SWM (motorcycles)

Last updated
SWM
Company type Subsidiary
IndustryMotorcycle manufacturing
Founded1971;55 years ago (1971) in Milan
FounderPietro Sironi, Fausto Vergani
Headquarters
Biandronno, Varese
,
Italy
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsMotorcycle
Website swm-motorcycles.it
2026 SWM Stormbreaker V1200 SWM Stormbreaker V1200 2026.jpg
2026 SWM Stormbreaker V1200

SV.VM (Sironi Vergani Vimercate Milano) is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1971 by Piero Sironi and Fausto Vergani and owned by Shineray Group of Chongqing, China. Based in Milan, SWM manufactured Observed Trials, Enduro, Motocross and off-road motorcycles in the 1970s and 1980s. They started with small capacity Sachs engined enduro bikes and began making Rotax engined trials bikes in 1977. The other main manufacturers at this time included Fantic Motor, Bultaco and Montesa.

Contents

Making the announcement during EICMA 2014 show in Milan, SWM are back on the market by introducing six street and off-road bikes with engine size between 300 and 650cc.

History

Trials Bikes

SWM started making Rotax TL125 and TL320 trials bikes in 1977. Rotax built a special trials version of their rotary valve motor, with development input from Sammy Miller and Charles Coutard. Acerbis made the plastic mouldings, and suspension was by Marzocchi. These first trials machines were red and white. [1]

In 1979 yellow and black models appeared, and in 1980 these were fitted with Girling Gas shocks and Betor forks. [1] Gilles Burgat won the 1981 Trials world championship on an SWM.

In 1982 a 240 model was produced with a blue frame, acknowledging Pernod's trials sponsorship. [1]

In 1983 all bikes got alloy swing arms, and the TL350 Jumbo was introduced. This was a new reed valve motor and frame wearing the same yellow and blue colours. [1]

In 1984 the 125 and 320 were put in the new frame, but then production ceased. [1]

Enduro Bikes

SWM RSGS and SWM TF1 in capacities 125, 175, 250, 280, 350, 370, 440, 506

Joan Riudalbá, riding an SWM TF1 of 125 cc was Enduro Spanish Champion in 1980. [2]

When SWM went into liquidation Armstrong of Bolton, England bought the rights to the SWM XN Tornado, a Rotax engined enduro machine of 350cc or 506 cc. With CCM, Armstrong developed and marketed a military version, the Armstrong MT500, which was so successful Harley-Davidson bought the manufacturing rights in 1986, [3] and further developed the bike as the MT350E. [4]


SWM today

SWM went in liquidation in 1984 and production ceased. There are still people out there riding SWMs in classic and twinshock trials in the UK. Rotax engines spares are still readily available, with many of the other spares that went out of production, like the Acerbis plastics, are being produced and distributed by specialist companies such as MotoSWM in the UK and MidWest SWM in the U.S.

2014 Resurrection

2025 SWM Super Six 500 SWM Super Six 500 2025.jpg
2025 SWM Super Six 500

Engineer Ampelio Macchi, formerly with Cagiva, Aprilia and Husqvarna Motorcycles, is driving the resurgence of the SWM brand with six new models displayed at EICMA 2014. Funding for the company has come from China via the entity Shineray Group. SWM will keep manufacturing in Italy at Biandronno near Varese, in the old factory of Husqvarna (when the brand belonged to the Cagiva Group, now MV Agusta), sold in 2014 by Husqvarna's then owner, the BMW Group. Apparently, some of SWM's engines will be the old Husqvarna engines developed with Cagiva. Current Husqvarnas use KTM engines, following the acquisition by Pierer Mobility AG. [5]

Current models

Enduro

SWM RS 300 R SWM RS300 R.jpg
SWM RS 300 R

Motard

SWM SM 500R SWM SM500R.jpg
SWM SM 500R

Dual–Sport

Naked

Scrambler

SWM Silver Vase T650 SWM Silver Vase 650T.jpg
SWM Silver Vase T650

Road

SWM Gran Milano SWM Gran Milano 2026.jpg
SWM Gran Milano

Sidecar

SWM Urban Sidecar 525 SWM Urban 525 Sidecar 2025.jpg
SWM Urban Sidecar 525

Scooters

SWM Venturo 125 SWM Venturo 125.jpg
SWM Venturo 125

E–Bikes

SWM Binsen Pro and Dirt Bike SWM Binsen.jpg
SWM Binsen Pro and Dirt Bike

See also

Sources

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "SWM History – Moto SWM". www.motoswm.co.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2006.
  2. ↑ "Champion bikes: motorcycles that became legendary thank's to their sporting successes". Archived from the original on 2006-11-02. Retrieved 2006-12-03. Museumoto. Bassella.com Champion Bikes (retrieved December 4, 2006)
  3. ↑ "Armstrong Military Motorcycles". dropbears.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2005. Retrieved 3 December 2006.
  4. ↑ "Harley-Davidson MT350E Army Bike". RealClassic.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2007-10-07. Retrieved 2007-12-29.
  5. ↑ "鑫源海外并购建基地 要生产高档越野摩托车". 鳳凰網. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
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