The story of fantic Motor: when Italian motorcycles dreamed of America

The story of fantic Motor: when Italian motorcycles dreamed of America

A new brand enters the world Cafe Twin: the Italian fantic Motor, which has been a reference for over 50 years when it comes to off-road. The family Cafe Twin it's getting larger. After Royal Enfield and a story made of accessories and customization dedicated to all motorcycles, with particular predilection for Triumph, a breath of Italianness arrives in our headquarter: fantic Motor. When it comes to fantic, today like yesterday, we immediately think about the Caballero. But the history of the Italian brand is much bigger than this bike, albeit legendary.

The origins

fantic He was born in 1968 to a man who has the engines in his blood, Mario Agrati, who detaches himself from the family business, Garelli and together with Henry Keppel he founded Fantin Motor in Barzago with the aim of producing mini-bikes, Go -Kart and enduro for the American market.   The first steps of fantic they are marked by an intuition that will prove to be more than lucky: ad EICMA 1969 fantic Bring the first Caballero. 49 cc 2 -stroke engine made by Minarelli engines of Bologna, important dimensions for a fifty but much more similar to a "regularity" competition motorcycle with a lot of light on the ground, high mudguards and the look of an enduro made and finished. The name, exotic and western at the same time, is due to the vice of Keppel's smoke, which used to buy Dutch cigarettes Caballero. fantic He devised for the launch of the model: prominent pilots such as Mike Hailwood and Jarno Saarinen were recruited but also champions of other sports, such as the footballer Sandro Mazzola. Once in the garage, the teenagers of the time used to carburettor from the 14mm garden, in accordance with the law for the time, with the increased 19mm. Such a frequent change that pushed fantic to equip i Caballero for export with the larger carburetor. From the second series of Caballero The double version, at 4 or 6 gears, arrived, and after the targeted versions, of 100 and 125 cc, which however did not have the same success as the progenitor.

Not only Caballero

The success of the model pushed the house to focus on an opposite segment: the chopper was born, inspired by the EasyRider film. Also for this model, the 50 cc Motorized version of Marelli arrived first, and after the 100 and 125 cc engines, with the Morini branded engine. A third model was the one that among the largest engines (so to speak) managed to have a good sales feedback: the fantic Road, produced in the early 1980s and which was placed as direct competitor of Honda CB 125, Gilera Tg2, Laverda Lz and Aprilia ST. However, the results also arrived in the sports field: fantic He became undisputed queen in the trial in the late 1980s, winning three World Cup in 4 years between 1985 and 1988.

The story of fantic Recent motor

The activities of fantic They were interrupted in 1997, but in 2003 it was purchased by Federico Fregnan who continues the brand's commitment in the enduro and resurrects the name Caballero, even if he uses it for a off-road specialist. In 2014 the group Vevenetwork buy fantic and entrusts the management to Mariano Roman, former technical director of Laverda e Moto Guzzi, and finally success returns. The fantic Caballero It enjoys a second youth, in versions 125, 250 and 500 and in two installations Scrambler And Flat track. The lines recall the glorious past, but the contents are modern in the years the new Caballero It states as one of the most successful Italian motorcycles on the market, and the family also expands with the fittings Anniversary, Rally And Deluxe.

fantic Motor still remains a reference in the enduro

fantic Motor, however, remains a reference in the enduro with the XEF range, whose models are declined in Motard in the family XMF and the future basic basis also in the motocross with the XX 125. And since both mobility and two -wheeled fun have many facets fantic Motor recently launched ISSESMENT, e-bike inspired by the 1980s Tubone, but also two families of pedal assisted bikes (Urban and E-MTB). Curious to know more? Pass us to visit us in via Mesula 12! Visit the dealer