The Stornello is a motorcycle produced by Moto Guzzi between 1960 and 1974. It was born at the end of the 1950s, when the motorcycle market was in crisis because of the growing popularity of small cars and only mopeds and 125 cc machines were still healthy, and it was designed as a four-stroke to match its rivals.
Moto Guzzi Stornello at a glance
| Maker | Moto Guzzi, Mandello del Lario |
|---|---|
| Production | 1960–1974 |
| First version | 125 cc single, pushrods and rockers, two parallel valves |
| Power | 7 hp at 7,200 rpm |
| Top speed | about 100 km/h |
| Gearbox | four speeds, foot change |
| Sport (1961) | 8.5 hp at 7,500 rpm, 110 km/h, inclined valves |
| Regolarità (1962) | 12 hp at 8,000 rpm, works racing version |
| 160 (1968) | 153.2 cc, 12.6 hp at 7,500 rpm, 118 km/h |
| Five-speed model | from 1971 to 1974, 125 and 160 street, 125 scrambler |
The English Wikipedia has no article on the Stornello; this page is based on the Italian article and is therefore based on one source.
History of the Moto Guzzi Stornello
In the late 1950s the motorcycle market was in crisis because of the spread of small cars, and only mopeds and 125 cc machines remained healthy. In the eighth-litre class Guzzi was present with the Zigolo 110, presented in 1959 as an evolution of the original model of 1953, but the Zigolo was a two-stroke. To defend the class better, where Gilera, Moto Morini and MV Agusta were strongest, a new machine with a four-stroke engine was planned, and the Stornello, as it was named, was ready in 1960.
It was powered by a single with pushrods and rockers, two parallel valves and a four-speed gearbox with foot change; with 7 hp at 7,200 rpm it pushed the bike to about 100 km/h. At the end of 1961 the Sport version was presented, with inclined valves and a hemispherical combustion chamber, giving 8.5 hp at 7,500 rpm and 110 km/h, recognisable from the standard model, renamed Turismo, by its two-piece sports handlebar and tailed seat.
Regolarità and the 160
1962 saw the racing debut of a Regolarità version of the Stornello, with an engine derived from the Sport taken to 12 hp at 8,000 rpm. The off-road effort, already tried with success at Mandello with the Lodola, was also intended to rival Gilera, dominant in the 125 class with its Giubileo Regolarità. The Stornello Regolarità took several national and international honours until 1964, when Guzzi withdrew from racing, and in 1965 a replica of the works model was put on sale, staying in the catalogue until 1967.
In 1967 the Stornello range was completely revised, with the arrival of the Sport America touring version, the Sport Italia sports version and the Scrambler, intended for light off-road use. The following year a new version joined them, the 160, with the engine taken to 153.2 cc by enlarging the bore from 52 to 58 mm while the stroke stayed at 58 mm; it gave 12.6 hp at 7,500 rpm and pushed the Stornello 160 to 118 km/h.
The last generation
At the Milan show in 1969 a new edition of the Stornello was presented, completely redesigned in styling and with a five-speed gearbox. This new model went into production in 1971 in road form, as a 125 and a 160, and as a scrambler in 125 only, staying in production until 1974 and in the catalogue for another year, when it was replaced by a new model with a two-stroke engine of Benelli origin. A series of the five-speed Stornello was also made for the army, recognisable by its green colour and small differences from the civilian model.
Design and features
- Four-stroke 125: a pushrod single chosen to fight the two-stroke Zigolo’s rivals in the 125 class.
- Sport version: inclined valves and a hemispherical chamber for 8.5 hp and 110 km/h.
- Regolarità racer: a works off-road version with 12 hp, successful until 1964.
- 160 cc version: a larger bore gave 153.2 cc, 12.6 hp and 118 km/h in 1968.
- Army version: a green five-speed series for the military.
Moto Guzzi Stornello versions
- Stornello (1960–1961): the original 125, 7 hp and about 100 km/h.
- Stornello Turismo and Sport (1961–1967): the standard model renamed Turismo, plus the 8.5 hp Sport.
- Stornello Regolarità (1962–1964): the works off-road racer, with a 1965–1967 replica.
- Sport America, Sport Italia and Scrambler (1967): the revised range.
- Stornello 160 (1968–1970): 153.2 cc, 12.6 hp and 118 km/h.
- Five-speed Stornello (1971–1974): redesigned model in 125 and 160 road forms and a 125 scrambler.
The Stornello took over the 125 class from the Zigolo, and it was a small contemporary of the Galletto and the Airone. More machines are in the Moto Guzzi collection.
Video: Moto Guzzi Stornello 1964
Video by Jason on YouTube.
Sources
- Moto Guzzi Stornello, Italian Wikipedia: history, versions, engines, racing, army series
