In 1960, Harley-Davidson faced new competition from Honda, which started offering affordable Japanese motorcycles for mass transportation. In a surprising response, Harley-Davidson bought a 50 percent interest in Aermacchi, an Italian aircraft manufacturer founded in 1912.
Aermacchi, based in Varese, Italy, had produced relatively small motorcycles for young riders since 1951—not exactly a clear match for the Harley-Davidson brand. Harley’s community of riders is an enthusiastic and exacting bunch. So the Aermacchi tie-up raised this question: Could the quintessential American motorcycle with its famous throaty exhaust note translate to an entirely different type of European bike?
Making a Small Bike Feel Bigger
The 1968 Harley-Davidson Aermacchi M65S Leggero, like the one recently offered on eBay, was based on the 1966 M50S, but with a larger engine. The S stands for Sport, and Leggero means graceful and light.
The M65S, released in 1967, has a two-stroke 64cc engine with cast aluminum and iron cylinder heads. (Harley rounded it up to 65 and used “M65” as its name.) Its three-speed transmission is operated via a scooter-type shifter in the left hand grip, a wet clutch, and an 18mm DellOrto carburetor producing a modest 4.5 horsepower. This bike is dressed in 17-inch Pirelli tires.
Harley-Davidson offered two versions: a step-through and a traditional design for riders to throw a leg over the body. The kick-starter is on the left and the kickstand is positioned on the right side to not interfere with easy starts.
Harley-Davidson engineers believed Americans didn’t like the wrist-grip shift, so they used a boot-shifter for more rugged operation.
A Harley With Italian Style
The ‘68 Aermacchi M65S Leggero is badged as a Harley-Davidson but exhibits classic Italian swag. The upswept flowing frame, flat seat, sculpted headlight, and streamlined gas tank are reminiscent of mid-century Benelli motorcycles. In addition, a red, silver, and black paint scheme replaces the more common Harley black and silver.
Harley-Davidson’s effort to offer a lighter and friendlier motorcycle with Italian style didn’t work. A year after the M65S Leggero’s release, Harley introduced a bigger 125cc two-stroke. Sales of the M65S Leggero flagged, and production ceased in 1971.
The subsequent, more powerful Harley-Davidson bikes produced at the Aermacchi factory included the 1973 Harley-Davidson Aermacchi TX 125 enduro, such as the one for sale now on eBay. It features a 125cc engine and original carburetor, petcock valve, and air filter. It’s one of the few HD-Aermacchi examples produced before Harley sold its interest in the Italian firm in 1974.
The Harley-Aermacchi saga continued. Consider this AMF-badged Harley-Davidson SX 250 for sale on eBay. American Machine and Foundry (AMF) is best known for producing sporting goods, but it made Harley-Davidsons with rebadged Aermacchi parts until 1978. Then, after a few years of production problems, AMF sold the brand to new investors (including Willie G. Davidson, the grandson of company co-founder William A. Davidson).
Shop now for Aermacchi motorcyclesExciting rideable artifacts from this era can still be found in the surviving retro-cool Harley-Aermacchi bikes for sale on eBay—and Aermacchi parts that can add a little Italian pizzazz to nearly any ride.
