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1966 Wards Riverside Restored to Racing Glory

Manufactured by Benelli and rebranded as Wards, these Riverside bikes were sold via mail order, with the customer receiving a crate and having to do the building.
1966 Wards Riverside 20 photos
Photo: Analog Motorcycles
1966 Wards Riverside restoration1966 Wards Riverside restoration1966 Wards Riverside restoration1966 Wards Riverside restoration1966 Wards Riverside restoration1966 Wards Riverside restoration1966 Wards Riverside restoration1966 Wards Riverside restoration1966 Wards Riverside restoration1966 Wards Riverside restoration1966 Wards Riverside restoration1966 Wards Riverside restoration1966 Wards Riverside restoration1966 Wards Riverside restoration1966 Wards Riverside restoration1966 Wards Riverside restoration1966 Wards Riverside restoration1966 Wards Riverside restoration1966 Wards Riverside restoration
It is yet not clear why did the Chicago department store changed the branding of these machines, especially as Benelli was a common presence among the winners of racing events back in the 60s, but it looks like this question will forever remain unanswered.

Tony of Analog Motorcycles received the “Ward” from its owner, and was commissioned to bring it back to the former glory, but leaving the old insignia intact: the serial number badge on the frame and the Montgomery Ward logo. As for the rest, the Riverside was about to change a lot.

The fork was replaced with an EBR moped unit and the hubs have been re-laced with stainless steel spokes to powder coated rims, show with Sava moped racing tires. The rear of the bike was raised with taller shocks, and the subframe was rebuilt, together with the new seat pan and the rear cowl, for a more sporty stance.

The overhauled engine got a NOS Dell'Orto carb, but the intake received a top-spec K&N air filter. To match the sportier intake, Analog Motorcycles installed a modified expansion chamber sourced from a Kreidler Mustang.

The tank is the original one, but it was repainted to match the rest of the bike. New cables, Magura controls, CRG mirrors and aluminium pegs were also installed on the new Riverside, alongside rewired electrics and sealed ball bearings in place of the old roller ones.

The “Analoged” Riverside looks amazing now, despite its very KTM-ish paint scheme, and we'd really like to try such a machine on the road. Via BikeEXIF.
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