Musical Importers, Italian-Style

MUSICAL IMPORTERS, ITALIAN-STYLE

EVER SEEN A GORGEOUS Italian motorcycle in a magazine and just had to have it, but had no idea where to get it? Or dialed the number from an advertisement only to learn that it was no longer in service? You’re not alone. Italian bike importers, it would seem, are predictably unpredictable.

Lately, however, things have gotten even more confusing. It all started a little over a year ago, when Bimota broker Moto Cycle changed its name to Moto Point, and moved into new headquarters (11 Brilliant Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15215; 412/782-6191).

Next, an American investment house known as the Texas Pacific Group purchased half of Ducati from the Italian Cagiva Group, and changed the name of the U.S. importer from Cagiva North America to Ducati North America (5 Washington Ave., Fairfield, NJ 07006; 201/839-2600).

Because that company now handles only Ducati motorcycles, Cagiva’s other established marque, Husqvarna, was left without a U.S. distributor. So, who should Cagiva’s Castiglioni brothers persuade to begin importing their dirtbikes? Why, their old pal Eraldo Ferracci and his son Larry, who are best known for campaigning Ducati Superbikes on the AMA roadracing trail. In addition to Husqvarna, the new company, which goes by the name Cagiva USA (1901 Davisville Rd., Willow

Grove, PA 19090; 215/8303300), also will bring in the new MV Agusta F4 Superbike, plus select Cagiva models such as the Canyon dual-purpose Twin.

Laverda has been absent from the U.S. market for a number of years, but that changed recently when Ray Campanile left New York-based American Jawa to set-up MuZ of North America in Florida. Founded with help from the East German manufacturer, Campanile’s company promptly added Laverda to the fold, and changed its name to Motorrad of North America (4 Signal Ave., Suite C, Ormond Beach, FL 32174; 904/676-1056).

Lastly, and for the record, the only Italian company not playing Musical Importers is Moto Guzzi, whose products still are being distributed by Moto America (P.O. Box 850, Lillington, NC 27546; 800/USA-MOTO).

As for the future, Aprilia’s Export Manager Mark Wilhelm has been checking out sites in the U.S., and should soon announce his company’s plans to begin importing motorcycles. The smart money is betting on Atlanta, Georgia, as the firm’s American base.

So there you have it, a concise guide to the current Eurobike hierarchy. Subject to change, as always. -Brian Catterson