Moto Guzzi - which is with the distinctive V2

On March 15, 1921, Giorgio Parodi and his friend, the aircraft engineer Carlo Guzzi, founded the "Moto Guzzi S.p.A." in Genoa, Italy. The work was created in the town of Mandello del Lario. As the company logo, the pilots chose an eagle with extended wings.

Built by the blacksmith

The first product was the G.P. (Guzzi.Parodi), whose production as a prototype had to be helped by the local blacksmith. In the year of its foundation, another 17 motorcycles left the hall. In order to promote the new brand, the two opted for motorsport. With success: Moto Guzzi won the first 500 cm3 European Championship with the C4V by Guido Mentasti in 1924.

Moto Guzzi grew rapidly: as early as 1925, 1200 motorcycles were built in Mandello del Lario with more than 300 employees. In addition to the sports models, the Italians offered a G.T. Giuseppe Guzzi drove to the Arctic Circle in Norway for advertising purposes, which earned the machine the nickname "Norge" (which is still used to this day). In 1928, Guzzi developed a revolutionary triangular swing. The spring package was longitudinally below the engine and was far superior to the usual solutions at the time. In 1934, Moto Guzzi was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in Italy.

The crisis is hitting

It was a tough time for Guzzi: after further sporting successes with European and World Championships, Moto Guzzi, like all companies, fell into crisis. Sales of motorcycles fell sharply, cars were in demand. The 1957 world title was the last major race success for Moto Guzzi.

The government order ensured more badly than right the survival of the company. In 2004, Piaggio took over Moto Guzzi. Piaggio is the third largest two-wheeled manufacturer in the world with all its brands.

Typical features of the Guzzis built today are still the heads of the V2 cylinder protruding from the side of the motorcycle.