Aermacchi and Harley-Davidson produced a number of solid machines over the course of their partnership after Harley bought up a 50% stake in the Italian manufacturer. In contrast to Harley’s heavy, relatively poor-handling cruisers, the Italian/American moco-partnership made many nimble low-displacement motorcycles with superb handling and quintessential 1960’s Italian style. The Ala Verde, which was produced from ’59-’72, is a great example. The Ala Verde (or Green Wing) was the sibling to the Ala Azzurra (or Blue Wave), albeit sportier and less touring-oriented. The Ala Verde became an instant hit with amateur racers, and even after it was replaced by the Turismo Veloce, the Green Wing remained a favorite for weekend non-professional competitors.
Several generations of the Green Wing existed, with various updates and changes being made along the way. In ’67, the bike received some engine changes and a restyled tank, mudguards, duo-seat saddle, headlamp, and fork. The wheels went from 17” to 18” in order to help solve the scraping issue customers had complained about with the previous generation (in 1970 they would grow to 19”). This 1968 example is powered by an OHV horizontal air-cooled 246.2cc four-stroke single that reportedly made 16hp (some sources say 20, some say 21) at 6,500rpm, although this example is said to make 20hp. Married to the power-plant is a five-speed gearbox (shifts on the right side), I’m pretty sure however that the bike originally was fitted with a four-speed. The Ala Verde also came from the factory with a 24mm Dell’Orto (UB 24 BS2) carb and a Ceriani upside-down fork with traditional dual-spring suspenders in the rear.
The Ala Verde supposedly had a top-speed of 82mph and a total weight of 225lbs – the late-’60’s Italian motorcycle was a solid little racer. In Europe, the machine was utilized in quarter-liter class competition, and a decent amount of success was achieved on the Green Wing. The manufacturer would see its bikes put dozens of riders on podiums, and a long list of impressive results occurred aboard Ala Verdes and Ala d’Oros, but the Italian moco’s most notable success may have been at the 1964 Manx Grand Prix: out of the first six bikes to cross the finish line, four of them were Aermacchis. The lightweight rigid-spine frame and suspension on the Ala Verde boasted superb handling for machines of its era. While the OHV technology was a little long in the tooth for a race bike, it boasted a simplicity that riders and mechanics alike came to appreciate.
When first developed, Aermacchi’s overhead valve single was a monumental achievement. A handful of motorized two-wheeled scoots would be produced by the Italian company before it would eventually release its first bonafide motorcycle in the form of the 1956 Chimera, which was powered by marquee’s trademark horizontally-mounted four-stroke single-cylinder engine. The Chimera would see production until 1960. Before the plug would be pulled on the Chimera, several other bikes in the 175 and 250 displacements would be added to Aermacchi’s motorcycle lineup. One of those 250cc machines would be the Ala Verde. The racing versions were given the moniker ‘Ala d’Oro’ (or Golden/Gold Wing).
According to the seller this example was never officially sold in the US (through dealer networks), that combined with this example’s pristine condition make it an exceptionally rare bike to come across in the States. I found another 1968 Ala Verde example with only two miles on it that was seemingly withdrawn from the Bonhams auction where it was being sold. This 1968 example has a hair over 12k miles and has been shown at the La Jolla Concours, the Quail Motorcycle Gathering and other events, according to the seller. Cosmetically this example is immaculate, and it’s said to be in strong running condition as well. The owner has even put a video on YouTube of the bike being fired up, idling and riding.
This exact bike was also recently featured on ClassicMotorbikes.com with a few extra pictures and a little bit more background on the bike. You can find this 1968 Aermacchi Harley-Davidson Ala Verde 250 for sale here on Craigslist in Oceanside, California with a price of $10,200.