The retro-styled 440cc single-cylinder SWM Gran Turismo and Gran Milano arrive in Australia in the next couple of weeks at $7490 and $7990 ride away.
They are good price points sitting between the Royal Enfield Classic 350 at $6490 ride away and Classic 500 at $8790 and cheaper than the Yamaha SR400 at $7999 (plus on-road costs and kickstart only).
The Gran Turismo and Gran Milano are among several new models made by Italian dirt bike manufacturer Speedy Working Motors which has been revived with an injection of Chinese funding.
SWM Gran Milano 440 roadsterThe SWM range in Australia now includes RS300R, RS500R and RS650R enduros, SM500R and SM650R supermoto and the Supernal 600 by the end of the year.
Mojo Motorcycles boss Michael Poynton says that, at this stage, the Silver Vase scrambler is not confirmed for Australia.
“We will consider this model again in 2017 after we are up and running with the Gran Turismo and Gran Milano.,” he says.
While the SWM dirt bikes use Husqvarna engines, at the heart of the Gran Milano and Gran Turismo is a new SWM 445.3cc air and oil-cooled, four-stroke SOHC four-valve single-cylinder engine with 22.4kW (30hp) and 35.8Nm of torque at 5300 revs. It’s married to a five-speed transmission with cable clutch.
“Gran Turismo” seems a bit of a misnomer, though, as we couldn’t imagine a thumper would be much of a grand tourer.
However, both models will have enormous range with a massive 22.5-litre fuel tank and miserly economy which should allow you to cruise about 500km before needing a top-up.
While the styling is pleasantly retro, that big tank looks a little too modern and out of place with the rest of the bike with its classic wire wheels, cradle steel frame, twin shocks and, on the Gran Turismo, a rolled bench seat with chrome grab handle.
The Gran Turismo is a little more old school with conventional forks, skinny 110/120mm tyres, a 19-inch front wheel and 260/220mm single disc brakes, but weighs only 148kg dry. That should be about 170kg fully fuelled.
The Gran Milano is 3kg lighter and has adjustable 47mm upside down forks, 120/150mm tyres, 17-inch wheels and 320/220mm single discs (Brembo up front), so it should be a more precise-handling and sharper-braking machine.
They come with a two-year warranty and are distributed in Australia by Mojo Motorcycles who also import CFMoto, Kymco, Sherco, SWM and Landboss (a diesel utility vehicle).
Mojo boss Michael Poynton says the bikes are made in Italy and have “the right look” and he expects to sell about 400 over the next year.
SWM was founded in 1971 in Milan, Italy, producing dirt bikes until 1984 when the company went into liquidation.
The company has been revived by former Cagiva, Aprilia and Husqvarna engineer Ampelio Macchi with funding from Chinese company motorcycle and ATV Shineray.
They are built in Varese factory which was bought by Shineray from Husqvarna when they were owned by BMW.
SWM plans to develop more models, including larger-capacity, multi-cylinder road and adventure bikes.