FMB Telaimotor 'America'

Rare and Yankee market-inspired 'America' model from 1963, spotted at this year's Reggio Emilia mostra scambio.

FMB Telaimotor (literally 'framesmotor') was one of the myriad companies in and around Bologna through the '50s to the '80s that specialised in building their own chassis, and buying in motors to suit - FMB was based at 38 Via Fossolo, but sadly now there's a company building lab equipment instead.

The motors used would often be Minarelli 50cc strokers, but I reckon in this case it's a 125 Mondial four-stroke motor, and I'd expect to see 'Mondial' cast into the cases on the other side of the bike. Buckhorn bars, white grips, chrome tank and studded Roy Rogers-type saddle flaps vie for the attention of potential US customers. Wonder how many they sold in the States - anyone out there own one?

More bikes from Reggio Emilia coming up in Issue Four soon.