piaggio Group. VT 317 served as the first motorcycle. After the war, new designs emerged, such as the Otto Belloni and the Saturno—the Giubileo and the twin-cylinder 300 dates from the 1960s. In 1993, the Arcor facility was closed and moved to Pontedera, in the province of Pisa, where scooters were produced almost entirely. It now offers various motorcycle models, ranging from 50cc to 500cc.
Vespa
The Vespa was introduced in 1946 with a displacement of 98cc and features that have remained consistent over time. It is undoubtedly one of the most iconic objects ever created and a global icon of Italian design. It has been exhibited in New York’s “MoMA” and Milan’s “Triennale Design Museum” as an iconic piece. A new generation of Vespa vehicles with automatic transmissions was launched in 1996. As the successor to the model introduced in 1977, the PX is back with a two-stroke engine. Vespa now belongs to the Piaggio Corporation. It was initially a Piaggio model, but due to its success, it became a standalone brand in 2004.
Cagiva
Two brothers founded Cagiva in 1950 in Varese. At first, it was a business that specialized in the molding of small metal components. From 1978, he participated in racing. With the Suzuki 500 at the 1978 French GP, Cagiva officially entered the motorcycle era. AMF would later take over the factory that built Ermachi. Some popular models, such as the 916 and the Monster, were built in the 1980s. Among sports bikes, Cagiva Mito SP 525 2009 comes to mind. Due to the inclusion of a small elephant in the trademark, it became known as “House of the Small Elephant” in the global market.
Top Ten Famous Italian Motorcycle Brands of All Times – Top List
Sr. # | Top Ten Famous Italian Motorcycle Brands of All Times |
---|---|
1 | Ducati |
2 | Piaggio |
3 | Moto Guzzi |
4 | MV Agusta |
5 | Aprilia |
6 | Benelli |
7 | Moto Morini |
8 | Gilera |
9 | Vespa |
10 | Cagiva |