REBORN ITALJET DRAGSTER ARRIVES DOWN UNDER
The Dragster name is iconic in Italjet circles, and it’s returning to Australia in 2022!
Inspired by the original Dragster design from the 1990s, with unique features like the trellis frame and centre hub steering, the reborn Italjet will go on sale in January 2022 for an Australia-wide ride away price of $9990.
Incorporating high-end engineering mixed with motorcycle racing DNA, the Italjet 200 is powered by a 181cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, four-valve, Euro 5 four-stroke single-cylinder engine producing 19.8hp (14.5kW) and 15.5Nm, embedded in a package that weighs just 112kg (dry).
A prototype of the resurrected Italjet with modern designs and materials was first unveiled at the 2018 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, followed by a three-year period of refinement and collaborative input from the Italian MotoGP rider and now brand ambassador Andrea Dovizioso.
With some pandemic-enforced delays also thrown into the mix, production of the Italjet commenced in October 2021, with the first shipment now in store.
The quirky Dragster 200 features a molybdenum-chrome frame reinforced with die-cast aluminum plates, while the signature trellis frame – as well as providing a strong, lightweight structure that simplifies placement of engine and components – connects the steering head to the swingarm pivot and provides a unique rigidity due to its interwoven structure.
The unique centre hub steering, in the same mould as the famous Bimota Tesi 3D, separates the steering, braking, and suspension functions, providing unique stability.
The system filters any kind of roughness, without transmitting vibrations to the handlebar.
There’s a Paioli monoshock at the front and rear with preload adjustability while, remaining true to its Italian heritage, the Italjet is fitted with Brembo brakes and Pirelli tyres.
The package is completed by an aluminum front swingarm, MotoGP-style hand/lever guards, passenger seating, and a standard scooter centre stand.
Italjet Australia’s Fredy Arnet is excited by the arrival of the Italian company’s new-age masterpiece.
“Like so many others, I was taken aback at the Dragster prototype shown at the EICMA show 2018 – but ‘prototype’ probably isn’t the best word, because the production model that’s going on sale in Australia is remarkably similar in design and spec to what we saw in Italy.
“And the centerpiece of that is of course the centre hub steering, but in many other ways it’s above and beyond anything else on the market – the distinctive styling one of them!
“Quite simply, the Dragster is a stunning example of Italian ingenuity, attention to detail, and, most importantly, a passion to create a vehicle that excites.
“We’re looking forward to showcasing the Italjet brand to a new batch of devotees, as well as those who remember the brand with fondness from the 1990s and the turn of the century.”
Italjet was founded in 1959 by Leopoldo Tartarini, who was an integral part of the Ducati racing and business family before embarking on his own two-wheeled adventure.
The Dragster moniker undoubtedly holds the halo as the most well-known of the Italjet models, with the two-stroke 50 and 180cc platforms previously sold in Australia.
The 2022 Dragster 200 will be available in three liveries – grey/white/red, grey/yellow, and black/grey – and comes with a two-year unlimited-kilometer factory warranty.
