SWM was best known through the 1970s and ’80s for its trials, enduro and motocross bikes, and went on to collect an impressive resume of victories across several off-road racing disciplines. SWM produced a range of motorcycles until it ceased production in 1984.

Thirty years later, the SWM name was resurrected in 2014 by Ampelio Macchi, a former engineer and technical manager of Aprilia, Cagiva and Husqvarna, with financial backing from Chinese businessman Daxing Gong, who heads up China’s automotive giant, Shineray Group.

Macchi oversees production at SWM’s manufacturing facility in Lombardia, Italy. The plant, formerly occupied by Husqvarna, recently received a major refurbishment under the watch of BMW prior to the sale of Husqvarna to KTM.

The majority of SWM staff are former Husqvarna employees who previously worked under Macchi.

Today SWM produces an array of enduro, supermoto and adventure models which, for Australia, includes the RS 300R, RS 500R and Superdual X respectively.