1957 Motobi Catria Lusso
Country: Italy
Engine: Air-cooled horizontal single-cylinder 4-stroke
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
One of the six Benelli brothers, Guiseppe, left the company in 1949 to work on his own designs. Initially the products had a simple monogram “B” then changed to Motobi (Moto-B). One feature of the Motobi was the streamlined shape of the power unit, often described as “like a rugby football.” Initially, the engines were 2-strokes, followed by pushrod 4-strokes, still using the horizontal oval styling, making it difficult to distinguish between the two.
