In 1960, former Ducati factory racer and designer Leopoldo Tartarini founded Italjet in Bologna, Italy. In 1952, at just 20 years of age, Tartarini had won the sidecar class of the grueling 18-hour Milano-Taranto race on a BSA 650 Golden Flash outfit he designed and built himself.
Three years later, Tartarini became a Ducati works rider and development engineer, and after a bad crash took him out of racing, he embarked on a 13-month, 37,000-mile round-the-world trip on a Ducati 175cc single to advertise the bike. He would be instrumental in the design of such iconic machines as the 1971 Ducati 750 Sport, the green-frame 750SS, the 350cc / 500cc parallel twins (built in his Italjet factory), and the 900cc Darmah V-twins.
In 1960, he turned from being a full-time Ducati dealer into a manufacturer. Over the years, Italjet would develop and produce more than 150 different models, mostly designed by Tartarini himself.
“A passionate enthusiast of all forms of motorcycling and a top designer and creative free spirit who thought outside the conventional two-wheeled envelope, Tartarini was a true gentleman, modest and convivial, yet possessed of a depth of vision and thirst for innovation that resulted in a succession of products unlike anything else in the marketplace.” – Alan Cathcart, Motorcycle Classics
The Italjet MT5A was a mini trials bike with a 47cc two-stroke single and centrifugal clutch. The bike reportedly had similar geometry to the larger Italjet 350T, as ridden in FIM competition, and the Italjet minibikes were rebadged and sold as Indians in the States.
The Italjet MT5A you see here has quite the story behind it. It comes to us from owner Shane Bland, whose family purchased the bike back in 1980. Forty years later, Shane enlisted the help of our friend Ian Davis at ETTO Motorcycles to help restore the bike for his son, Archie.
Because the original fiberglass tank was completely rotten, Ian shaped an exact replica out of aluminum:
“I couldn’t cut up the original unit, for tooling, as he wanted to keep it. So I had to work around it. It was such a joyful part to make, knowing his son would treasure it and maybe in time even pass it on to his own kids.” -Ian
Shane was well impressed with the job, and asked Ian to continue more work on the bike.
“It really was an incredible bit of craftsmanship. I then decided to ask him to replicate the front forks as these were bent beyond repair, so two new replicas (better than original) were built.” -Shane
Ian then recommended his friend Iain Robertson to handle the paint work and restoration.
“Again the quality of the work carried out was impeccable; we ended up restoring the paint on the whole bike. When I say restore I mean restore where possible rather than re-painting, as we wanted to retain any patina we could.” -Shane
Below, Shane gives us the full story on this lovely little Italjet. We’ve got to say we’re a little envious of young Archie getting to rip around on this little mini before he upgrades to a modern bike and the Italjet is saved as one sweet family heirloom. And we’re sure Mr. Tartarini himself would approve!
Italjet MT5A: In the Owner’s Words…
My father bought the bike of a friend of his in 1980. We believe the bike was originally purchased in 1975; it’s an Italjet MT5A.
My father is a petrolhead and encouraged my sister and me to have a go on the bike from an early age. My sister is three years older than I am and at that time was also a lot braver, so she was the first to jump on. I was born in 1979 and don’t think I rode the bike until I was 6, whereas my sister probably rode when she was 5 or younger.
We were lucky to have plenty of space to use it and abuse it; accidents were frequent and due to my father’s complete lack of care for any safety I would often ride with no helmet and just wearing shorts, t-shirt, and wellies!! I remember burning my leg on the exhaust several times due to falling off and being trapped under the bike while the exhaust melted into my leg!
I would imagine that I stopped using the bike when I was simply too big for it, probably when I was about 10, as I remember using it when I was far too large for it and having to push it to get it going. Since I stopped using it the bike has been moved from one garage to another with my parents as they always had space and thankfully didn’t like getting rid of anything. About 10 years ago, the bike moved into my barn as my parents downsized. My wife and I then had a child in 2016 and that got me thinking: “Could I restore this bike?”
I remember that in the later stages of using it a fuel leak had developed and I had tried many things to patch it up, but the leak remained, as the fuel simply disintegrated anything I tried. In late 2022, I decided I would have a proper go at restoring the bike as my son (Archie) often said he wanted a go and also stated that it was now his motorbike!
I read various articles on restoration for research and in particular how I could fix the tank. I came across ETTO Motorcycles so gave Ian a call and explained what I needed. Ian has a great Instagram page showing all his fantastic work and I knew he was the right man for the job.
I was a bit taken aback when he said he had a slot and could do the work in about 6 months time!! I decided to pay him a visit to show him what I needed; thankfully the combination of his becoming increasingly interested in the story of the bike and one of his customers failing to turn up, I got the job booked in straight away.
Ian built a completely new tank out of aluminium in the exact same shape as the old one; it really was an incredible bit of craftsmanship. I then decided to ask him to replicate the front forks as these were bent beyond repair, so two new replicas (better than original) were built.
The next challenge was to get it painted. Again I needed someone who had the passion and skill to do this and thankfully Ian has a friend (Iain Robertson) who was just the man. Again the quality of the work carried out was impeccable; we ended up restoring the paint on the whole bike. When I say restore I mean restore where possible rather than re-painting, as we wanted to retain any patina we could.
Once they had both finished with it I had the easy job of bolting it back together, cleaning and repairing parts as I went. Eventually I finished it and after several efforts at starting the bike it fired into life and that was it. The main issue was carburetor based, blocked jets and perished gaskets. My son jumped on and rode in brilliantly; it was a proud moment for me.
Archie has used the bike a number of times but I think I will probably end up buying him a modern bike and preserve the Italjet as is such a beautiful bike now, I can’t really decide as I like things to be used but at the same time it’s an old bike and will only take so many knocks.
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Website: www.ettomotorcycles.co.uk
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I had one of these but it was badged Indian
I love Italian small bore bikes and your bike is absolutely superb. The craftsmanship is above and beyond for what most would expect for a bike of that lineage. My daughter rides a 50cc Italjet that she absolutely loves. Unfortunately she is outgrowing it so we are on the hunt for a larger cc Italjet. She wants to possibly restore the next one so this gives us some great ideas. Thanks ! .