Fuchs Workshop builds a Piaggio mini-tracker…
In 1967, Piaggio launched their first moped, the Ciao — a 50cc two-stroke with a belt drive, drum brakes, and 6-volt electrics. Produced in varied variations properly into the 2000s, the Ciao attracted various aftermarket consideration, as house owners outfitted their machines with efficiency exhausts, carbs, and airboxes.
“Additional tuning with efficiency cylinders, porting, and better finish exhaust pipes will lead to a really quick little bike.” –Moped Military
Enter Massimo Rinchiuso of Italy’s Fuchs Workshop — a Ravenna-based store that started making ready monitor bikes greater than 20 years in the past and now makes a speciality of hand-shaped aluminum bodywork, 3D design, CNC components, and extra.
A few of their most well-known builds embrace the Suzuki GS1000 “Yellow Weapon” (above), Suzuki Bandit 1200 “Fortunate Legend” devoted to 500cc GP champion Marco “Fortunate” Lucchinelli, and their Moto Guzzi Enzo 1000sp.
When Massimo and crew wanted a brand new pit bike for his or her flat monitor weekends, they checked out what they’d mendacity across the workshop:
“The thought was to make one thing to make use of within the paddocks throughout the flat monitor races and occasions we do throughout Europe. Having simply an previous and tacky Piaggio Ciao (1980) accessible, the choice was made simply.”
A staggering quantity of customized fabrication work went into this “Speciao” (Particular-Ciao), together with a 5-cm widened body and fork, customized aluminum trellis and saddle help, hand-beaten aluminum quantity plates and tail part, Sunday Motors wheels (36-hole rear rim welded and re-drilled to work with the unique 32-hole rear hub), hydraulic rear brake and stem / handlebar derived from a downhill mountain bike, and extra.
Claudio Lanconelli of Lanko Tuning dealt with the engine work, together with a 75cc Malossi cylinder, lateral reed valve consumption, Dell’Orto 19mm carb, and many port work. Based on Massimo, this Ciao tracker is simply as enjoyable on the monitor as within the paddock — particularly within the fingers of flat monitor champion Niko Sorbo:
“The Speciao is of course very enjoyable to trip as you possibly can think about from the movies during which the pilot Niko Sorbo whizzes it across the monitor…very gentle and quick, an actual toy for grown-up kids 😁”
Under, we speak to Massimo for full particulars on the construct, together with extra images from Annalisa Pisanelli.
Ciao Tracker: Builder Interview
• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.
Fuchs Workshop was born within the late 90s, making ready monitor bikes, when the time period “Particular” was nonetheless little used. These have been the years of “Tuning.”
The Ravenna workshop specializes within the processing of aluminum sheets; it’s made out of tanks to fairings, from tails to mudguards in hand-wrought aluminum.
We additionally supply 3D design providers, building of parts from stable inventory with CNC machines, creation of fashions and composite buildings.
The most effective recognized bikes constructed by Fuchs Workshop are the Yellow Weapon, a GS1000 Suzuki designed by Oberdan Bezzi; the Fortunate Legend based mostly on a Suzuki Bandit 1200 devoted to Marco Lucchinelli; as much as the final motorbike offered in 2022, the Moto Guzzi Enzo 1000sp.
• Please inform us in regards to the construct.
The thought was to make one thing to make use of within the paddocks throughout the flat monitor races and occasions we do throughout Europe. Having simply an previous and tacky Piaggio Ciao (1980) accessible, the choice was made simply.
So we actually sawed the body in half and widened it by 5cm, similar factor for the fork. Then got here the creation of the mandatory trellis in aluminum tubes as reinforcement.
The development of the cushioned saddle help is in aluminium. The tail part and quantity plates are in hand-beaten boxed aluminium. I modified the plastic aspect panels of the engine with hand-beaten aluminum inserts.
Devoted handlebar help derived from Downhill bikes, as is the Shimano hydraulic rear disc brake system.
Wheels derive from a Sunday pitbike; the rear hub is unique Ciao to which the 32 holes for the spokes have been closed by welding as a substitute of the 36 of the brand new rims (subsequently re-drilling on the desk within the milling machine).
The cylinder now a 75cc Malossi, crankcase with lateral reed valve consumption, Dell’Orto 19mm carburettor, and plenty of submitting on the top shaft, switch ports, and piston.
New staggered transmission line with pulleys and toothed belts, elimination of the clutch weights for pedal beginning and elimination of the valve lifter, rather than a brand new recoil starter.
Digital ignition.
Exhaust sponsored by SC, who’d equipped two silencers however they have been too huge for the Ciao — and subsequently the current silencer was constructed by me in aluminum and marked SC.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
Our little Piaggio Ciao is called “Speciao” (Particular-Ciao).
• Are you able to inform us what it’s prefer to trip?
The Speciao is of course very enjoyable to trip as you possibly can think about from the movies during which the pilot Niko Sorbo whizzes it across the monitor…very gentle and quick, an actual toy for grown-up kids 😁
Builder: Fuchs Workshop
Engine work: Lanko Tuning (Claudio Lanconelli)
Photographs by: Annalisa Pisanelli
Comply with the Builder
Instagram: @fuchs_workshop
Fb: @fuchsworkshop
