SWM
History
...Speedy
Working Motors, or SWM as they are better known,
started producing motorcycles in Milan, Italy in 1971.
...Co-founded
by Piero Sironi and Fausto Vergani, they began by producing
small capacity Sachs engined Enduro and Motocross bikes.
It wasn’t until 1977 that they ventured into to
the Trials market with their 125 and 320 Rotax engined
two strokes.
...Rotax had developed for SWM a version of their disc
valve motor which, at the time was unique to the trials
world. The first Red and White models, which had development
input from both Sammy Miller and Charles Coutard, utililised
the very best in Italian components such as Marzocchi
suspension and Acerbis plastics.
THE
MODELS
...From the initial launch the bike proved successful,
with only minor changes to the motor during its 8 year
production run.
...In 1979 the factory launched the first of the familiar
yellow and black models which a year later were fitted
with Betor forks and Girling Gas shocks.
...To complement the existing range, 1982 saw the introduction
of the 240 model, which in recognition of the trials teams
sponsorship from the French firm Pernod, had the frame
painted Blue.
...In 83 the bikes were treated to an aluminium swinging
arm and that year also saw the introduction of the TL350
Jumbo. The Jumbo used an all new case read Rotax motor,
which was housed in a totally new frame fitted with the
now familiar yellow Acerbis Plastics. The final models
produced in 1984 also saw the 125 and 320 motors fitted
into the Jumbo chasis, but production was ceased later
that year when SWM went into liquidation.
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THE
RIDERS
...At
the end of the ‘70s, the introduction of Italy
as manufacturer of trials bikes ended the total domination
of the Spanish three, Bultaco, Montesa and Ossa.
...Much of this success was down to attracting the best
riders, many of which, had their spell with SWM. Miller,
Coutard and John Reynolds piloted the early models,
whilst the likes of Martin Lampkin and Bernie Schreiber
took their respective national titles for SWM. However,
the pinnacle of the success story was the 1981 world
title and Scottish Six Days win by French teenager Gilles
Burgat(Picture below).
...National titles and world round success were also
recorded by stars such as Thierry Michaud, Danillo Galeazzi,
Bernard Cordonier and John Lampkin.
John
Reynolds with that famous crash hat! and Bernie Schreiber
competing in Kickstart
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