Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
It was born in a period - the end of the fifties - of crisis in the motorcycle market due to the growing diffusion of utility cars, which saw mopeds and 125 cm³ as the only vital sectors. In this last sector, Guzzi was present with the Zigolo 110, presented in 1959 as an evolution of the original model dating back to 1953. To better preside over the eighth of a liter range, in which the presence of Gilera, Moto Morini and MV Agusta was stronger, it was decided to set up a new vehicle with a 4-stroke engine, like its rivals (the Zigolo was a 2-stroke) . The Stornello, as it will be christened, was ready in 1960: it was powered by a pushrod and rocker arm single cylinder, with two parallel valves and a 4-speed pedal-operated gearbox; with 7 HP at 7200 rpm it pushed the bike to around 100 km/h. At the end of 1961 the Sport version was presented, with inclined valve cylinder head and hemispherical combustion chamber, delivering 8.5 HP at 7500 rpm and 110 km/h, recognizable from the standard model (renamed Turismo) by the sporty handlebar in two pieces and the saddle with pigtail. 1962 saw the debut on the racing fields of a Regularity version of the Stornello, with an engine derived from the Sport model increased to 12 HP at 8000 rpm. The off-road commitment, already successfully tested in Mandello with the Lodola, is also intended to rival the Gilera, dominator of the 125 category with its Giubileo Regolarità. The Stornello Regolarità won various laurels, both national and international, until 1964, when Guzzi withdrew from racing. In 1965 a replica of the official model was put on the market and remained in the catalog until 1967. In 1967 the Stornello range was completely revised, with the entry into production of the Sport America (tourist), Sport Italia (sports) and Scrambler versions, the latter intended for non-demanding off-road use. The following year a new version was added, the 160, with an engine increased to 153.2 cm³ thanks to the bore being increased from 52 to 58 mm (the stroke remained at 58 mm). The engine delivered 12.6 HP at 7500 rpm and pushed the "Stornello 160" to 118 km/h. At the 1969 Milan Motor Show, a new edition of the Stornello was presented, completely redesigned in terms of aesthetics and with an engine equipped with a 5-speed gearbox. This new model went into production in 1971, both in road version (125 and 160) and scrambler (125 only), remaining in production until 1974 and in the catalog until the following year, when it was replaced by a new model with a twin engine. Benelli origin times. A series of the 5-speed Stornello was created for the Army, characterized by the green color and small differences compared to the civilian model.
It was born in a period - the end of the fifties - of crisis in the motorcycle market due to the growing diffusion of utility cars, which saw mopeds and 125 cm³ as the only vital sectors. In this last sector, Guzzi was present with the Zigolo 110, presented in 1959 as an evolution of the original model dating back to 1953. To better preside over the eighth of a liter range, in which the presence of Gilera, Moto Morini and MV Agusta was stronger, it was decided to set up a new vehicle with a 4-stroke engine, like its rivals (the Zigolo was a 2-stroke) . The Stornello, as it will be christened, was ready in 1960: it was powered by a pushrod and rocker arm single cylinder, with two parallel valves and a 4-speed pedal-operated gearbox; with 7 HP at 7200 rpm it pushed the bike to around 100 km/h. At the end of 1961 the Sport version was presented, with inclined valve cylinder head and hemispherical combustion chamber, delivering 8.5 HP at 7500 rpm and 110 km/h, recognizable from the standard model (renamed Turismo) by the sporty handlebar in two pieces and the saddle with pigtail. 1962 saw the debut on the racing fields of a Regularity version of the Stornello, with an engine derived from the Sport model increased to 12 HP at 8000 rpm. The off-road commitment, already successfully tested in Mandello with the Lodola, is also intended to rival the Gilera, dominator of the 125 category with its Giubileo Regolarità. The Stornello Regolarità won various laurels, both national and international, until 1964, when Guzzi withdrew from racing. In 1965 a replica of the official model was put on the market and remained in the catalog until 1967. In 1967 the Stornello range was completely revised, with the entry into production of the Sport America (tourist), Sport Italia (sports) and Scrambler versions, the latter intended for non-demanding off-road use. The following year a new version was added, the 160, with an engine increased to 153.2 cm³ thanks to the bore being increased from 52 to 58 mm (the stroke remained at 58 mm). The engine delivered 12.6 HP at 7500 rpm and pushed the "Stornello 160" to 118 km/h. At the 1969 Milan Motor Show, a new edition of the Stornello was presented, completely redesigned in terms of aesthetics and with an engine equipped with a 5-speed gearbox. This new model went into production in 1971, both in road version (125 and 160) and scrambler (125 only), remaining in production until 1974 and in the catalog until the following year, when it was replaced by a new model with a twin engine. Benelli origin times. A series of the 5-speed Stornello was created for the Army, characterized by the green color and small differences compared to the civilian model.
