This is the Ferrari of the Scooter World! Strong Individuality Shines Through | Italjet Scooter (Test Ride)

Written by: Ichimoto Kohei / Photo from MV AGUSTA JAPAN
*This article was originally published in Best Car Web on August 10, 2022.

Italy's Italjet has launched the strong impact Dragster 200/125 in Japan. The ISS steering mechanism on the front creates a unique style and ride, and has been so popular and talked about that the company has had back orders since its launch.

The gorgeous style of this scooter is in stark contrast to the Japanese-made scooters, which are more rigid and solid in quality. I would like to explain the unique concept born in Italy.

The overwhelming premium feeling of the scooter has made it the Ferrari of scooters.

Japan shipments of Italjet's Dragster 200/125, first unveiled at the 2019 Milan Show in Italy, began at the end of last year. With its exposed truss frame and hub-steering front mechanism, it is a highly conspicuous model that attracted a flood of reservations upon its official unveiling, and even now some dealers are back-ordering the popular motorcycle.

MV Agusta Japan is the Japanese importer of MV Agusta, the "Ferrari of the motorcycle world."  MV Agusta and Italjet are both Italian manufacturers, and it seems as if Italjet is under the umbrella of MV Agusta, but in their home countries, they are separate companies. The sales situation in Japan has brought these two manufacturers closer together.

Nevertheless, the product image of the dragster and MV Agusta are close, and both feature steel truss frames. With Ducati's major models now shifting to aluminum frames, this is a unique appeal point for MV Agusta, and furthermore, there is no other example of a truss frame on a scooter other than Italjet.

Because of its proximity to the MV Agusta's position, the dragster is like the Ferrari of the scooter world.
The functional beauty of its thoroughly polished truss frame is equal to or better than that of the original MV Agusta, and the front mechanism, commonly called hub steer, is an extremely rare feature. It is a one-of-a-kind premium scooter that has no equal.

What is the unique mechanism = independent steering system?

The most notable mechanism on the dragster is the front Independent Steering System (ISS). The reason why the ISS is called "independent" comes from the fact that the two elements of steering and shock absorption, which are performed by the front of the motorcycle, are separated and independent of each other.

On a typical motorcycle, when the front brake is activated, the suspension sinks under the influence of deceleration Gs, reducing the stroke needed to perform its shock-absorbing role. In ISS, the front suspension remains neutral during braking, allowing it to absorb road bumps.

In addition, the ISS does not allow the front area to sink under deceleration Gs when the front brake is applied, so stable braking is possible without falling forward. In other words, since settings that greatly affect handlings, such as caster angle and amount of trail, are unlikely to change, another advantage of ISS is that it can always exhibit constant cornering performance.

The ISS is technically a different mechanism from the hub steer, but both have the same purpose and were developed to solve the shortcomings of the telescopic front forks used on most motorcycles.
In the dragster, the ISS has been inherited from the previous generation model launched in 1995, and another mechanism of the same type is the telelever used by BMW since 1993.

Interesting to see the front suspension move right down. Ride quality is unique

When I test rode it, it just stood out. Riders in line at traffic lights are likely to call out to you, and this is one of the top five test rides I've ever ridden. From a rider's point of view, the view from the inseam is very mechanical and enchanting. The suspension extends and contracts below the rider's eye, providing a visual feast for the eyes with its one and only mechanism.

And the braking is unprecedentedly effective. On a normal motorcycle, the front end of the motorcycle sinks and the tires press against the road surface, but there is no such sensation of deceleration, so it does not feel as if the brakes are being applied. Even so, the motorcycle absorbs bumps during deceleration, which should make braking more stable.

Also, when the rear brake is applied, the entire body of the motorcycle sinks, which is also puzzling because this is not a normal movement. And when slowing down and transitioning to cornering, the motorcycle will not lean because of the strong standing if the front brake is left in place, so you want to either finish braking completely or turn around leaving only the rear brake in place.

Unlike ordinary motorcycles, where the weight is shifted to the front wheel at the timing of turning in the first half of a corner, the dragster seems to turn while the load is applied to both the front and rear tires, giving the impression of a particularly large presence of the rear wheel. Utilizing the front and rear wheels means that the tires' grip can be used comprehensively, which will lead to safer cornering.

Electric versions are likely to be available in 2023. Which is better with an engine?

The model we test-drove this time was the advanced version, the Dragster 200. According to MV Agusta Japan, the 200cc version is more popular than the 125cc version, and buyers are choosing it not for practical use such as commuting, but for their taste. Also, the price difference is only 44,000 yen (approx. 325 USD) for the 5PS difference in power, so even considering maintenance costs, the 200 is probably the best value for money, as it can be ridden at high speeds.

It is capable of overtaking on the highway without any lack of dynamic performance. The engine uses a high-performance DOHC 4-valve head and packs a powerful punch at high rpm. Although it is smaller than a big scooter and is not equipped with a windshield, it is still suitable for day-trip touring. Actual fuel consumption was recorded at 24 km/L, giving it a calculated range of 216 km.

And in the second half of 2022, an EV version of the Dragster #e01 Electric has also been announced for release overseas. The maximum output of 16.3 PS is less than the 17.5 PS of the Dragster 200, but the maximum torque of 4 kg-m is significantly higher than the 1.58 kg-m of the Dragster 200. Acceleration from 0-50 km/h in 2.9 sec.　
performance is likely to make this model literally embody the dragster's naming.

The EV version is said to have a cruising range of 180 km in urban areas and 90 km in suburban areas, which is comparable to the engine version when used mainly for city driving. Charging time is estimated to be 4 hours, and 30 minutes for quick charging (both at 95% charge). Details of the commercial version, including pricing, will be announced at the Milano Show in November 2022. Here's hoping for the same.

Original Source [ Best Car Web ]