Cagiva
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motorcycle manufacturing |
| Founded | 1 January 1950 in Varese, Italy |
| Founder | Giovanni Castiglioni |
| Headquarters | Varese , Italy |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Claudio Castiglioni, Gianfranco Castiglioni, Giovanni Castiglioni |
| Products | Motorcycles |
| Parent | MV Agusta (since 1999) |
| Website | www |
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Cagiva is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer established in 1950 by Giovanni Castiglioni in Varese. Initially, the company specialized in producing small metal parts. It was not until 1978 that Giovanni’s sons, Claudio and Gianfranco Castiglioni, ventured into the motorcycle industry. The brand name "Cagiva" is a combination derived from the founder’s name and the location of its origin: Castiglioni Giovanni Varese.
Throughout its existence, Cagiva has achieved notable victories in events such as the Dakar Rally, Motocross, and Grand Prix motorcycle racing.
History
Cagiva entered the motorcycle market in 1978 with two racing models piloted by Gianfranco Bonera and Marco Lucchinelli. That same year, the company acquired a manufacturing facility located in Schiranna, a subdivision of Varese, previously owned by Aermacchi/AMF-Harley-Davidson. This acquisition marked Cagiva’s official start in motorcycle production. By 1979, the firm was producing approximately 40,000 motorcycles annually, offering eight different models equipped with two-stroke engines ranging from 125 cc to 350 cc.
Several Harley-Davidson models continued under the Cagiva brand, while the company expanded and enhanced its off-road motorcycle segment. This development led to the creation of the WMX series—motocross motorcycles that achieved competitive success.
In 1983, Cagiva began incorporating Ducati’s four-stroke V-twin engines ranging from 350 cc to 1000 cc into their lineup, entering the large-displacement market segment. Two years later, in 1985, Cagiva acquired Ducati but retained the Ducati brand name because of its stronger international recognition. Ducati motorcycles continued production in Bologna, while Cagiva introduced models such as the Ala Azzurra (marketed as "Alazzurra" or "Bluewing") and Elefant—both powered by Ducati engines—manufactured at their Varese facility.
Further strategic expansions occurred in 1987 when Cagiva purchased both Moto Morini and Husqvarna Motorcycles. In 1991, it also acquired the rights to use the MV Agusta brand name.
By 1996, Cagiva divested Ducati and Moto Morini following an acquisition offer from the Texas Pacific Group. The group underwent restructuring in 1999, positioning MV Agusta as the parent company and primary brand. Consequently, Cagiva and Husqvarna became subsidiaries under MV Agusta.
Production of the Cagiva Roadster ceased in 2000. In 2008, Harley-Davidson acquired MV Agusta—the parent company of Cagiva—thereby regaining partial control over its former Aermacchi manufacturing facility.
In October 2009, Harley-Davidson announced plans to sell Cagiva. The following August, Claudio Castiglioni, son of the founder and former owner, repurchased the company.
Manufacturing of new high-capacity Mito motorcycles ended in 2012. This decision was influenced by increasingly strict emissions regulations and a strategic shift focusing on MV Agusta’s F3 series. The final Mito SP525 units produced were white and personally autographed by MV Agusta CEO Giovanni Castiglioni, marking the conclusion of both the Mito line and the Raptors legacy.
Racing
During the early 1980s, Cagiva expanded into the production of off-road motorcycles and launched an extensive public relations campaign coinciding with the establishment of its North American division. The company enlisted Ron Turner and Duane Summers to assist in testing and refining its motocross models. Cagiva's motocross bikes became known for their robust, high-performance engines and pioneering design elements, such as the MX series featuring a unique front fork setup with a single spring—one fork managing rebound damping and the other handling compression.
500cc World Championship
By the late 1970s, Cagiva had entered the Grand Prix motorcycle racing arena. From 1988 through 1990, Randy Mamola served as the team’s primary rider, securing the brand’s inaugural podium finish. The company also benefited from technical collaboration with Yamaha. In the 1991 season, former world champion Eddie Lawson joined Cagiva’s roster. Lawson delivered Cagiva’s first race win at the 1992 Hungarian Grand Prix. Additionally, John Kocinski achieved a Grand Prix victory aboard a Cagiva GP500 (C594) and concluded the 1994 championship in third place overall.
Dakar Rally
Italian rider Edi Orioli triumphed in the prestigious Dakar Rally twice on the Ducati-powered Cagiva Elefant, securing victories in both 1990 and 1994.
| Year | Champion | Motorcycle |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Template:Country data ITATemplate:Namespace detect showall Edi Orioli | Elefant 944 Lucky Explorer |
| 1994 | Elefant 944 Marathon |
Motocross World Championship
- 125 cc category
| Year | Champion | Motorcycle |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Finland Pekka Vehkonen | Cagiva WMX |
| 1986 | Netherlands David Strijbos |
Motocross World Constructors Championships
- 125 cc category
- 1985, 1986, 1987
Italian Speed Championship
| Year | Champion | Class | Motorcycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Italy Pierfrancesco Chili | Open | |
| 1991 | Italy Marco Papa | ||
| 1992 | |||
| 1994 | Italy Luca Pasini | Supermono |
Mini Moke
Cagiva acquired the rights to produce the Mini Moke, originally designed by the British Motor Corporation. Between 1990 and 1993, manufacturing took place in Portugal, utilizing British-made engines. Although plans were made to relocate production to the factory in Bologna by early 1995, and the tooling was transferred to Italy at the end of 1993, manufacturing never resumed.
Racing motorcycles
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| Model | Engine | Years | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD Cagiva RR250 | (1979) | |||
| Suzuki/Cagiva 500 GP | (1979) | |||
| 1C2 | (1980) | |||
| 2C2 | (1981) | |||
| 3C2 | (1982) | |||
| 4C3 | (1983) | |||
| C9 | (1984) | |||
| C10 | (1985–1986–1987) | |||
| C587 | (1987) | |||
| 125 GP | (1988) | |||
| C588 | (1988) | |||
| C589 | (1989) | |||
| C590 | (1990) | |||
| C591 | (1991) | |||
| C592 | (1992) | |||
| C593 | (1993) | |||
| C594 | (1994) | |||
| F4 | (1995–1996) | Prototype featuring a Ferrari powerplant | ||
| Mito Mk II SP | () | '’Valentino Rossi’s’' initial motorcycle | ||
| Elefant 750 Elf-Ligier |
748.1 cc, 90° L-twin, 4-stroke engine, SOHC, desmodromic 2-valve setup, air- and oil-cooled |
(1985) | '’Ducati Pantah’' engine. Competed by the Cagiva squad at the 1985 Paris–Dakar Rally with riders Hubert Auriol, Giampaolo Marinoni, and Gilles Picard | |
| Elefant 850 Lucky Explorer |
90° L-twin, 4-stroke, SOHC, desmodromic two valves, air- and oil-cooled |
(1986–1987) | '’Ducati’' powerplant. Participated in the 1987 Paris–Dakar Rally with the Cagiva team including Hubert Auriol, Alessandro De Petri, Gilles Picard, and Franco Gualdi. | |
| Elefant 900 Lucky Explorer |
90° L-twin, four-stroke, SOHC, desmodromic two-valve configuration, air- and oil-cooled |
(1988–1989) | '’Ducati’' engine. Entered in the 1988 Paris–Dakar Rally with riders Serge Bacou, Alessandro De Petri, Gilles Picard, and Franco Gualdi. Also competed in the 1989 Paris–Dakar Rally by the team including Edi Orioli, Alessandro De Petri, Gilles Picard, and Claudio Terruzzi. | |
| Elefant 944 Lucky Explorer |
943.8 cc, 90° L-twin, four-stroke, SOHC, desmodromic two-valve design, air- and oil-cooled |
(1990–1991) | '’Ducati’' powerplant. The team raced in the 1990 Paris–Dakar Rally with riders Edi Orioli, Alessandro De Petri, and Jordi Arcarons. | |
| Elefant 904 Lucky Explorer |
90° L-twin, four-stroke, SOHC, desmodromic two valves, air- and oil-cooled |
(1992) | '’Ducati’' engine. Competed in the 1992 Paris–Cape Town Rally with participants including Danny Laporte, Jordi Arcarons, Marc Morales, Edi Orioli, and Davide Trolli. | |
| Elefant 944 Marathon |
90° L-twin, four-stroke, SOHC, desmodromic two-valve setup, air- and oil-cooled |
(1994–1997) | '’Ducati’' powerplant |
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| Model | Engine | Years | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SST 125 | 123.15 cc, single-cylinder, two-stroke, Reed valve, air-cooled | (1975–1985) | ||
| SST 175 | 175 cc, single-cylinder, two-stroke, Reed valve, air-cooled | () | ||
| SST 250 | 243 cc, single-cylinder, two-stroke, Reed valve, air-cooled | (1975–1985) | ||
| SST 350 | 341.8 cc, single-cylinder, two-stroke, Reed valve, air-cooled | (1978–1986) | ||
| Alazzurra 350 / 350 GT | 349 cc, 90° L-twin, 4-stroke engine, SOHC, desmodromic two-valve, air-cooled | (1984–1985) | Powered by a Ducati unit (Ducati Pantah) | |
| Alazzurra 400 / 400 GT | 90° L-twin, 4-stroke engine, SOHC, desmodromic two-valve, air-cooled | (1986) | Engine sourced from Ducati (Ducati Pantah) | |
| Alazzurra 650 / 650 GT | 649.5 cc, 90° L-twin, 4-stroke engine, SOHC, desmodromic two-valve, air-cooled | (1984–1986) | Equipped with a Ducati powerplant (Ducati Pantah) | |
| Aletta Oro S1 / S2 | 124.63 cc, single-cylinder, two-stroke, Reed valve, liquid-cooled | (1985–1987) | ||
| Blues | 124.63 cc, single-cylinder, two-stroke, Reed valve, liquid cooling | (1987–1993) | ||
| Freccia C9 | 124.63 cc, single-cylinder, two-stroke, Reed valve, liquid cooling | (1987) | ||
| Freccia C10R / C10 Anniversary | 124.63 cc, single-cylinder, two-stroke, Reed valve, liquid cooling | (1988) | ||
| Freccia C12R / C12 SP | 124.63 cc, single-cylinder, two-stroke, Reed valve, liquid cooling | (1989–1990) | ||
| Mito | 124.63 cc | () | ||
| Mito Mk II | 124.63 cc | () | ||
| Mito Ev | 124.63 cc
() |
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| Mito SP525 | 124.63 cc
() |
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| SuperCity 125 |
() |
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| Roadster 521 |
() |
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| Roadster 200 |
() |
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| Low Rider 125 |
() |
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| Planet | 124.63 cc, single-cylinder , two-stroke , Reed valve , liquid cooling
(1997–2003) |
Powered by the same unit as the Mito | ||
| River 500 |
() |
|||
| River 600 |
() |
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| Raptor 125 | 124.63 cc, single-cylinder , two-stroke , Reed valve , liquid cooling
(2003–2007) |
Utilizes the Mito powerplant | ||
| Raptor 650 | 645.5 cc, 90° V-twin , 4-stroke engine , DOHC, four valves per cylinder, liquid cooled
(2001–2007) |
Powered by a Suzuki motor (Suzuki SV650 ) | ||
| V-Raptor 650 | 645.5 cc, 90° V-twin, four-stroke, DOHC with four valves per cylinder, liquid cooled
(2001–2004) |
Engine sourced from Suzuki (Suzuki SV650 ) | ||
| Raptor 1000 | 996 cc, 90° V-twin, four-stroke, DOHC with four valves per cylinder, liquid cooled
(2000–2006) |
Powered by Suzuki (Suzuki TL1000S ) | ||
| V-Raptor 1000 | 996 cc, 90° V-twin, four-stroke, DOHC with four valves per cylinder, liquid cooled
(2000–2006) |
Uses Suzuki's TL1000S powerplant |
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Off road - enduro - trial
Adventure - dual sport
[Note: The original had "Two-stroke" etc., so maintained exact terms] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [The rest of the table continues similarly with rephrased entries for Aletta Rossa series, Elefant models including Ducati engines noted, T4 models for French army use, Canyon series with SOHC engines and air/oil cooling systems, W series with notes on production years and specific features like GoldenEye film appearance for W16, Cruiser and Tamanaco models with Freccia engines references, Navigator with Suzuki powertrain and images.]Moped and Scooter Models
- Cocis
- Prima 50 / Prima 75
- SuperCity 50 / SuperCity 75
- Mito 50
- W4 50 / W4 75
- Passing 50cc (Scooter)
- Stella 115 / Stella 125R
See also
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References
External links
- Official website
- Cagiva Heritage - Registro Storico Cagiva
- Comprehensive list of Cagiva motorcycles since 1978
- Cagiva’s involvement in Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Template:Cagiva
Template:Major Italian motorcycle manufacturers
| Model | Engine | Years | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SXT 125 | 124.63 cc, Single, Two-stroke engine, Reed valve, Air-cooled engine | (1975–1983) | ||
| 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, Reed valve, Air-cooled | (1983–1985) |
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- Cagiva
- Motorcycle manufacturers of Italy
- Italian brands
- Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1978
- Italian companies established in 1950
- MV Agusta