Benelli Buzzer

Benelli Buzzer

CYCLE WORLD IMPRESSION

FOLDING MINI-BIKES have been available for years . . . paratroopers dropped into World War II battlefields with them. Despite this, they never have attained any great level of popularity.

Limited by small engines, and even smaller wheels, they do nothing that average motorcycle enthusiasts rave about, and very little to attract non-riders.

But don't dismiss the mini-bike out of hand. Tiny 50-cc automatics, such as the Benelli "Buzzer," do have their uses, and they're fun, too.

What other form of motorized transport could a pilot throw in the rear of his light airplane, or a sailor stow in his boat cockpit?

Any private pilot or ship's captain will report that one of his greatest bugbears is arrival in a strange town from its often farout airport or harbor. Public transport usually is non-existent, and taxis are expensive.

This is the way mini-bikes should be treated, not as normal motorcycles, but as something that is either entirely for fun or purely utilitarian.

The engine in the tiny Benelli is a 49-cc two-stroke with an almost "square" bore to stroke ratio — 40 mm to 39 mm.

Having more need of flexibility than outright power, it runs on a really low, 5.5:1 compression ratio. This still is enough to give the Buzzer a top speed of over 30 mph, which seems very fast when sitting that close to the ground!

Carburetion is by Dellorto and ignition is by flywheel magneto. The unit is aircooled.

Fuel consumption is a fantastic 160 miles to the gallon! Front suspension is by a stubby little telescopic fork, while the frame is rigid. Tire sizes are a miniscule 3.00-5 in.!

The most attractive feature of the Benelli is that it can be folded small enough to be stowed away in the average automobile trunk.

First, the seat is lowered; next, the handlebars are folded inward; then the complete handlebar stem folds rearward onto the seat; and lastly, the footrests fold up. The result is a compact package not more than 18 in. high and 36 in. long.

And to do this there is no need to even touch a wrench! All the folding pieces are secured with wing-nuts which can be loosened and re-tightened sufficiently with one's fingers.

A thing which puts a great many people off mini-bike riding is the fact that the seating position appears more than a little cramped, but with the Benelli there is no need to sit with knees around the ears.

The seat extends on a long stem, which enables the rider to extend his legs to an almost-normal motorcycling position.

To illustrate one of the possible uses of the mini-bike, CW took the Buzzer to Long Beach Cessna distributor, Cessnair Aviation, Inc., and loaded it into the rear seat of a 1968 Cessna Cardinal, an all-new four placer.

This cantilever wing model, with a 150-bhp Lycoming engine, weighs 1450 lb. empty, and can fly perfectly well at a gross weight of 2350 lb. Thus a plane such as this — even allowing for a full tank of oil and fuel — is more than capable of carrying two, and maybe three, people, plus the mini-bike.

Fed up with costly cab rides from air port to town?