Italjet

Italjet

Bernie Schreiber 1980
(scan from my prospectus collection)

2 stroke Bultaco inspired


Bernie Schreiber

1980 World Round Italy Valmalenco Bernie Schreiber on top of the huge rock Great Foto from Alfredi Pupi with his permission	1980 World Round Italy Valmalenco, Bernie Schreiber Horribly steep with those brakes.. Bernie won his 1st World Round on the new Italjet without a minder, only toolbox in his back bum Great Foto from Alfredi Pupi with his permission

So far, Italjet was producing Kids Motocrossers near Bologna.

When Bultaco and the spanish industry run into recession and could not size down their factories (socialist government did not allow to sack people...), a Bultaco copy made by Italjet rose 1980. Bernie Schreiber became as a 20 years old trials world champion on Bultaco in 1979. In 1980, the Bultaco works team broke up, as there was no more money and bikes. Vesterinen went to Montesa, Toni Gorgot to Ossa, Martin Lampkin continued with the help of Comerford UK, but finally went to SWM.

Bernie, 21 years old, really wanted to keep the title and felt, that still the Bultaco would suit him best. He got a Bultaco from the Italian importer later in 1980 and moved to Italy for the rest of the season. At that time, he was contacted by Italjet, which wanted to hire some Bultaco technicians and Manuel Soler from the Bultaco family. Manuel finally went to Montesa, riding the white Cota 349. Bernie was finishing the season on this green Bultaco copy, but he lost the world championship in 1980 to Ulf Karlson. He wanted to improve the bike for 1981 season. The Italjet people changed some things, partly without asking Bernie, the bike put on weight and the engine characteristics did not fit him. Bernie struggled and finished only 6th. Gilles Burgat won on the SWM 320. 1982, Bernie then went to SWM and became 2nd on the SWM 320, beaten by a certain Eddy Lejeune on the Honda 360....Same ranking in 1983, 2nd, but then on the SWM 350 Jumbo.

As far as I can memorise, the first time Italjet was ridden by Bernie Schreiber at the World Champion Round Turtmanntal 1980 in Switzerland. It was then imported by a kids crosser agent, but I think only a few were sold in Switzerland. Maybe the importer was more interested in Motocross plus the trialists in Switzerland were loyal to Bultaco and Orlando Calonder and it was felt almost to be a betrayer to ride an Italjet.

The first green model was quite heavy, about 97kg, altough the scan from my prospectus tells 93kg... here the scans, priced at CHF 4700, about same as or slightly above competitiors.


Italjet 350 T, 1980, a 325cc in fact, a Bultaco copy, priced at CHF 4700	Italjet 250 T, priced at CHF 4500


100T, a 75cc in fact	a very nice kids trials bike with Minarelli engine (also used by Fantic)

Here 2 pics from 1982. The exhaust is different and it looks lighter, slimmer


	1980 model for comparison

T 250 from 1982	T 350 from 1982

The last Trials model was the white "Piuma" = feather of 1983 and said to be about 3-5kg lighter than the first model. The golden rims look very nice.

Philippe Berlatier in Stadion Trials in Paris 1983 on the white Piuma

Weight still indicated at 92 kg, but must be lighter than the first green Mk I model



	Italjet Piuma, seen 2008 in Moudon

Today, I like the green frogs, but they are rare as are the spare parts.


Italjet 325, La Roche en Brenil 2008	Moudon 2006

The splendid Italjet 325 of Bruno Mortet, Soultz 2007, with longer shocks

4 stroke Scott 350

Very interesting and rare are the 4 strokers. They were not competitive, more a trail bike, but look very nice.
actually 322ccm

90kg ??? maybe 99kg would already be good....

Today's Scotts

here a Scott from a Swiss Collector



originally sold by ex Swiss Champion Armin Bärenfaller in the Wallis

Italjet 1984 Scott

seen in the internet