Sexiest Vespa Workshops: POLINI
In this instalment of our "Sexiest Vespa Workshops" series, a real highlight awaits you, as Jesco takes a trip to the provincial capital of Bergamo in the Italian region of Lombardy. There can only be one destination for fans of two-wheelers: POLINI - a name that makes the hearts of Vespa, scooter and moped riders beat faster. What our man gets to see and experience on site is definitely worth the journey.
Jesco is welcomed by Simon Polini, son of co-founder Franco Polini, who made the company big in the 1970s together with his brothers Piero and Carlo. Piero recalls the beginnings of Polini in front of our Camera and aptly describes the development: "It started as a Game, but then it became a business." They led a wild life back then. Part of it was racing, and Piero alone won countless trophies and prizes.
The beginnings of a success story
It's the 1940s, and Italy is cycling! Father Battista Polini returns from the front and begins to build robust bicycles that make it easier for workers to get around on tarmac. The children Carlo, Franco and Piero help out in the shop from an early age and develop a passion for two-wheeled mechanics.
At the end of the 1950s, motorbikes and scooters became popular. Anyone with petrol in their blood, like the Polinis, cannot help but enter the motorised two-wheeler industry with enthusiasm. In the early 70s, one of the brothers, Piero, even became a motorbike racer himself and won three Italian Enduro titles. Since then, he has stood at the top of the podium over three hundred times.
With enthusiasm, experience and ambition, the brothers acquire increasingly impressive expertise in engine tuning. Soon POLINI modifications turned the first engines into reliable products with high winning potential. Thanks to high-quality tuning parts from POLINI, both racing and leisure scooter riders are able to customise their two-wheelers more and more to their own needs. Even today, the products developed using the latest CAD technology and tested on the test bench and racetrack are characterised by their exceptional quality.
From the 2-stroke Vespa to the paraglider
The 125 cc Vespa ET3 was particularly popular at this time, and the Polini brothers teased the last out of this 2-stroke engine with their own developments. A little later, the Ciao moped came onto the market, which also benefited from the Polini brothers' innovations. These successes gave rise to today's company, which now employs 90 people and develops, builds and markets engines and parts for scooters, Vespas, mopeds, motorised paragliders and, since 2016, even e-bikes worldwide. You can of course get the right Tuning Chip E-Bikes for these e-bike engines at SIP Scootershop.
In the early 1990s, POLINI launched a new project and began producing mini bikes - authentic miniature Grand Prix bikes, completely "Made in Italy" and with reliable technical solutions. Many MotoGP champions, first and foremost Valentino Rossi, took their first steps on the race track on these small racing machines. in 1997, a new line of minicross machines with two-stroke engines followed, which have accompanied the careers of many MXGP and MX2 champions from the very beginning.
Since 2009, the "Polini Thor" brand has expanded the POLINI range to include what is probably the most complete range of two-stroke paramotors - from 80 to 250 cc - and has brought the company numerous national and international titles in various disciplines. To date, teams and riders have won five FIM World Championship titles in road racing with POLINI products: three in the 125cc class (two with Loris Capirossi and one with Valentino Rossi), one title in the 500cc class and one in the MotoGP class (both with Valentino Rossi). In addition, the "Polini Italian Cup" has been a firm favourite for scooter racing for many years.
Modern times in Bergamo
Simon guides his guest through the development department, the test laboratories, test benches, production halls and finally into the Bearing, where over 5,000 products lie on the shelves waiting to be delivered. It becomes clear that everything is done in-house at Polini and, above all, that the expertise remains within the company. From PC development and prototype production to assembly and quality checks of the individual components, Polini leaves nothing to chance, and "outsourcing" is a foreign concept for the Italians. It is no wonder that the family-run company has an outstanding position on the market and appears to be perfectly positioned for the coming years. Polini stands for "Made in Italy" like no other company. Jesco was able to see for himself that no empty promises are made in Bergamo.
POLINI at SIP Scooterhop
Of course, you can also get well over a thousand POLINI products from us - whether for classic or modern Vespas, scooters, maxi scooters and mopeds. From Racing Cylinders and Racing Exhausts to the popular Carburettors. We have also put together special POLINI Tuning Kits that combine all the advantages of the Italians in one package.
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