Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126660
Impression: 1984 Cagiva WMXI25 Italian challenger lor the pocket-rocket class A spi~y By David Edwards Photos by Karel Kramer and Edwards Ever since the advent of the then-sizzling silver-and-green-tanked Honda Elsinore a decade ago, the 125cc class in motocross competition has been owned by motorcycles that have "Made in Japan" stamped neatly on their aluminum engine cases. For 1984, though, the Orien- 18 tal pocket rockets just might be in for some serious competi tion from across the other pond. Next year, several European companies intend to sell 125s in the super-competitive U.S. market. KTM appears ready to blast away at the Japanese with a muchimproved bike that puts out six more horsepower than this year's model and weighs less than 190 pounds. And Husqvarna will send some watercooled Swedish steel to do battle in the small-bore wars after years of dormancy in that class. Then there's tbe Cagiva WMX125. Cagiva? You're not alone if you don't know much about Cagiva. First off, the name is pronounced "KaGee-Va," and the company is based in Varese, Italy, about 500 miles north of Rome. ' , .... , •... Thecompany was founded in 1978 when the Castiglioni brothers bought out the interests of the Aermacchi factory. Aermacchi, if you remember your moto-history, supplied HarleyDavidson with sub-500cc motorcycles that met witb dubious ales success in America. Today, Cagiva is Italy's largest manufacturer of motorcycles, with an output of 50,000 units last year. Besides motocross models in the 125, 250 and Open classes, Cagiva makes enduro bikes, small-displacement two-stroke street and dual-purpose bikes, a slick-looking four-stroke dual-purpose 350 and a trials bike. For now, Cagiva is importing just two enduro models, tbree motocrossers and the trials bike. But Cagiva made news recently when they acquired the rights to the Ducati engine, and, if emissions standards can· be, met ion, ti me, Cafot~ va will import 600, 750 and 900cc Ducatiengined street bikes iri 1984. I Now that you know more about Cagiva than 99.9 percent of the people in western civilization, let's get on with the impression of their smallest motocrosser. A quick visual tour of the Cagiva will immediately put away any negative preconceptions you may have about the handicraft of Italian-built motorcycles. This is a well-puttogether machine. The bright-red fenders, side panels, gas tank and radiator shroud are made by Acerbis the same company that handles the plastic components for Maico. Besides being rather handsome, the plastic held up well. We did manage to see a rear fender destroyed, but only after a Cagiva was dropped in front of a screaming horde of glassy-eyed 125cc Novices, who used the conveniently placed Cagiva for added traction. The Rock of Gibraltar would have tumbled under'such treatment. Cagiva has found a solution to the unsightly problem of decals dropping from the sides of gas tanks. They made theirs out of metal and screwed them on. Incidentally, the cute little elephant above the nameplate is Cagiva's corporate mascot, and in Italy, stands for strength, not obesity. At least it's not white as originally planned. Basic black is out of fashion in seatwear for motocrossers this year, and the Cagiva follows the trend with a gray cover over its seat foam. Like most light-colored seats, it gets grungy-looking more. easily than.