Cagiva

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. more...

Home
Automobilia
Car Accessories
Car Manuals & Literature
Car Parts
Car Tuning & Styling
Car Wheels, Tyres & Trims
Cars
Cherished Numbers
Classic Car Parts
Classic Cars
Commercial Vehicles
In-Car Entertainment & GPS
Motorcycle Clothing &...
Motorcycle Parts &...
Accessories
Manuals & Literature
Aprilia
Benelli
BMW
Books
BSA
Buell
Bultaco
Cagiva
CCM & Derbi
Ducati
Gilera
Harley Davidson
Honda
Honda Brochures
Honda Parts Catalogues
Honda Workshop Manuals
Other Honda Literature
Husqvarna
Hyosung
Italjet
Kawasaki
Kawasaki Brochures
Kawasaki Parts Catalogues
Kawasaki Workshop Manuals
Other Kawasaki Literature
KTM
Lambretta
Laverda
Magazines
Matchless
MBK & MZ
Moto Guzzi
Moto Roma
Norton
Other Motorcyle Literature
Peugeot
Royal Enfield
Sachs
Sunbeam
Suzuki
Other Suzuki Literature
Suzuki Brochures
Suzuki Parts Catalogues
Suzuki Workshop Manuals
Triumph
Vespa & Piaggio
Yamaha
Other Yamaha Literature
Yamaha Brochures
Yamaha Parts Catalogues
Yamaha Workshop Manuals
Motorcycle Parts
Scooter Parts
Motorcycles & Scooters

The MV Agusta and Husqvarna brands are now part of the Castiglioni company, branded under the MV Agusta name. It is currently owned by Giovanni's sons, Claudio and Gianfranco Castiglioni.

While they are no longer active in motocross, they did build a series of motocross bikes that had fast powerful engines and innovative features, such as the MX line that had only one spring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.

In June of 1983 the Castiglioni brothers began negotiations with the Italian government to take over Ducati and use their engines in Cagiva motorcycles. However, the Ducati name was better recognized outside Italy, so Ducati motorcycle production continued in Bologna, while the Varese-built Cagiva Allazura and Elefant were introduced, both featuring Ducati engines. Ducati was sold in 1996 to independent investors.

Similarly, in 1985, Cagiva purchased MotoMorini SpA. Sales declined under Cagiva's management and it was sold to independent investors in 1996.

Cagiva purchased the motorcycle section of Husqvarna in 1987, and purchased MV Agusta in 1991.

Cagiva also built the BMC Mini Moke until 1992.

Racing

In the early 80's Cagiva began to manufacture dirt bikes and started a massive public relations program with the opening of their North American branch. They hired "Radical" Ron Turner to test and develop their bikes. They also had Duane Summers, a legend in the cross country pro circuit. This was when Johnny O'Mara was the 'fast' one on the 125's that year and Ron beat Johnny numerous times at local Southern California tracks.

In the early 1990s the company began campaigning the Grand Prix motorcycle racing circuit with Randy Mamola as their rider. 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 and finishing third in the 1994 world championship.

Read more at Wikipedia.org