125 Freccia: Cagiva's Baby Paso

125 Freccia: Cagiva's Baby Paso

ROUNDUP

LETTER FROM Europe

For many people, the price of Ducati’s swoopy 750 Paso forces them to sing the blues. But cheer up, because if you simply must have leading-edge design features and styling by Massimo Tamburini, then your Cagiva dealer can still be of help—if you live in Italy, at least. That’s because the Number One streetbike there this summer has been the Cagiva Freccia, a red, white and yellow buzz bomb with a strong visual affinity to the Paso. But this is hardly surprising, since Tamburini designed them.

The Freccia combines Paso-like styling with peppy performance from its engine—a I25cc, liquid-cooled, two-stroke Single—which was derived from Cagiva’s World Champion I25cc motocrosser. At 10,000 rpm, the motor pumps out a surprising 27 horsepower, enough for a top speed of 97 mph. Yet,

thanks to the electronic gadgetry in its exhaust system, this little Cagiva is no highly strung street squid with a 500-rpmwide powerband. Below 7000 rpm it’s a docile, tractable machine that is fun to ride around town— if you don’t mind the stares that its dramatic styling inevitably attracts. It can also be a pleasant companion on a day trip.

But out on the open road, the Freccia changes character in a chameleonlike manner. Once the engine reaches 7000 rpm, the exhaust note changes from a purr to a rasp as the exhaust port opens fully, and the bike leaps ahead with élan you don't expect from a mere 125. It’s then easy to take fast, sweeping turns flat on the tank while the twin-spar chassis holds the line.

There’s a catch, however, to owning one of the

most sophisticated and striking motorcycles in Italy: At $3800 dollars, the Freccia is the most expensive 125 streetbike on the Italian market. But so far, judging by the sales figures, that price hasn’t deterred potential buyers.