Italjet Dragster
The Italjet Dragster of the Italian manufacturer Italjet Moto is the only mass-produced scooter with a RAAD forkless front suspension and a spaceframe. Alessandro and Leopoldo Tartarini obtained a patent for this combination in 1997.[1] A rebooted version has been released developed by Massimo Tartarini with the assistance of Andrea Dovizioso and comes in 125 and 200cc
Manufacturer | Italjet |
---|---|
Production | 1998-2002 |
Class | Scooter |
Technology
The forkless front suspension is very unusual for motorcycles, and the Yamaha GTS 1000 (1993–1997) might have been the inspiration for the Tartarini brothers. They applied a very innovative technology and an unusual design to their scooter.
All Dragster marks are based on a space frame, which was designed for more power. The wheel dimensions are 120/70–11 front and 130/70–12 rear. The 2007 models had a 130/60–13 rear wheel. The wheelbase was 1310 mm.[2] The mark Dragster 50 was re-edited in 2007 in addition to the mark Dragster 250. The forkless front suspension was criticised as leading to "non-harmonic and wobbly dynamics at lower speeds."[3] Some critics complained about the noise level of the large water cooled two stroke engine, which had a catalytic converter.
Marks
Dragster 50 | Dragster 125 | Dragster 180 | Dragster 250 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Engine | one cylinder two stroke engine | one cylinder two stroke engine | one cylinder two stroke engine | one cylinder four stroke engine |
Capacity | 49 cc (3.0 cu in) | 123 cc (7.5 cu in) | 176 cc (10.7 cu in) | 244 cc (14.9 cu in) |
Bore × stroke | 41 mm × 37.4 mm (1.61 in × 1.47 in) | 55 mm × 52 mm (2.2 in × 2.0 in) | 65.6 mm × 52 mm (2.58 in × 2.05 in) | 72 mm × 60 mm (2.8 in × 2.4 in) |
Power/rpm | 3.3 kW (4.4 hp) 6,800 rpm |
10.6 kW (14.2 hp) 7,500 rpm |
14 kW (19 hp) 8,000 rpm[4] |
16.2 kW (21.7 hp)[5] |
Top speed[6] | 50 km/h (31 mph) | 103 km/h (64 mph) | 122 km/h (76 mph) | 125 km/h (78 mph) |
References
- EP 0757950 A2
- Patent
- Thomas Krens (2001), The Art Of The Motorcycle (in German), New York: Guggenheim Museum New York Publications, p. 392, ISBN 978-0810969124 - Motorrad catalogue 2002/2007
- Motorrad Test 2001, p. 218
- Motorrad catalogue 2003, p. 316
- Motorrad catalogue 2007, p. 265
- Guggenheim Museum, p. 392