Looking at this sleek, aerodynamic 1962 Aermacchi Chimera 250, it’s not hard to believe that Aermacchi started as an aeronautic company making seaplanes in 1913. They concentrated on airplanes throughout the next two world wars and designed their first motorcycle in 1950. That 125-cc model was a long way from this jet-age beauty with its beautiful and unusual cladding in contrasting blue and white. The only thing that throws me is the front fender that looks like it belongs on a dirt bike rather than this wind-cheating macchina.
Far be it for me to second-guess famous Italian designers, but I may have dropped the front fender a foot or so. Otherwise, this work of art is gorgeous and looks more like a sculpture than a working motorcycle. Aermacchi made the Chimera from 1956 to 1964 and first out of the gate was the 175 model of which 119 were made. Shortly after, a bigger 250-cc version was introduced and only 177 of those were made, none for the U.S. market, so they’re rare to see here today.
In 1960, Harley-Davidson bought a 50% stake in Aermacchi, with the remaining portion being snapped up by Harley-Davidson in 1974. Aermacchi/Harley-Davidson offered several motorcycles for the U.S. market, and after 1978 when AMF took over Harley-Davidson, the Italian division was sold. This incredible bike has been in a private collection of Italian motorcycles in Los Angeles for years.
It’s unusual to see white hand grips and a white seat on a motorcycle today, but I like them, they just add another unusual bit of flair to this 250. The Chimera, being a covered or shrouded bike, was never very popular and the company tried a couple of versions without the shrouding, which seemed to go over better with buyers. Give me this bike every time. The seller mentions a small chip in the paint that has been touched up, otherwise this one looks ready for show duty.
The covered engine is an Aermacchi 246-cc single-cylinder four-stroke, air-cooled engine with just under 14 horsepower and 13 lb-ft of torque. It sends power through a four-speed transmission to the rear wheel via a chain drive, all covered, of course. The seller says that it runs and operates well and they have it listed here on eBay in Tarzana, California and they’re asking $18,500 or offer. That seems like a very reasonable price given what other examples have sold for and this looks like one of the best out there. Have any of you heard of this model?
“Flair” not “Flare”. It is in the DNA of most Italian designers. Trust me.
Good eye, Frank, thanks!
I’ve flown a Macchi jet fighter trainer (I’m ex RAAF, and no I’m not a pilot, but my best mate is).
The Macchi (at the time) was the lead in jet fighter trainer for the FA-18, it was know as “constant speed variable pitch”.
Back to the bike. I love it, LOTS, because it is so different.
I’m going to say it, hang me if you disagree, but this bike would have Harley riders taking a look. It is just so unique.
Nah, I don’t think so. Harley riders never embraced the Italian jobs, trust me. It was a source of embarrassment having their hallowed name on a ring-ding offering like these. A friend had a 4 stroke 350 Sprint, nice little bike, and had some success with their MX bikes, but they realized, it was a market few HD buyers were interested in. Same thing here. When people thought of motorcycles in the 60s, traditional motorcycles came to mind. Triumph also tried a body type, and most removed it. For today, however, where unusual is in, I could see this being a blast to ride short distances.
Motorcycle enthusiasts would be crawling all over this machine, but most Harley riders would not.
On a venn diagram, the populations of enthusiasts and Harley riders would intersect, but one is not equal to, nor a subset of the other.
“I just love venn diagrams, …those three circles…right?” lol.
Who looks at Harley’s anyway?
I don’t think Harley riders would go for this beauty, but I can see where this bike might have inspired the original boat tail super glide.
I’ve seen these before, but kinda shocked on the low build numbers. That’s only 30-40 made each year.
Given the current inventory of the authors livery, I could easily see this amongst them, right beside the Rokon, the Twin 100, and the Yam 750, 3 cylinder, and a Honda scooter or 2. Leave it to the Italians, that build things with the ultimate swoopiness, as if to say,” look at me”, I wonder why that is? Thing is, most times it’s embraced by their public, but doesn’t transfer over to USA likes. I’m sure their engineers knew that, and probably never intended for these bikes to appeal to anyone else, it really is a beautiful design.
Not a ring ding, by the way. As you should well know.
Had an HD 125 dirt bike for a bit. Embraced it. Rode the whee out of it. Then had Honda’s, Yamaha’s, Victory, and then came back to The Motor Company.
Harley Motorson David Cycle!
In the winter of 1967-68 in Philly my locksmith boss bought an HD 50cc motorbike for me to use for service calls. Wow, a “real” Harley! I did discover that those skinny tires were not a winning design when riding around the docks area with wet cobblestones. At least it was easy to pick up that smooth Italian machine after I lost a few cobblestone challenges. So far that knee has only needed a small meniscus cleanup, so not too bad. But still, an Italian bike, AND a Harley…
Never saw one of these before. Wow, what a beautiful bike! Can’t imagine this ever going out of style/favor!
My buddy in high school had a 250 Aermacchi Harley-Davidson. I seem to recall it being a two-stroke. What a temperamental bike! It was awfully fast when it wanted to be but it also bogged down on fouled plugs regularly.
This is a very attractive machine, but it also brings memories of the pedal bike Pee-wee Herman once rode.
there are a couple of these at the Barber Museum in Leeds Alabama. As a Harley ElectraGlide owner i would absolutely love to have one of these, but that too far from bama for me.
I am picturing this minus the “sofa” type seat, and in its place, a small, saddle type device. But that’s just me.
The fender rides high because it is sprung with the rest of the bike, not mounted to the unsprung area of the fork like most bikes. If a rider sits on the bike the fender will be closer to the wheel.
Everyone here seems to equate Aermacchi as the company that made a ring-ding 125 and slapped the HD label on it. But Aermacchi’s best contribution to Harley was the horizontal cylinder 4-stroke Sprint 250 and 350s. Both of those bikes were fun rides ( rode them both). Probably the best non-Harley Harley to hit the road.
As mentioned above, a friend had a 350 Sprint, and was a poor machine, at least by what was expected of the name. It rode crummy, lackluster brakes,( it would go 70) vibrated profusely,( mirrors useless), and I remember hard starting. It may have even leaked oil. I think the MX bikes, which had little if anything in common with these, were more popular. The HD transmission plant in Wauwatosa, now empty, had a MX “test track” behind the facility we used to ride on. Growing up in Milwaukee, I just don’t ever remember seeing anything but HD, or an occasional “Limey”, but almost never anything like this.
Interesting, it was a friend who had the Sprints I rode, and yes they’d shake the fillings out of your teeth and couldn’t keep up with the then current Honda 350, but they had a lot of torque and he loved those bikes.
I am no expert on Motorcycles, though I have had a Triumph, a Honda and a Harley. I seem to have heard of this bike before and I think it is way cool. I am surprised that the price seems low for such a rare piece.
Seems like it should be in a museum!
Auction update: the seller lowered their buy-it-now price to $17,950.
The design spawned 250 and 350cc racers which were quite successful in Europe. The engine being horizontal made the bike a great handler.