moto zodiaco

You never can trust those automatic translators too much, so here is my translation just in case...

It almost looks like it was built specifically for Bud, but the motorbike on which he arrives to lend a hand to Terence is actually a production model. It's a Moto Zodiaco Tuareg 223-2, and it was manufactured in the seventies by a Bologna-established factory; it was equipped with a type JF250 JLO engine, forced air-cooled by a fan on the right side; it was rated 15,5 HP at 6,000 rpm, had continuous gear variation by means of a DAF trapezoidal strap (the same one found in tractors), a Bosch electric starter, plus an emergency pull starter device (like those used in lawn mowers and in marine engines). All this weighed 108 KGs (kerb weight) for a maximum speed of 100 KM/h. It was available in sun yellow, ice white and Verona red. The tyres were that big because it's a dune bike.
Even though it may be defined ridiculous, it's still a curious item in the italian motorbikes history. Given its rarity, what happened to the factory is uncertain. However, there are still quite a few around, you can find them at exhibits for a price around 1,000 euros.