Bianchi

Bianchi is the oldest still existing bicycle factory in the world. Founded in 1885 by Edoardo Bianchi, F.I.V. Edoardo Bianchi Spa (Fabbrica Italiana Velocipedi) is recognized as one of the most important brands in the world in cycling.
Bianchi is among the leaders of the international cycling market.

The distinctive feature of the company is the color with which the bikes came and still are painted, the green water often called celeste Bianchi.

F.I.V. Edoardo Bianchi, once also an Italian car and motorcycle manufacturer, today is part of the Swedish group Cycleurope AB. Mass production no longer takes place in Italy, where part of the design and assembly of high-end models is maintained.

In 1914 the company produced 45,000 bicycles, 1,500 motorcycles and 1,000 cars.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, the production of automobiles stopped, the company intensified its activity in the manufacture of trucks and military vehicles. The bombardments affect the production processes of the factories, above all of the production center in Viale Abruzzi in Milan, the most affected.

After the war, after the death of the founder Edoardo, the Bianchi managed to recover, contributing to the reconstruction and motorization of Italy with the Bianchina, 125 cm³ motorboat and the Aquilotto, moped of which was only available for sale the engine from apply to bicycles.

 Attempting to try the commercialization of small goods vehicles, with the model of Supermil 49, presented in 1948 and equipped with a new 500 cm³ power unit and 18 HP power, able to compete with products such as the Hercules , proposed in the same period by Moto Guzzi.

The part related to the four wheels, after a first union of forces with Pirelli and Fiat that gave life to Autobianchi in 1955, was sold to the two partners together with the Desio plant in 1958.

The activity in the field of two wheels, led by the Lino Tonti Technical Office since 1959, sees the debut of the 250-350-500 twin-shaft twin-cylinder motorcycles, which allow Bianchi to return to the Grand Prix competitions in 1960. Parallel products for Motocross, the lines of the MT61 models of the Italian Army, the Orsetto 80 and Sila 175 scooters, motor sports pitcher.

In 1958 the Bianchi, dismembered in various realities, ceased its activity in the historic headquarters of viale Abruzzi.
The assembly lines of the cycling and motorcycling branches are transferred to an industrial portion of the former Aeronautica Caproni in via Fantoli, a Milanese district on the outskirts of Taliedo.

The sale of Bianchi Velo bikes will continue almost exclusively with inventories until the seventies, while the bicycle sector will continue its activity in Treviglio (BG), thanks to Angelo Trapletti and the Piaggio Group, giving life to the 1973 to the Bianchi-Piaggio cycling team, followed by Bianchi's control until 2011 of the Legnano brand and still at Chiorda. Recently, the Chiorda brand has been taken over and re-launched by Bianchi, perhaps also to respond to the loss of the Legnano brand

The Bianchi brand is famous for the production of racing bikes, used by great champions starting from Giovanni Gerbi (the red devil), Costante Girardengo, Fausto Coppi, Felice Gimondi and Marco Pantani.

Today's production, in addition to road bikes (Reparto Corse) extends to road bikes, mountain bikes, e-bikes (pedal assisted) and BMX.