Italy boasts some of probably the most storied marques in motorcycling, lots of that are nonetheless prolific at the moment. However the annals of Italian bike historical past are additionally suffering from firms that didn’t fairly stand the check of time—like Aermacchi.
In case you don’t know the story but, Aermacchi was an plane producer that began producing bikes after World Conflict II. US readers will know the identify, as a result of Harley-Davidson purchased half of the corporate in 1960, and began promoting rebadged Aermacchis stateside. You’re taking a look at a 1961 Aermacchi Harley-Davidson 250 Dash, masterfully reworked by Christian Schwarzenlander at ExesoR Bikes in Austria.
Christian picked the Aermacchi 250 for this restomod challenge, particularly as a result of he’d been itching to do one thing with a uncommon Italian basic. “The fashion of the 60s single engines and the pure design of this period is unmistakable,” he tells us. “I at all times performed with the considered sooner or later constructing an Aermacchi.”
“However it’s getting more durable and more durable to seek out an reasonably priced Aermacchi these days. A few of them have been modified as basic race bikes, and a few of them stand absolutely restored in non-public collections.”
Christian scoured the web and stumbled throughout the 1961 250 Dash by likelihood. It was in a horrible state and the value was far too excessive, however since they’re so laborious to trace down, he purchased it.
Fortunately there was a consumer funding the challenge; uncommon, since Christian often prefers engaged on bikes only for himself. It helped that the consumer was additionally an outdated good friend—and that he gave Christian the liberty to do no matter he needed with the Aermacchi 250. And we’re glad he did, as a result of the top consequence nails that elusive steadiness between basic restoration and tasteful customization.
The primary job was to convey the ratty donor’s engine again to life. That was carried out inside three hours, leaving Christian very optimistic about the remainder of the challenge. However because it seems, the one cylinder energy plant was certainly one of just a few elements on the bike that was in usable situation.
And that’s not saying a lot both; Christian needed to do a full high finish rebuild, as a result of “some fool drilled holes by way of the exhaust port and changed the header bolts with wooden screws.”
There was extra resto work lurking elsewhere. The body wanted a strong quantity of grinding and sand blasting earlier than it could possibly be repainted. And the OEM gas tank, an element that Christian was insistent on retaining, was virtually too far gone.
“It was catastrophic,” he says. “After I eliminated three layers of paint and several other millimeters of filler I noticed the catastrophe: large dents on ever aspect. After welding in a brand new filler neck for a Monza-style filler cap I took the tank to my good friend at I-Circulate to organize the tank and do the paint job.”
There was not a lot to work with on the unique seat both, so Christian repaired the seat pan, formed new foam and had it coated in suede. It’s connected to the bike through a surprising hand-made stainless-steel subframe.
Smaller bodywork gadgets that could possibly be rescued have been cleaned up. However different elements have been rusted past redemption, and needed to be reproduced—just like the quirky engraved aluminum body blank-off plates. Christian additionally commissioned grasp fabricator, Bernhard ‘Blechmann’ Naumann, to construct a brand new cowl for the electrics field on the precise aspect of the bike.
Christian additionally re-laced the inventory hubs to new 18” shouldered aluminum rims, wrapping them in contemporary Heidenau rubber. The entrance forks have been stripped and refurbished, whereas the rear shocks have been swapped out for a set of aftermarket models.
Up within the cockpit are a set of clip-ons that got here with the bike, together with a brand new headlight, speedo and grips. Decrease down, Christian restored the unique exhaust header, and fitted it with an inside dB killer.
Small considerate particulars abound on this charming Aermacchi. There’s a bit of instrument field on the left aspect of the bike, made with the modified valve cowl from an outdated Dnepr. And the bike is sprinkled with drilled particulars and refined customized touches.
“Many elements couldn’t be saved,” says Christian. “In complete greater than 50 elements have been customized made, and greater than 20 authentic elements have been modified.”
It took Christian 250 hours, unfold out over 13 months, to button this one up. However the laborious graft was clearly value it. Resplendent in a lush inexperienced paint job that’s earned it the moniker ‘Verde,’ it’s about as cute as uncommon Italian classics get.
ExesoR Bikes | Fb | Instagram | Photographs by Hermann Pillichshammer
