MASERATI

50cc T2SS - 1960

The sign of the trident

What a prestigious name for a modest 50cc two-wheeler! Yet the links between Maserati autos and Maserati motorcycles were slight, though both companies were part of the Orsi Industrial Group. In fact, the two-wheelers were built in a spark plug factory – and the Maserati brothers had been famous for spark plugs before they built their first racing car.

First Maserati Motorcycle

The first Maserati motorcycle, the Tipo TV-125/T2, was completed in 1953, powered by a 125cc two-stroke. Using the same frame but with a telescopic fork, the Tipo L160/T4 was powered by a 160cc four-stroke single. In 1955 the two bikes were joined by the 250cc Tipo 250/T4 – a vertical single-cylinder four-stroke – and, also by the inevitable ohc 175cc, the Tipo 175/S4, capable of 84 mph. At that time, the Swiss firm Condor fitted the Maserati 250 engine in its Grand Spotr model.

Sporting Mopeds

It was at the 1957 Milan Salon that the first Maserati mopeds appeared as utility models, with pressed-steel frames or sports form with tubular frames. The T2S came in 1959, with a classic double-cradle frame, while the 1960 T2SS had a reversed-cradle frame, with the engine cantilevered out ahead of the down-tubes. It had all the ingredients for a sports bike – exposed springs on the from fork and rear dampers 180-degree front mudguard, dropped handlebars, dual seat and. Recessed fuel tank. But it was hardly a true "competizione," since it still had pedals and the real muffler was concealed inside a dummy megaphone exhaust.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 50cc (40x39.5 mm) air-cooled single-cylinder; flywheel magneto/dynamo

Power Rating: 2.8 hp @ 6700 rpm

Valves: two-stroke

Fuel System: carburetor

Transmission: 3-speed handlebar-shift, chain final drive

Suspension: telescopic forks (front); swing-arm with twin dampers (rear)

Brakes: drum (front & rear)

Wheels: 3.00x19 inch (front & rear)

Weight: 130 lb

Maximum Speed: 47 mph

Total output of the motorcycles built by the Maserati spark plug factory is believed to have been fewer than 100 machines of all types.