Brought to the United States by Harley-Davidson's Aermacchi division, the Sprint SS250 was fairly popular but perhaps slightly underpowered when compared to its Japanese counterparts. To satisfy the riders who demanded more performance but also enjoyed smaller motorcycles, Harley-Davidson began to market the Ala Verde in America.
The Ala Verde is Sprint-like in its lines but hides a motorcycle with much more spunk. At first appearance, the striking lines of the Ala Verde imply a sporting motorcycle with race inspired gas tank and clip-on handlebars behind a small plexi-flyscreen. The top end of the engine is quite different from the run-of-the-mill Sprint. The sophisticated 2-valve OHV engine delivers 18.5 horsepower allowing the motorcycle to speed up to 87 mph through a 5-speed transmission.
