This 1967 Wards Riverside FFA 250 motorcycle is in Grand Terrace, California and can be found on eBay with a current bid price of just over $500 but the reserve isn’t met. The Buy It Now price is $2,650 for this bike which is “unrestored and all original save the Battery, fuel lines, and petcocks.” Bellissimo!
You probably all know that Montgomery Ward imported motorcycles by different manufacturers such as Motobecane, Bianchi, Lambretta, Mitsubishi, and Benelli, who made this bike. Benelli made the 50 cc, 125 cc, and 250 cc motorcycles for Wards. Other companies such as Sears (Allstate), JC Penny, and others, had their own private-label motorcycles and minibikes made by others, too.
I’m surprised that this 250 doesn’t have the original gas, even the tires are the ones that came with it back in 1967. The seller says that the “paint is a metal flake blue, the decals on the tank are well preserved because the first owner covered them with stickers which I carefully removed with a hairdryer and a lot of patience.” They do mention a couple of flaws in the finish and a rip in the seat, but just wait until you get to be 50 years old, you’ll have those, too!
This is Benelli’s 250 cc, four-cycle, single-cylinder with 20 hp good for around 90 mph! With a single-cylinder! This model came in either the candy-apple blue and white seen here or in a black and gray color combo. I like the blue, or I guess the black would work, too. I think I prefer two or three cylinders over one-cylinder motorcycles, but I wouldn’t mind owning this one just for neighborhood duty. Are you a fan of these “catalog-captive-import” motorcycles or do you like your bikes to have an actual motorcycle maker’s name on them?
If you needed a scooter, this would be a cool alternative.
If you needed a scooter, then this would make a cool alternative.
Ok, the Italian’s have always been optimistic people, but 90 mph, on THIS? I don’t think so. A Honda Superhawk, maybe, but I highly doubt it on this bike. Even the seller claims 65, and even that is optimistic. I remember, seeing these in “Monkey Wards”, but never actually saw anyone riding them. Sure was a clean design. Probably not a bad bike, but if you drove one of these in Milwaukee in 1967, well, let’s just say you may have run into some “interference”. ( maybe down by UWM would have been ok, the Harley crowd seemed to stay away from the university) I wonder what the story was with this bike. Sad, bidding is still pretty low. Scotty, I’m looking at you!
The Benelli me and my buddies drooled over was the Volcano. 180 cc minibike, small and crazy fast .
If you want a scooter – here is my 1962 Sears (NOT Allstate) by Puch. 792 original miles from new but bound to be a few more as I intend to ride it this Memorial Day Weekend!
Brakeservo, you can put even more miles on it by riding it over to our garage! I’d love to have that.
I have the 350cc single cylinder model…currently under restoration
Auction update, this bike sold for the Buy It Now price of $2,650.
My Dad worked for Wards, and in 1968, brought home this exact bike (look a like). That was the first vehicle I ever “drove” solo (at 10 years old – we lived in Orlando Florida pre-Disney and the only time anything came around the neighborhood with lights on top were ambulances to carry the Retiree away to the hospital or morgue), so I had the run of the streets! I was going to restore it after Dad passed, but Mom gave it away. Never before had I EVER come so close to murder.