If you've been around dirt bikes for any considerable length of time, chances are you've either used, seen or been protected by an Acerbis product. Based in the small town of Albino, Italy, the company was founded in 1973 by Franco Acerbis, a passionate young enduro racer who set out to make a better fender for his motorcycle. These days, Acerbis is a world leader in fuel tank production, a key innovator in plastics manufacturing and a permanent fixture in the motorcycle industry with over 4,000,000 plastic parts produced each year. The growth that the company has seen in the last 30 years is tremendous, and yet the enthusiasm and soul that Acerbis was founded on still remain completely intact.
The main reason why Acerbis continues to be successful is that Franco is still twisting the company throttle, working harder than ever to develop and produce the best products he can. With the help of his son Guido (who himself is an accomplished Six-Days medalist), Franco is still breaking ground with his business, as well as helping to promote some of the biggest races and events in off-road. Although this charismatic Italian has more on his plate than most, he certainly takes the time to stop and smell the fiori, and he's never too busy for anyone. In fact, when Dirt Rider stopped by the Acerbis Factory this summer, Franco offered to personally give our readers a full-on tour of the place. Grab your passporto and hold onto your casco, because we're taking you to Italy!
Ever seen the kids at your...
Ever seen the kids at your local track kicking around an Acerbis...soccer ball? Football (don't you dare call it soccer!) is a national pastime in Italy, and it just wouldn't be fitting if Acerbis didn't have a range of traditional sports products to follow suit.
This is the bike that started...
This is the bike that started it all. Back in the day when Franco was racing Enduros, he busted the front fender on this very machine and ended up fabricating a new one that was longer and wider than stock. The rest was history....
Nowadays, Acerbis is dabbling...
Nowadays, Acerbis is dabbling in some very interesting new technology, including the lightweight, waterproof foam used in the X-Seat.
Acerbis makes countless products...
Acerbis makes countless products that never reach us here in the U.S. These super-cool plastic garden thrones are just one of the many awesome items that you'd have to travel to Italy to get!
Acerbis is the sole distributor...
Acerbis is the sole distributor of Scott products in Italy, and is a distributing partner of Scott USA. From Scott moto products to Scott winter sport items to a full line of bicycles, Acerbis has strong ties to the Scott brand.
Ever wish that someone sold...
Ever wish that someone sold a carbon fiber fuel tank for your four-stroke? No word on if Acerbis will actually produce one, but they are testing it!
The Acerbis empire occupies...
The Acerbis empire occupies numerous buildings along the picturesque main street of Albino, Italy. According to Franco, there was one point in time where five of the top ten riders in the World Enduro series were from this little town!
Before an Acerbis product...
Before an Acerbis product is cranked out in plastic form, the company's skilled team of woodworkers makes a finished version out of wood. This skid plate is obviously in the early phase of development.
If you thought that Acerbis...
If you thought that Acerbis only made motocross accessories, you couldn't be more wrong. This snow machine has a plastic housing that was-you guessed it-manufactured by Franco and his crew.
This shelf runs the length...
This shelf runs the length of Franco's personal office and contains some of his most prized possessions. From an altimeter that's been to the top of Mt. Everest and the first Acerbis gas cap ever produced to Dakar Rally trophies and ancient Incan artifacts, this is a priceless collection!
Remember the Acerbis Ghost...
Remember the Acerbis Ghost plastic? It might be making a comeback. We've already said too much...
Until recently, most football...
Until recently, most football (stop calling it soccer!) gear in Europe has been cheap and poorly built. Acerbis saw a gap in the market that needed to be filled, and has since been enjoying huge success with their high-quality sports products.
A personal favorite product...
A personal favorite product of Franco, the Acerbis Elba was the original square-shaped off-road headlight. The product has since evolved into the wild-looking LED Vision light.