Guzzl / Parilla 50cc

[canuck750]

I looked at this cute little Parilla 4 stroke on Friday



Its at a local shop, has the original owners manual and parts books as well

On the headstock is stamped Moto Guzzi and a frame number beginning with MG----



It sure is cute and it runs, seller is asking $2K CDN.

Seller has pictures of other Parilla bikes just like this one but in light silver / blue.

Anyone know if Guzzi made the frames for these early Parilla singles?

[Groover]

Resembles the Moto Guzzi Cardellino, but not quite it.

I found a little information here, but no mention of it being a branch production on Moto Guzzi. Looks neat though.

http://www.rmsothebys.com/lf11/london/lots/1960-parilla-50cc/851167

[canuck750]

Thanks for the link, its the same bike. I hope it goes to a good home.

[Hahnda]

The bike in the Sotheby's link looks like a 4-stroke and the the one first posted appears to be a 2-stroke.

Neat looking bikes.

[canuck750]

The bike in the Sotheby's link looks like a 4-stroke and the the one first posted appears to be a 2-stroke.

Neat looking bikes.

The bike I posted pictures of is a 4 stroke.

[Hahnda]

It doesn't seem to have the access cover to adjust the valves like the one in the other link. Also the carb on the 2-stroke faces forward while the one on the 4 goes to the rear.

http://www.motoparilla.org/49cc_17.htm

[twowings]

If that's a four-stroke, I'm really not seeing how any sort of valve train might be actuated...

[Lannis]

If that's a four-stroke, I'm really not seeing how any sort of valve train might be actuated...

Many of those old Italian tiddlers, and bikes up to 250cc, like Motobis, Garellis, etc were styled such that the pushrods were hidden very well inside the cylinder and cylinder head castings, so that they were nice and round and smooth but incidentally looked like two-strokes. 

Don't know if that's the case here, but ....

Lannis

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Many of those old Italian tiddlers, and bikes up to 250cc, like Motobis, Garellis, etc were styled such that the pushrods were hidden very well inside the cylinder and cylinder head castings, so that they were nice and round and smooth but incidentally looked like two-strokes. 

Don't know if that's the case here, but ....

Lannis

Intake and exhaust attached to cylinder = 2 stroke unless it's a "flathead"/sidevalve engine. Looks like a piston port 2 stroke to me.

[Groover]

I didn't notice that when I posted, but I do agree. The one in the Sotheby's auction (in the photos) must be the 123cc 4-stroke mentioned further in the listing. I don't think there were any 50cc 4-stroke engines until Vespa made some recently used in the Modern Vespa.

The one Canuck posted is definitely a piston ported 2-stroke as Charlie mentioned.

[Hahnda]

There was a 49cc 4-stroke they were using. Info in the link.

http://www.motoparilla.org/49cc_17.htm

They had both a 2 and a 4, they looked very similar overall and it appears that they were interchangeable.

[Groover]

You are correct!

[Rick4003]

Intake and exhaust attached to cylinder = 2 stroke unless it's a "flathead"/sidevalve engine. Looks like a piston port 2 stroke to me.

 :1: looks very much as a two stroke to me. The other one in the link is clearly a 4 stroke.

-Ulrik

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I didn't notice that when I posted, but I do agree. The one in the Sotheby's auction (in the photos) must be the 123cc 4-stroke mentioned further in the listing. I don't think there were any 50cc 4-stroke engines until Vespa made some recently used in the Modern Vespa.

The one Canuck posted is definitely a piston ported 2-stroke as Charlie mentioned.

Honda made millions of 50 cc 4-strokes of course, and even tiny Moto Morini did as well.

[canuck750]

Honda made millions of 50 cc 4-strokes of course, and even tiny Moto Morini did as well.

The seller has the original exploded parts book and owners manual, its says 4 stroke and even though you can't 'see' the push rod tunnel it is hiding in there.

[KiwiKev]

Reminds me of an NSU Quickly my mum had for scooting up town Mangaweka.
Nice little bike, I discovered one day by accident that the motor would run backwards:-)   Not as much power as frontways but run it did!

Is this a feature of 2 stroke engines I wonder ??


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[Groover]

I didn't notice that when I posted, but I do agree. The one in the Sotheby's auction (in the photos) must be the 123cc 4-stroke mentioned further in the listing. I don't think there were any 50cc 4-stroke engines until Vespa made some recently used in the Modern Vespa.

The one Canuck posted is definitely a piston ported 2-stroke as Charlie mentioned.

I'm quoting myself here as a reminder to all that you should never believe anything you read on the internet especially if posted by me 

[canuck750]

I'm quoting myself here as a reminder to all that you should never believe anything you read on the internet especially if posted by me 

Charlie is right, the seller is wrong, I found this web page for the 4 stroke and 2 stroke Moto Parilla range. The 4 stroke is easy to identify, 2 stroke has the spark plug centered in the head.

http://www.motoparilla.org/49cc_17.htm

[wyrtyr2]

When I raced enduro carts in high school, Parilla's were the motor to beat. Comets also. American motors were left in dust

[Aaron D.]

Reminds me of an NSU Quickly my mum had for scooting up town Mangaweka.
Nice little bike, I discovered one day by accident that the motor would run backwards:-)   Not as much power as frontways but run it did!

Is this a feature of 2 stroke engines I wonder ??


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Only single cylinder piston port engines. My Metralla did it a few times, you could hear the difference-after you realized it was possible. Quite a shock the first time I tried to take off!

[KiwiKev]

Lol, yeh was a good party trick to bump start it backwards and take off in reverse ;-p


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[tazio]

Vindicated!
I swore my Harley 2 stroke attempted to take off backwards when I was in my youth.
Nobody would believe me. I'M NOT CRAZY!!
~um,well maybe just a wee bit..

[KiwiKev]

Vindicated!
I swore my Harley 2 stroke attempted to take off backwards when I was in my youth.
Nobody would believe me. I'M NOT CRAZY!!
~um,well maybe just a wee bit..

Yeh well the NSU Quckly we had certainly did run backwards, once I found out I did it numerous times to show off to my mates as you do.

Btw my first bike was also an NSU - 250 Supermax, my bro bought it new and sold it to me when he moved up to something bigger.


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[oldbike54]

 A YZ 490 would start backwards also , which led to some excitement for the 22 year old that was on it    We told not to let the clutch out as he was rolling backwards down a loading dock ramp

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Only single cylinder piston port engines. My Metralla did it a few times, you could hear the difference-after you realized it was possible. Quite a shock the first time I tried to take off!

Happened on my brother's Yamaha YDS3 (2-stroke twin) a few times, so not only single cylinder engines.

Running a 2-stroke backwards is how (most?) gas powered golf carts do reverse.

[Aaron D.]

Now that you mention it, I am having trouble imagining why any 2 stroke with timing not too far off TDC wouldn't run backward, even reed valvers.

The Yanmar diesel in one of our boats-a single-would also start backwards. I hate when that happens.

[KiwiKev]

A YZ 490 would start backwards also , which led to some excitement for the 22 year old that was on it    We told not to let the clutch out as he was rolling backwards down a loading dock ramp

Lol, sounds like a formula for disaster Dusty, what happened then ??

[KiwiKev]

Now that you mention it, I am having trouble imagining why any 2 stroke with timing not too far off TDC wouldn't run backward, even reed valvers.

The Yanmar diesel in one of our boats-a single-would also start backwards. I hate when that happens.

Full speed ahead - backwards lol.

How did that start spinning in reverse, assuming it would be electric start ?

Maybe backfire on compression

[Aaron D.]

Oh, the diesel let me now it was running backward by the exhaust filling the cabin!

It did it when it was being recalcitrant, after giving it a 5 second or more crank, and yes it would come nearly to a stop, then come to life with an odd sound and the aforementioned fumes coming out of the engine compartment.

Unlike a 2 stroke there were many disadvantages besides going backwards when it was running backwards!