Cagiva

Year of foundation 1950-1994

The history of Cagiva is an important and fascinating chapter in Italian motorcycling, shaped by the passion and vision of the Castiglioni family. The name itself, Cagiva, is an acronym that captures the company's origins: Castiglioni Giovanni Varese, in honor of founder Giovanni Castiglioni and the city of Varese, the historic site of production.

Beginnings and Growth
The company was founded in 1950 as a small metal parts workshop, but the real turning point came in 1978, when brothers Claudio and Gianfranco Castiglioni decided to acquire the Harley-Davidson-Aermacchi plant in Schiranna (VA) to produce motorcycles. The goal was ambitious: to enter the world of two-wheeled motorcycles and compete at the highest levels, focusing on both series production and competition.

Strategic Acquisitions and the Revitalization of Historic Brands
In the 1980s and 1990s, Cagiva expanded aggressively, acquiring historic brands such as:
Ducati: A key acquisition that allowed Cagiva to use Bologna-made twin-cylinder Desmo engines for some of its models. This partnership led to the creation of iconic motorcycles and the revitalization of the Ducati brand, thanks to the genius of designer Massimo Tamburini, who created masterpieces such as the Ducati 916.
Moto Morini
Husqvarna
MV Agusta: An acquisition that represented the fulfillment of a dream for Claudio Castiglioni. Under his leadership, the glorious MV Agusta brand was revived, giving rise to top-of-the-line motorcycles such as the MV Agusta F4.

Racing Successes
Cagiva was not just a manufacturer, but an undisputed protagonist in racing, achieving great success:
Motocross: It won numerous world titles.
Rally-raid: The most iconic motorcycle, the Elefant, won the prestigious Paris-Dakar Rally in 1990 with Edi Orioli.
Motorcycle World Championship: Cagiva competed in the 500cc class, achieving victories and podium finishes.

Iconic Models
Among the motorcycles that have shaped Cagiva's history, the following stand out:
Cagiva Mito: One of the most desirable 125cc sports bikes of all time, an icon for an entire generation of young motorcyclists.
Cagiva Elefant: The famous enduro that triumphed in the desert.
Cagiva V-Raptor and X-tra Raptor: Naked models with a futuristic design, born from the collaboration with Massimo Tamburini.

The Brand's Fate
Over the years, the Cagiva group has transformed and faced many challenges. After selling Ducati and Moto Morini to focus on MV Agusta, the entire group was sold to Harley-Davidson in 2008, only to be repurchased by Claudio Castiglioni in 2010.

Today, the Cagiva brand is dormant, with production focused on MV Agusta. Cagiva's legacy, however, lives on through its historic models, which continue to fascinate enthusiasts and represent a golden age of Italian motorcycling.