122:, Italy in 1949, by Giuseppe Benelli, initially trading under the name Moto 'B' Pesaro. This was shortened to Motobi in the 1950s. After a family disagreement in 1948, Giuseppe Benelli, one of the six brothers and an engineer of some talent, decided to go his own way. He stayed in Pesaro, but moved to separate premises. Giuseppe launched the Moto 'B' marque selling small two-stroke motorcycles and scooters. In 1953, Motobi introduced a 200cc horizontal two-stroke twin called the B200 Spring Lasting. Its innovative pressed steel frame and horizontal cylinder layout were to become the trademark for many future Motobi bikes. The B200 motor was a clean, streamlined, very modern appearing unit, which was soon nicknamed the "egg" for its distinctive shape. Giuseppe and his sons Luigi and Marco continued to work on improving Motobi products, and envisioned a four-stroke, single-cylinder variant of the B200. In late 1955, the two-stroke twin cylinder B200 was abandoned entirely, and two different new models, both called "Catria" were introduced, one at 125cc and the other at 175cc. Both were four-stroke four speed singles, designed by freelance engineer Piero Prampolini. These improved singles became the focus of Motobi production, beating Moto Aermacchi's 175cc Chimera (which had a similar horizontal single-cylinder engine configuration) to market by a year. Not long afterward, Giuseppe Benelli died, leaving the company in the hands of his two heirs. Once in charge of the company, they hired a young former racer and tuner named Primo Zanzani to develop the new Catria machine into a factory racing machine. Italian semi-professional road racing (called MSDS for Moto Sportive Derivate dalla Serie) and road hill climbing races were popular, and the tough little motorbike was soon earning a reputation among the Italian riders, who called it the "power egg". Bright decals lauding Motobi's racing championships started appearing on the little bikes' gas tanks, each version more colorful than the last. In America, where the Eisenhower-era economy was good, sales of motorcycles and other leisure products were booming. The Benelli company saw opportunity in the New World, and also right next door, under the roof of their little cousin, Motobi. Motobi was acquired by the larger Benelli company in 1962, a move that would not only bring the family back together under the Gruppo Benelli-Motobi name, but also swell the workforce to around 550 employees, and increase production to a notable 300 machines per day. Many of these machines were exported to the United States badged as Benelli models.
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manufacturer in production between 1950 and 1977. The brand was revived by
Austrian company Michael Leeb Trading GmbH in partnership with Demharter GmbH in 2010.
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In 2010, as well as selling a range of 50 cc (3.1 cu in)
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Storica Marchigiana, Storia della MotoBi
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186:"Der Österreicher Michael Leeb rollt das Zweiradsegment auf"
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Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1977
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192:(in German). Austria. 2010-05-05. Archived from
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753:Defunct motorcycle manufacturers of Italy
94:, the brand provides sponsorship for the
251:Mick Walker's Italian Racing Motorcycles
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748:Italian companies established in 1949
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254:. Redline Books. pp. 38–41.
167:List of motorcycle manufacturers
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783:1977 disestablishments in Italy
114:1970 Motobi 125cc Sport Special
27:Italian motorcycle manufacturer
98:motorcycle racing team in the
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118:Motobi was established in
773:Companies based in Marche
162:List of Italian companies
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293:Motobi history website
222:. 2010. Archived from
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768:Benelli (motorcycles)
758:Scooter manufacturers
695:Maserati (motorcycle)
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391:Di Blasi Industriale
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411:Ghezzi & Brian
336:Major and notable
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246:Walker, Mick
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224:the original
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198:. Retrieved
194:the original
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140:Italy portal
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63:Headquarters
713:(1946–1967)
702:(1925–1989)
691:(1920–1956)
680:(1956–1986)
669:(1949–2006)
658:(1944–1975)
652:(1953–1974)
650:Iso Rivolta
641:(1934–1955)
635:(1932–1957)
629:(1905–1936)
623:(1909–1948)
617:(1920–1934)
611:(1937–1984)
605:(1947–1962)
588:Autozodiaco
579:(1953–1959)
573:(1923–1925)
567:(1923–1925)
561:(1974–1982)
555:(1958–1965)
529:(1923–1927)
461:Moto Morini
436:Lamborghini
340:motorcycle
737:Categories
722:Santamaria
684:Morbidelli
456:Moto Guzzi
431:KRC Motors
267:2010-07-23
220:www.jir.mc
173:References
85:motorcycle
49:Motorcycle
662:Lambretta
645:Innocenti
639:Galbusera
538:Aermacchi
533:Accossato
501:TM Racing
466:MV Agusta
446:Minarelli
673:Malaguti
401:Energica
248:(2000).
216:"Motobi"
126:See also
92:scooters
45:Industry
711:Parilla
700:Moretti
678:Malanca
667:Laverda
609:Cimatti
603:Ceccato
598:Caproni
593:Bianchi
577:Aldbert
520:Defunct
476:Piaggio
451:Mondial
426:Italjet
421:Garelli
366:Benelli
356:Aprilia
349:Current
342:marques
338:Italian
230:23 July
200:23 July
102:class.
55:Founded
788:Pesaro
706:Motobi
553:Agrati
491:Tacita
481:Polini
416:Gilera
406:Fantic
396:Ducati
386:Cagiva
381:Borile
376:Bimota
361:Askoll
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120:Pesaro
81:Motobi
68:Pesaro
31:MotoBi
18:MotoBi
627:Frera
583:Atala
571:Alato
565:Alano
548:Aetos
511:Vyrus
506:Vespa
471:Paton
441:Magni
100:Moto2
73:Italy
717:Rumi
656:Itom
633:Fusi
527:Abra
371:Beta
256:ISBN
232:2010
202:2010
58:1949
689:MAS
615:CNA
559:AIM
486:SWM
96:JiR
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71:,
329:e
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315:v
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20:)
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