MM
Also see: Mazzetti
1927 - 1957
The MM (Mario Mazzetti) was an Italian motorcycle company located in Bologna that opened 1924 and closed in 1957.
Founded by Mario Mazzetti (1895-1964), a former employee of the GD, another motorcycle company based in Bologna, along with Alfonso Morini, Angelo Mattei and Joseph Massi-Deck. In 1924 MM debuted a 125cc monocycle two speed (with the engine patented by Mazzetti) with success because of the victories achieved in various competitions including:
- Milan-Napoli 1925
- Italian Serie A Bicycle Motor 1926 and 1927
- Circuito del Lario 1927 and 1928
- Grand Prix of Nations 1927, 1928 and 1929
- Italian Serie A Speed Seniores 125 1928
In 1929 with it's growing success and in order to fall into a specific cc category, a 175 four-stroke engine was simplified and in accordance with the Code of the road allowed them an exemption from plates and a drivers license. With the abolition of the facilities in 1933, the 175 cc was replaced by a 250 cc. Both had some success in competitions. In 1933 the 175 cc won the world record in the mile run on miles, while the 250 cc won the Circuito del Lario in 1938 and 1939 and the Milano-Taranto in 1940.
In 1930, the 175 cc through the 350 cc were fitted with side valves on one side, like traditional motorcycles with rigid frame and a hand gear change, but with their great quality and reliability, they become the "official motorcycle" of the Traffic police in Bologna). Minor success has made with the 500 cc in 1934 and decent success with the 350 cc. Both, with the appropriate updates, would remain in the catalog until 1950.
1937 marked the abandonment of M.M. by Alfonso Morini. Its selling price was 25,000 pounds for some equipment and a motorcycle. Just the bike (turned into a Motocarro), would mark the beginning of Morini as a manufacturer, which in the 1946 would cause him to open as Moto Morini.
World War II heavily affected M.M., which prompted them to take advantage of military orders, as many of the Italian motorcycle manufactures did, and because of hostility to the Fascist regime of Mazzetti.
Work resumed in 1947 with a 250 cc Single equipped with a front suspension fork with telescoping hydraulics (first example in Italy) and an elastic frame. In 1950 a new 250 cc alongside with a new 350 cc derived from the quarter-liter were launched. The M.M. were among the most powerful bikes on the market in Italy: a 250 cc in 1953 declared a maximum speed of 134 km/h (equal to that of a "half" liter like the Gilera Saturno or Moto Guzzi Falcone, while the 350 cc was clocking close to 150km/h.
The market had changed and was calling for more economical motorcycles and scooters, which range was not avaliable from MM. An attempt to respond to the demands of the market was the launch of the 125 cc two days into 1954, but it was to late. In 1957 MM declared the failure of the MM marque.
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