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

Italjet Dragster
ManufacturerItaljet
Production1998-2002
ClassScooter

Technology

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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

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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

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  1. ^ 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
  2. ^ Motorrad catalogue 2002/2007
  3. ^ Motorrad Test 2001, p. 218
  4. ^ Motorrad catalogue 2003, p. 316
  5. ^ Motorrad catalogue 2007, p. 265
  6. ^ Guggenheim Museum, p. 392