Cagiva
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| Type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motorcycle |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Founder(s) | Giovanni Castiglioni |
| Headquarters | Varese, Italy |
| Parent | MV Agusta Motor S.p.A. |
| Website | www.cagiva.it |
Cagiva is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer. It was founded in 1950 by Giovanni Castiglioni in Varese, originally producing small metal components. It went into the motorcycle industry in 1978. The name is a portmanteau derived from the founder and the founding location, i.e. CAstiglioni GIovanni VArese. In 1999 for strategic purposes, the company got restructured. MV Agusta Motor became the main brand comprising Cagiva and Husqvarna.[1] The company currently operates under the name MV Agusta Motor S.p.A..
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[edit] History
In 1978 Cagiva entered the motorcycle business with two racing motorcycles ridden by Gianfranco Bonera and Marco Lucchinelli. In the same year they bought a factory in Schiranna, Varese from AMF-Harley Davidson and went into motorcycle production. By 1979 the company reached an annual production of 40,000 motorbikes, with eight models with 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 their own race-winning WMX series of moto-cross motorcycles.
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 name that was better recognized outside Italy. Ducati motorcycle production continued in Bologna, while the Varese-built Cagiva Ala Azzurra (sold under the name "Alazzurra") and Elefant were introduced, both featuring Ducati engines.[2]
Cagiva continued with strategic buyouts of Moto Morini in 1985 and Husqvarna in 1987. In 1991 Cagiva also bought the trademarks for the MV Agusta brand.
In 1996, the Ducati and Moto Morini brands were sold to Texas Pacific Group.
In 1999, for strategic purposes, the company was restructured. MV Agusta Motor become the main brand comprising Cagiva and Husqvarna.
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 their old Aermacchi factory.
In October 2009, Harley-Davidson informed that it will put Cagiva on sale.
[edit] Racing
In the early 1980s Cagiva began to manufacture dirt bikes and started a massive public relations program with the opening of their North American branch. They hired Ron Turner and Duane Summers to test and develop their 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 dampening and the other spring.
At the end of the 1970s the company began campaigning the Grand Prix motorcycle racing circuit. Randy Mamola was their lead rider from 1988 to 1990, and he achieved Cagiva’s first podium result. They would also have some technical assistance from Yamaha. In 1991 they signed former world champion Eddie Lawson to their team. Lawson would claim their 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.
In 1990 and 1994 the Italian rider Edi Orioli won the famed Dakar Rally on the Ducati-powered Cagiva Elefant.
[edit] Mini Moke
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.
[edit] Past models
- SST-125 SXT-125
- SS-175
- MXR-250
- RX-250
- SST-350
- SXT-350
- WMX-125
- WMX-250
- MXR-500
- WMX-500
- Mito Evolution 125
- T4 500 E
- AR 350 Ala Rossa
- SuperCity 125
- canyon 500/600
- 125 W8
- 350 W12
- 600 W16
- Aletta 125
- Cocis 50
- Prima 50
- City 50
- Freccia 125
- Roadster 125
- Low Rider 125
- River 600
- Passing 125 (Scooter)
With Suzuki engine:
- Raptor/V-Raptor 650/1000
- Navigator 1000
With Ducati engine:
- Alazzura 350/650
- Elefant 350/650/750/900
- Gran Canyon 900
[edit] Current models
[edit] References
- ^ "Cagiva Recent Facts". Cagiva. http://www.cagiva.it/_vti_g6_att.aspx?rpstry=174_. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
- ^ 1985-1987 Cagiva Alazzurra Motorcycle Classics article, Jan/Feb 2008
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Cagiva motorcycles |
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