Cagiva

Coordinates: 45°48′13″N 8°46′42″E / 45.8035942°N 8.7782452°E / 45.8035942; 8.7782452
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45°48′13″N 8°46′42″E / 45.8035942°N 8.7782452°E / 45.8035942; 8.7782452

Cagiva
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryMotorcycle manufacturing
PredecessorAermacchi Harley-Davidson
Founded1950; 74 years ago (1950) (Motocycle: 1978)
FounderGiovanni Castiglioni
Defunct2012
Headquarters,
Italy
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Claudio and Gianfranco Castiglioni
ProductsMotorcycle
ParentKTM S.p.A.
SubsidiariesDucati (1985 - 1996)
Moto Morini (1987 - 1996)
Husqvarna Motorcycles (1987 - 2007)
Websitewww.cagiva.it
Footnotes / references
slogan: «La moto italiana».

Cagiva is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer. It was founded in 1950 by Giovanni Castiglioni in Varese, originally producing small metal components. Giovanni's sons, Claudio and Gianfranco Castiglioni, went into the motorcycle industry in 1978. The name is a portmanteau derived from the founder's name 'Giovanni Castiglioni' and the founding location, i.e. CAstiglioni GIovanni VArese.

In its history, Cagiva won races in Dakar and Motocross competitions, as well as in Grand Prix motorcycle racing.

History[edit]

Cagiva Elefant 650 Ligier Export, 1986, a dual-sport motorcycle using a Ducati engine

In 1978, Cagiva entered the motorcycle business with two racing motorcycles ridden by Gianfranco Bonera and Marco Lucchinelli. In the same year it bought a factory in Varese's frazione of Schiranna from Aermacchi/AMF-Harley-Davidson and went into motorcycle production. By 1979 the company reached an annual production of 40,000 motorbikes, with eight models powered by two-stroke engines ranging from 125 cc to 350 cc.

Many of the Harley-Davidson models were continued in production as Cagivas, and the off-road motorcycle division was improved and expanded, eventually producing its own race-winning WMX series of motocross motorcycles.

A W12 350 cm³, currently in use in the Italian army and other armies because of its maneuverability and power[1]
A Cagiva T4 used by the French Armed Forces

In 1983 Cagiva also sourced Ducati four stroke v-twin engines from 350 cc to 1000 cc and entered the big displacement market. Cagiva bought Ducati in 1985, but kept the Ducati brand that was better recognized outside Italy. Ducati motorcycle production continued in Bologna, while the Varese-built Cagiva Ala Azzurra (sold under the name "Alazzurra", "Bluewing") and Elefant were introduced, both featuring Ducati engines.[2]

Cagiva continued with strategic buyouts of Moto Morini and Husqvarna in 1987. In 1991 Cagiva also bought the trademarks for the MV Agusta brand.

In 1996, Cagiva accepted the offer by the Texas Pacific Group and sold the Ducati and Moto Morini brands. In 1999 Cagiva Group was restructured for strategic purposes, with MV Agusta becoming the parent company and main brand indentity; Cagiva along with Husqvarna thus became MV Agusta's subsidiaries.[3]

In 2000, production of the Cagiva Roadster ended. In 2008, Harley-Davidson bought MV Agusta Motor, the parent company of Cagiva, thereby regaining some control of its old Aermacchi factory.

In October 2009, Harley-Davidson informed that it would put Cagiva up for sale. In the August of the following year, Cagiva was bought back by the son of the founder and former owner Claudio Castiglioni.

In 2012, production of new high engine capacity Mitos ended. Increasingly stringent environmental emission requirements and the concentration of resources on MV Agusta's F3 were cited as reasons. The last few Mito SP525s produced were white in colour, and personally signed by MV Agusta CEO Giovanni Castiglioni, thus ended the legacy of the Mito, alongside the end of the Raptors.

Racing[edit]

In the early 1980s, Cagiva began to manufacture dirt bikes and started a massive public relations program with the opening of its North American branch. It hired Ron Turner and Duane Summers to test and develop its bikes. Cagiva motocross bikes were characterized by their fast powerful engines and innovative features, such as the MX line that had only one spring in the front forks with one fork controlling rebound and the other compression.

500cc World Championship[edit]

Cagiva C589, Randy Mamola, 1989 Japanese GP

At the end of the 1970s the company began campaigning the Grand Prix motorcycle racing circuit. Randy Mamola was its lead rider from 1988 to 1990, and he achieved Cagiva’s first podium result. It would also have some technical assistance from Yamaha. In 1991 it signed former world champion Eddie Lawson to its team. Lawson would claim the company's first victory when he won the 1992 Hungarian Grand Prix. John Kocinski would also win a Grand Prix on a Cagiva GP500 (C594), finishing third in the 1994 world championship.

Dakar Rally[edit]

Cagiva 750 Elefant of Jordi Arcarons 1995 Granada–Dakar Rally

In 1990 and 1994 the Italian rider Edi Orioli won the Dakar Rally on the Ducati-powered Cagiva Elefant.

Year Champion Motorcycle
1990 Italy Edi Orioli Elefant 944 Lucky Explorer
1994 Italy Edi Orioli Elefant 944 Marathon

Motocross World Championship[edit]

  • 125 cc class
Year Champion Motorcycle
1985 Finland Pekka Vehkonen Cagiva WMX
1986 Netherlands David Strijbos Cagiva WMX

Motocross World World Constructors champions[edit]

  • 125 cc class
    • 1985, 1986, 1987
The Mini Moke

Italian Speed championship[edit]

Year Champion Class Motorcycle
1990 Italy Pierfrancesco Chili Open
1991 Italy Marco Papa Open
1992 Italy Marco Papa Open
1994 Italy Luca Pasini Supermono

Mini Moke[edit]

Cagiva bought BMCs design for the Mini Moke, manufacturing them in Portugal using British built engines from 1990 until 1993. Intending to transfer production to the Bologna factory early in 1995, the tooling for the Moke was transferred to Italy late in 1993, but production never restarted.

Models[edit]

Racing motorcycles[edit]

Model Engine Years Notes Image
HD Cagiva RR250 [4] (1979)
Suzuki/Cagiva 500 GP [5] (1979)
1C2[6] (1980)
2C2[7] (1981)
3C2[8] (1982)
4C3 [9] (1983)
Cagiva 4C3
C9[10] (1984)
C10[11] (1985-1986-1987)
Cagiva C10
C587 (1987)
125 GP[12] (1988)
C588 (1988)
C589 (1989)
Cagiva C589, Randy Mamola, 1989 Japanese Grand Prix
C590 (1990)
C591 (1991)
Cagiva C591
C592 (1992)
C593 (1993)
Doug Chandler, riding the Cagiva C593 at the 1993 Japanese Grand Prix
C594 (1994)
Cagiva C594
F4 (1995-1996) prototype, Ferrari engine
Cagiva F4
Mito Mk II SP () The first bike of Valentino Rossi
Mito Mk II Sport Production official of the 1993 Lucky Explorer team driven by Valentino Rossi and Vittoriano Guareschi
Elefant 750 Elf-Ligier [13][14] 748,1 cc, 90° L-twin, 4-stroke engine, SOHC, desmodromic 2-valves, air-cooled-Oil cooling (1985) Ducati Pantah engine. Cagiva team to Dakar 1985: Hubert Auriol, Giampaolo Marinoni and Gilles Picard
Elefant 850 Lucky Explorer [15] [16]  cc, 90° L-twin, 4-stroke engine, SOHC, desmodromic 2-valves, air-cooled-Oil cooling (1986-1987) Ducati engine. Cagiva team to Dakar 1987: Hubert Auriol, Alessandro De Petri, Gilles Picard and Franco Gualdi.
Elefant 900 Lucky Explorer  cc, 90° L-twin, 4-stroke engine, SOHC, desmodromic 2-valves, air-cooled-Oil cooling (1988-1989) Ducati engine. Cagiva team to Dakar 1988: Serge Bacou, Alessandro De Petri, Gilles Picard and Franco Gualdi. Cagiva team to Dakar 1989: Edi Orioli, Alessandro De Petri, Gilles Picard and Claudio Terruzzi.
Elefant 944 Lucky Explorer 943,8 cc, 90° L-twin, 4-stroke engine, SOHC, desmodromic 2-valves, air-cooled-Oil cooling[17] (1990-1991) Ducati engine. Cagiva team to Dakar 1990: Edi Orioli, Alessandro De Petri and Jordi Arcarons.
Elefant 904 Lucky Explorer  cc, 90° L-twin, 4-stroke engine, SOHC, desmodromic 2-valves, air-cooled-Oil cooling (1992) Ducati engine. Cagiva team to Paris–Cape Town 1992: Danny Laporte, Jordi Arcarons, Marc Morales, Edi Orioli and Davide Trolli.
Elefant 944 Marathon [18]  cc, 90° L-twin, 4-stroke engine, SOHC, desmodromic 2-valves, air-cooled-Oil cooling (1994-1995-1996-1997) Ducati engine

Road[edit]

Model Engine Years Notes Image
SST 125 123,15 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine (1975-1985)
SST 175 , Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine ()
SST 250 243 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine (1975-1985)
SST 350 341,8 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine (1978-1986)
Alazzurra 350 / 350 GT 349 cc, 90° L-twin, 4-stroke engine, SOHC, desmodromic 2-valves, air-cooled (1984-1985) Ducati engine (Ducati Pantah)
Cagiva Alazzurra 350 GT
Alazzurra 400 / 400 GT 90° L-twin, 4-stroke engine, SOHC, desmodromic 2-valves, air-cooled (1986) Ducati engine (Ducati Pantah)
Alazzurra 650 / 650 GT 649,5 cc, 90° L-twin, 4-stroke engine, SOHC, desmodromic 2-valves, air-cooled (1984-1986) Ducati engine (Ducati Pantah)
Aletta Oro S1 / S2 124,63 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, liquid cooling (1985-1987)
Blues 124,63 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, liquid cooling (1987-1993)
Freccia C9 124,63 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, liquid cooling (1987)
Freccia C10R / C10 Anniversary 124,63 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, liquid cooling (1988)
Cagiva C10 Anniversary
Freccia C12R / C12 SP 124,63 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, liquid cooling (1989-1990)
Cagiva Freccia C12R
Mito 124,63 cc ()
Cagiva Mito, 1992
Mito Mk II 124,63 cc ()
Mito Ev 124,63 cc ()
Cagiva Mito Evolution II, 2001
Mito SP525 124,63 cc ()
Mito SP525
SuperCity 125 ()
Roadster 521 ()
Roadster 200 ()
Low Rider 125 ()
Cagiva Low Rider 125
Planet 124,63 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, liquid cooling (1997-2003) Mito engine
Cagiva Planet 125
River 500 ()
River 600 ()
Raptor 125 124,63 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, liquid cooling (2003-2007) Mito engine
Raptor 650 645,5 cc, 90° V-twin, 4-stroke engine, DOHC, 4-valves, liquid cooling (2001-2007) Suzuki engine, (SV650)
Cagiva Raptor 650
V-Raptor 650 645,5 cc, 90° V-twin, 4-stroke engine, DOHC, 4-valves, liquid cooling (2001-2004) Suzuki engine, (SV650)
Cagiva V-Raptor 650
Raptor 1000 996 cc, 90° V-twin, 4-stroke engine, DOHC, 4-valves, liquid cooling (2000-2006) Suzuki engine, (TL1000S)
Cagiva Raptor 1000
V-Raptor 1000 996 cc, 90° V-twin, 4-stroke engine, DOHC, 4-valves, liquid cooling (2000-2006) Suzuki engine, (TL1000S)
Cagiva V-Raptor 1000
Xtra Raptor 1000 996 cc, 90° V-twin, 4-stroke engine, DOHC, 4-valves, liquid cooling (2002-2006) Suzuki engine, (TL1000S)
Cagiva Xtra Raptor 1000

Off road - enduro - trial[edit]

Model Engine Years Notes Image
WMX 125 124,63 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine-liquid cooling (1980-1991)
WMX 200 , Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine ()
WMX 250 , Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine ()
WMX 500 , Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, liquid cooling ()
WRX 125 124,63 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine ()
DG 350 341,9 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine ()
TR Cresta 350 341,9 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine ()
125 Trial 124,5 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine ()
RX 125 Rally 124,63 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine ()
RX 250 Rally 248,36 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine ()
RX 250 248,36 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine ()
MXR 250 248,36 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine
MXR 500 , Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine ()

Adventure - dual sport[edit]

Model Engine Years Notes Image
SXT 125 124,63 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine (1975-1983)
Cagiva SXT modello anno 1984
Cagiva SXT, 1984
SXT 175 , Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine ()
SXT 250 243 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine (1975-1985)
SXT 350 342,00 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine (1978-1984)
Ala Blu 125 124,63 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine (1983-1985)
Ala Blu 250 , Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine (1983-1985)
Ala Blu 350 342,00 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine (1983-1985)
Aletta Rossa 125 124,63 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, liquid cooling (1983-1987)
Cagiva Aletta Rossa 125
Aletta Rossa 200 190,38 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, liquid cooling (1984-1986)
Ala Rossa 350 343 cc, Single, 4-stroke engine, SOHC, 2-valves, Air-cooled engine (1983-1988)
Elefant 125
Elefant2 125
Elefant3 125
124,63 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, liquid cooling (1984-1990)
Elefant 200 190,38 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, liquid cooling ()
Elefant 350
Elefant 350 Big Belly
349 cc, 90° V-twin, 4-stroke engine, Desmodromic valve, 2-valves, Air-cooled engine (1985-1989) Ducati engine
Elefant 650
Elefant 650 MK2
Elefant 650 MK3
Elefant 650 L.E.
Elefant 650 Frecce Tricolori
Elefant 650 Ligier Export
649,6 cc, 90° V-twin, 4-stroke engine, Desmodromic valve, 2-valves, Air-cooled engine-Oil cooling (1985-1989) Ducati engine
Cagiva Elefant 650 Ligier Export
Elefant 750
Elefant 750 bifaro
Elefant 750 AC
Elefant 750 Marathon
748 cc, 90° V-twin, 4-stroke engine, Desmodromic valve, 2-valves, Air-cooled engine-Oil cooling (1987-1998) Ducati engine
Cagiva Elefant 750 MK1

Cagiva Elefant 750 Marathon
Elefant 900 i.e.
Elefant 900 i.e. GT
Elefant 900 AC
Elefant E900
Elefant Marathon 944
Ducati E900 (North American market)
904 cc, 90° V-twin, 4-stroke engine, Desmodromic valve, 2-valves, Air-cooled engine-Oil cooling (1991-1997) Ducati engine
Cagiva Elefant 900 i.e.

Elefant 900 AC
T4 350 E / T4 350 R 343 cc, Single, 4-stroke engine, SOHC, 4-valves, Air-cooled engine (1987-1991)
Cagiva T4 350 E former French army in the Alps
T4 500 E / T4 500 R 452 cc, Single, 4-stroke engine, SOHC, 4-valves, Air-cooled engine (1987-1991)
Canyon 500 498 cc, Single, 4-stroke engine, SOHC, 4-valves, Air-cooled engine-Oil cooling (1997-2002)
Canyon 600 601,4 cc, Single, 4-stroke engine, SOHC, 4-valves, Air-cooled engine-Oil cooling (1995-1998)
Gran Canyon 904 cc, 90° V-twin, 4-stroke engine, Desmodromic valve, 2-valves, Air-cooled engine-Oil cooling (1998-2000) Ducati engine
Cagiva Gran Canyon
W8 124,63 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, liquid cooling (1991-1995) A cheaper version was subsequently produced until 1999 with an air-cooled thermal unit without an exhaust valve and the piston exclusively of the two-band type, furthermore the silencer was replaced with a painted iron model.
Cagiva W8
W12 343 cc, Single, 4-stroke engine, SOHC, 4-valves, Air-cooled engine (1993-1996)
Cagiva W12 supplied to the Italian Army
W16 601,41 cc, Single, 4-stroke engine, SOHC, 4-valves, Air-cooled engine (1994-2001) GoldenEye - Pierce Brosnan Cagiva 600 W16 In the pre-title sequence of GoldenEye set in Russia's Arkangel facility, Bond is in trouble. He retrieves a Cagiva motorcycle from a dispatched guard and accelerates down a runway in pursuit of a pilot-less aeroplane - his only escape.
Cagiva W16 in National Motor Museum, Beaulieu
Cruiser 124,63 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, liquid cooling (1987-1989) Freccia C9 engine
Tamanaco 124,63 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, liquid cooling (1988-1991) Freccia C10 engine
N90 124,63 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, liquid cooling (1990-1991) Mito engine
Navigator 1000 996 cc, 90° V-twin, 4-stroke engine, DOHC, 4-valves, liquid cooling (2000-2005) Suzuki engine, (TL1000S)
Cagiva Navigator 1000

Moped and Scooter[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Esercito: al 'Motodays' con moto storiche e l'ultima nata, la Cagiva 350 (2)". Archived from the original on 2014-03-06. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
  2. ^ 1985-1987 Cagiva Alazzurra Motorcycle Classics article, Jan/Feb 2008
  3. ^ "Cagiva Recent Facts". Cagiva. Archived from the original on 2008-02-15. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  4. ^ HD CAGIVA RR250 Registro Storico Cagiva article, 2020
  5. ^ SUZUKI/CAGIVA 500 GP Registro Storico Cagiva article, 2020
  6. ^ CAGIVA 1C2 500 GP Registro Storico Cagiva article, 2020
  7. ^ CAGIVA 2C2 500 GP Registro Storico Cagiva article, 2020
  8. ^ CAGIVA 3C2 500 GP Registro Storico Cagiva article, 2020
  9. ^ CAGIVA 4C3 (C7) 500 gp Registro Storico Cagiva article, 2020
  10. ^ CAGIVA C9 500 GP Registro Storico Cagiva article, 2020
  11. ^ CAGIVA C10V 85 500 GP Registro Storico Cagiva article, 2020
  12. ^ CAGIVA 125, la casa varesina nel Motomondiale non solo nella classe 500 www.italiaonroad.it article, novembre, 2021
  13. ^ CAGIVA 750 ELF LIGIER " Official Proto " Registro Storico Cagiva article, 2020
  14. ^ Dakar 1985 | La Cagiva Elefant, 1st 750 according to Giampaolo Marinoni www.parisdakar.it article, 20 October 2020
  15. ^ The Cagiva Elefant of Giampaolo Marinoni www.parisdakar.it article, 4 May 2015
  16. ^ Cagiva Elefant 850 1987 www.parisdakar.it article, 4 May 2015
  17. ^ Elefant Paris–Dakar ‘90 www.cagivaelefant.it article, 2003
  18. ^ Cagiva elephant Marathon Dakar 1994 www.parisdakar.it article, 9 February 2017

External links[edit]