Anvian (Rubi, Barcelona 1980-1982)

Anvian motorcycles were a short-lived Catalan manufacturer, based in Rubí, some 15 kilometres from Barcelona.  The origins of Anvian lie with Intermoto SA – a company created by 3 entrepreneurs, Pedro Rios, Antonio Sanchez and Emilio Perez.  Intermoto SA were the importers of the Italian brand Moto Villa, specializing in the provision of those engines.

The Anvian brand name that they chose for own their motorcycles was based on the initials of the wives of the three partners: María Angeles, Victoria and Antonia.  The machines used Moto Villa, single cylinder, air cooled, two stroke, 125cc and 250cc engines and the Anvian design was heavily influenced by the Suzuki RM125 and RM250 of that period. 

This Anvian 250cc is on display in the “Made in Spain” Museum in Alcana de Henares.

The original Anvian brand only lasted three years (1980-1982).  In 1982, during financial difficulties, Jesús Romero became a shareholder of Anvian.  The exact nature of his involvement (and investment) is not that well documented, but it is thought that Romero was owed money by Anvian and bought out the other partners. It is also suggested that he took the company in part settlement of what he was owed.  Either way, Romero remained with the company and he rebranded it as ARM (Anvian Romero Motos) and relocated it to the coastal area of Sant Adria de Besos also near to Barcelona.

As head of ARM, Romero dropped Moto Villa engines in favour of the Italian TAU, water-cooled, 125cc powerplants. These circa 27 HP, rotary valve, two stroke engines were designed and built by the Italian firm TAU (Trivelli Aroldo Uniti), founded by engineer Dr Aroldo Trivelli in Binzago, just north of Milan. TAU operated from 1974 until about 1986

By 1985, ARM’s portfolio expanded to include 250cc, 330cc, and 360cc enduro machines, all fitted with TAU engines.

During the first “life” of Anvian, from 1980-1982, their production output was between 200-300 units, In its second “life”, as ARM, between 1982 and 1989, they built 86 bespoke units before ceasing production and reverting to repairs and preparation of competition machines.