Luigi Segale started his professional involvement with motorcycles a dealer in 1972, but he truly made a name for himself by partnering with Dirk Ildebrand, a frame builder, and building endurance racers with Japanese bikes. Here’s a rare example of Luigi’s work for sale – the bodywork has clearly seen the ground, and the front isn’t what I’d call attractive, but it’s still a hell of a cool bike that you won’t see every day. Or decade.
Segale started enjoying real success in 1980, and he was soon approached by Honda Italy to build endurance racers. In 1982, Segale-built bikes won the Italian Endurance Championship and placed 2nd and 4th in a 100 mile endurance race at Imola. For more information on Segale, check out this excerpt from Motorcycle Road & Racing Chassis: A modern review of the best independents by Keith Noakes. If you like what you see, you can buy that bike here on Amazon.
This example (Engine #: 2007813) is complemented with air shocks, 38mm Marzocchi forks, and Campagnolo magnesium wheels, and the seller claims it was used by Angelo Laudati (who won the ’82 Italian Endurance Championship with Arturo Venanzi) as a test/training bike on public streets. It comes with a spare original fairing, as well. The seller says “it is exactly as it looks: original and straight, in preserved conditions,” which I assume means that it currently does not run. Still, find this Honda endurance racer for sale in Alcheda, Italy with bidding up to $6,764 and the reserve not yet met