I just bought a harley.

It's a 76 two stroke 250 SX. Know nothing about 'em and looking for any info or place to find out more about them.

Italian, made by Aermacchi, I think. I wanted the little 50 or 100 when I was a kid. Real bad. It was $200. May as well been a million.

From the original Bad News Bears. I really wanted one of these back then, even though I was only in second grade.

Now I just want the Schwinns.

yea, I've seen that they were italian made, I just haven't been able to find any info on them, I'm just trying to get a sense of how hard they are to rebuild. I haven't actually got possession of it yet, pick it up on friday. So i guess we'll see...

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/mcy/3971501254.html

Very little info still around on them. Here's two semi-usefull looking sites I found that may help you.

http://www.2stroke.nl/indexuk.html

and

http://www.motomacchi.com/inventory/catalog.html

At least it's a later one! In 1976 the US mandated all brakes levers to be on the right and shifters to be on the left. Go into a corner too hot and try to slow down you may just find yourself down shifting. My buddy has two 1974s, nice little bikes if you're paying attention.

Dan

I have an acquaintance who back in the 60's was going to buy his first motorcycle. He wanted a Honda but his father wouldn't let him buy one of those "imports" and marched him down to the Harley dealer and made him get the Italian Harley (because "Merica!)

He remembers that in the dealer showroom there were leaflets that detailed how much to raise the ports and what else to do to get another 10mph top speed out of the little Aermacchi two strokes, which he did. Knowing him he still probably has that paperwork somewhere.

Motorcycle Classics magazine has a feature on the "Italian Harleys" in their latest issue.

It's a great mag for vintage bikes if you haven't seen it yet. Here's their website:

http://www.motorcycleclassics.com