Page 5 Advertisements Column 1

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34147, 7 May 1976, Page 5

Benelli’s JtZ, Motorella claiming share of small bike market The recent rises in the price of petrol have resulted in a far greater awareness of the benefits of small motor-cycles. Even now, their running costs are negligible in relation to the smallest of cars and it is hardly surprising that they are experiencing a boom period. Mos* small two-whoolers in New Zealand are from Japan but in recent years the Italian Benelli factory has been making inroads into the market. The machine largely responsible for this is the Benelli Motorella. a delightful little step-through with a wide range of uses. Equipped in standard form with a large wire basket at the front and a solid metal carrier at the rear, it is ideally suited to suburban shopping trips. It is also an excellent means of transport for the office junior on message delivering trips or for the executive wanting speedy transport about the city. The power unit is a 49 c.c. inclined single-cylinder two-stroke which has sufficient power to give the little machine a top speed of about 30 miles an hour. This is also a reasonable cruising speed for the machine, which appears to be undrr no stress at its maximum performance. The engine has an 8 to 1 compression ratio and a bore and stroke of 40 ■ 39mm. Ignition is by a fly wheel magneto with an external coil. A petrol mixture is used in the throe litre fuel tank, which gives the Motorella a range of more than 200 kilometres. AUTOMATIC The Motorella is among the the few motorcycles available which is fully automatic. The system it employs is relatively simple. A centrifugal clutch operates through a single gear and that is about all there is to it. Start the motor with the kick starter, twist the throttle and you are off. If for some reason the kick starter becomes inoperative, there is a lever on the handlebars which can lock the motor in gear. It is then a simple matter to start the engine by pushing. The Motorella has 9in pressed steel wheels which require a minimum of maintenance. There is a wide range of colours available. HAND BRAKES Both front and rear brakes are operated by hand levers on the handlebars. Also on the handlebars is a kill button to stop the engine in emergencies. The Motorella is classified as a power cycle in that no warrant ot fitness is required. However, a crash helmet must be worn by the rider because the machine is not equipped with rotating pedals. In Now Zealand, tha little Italian machine retails for $385. which it good value by today f standards. This point has evidently not been by the motor-cycling public because Benelli can now claim 16 par cent of the small bike market in this country. The Motorella. originally one of the three models available here, can be bought with a deposit of *95 with the balance being paid back at *33 a month over 12 months. The other machines which made their debuts with the Motorella were Benelli Gentleman twhich had a larger frame and 2Oin wheels) and the Hurricane which had a larger 59 c.c. motor but is no longer available. A. C. RHODES LTD 334 Riccarton Road Ph. 45-099. L.M.V.D.