1967 Harley-Davidson SS 250 Sprint Packs Italian Flair
Harley’s answer to nimble Japanese motorcycles is now nothing more than an interesting slice in the company’s long history.
We often think of Harley-Davidson as the quintessential American manufacturer. And for good reason. After all, H-D has spent the last century-plus building some of the most iconic motorcycles ever to grace our paved (and often unpaved) roads. But there was a time when the invasion of Japanese bikes threatened Harley’s dominance. Thus, they purchased a half interest in Italian builder Aermacchi and created bikes like this Harley-Davidson SS 250 Sprint we spotted on Craigslist.
It may not be the kind of thing you see a lot of at your local rallies and poker runs, but this Italian Harley is undoubtedly cool. What it obviously lacks in grunt (thanks to that 250cc motor), it more than makes up for in fun. With a low center of gravity and ultra light weight, the Harley-Davidson SS 250 Sprint was quite the handler, both on paved roads and dirt tracks. Actually designed to be a touring model, the Sprint was also capable of taking long highway rides in relative comfort.
This particular Sprint was found well preserved in a barn, and it even reportedly runs and drives good. It also appears to be original and complete, which is obviously important when it comes to old bikes. Especially those that aren’t incredibly popular or common. And in this case, the Sprint is neither. Heck, a stellar, restored example would set you back no more than $6k.
If it was us, we’d just leave this cool old Italian Harley as is and enjoy it. The Sprint might not be the fastest or most exciting bike in Harley history, but it is an undeniably cool little ride. Just be prepared to answer a lot of questions at your next local meet up!
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