BFA 180 Corsa – Ø64 mm, 56 mm stroke, 110 mm connecting rod, diaphragm intake
In terms of performance, the BFA 180 Corsa is the big brother of the standard BFA 180. The basic architecture remains the same, with a 64-mm bore, 56-mm stroke, 110-mm connecting rod, five overflow ports, and direct intake—the key difference lies in the 3-piece exhaust system.
Thanks to the additional exhaust port area, the Corsa version is designed to be even more performance-oriented. It is designed for small-frame engines where, compared to the standard BFA 180, higher peak power and a sportier engine character are the priorities, without sacrificing the standard Piaggio stud-head configuration.
180 cc
Ø64 mm
56 mm stroke
5 over-the-top valves
Direct intake Diaphragm
Wössner forged pistons
Corsa
3-piece exhaust
Performance-oriented
Key Features
180-cm³ Corsa: large displacement base with a clearly performance-oriented design
Original stud pattern: Cylinder mounting on Piaggio Smallframe geometry
Aluminum/Nikasil: modern cylinder construction for high thermal and mechanical loads
Direct intake: Fuel-air mixture fed directly into the cylinder via a BFA diaphragm system
Wössner forged pistons: Ø64 mm with graphite coating
Corsa character: 3-piece exhaust with a larger effective exhaust cross-sectional area
Performance: More heavily tuned for peak power and sporty setups
Cylinder head: HT O-ring and additional M6 screw connections
180 cc Corsa with original Piaggio stud-type layout
The unique feature of the BFA concept lies in the combination of very large displacement and the classic Smallframe stud-type layout. The cylinder is still based on the Piaggio Smallframe design, but requires corresponding machining of the engine case for installation.
For Vespa Smallframe production engine cases
The BFA 180 Corsa is designed for installation on Vespa Smallframe production engine cases. The original Piaggio stud pattern is retained, but the cylinder mount and the transfer ports must be machined to accommodate the large-displacement cylinder.
As with the standard BFA 180, this requires precise machining of the cylinder mount and careful adjustment of the transfer ports. Crank shaft clearance must also be checked during installation.
Machining the Stock Engine Case
Target dimension for cylinder bore: Ø69.0 mm × 6.0 mm from the crankcase sealing surface
Reference dimension for the lower section: Ø65.0 mm × 21.5 mm from the block sealing surface
Overflow port: Fit cleanly to the cylinder’s port geometry
Crankshaft: Check clearance for a 56 mm stroke and 110 mm connecting rod
Corsa – the more performance-oriented 180-cm³ version
The standard BFA 180 Corsa is deliberately designed for broad-band performance and torque. The 180 Corsa builds on the same high-displacement base but utilizes a 3-piece exhaust system, thereby providing significantly more effective exhaust cross-sectional area.
This shifts the focus more strongly toward peak power. The Corsa is therefore particularly appealing for performance-oriented street, sprint, and racing setups where the potential of the 180-cm³ base is to be exploited more thoroughly.
Standard BFA 180 or 180 Corsa?
BFA 180: Broad-band, high-torque design with a one-piece exhaust
BFA 180 Corsa: 3-piece exhaust for a larger exhaust cross-sectional area and a more performance-oriented character
Common base: Ø64 mm bore, 56 mm stroke, 110 mm connecting rod, five over-flow valves, and direct intake
Five overflow ports and direct intake
The aluminum cylinder features five overflow channels. Intake does not occur via the traditional rotary valve in the engine block, but directly through a diaphragm into the cylinder.
The system includes a BFA carbon diaphragm. The intake manifold is made of a special polymer and features an integrated flow guide. According to the current manufacturer’s instructions, the intake manifold is available in 35-mm and 40-mm versions.
The system also includes a cover plate for the original engine block intake port. This deactivates the traditional engine block intake port and fully converts the engine to direct intake.
Aluminum Cylinder with Nikasil Coating
The cylinder is made of aluminum and features a Nikasil-coated running surface. This design combines the aluminum body’s excellent heat dissipation with a wear-resistant running surface.
Wössner forged piston
BFA combines the cylinder with a Wössner forged piston (Ø64.00 mm). The piston has a graphite coating and uses a 15 mm diameter piston pin.
Cylinder Head with Additional Bolting
The aluminum cylinder head is hard-anodized and features a recessed mounting surface for the cylinder. Sealing is provided by a high-temperature-resistant O-ring. Additionally, the head is secured with four M6 screws.
Exhaust Port and Exhaust Connection
The 180 Corsa features a 3-part exhaust port. In addition to the central main exhaust port, additional exhaust ports are available. This significantly increases the effective exhaust cross-sectional area compared to the standard BFA 180. The exhaust port has a diameter of Ø38 mm.
The hole spacing for the exhaust mounting is 60 mm. BFA has designed the cylinder so that standard exhaust systems with a hole spacing of approximately 60–62 mm can be used.
Crimping Edge and Ignition Timing
| Recommended compression edge | 1.1–1.3 mm |
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| Fixed ignition timing | 18–19° before TDC |
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| Variable ignition | 26–27° before TDC at 3,000 rpm |
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| Manufacturer-specified variable ignition | VAPE Sport |
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| Mixture oil | 2.5% according to BFA |
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Tightening torques
| M6 cylinder head bolts | 9–11 Nm |
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| M7 stud nuts | 14–16 Nm |
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BFA recommends using its own set of M7 studs (158 mm long) for assembly.
Difference from the standard BFA 180
Both 180-cm³ versions feature a 64-mm bore, 56-mm stroke, and 110-mm connecting rod length. The key difference with the Corsa is the 3-piece exhaust port, which increases the exhaust cross-sectional area and optimizes the cylinder for higher performance.
Technical Specifications
| Manufacturer | BFA Motori |
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| Displacement Class | 180 cc Corsa |
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| Characteristics | Performance-oriented Corsa version of the BFA 180 |
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| Material | Aluminum |
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| Raceway | Nikasil-coated |
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| Bore | Ø64.00 mm |
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| Stroke | 56.00 mm |
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| Connecting rod length | 110.00 mm |
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| Piston pin | Ø15.00 mm |
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| Piston | Wössner forged pistons, graphite-coated |
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| Overflow valve | 5 |
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| Intake | Direct intake with carbon diaphragm |
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| Intake manifold | Special polymer with integrated flow guide, 35 or 40 mm according to the manufacturer’s instructions |
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| Outlet | 3-piece |
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| Outlet diameter | Ø38.00 mm |
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| Exhaust hole spacing | 60 mm; cylinder designed for systems with approximately 60–62 mm |
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| Overflow width Housing sealing surface | 80 mm; expandable to 92 mm according to the manufacturer |
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| Spark plug position | Center |
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| Stud pattern | Piaggio Smallframe |
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| Application | Racing / off-road use |
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Scope of Delivery
Aluminum cylinder, Ø64 mm, with Nikasil bore
Hard-anodized cylinder head with HT O-ring
Wössner forged piston, Ø64 mm
Piston pin Ø15 mm and associated components
BFA carbon diaphragm
Intake manifold
Closure plate for the engine block inlet
Gasket set
Mounting hardware
Note on Intended Use
The BFA 180 Corsa is technically designed as a high-performance tuning cylinder. The cylinder kit does not include general approval for use on public roads; therefore, the applicable regulations and the possibility of individual approval must be verified before use.
Conclusion
The BFA 180 Corsa is the consistently performance-oriented upgrade of the standard BFA 180. It retains the large-displacement base with a 64 mm bore, 56 mm stroke, 110 mm connecting rod, and five overflow ports.
The key difference is the 3-piece exhaust port. The additional exhaust port area gives the Corsa greater potential for high performance and makes it an attractive choice for ambitious street, sprint, and racing engines.
At the same time, the original Piaggio stud pattern is retained. This allows the design to be implemented on a suitably machined Vespa Smallframe stock engine case.
FAQ on the BFA 180 Corsa
Yes. The cylinder is designed for the original Piaggio Smallframe stud pattern. However, the engine case must be machined accordingly in the area of the cylinder mount and overflow port.
The BFA 180 Corsa is intended for a suitably modified stock Vespa Smallframe engine case. The cylinder mount, overflow port, and crankshaft clearance must be modified or checked to accommodate the 180-cm³ configuration.
BFA specifies a machining of Ø69.0 × 6.0 mm for the cylinder mounting, followed by Ø65.0 × 21.5 mm from the casing sealing surface. Additionally, the overflow ports and crankshaft clearance must be adapted to the respective configuration.
The 180-cm³ cylinder is designed for a 56-mm stroke and a 110-mm connecting rod length. This specification has been confirmed by the manufacturer for the 180-cm³ version; the older 105-mm specification applies to the 165-cm³ variant. Before assembling the engine, however, the crankshaft, piston position, and cylinder position should be checked together.
Yes. The system includes the BFA carbon diaphragm and an intake manifold. According to the manufacturer’s instructions, intake manifolds with diameters of 35 or 40 mm are available.
BFA specifies a pinch edge of 1.1 to 1.3 mm.
According to the manufacturer, the exhaust connection has a 60-mm hole spacing. The cylinder is designed so that standard systems with a hole spacing of approximately 60–62 mm can be used.
No. BFA explicitly designates the cylinder as a motorsports product intended for private use or for competition venues.
The standard BFA 180 features a one-piece exhaust outlet and is designed for a broader power band. The 180 Corsa, on the other hand, uses a three-piece exhaust outlet with a larger effective exhaust cross-sectional area and is therefore even more strongly geared toward high performance.
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