PUB TALK

It was the last day of Motorcycle Live (the UK modern bike show) before PUB remembered. The weather was not as dry as forecast, but what matter when the bike parking is indoors (except for a 100 yard walk to the halls)? Traditional brands seem to be doing well, with Royal Enfield, Norton, Triumph, BMW, Guzzi and Ducati (whose Scrambler range is treated and shown almost as a separate brand), but even the Chinese are joining in, having acquired Benelli and Mondial. The last one is the least easy to fathom, for the great days of FB Mondial were over 60 years ago (World Champions 1949-50-51 and 1957) so it is unlikely that the youngsters at whom their 125s are targeted will remember. They might notice that unlike most 10-11bhp 125s, the dohc Mondial boasts 10kW (13½bhp, although on launch it was quoted as 15bhp, the difference perhaps being Euro 4?).

Perhaps the youth of Italy may remember better for the ‘Pagani’ faired model on show remembers the celebrated Italian Nello Pagani who