Capriolo, later called Aeromere, was the name of the motorcycle production arm of the Italian aircraft company Aeromere or Aero-Caproni. After World War II, the victorious Allies prohibited wartime aircraft and other military hardware suppliers from remaining in their previous industries, and Aero-Caproni would change its name to Capriolo and become one of several, including Aermacchi, MV Agusta, Vespa and Ducati, that switched to producing motorcycles or scooters.[1] These companies did well until the mid-1960s, when the advent of affordable cars like the Fiat 500 removed the economic barrier that kept many Italians relying on motorcycles for basic transportation.[2] Capriolo was typical of those that could not survive the transformation to a more export-orientated industry, with the US as the most important market.[3] Motorcycle production ran from 1947 or 1948 until 1964.[4]
Some Capriolo engines featured the Küchen desmodromic valve system, and others used face-cams rather than the usual camshaft valve operation. Another Capriolo used a longitudinal flat twin, a layout not usually seen except on BMWs or BMW derivatives.[5][6]
See also
- List of Italian companies
- List of motorcycle manufacturers
External links
- Antique Motor Scooters & Classic Vintage Motorcycles 1957 Caproni-Trento Capriolo Sport 75 Motorcycle
- Sheldon's European Motorcycle Universe Caproni Motorcycles
- Staccato Art 75cc racer
References
- Mick Walker. Motorcycle: evolution, design, passion JHU Press, 2006^
- Decio Giulio, Decio G. R. Carugati, Richard Sadleir. Ducati: Design and Emotion MotorBooks/MBI Publishing Company, 2001^
- Mick Walker. Mick Walker's Italian Racing Motorcycles Redline Books, 1998^
- Erwin Tragatsch. The world's motorcycles, 1894-1963: a record of 70 years of motorcycle production Temple Press, 1964^
- Capriolo^
- Mick Walker. Motorcycle: evolution, design, passion JHU Press, 2006^