Cagiva Planet
| Industry | Motorcycle manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1950 in Italy |
| Founder | Giovanni Castiglioni (assumed from CEO name, but not explicitly stated) |
| Headquarters | Italy |
| Products | Motorcycles (including Cagiva Mito) |
| Owner | MV Agusta (implied as MV Agusta CEO signed final Mito SP525) |
| Website | www |
The Cagiva Mito (English: "Myth") is a compact sports motorcycle manufactured by Cagiva, powered by a liquid-cooled, two-stroke 125 cubic centimetres (7.6 cu in) single-cylinder engine.
History and development
The Cagiva Mito holds significance as the initial racing motorcycle of Valentino Rossi, who later secured nine MotoGP world championships. In 1994, Rossi received a factory Mito from Cagiva team manager Claudio Lusuardi, which he used to claim the Italian championship.
Throughout the 1990s, the Mito was a direct competitor to Aprilia’s (AF1) 125 Futura and subsequently the Aprilia RS125, both of which were comparable two-stroke 125 cc race replica motorcycles.
Manufacturing of the Mito was discontinued in 2012 due to increasingly strict emissions regulations and a strategic shift focusing on the development of the MV Agusta F3 series. The final production units of the Mito SP525 were finished in white and personally autographed by MV Agusta CEO Giovanni Castiglioni.
Mk I/II and SP
The Mito made its debut in 1989 as the Mk I. The subsequent Mk II model introduced subtle updates, including inverted forks and a redesigned front mudguard. The SP variants were equipped with Marchesini wheels and enhanced suspension components.
Additionally, the SP editions incorporated different engine and ignition elements compared to the standard models.
Evolution I and II
In 1994, the motorcycle underwent a redesign by Massimo Tamburini, adopting styling cues similar to the then-new Ducati 916, another design by Tamburini.[1][2] This resemblance is especially evident in the design of both the front and rear fairings.
The Evolution I can be recognized by its three-spoke wheels, a seven-speed transmission, grey lower panels, and solid-colored tail section.
Conversely, the Evolution II features six-spoke rims, a six-speed gearbox, solid-colored lower panels, and a white accent on the tail section.
In February 2007, Malaysian firm MOFAZ announced plans to locally assemble the final batch of the Mito 125 Evolution for the Malaysian market. This limited edition, named Momos Cagiva Mito 125 Fauzy Edition after Mohamed Fairuz Fauzy, was limited to a production run of only 300 units.[3]
By late 2009, Cagiva discontinued the Evolution model, leaving only the Mito SP525 and Raptor 125 available in their lineup.
SP525
At the 2005 EICMA motorcycle exhibition, Cagiva unveiled a limited-run competition-tuned version of the Mito called the SP525. This model pays tribute to the Cagiva GP500 (C594) racing machine. Its front and rear fairings were redesigned to more closely resemble those of the C594, while eight-spoke forged aluminum wheels were installed. To reduce weight, equipment such as the speedometer, lights, and mirrors were omitted. The engine delivers over 39 hp at the crankshaft but is not street legal.[4]
In 2008, Cagiva introduced a road-legal version of the Mito SP525 alongside the Mito Evo II. While sharing some visual elements with its racing counterpart—particularly front and rear fairings—the street model retains much of the Evo’s chassis and continues to use a 125 cc two-stroke engine. This version incorporates several updates, most notably an Electronic Carburetion System developed in partnership with Dell'Orto. This system manages fuel-air mixture, oil injection, and ignition timing to meet stricter Euro 3 regulations.[5]
Mito 500
At the 2006 EICMA event in November, Cagiva presented the Mito 500 prototype. This model replaced the original two-stroke 125 cc engine with a four-stroke, fuel-injected 500 cubic centimetres (31 cu in) DOHC single-cylinder powerplant sourced from the Husqvarna TE510, delivering an output of 60 hp. Instead of the two-stroke’s characteristic expansion chamber exhaust, it features a compact, seemingly unrestricted exhaust system, with its outlet discreetly positioned beneath the rear fairing. Equipped with forged alloy wheels, the dry weight stands at 133 kilograms (293 lb), which is only 4 kilograms (8.8 lb) heavier than the Mito 125.
Naked variants
Planet
In 1998, Cagiva introduced a naked bike counterpart to the Mito Evo called the Planet, which shares some design cues with the Ducati Monster. Unlike the Aprilia Tuono, the Planet sports completely redesigned bodywork including a fuel tank that tilts upwards, providing storage space sufficient for an open-face helmet.
Raptor 125
The Planet was discontinued in 2003 and rebranded as the Raptor 125 in 2004. This successor retained most mechanical elements but featured updated styling modifications.
Performance
- Peak Power:
- Evolution - 24.5 kW (33 hp) at 12,000 rpm
- Mito SP 525 ('09) - 18 kW (24 hp) at 12,000 rpm
- Mito 500 - 60 hp
Notes and references
- ↑ Walker, Mick (2001), Performance Motorcycles, Chartwell Books, pp. 116–117, ISBN 978-0-7858-1380-4
- ↑ Giulio, Decio; Carugati, Decio G. R.; Sadleir, Richard (2001), Ducati: Design and Emotion, MotorBooks/MBI Publishing Company, p. 139, ISBN 978-0-7603-1199-8, retrieved 2010-11-18
- ↑ "Announcement of Malaysian assembly of Mito 125 by BERNAMA". Archived from the original on 2007-04-29. Retrieved 2007-03-26.
- ↑ “2006 Cagiva Mito SP 525”, www.topspeed.com, retrieved on January 13, 2024.
- ↑ Anthony Kodack (3 December 2007). "The New Cagiva Mito SP525 Is Available In All Cagiva Dealers". Top Speed. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
External links
