Italjet Dragster returns to Oz

Italjet Australia has announced the 2022 Italjet Dragster 200 has arrived in Australia, with stock of the exquisite-looking sports scooter recently hitting Melbourne and now spreading through the firm’s national dealer network. 

Unveiled in concept form at the EICMA motorcycle expo in Milan, Italy, in 2018, the modern incarnation of the legendary Italian model boasts a trellis-style frame and centre-hub steering just like the original. 

That first generation, which was hugely innovative for a scooter for its time, was sold in many markets around the world from 1998 to 2002, before the Bologna-based company succumbed to financial pressures. 

Originally founded in 1959 by former Ducati stalwart, Leopoldo Tartarini, new life was breathed into the ailing company from 2005 by Leopoldo’s son, Massimo, and indeed it is still Massimo Tartarini guiding the operation today. 

The original Italjet Dragster was sold in various guises in both two-stroke and four-stroke formats, but it was the fire-breathing Dragster 180, with its 176cc two-stroke engine, that took the market by storm.

It delivered genuine sports performance in a light and lively scooter package and remains a highly sought after (and increasingly rare) model. The marque also experienced success with its smaller Italjet Formula 125.

Unlike that initial line-up, which spanned 50cc, 125cc, 180cc and 250cc models, the 2022 Italjet Dragster range is only being produced in 125cc and 200cc formats – both four-strokes – but only the Dragster 200 will be sold here in Australia. 

Italjet Australia is a new enterprise from a Perth-based dealership, Ace Scooters & Motorcycles, with the business now the sole importer and distributor for Italjet products in Australia. Established in 2005 and located in the northern Perth suburb of Balcatta, the Ace Scooters & Motorcycles dealership is one of seven outlets selling Italjet in this country, with the business also in talks to appoint a further dealership in Hobart. 

The other six dealers at present are in Adelaide (Scootaround Sales & Hire), Melbourne (Scooterama), Canberra (Motorini Scooters), Sydney (Close Motorcycles), and the Queensland centres of the Gold Coast (Revolution Scooters) and Noosa (Scooter Style). 

The new Dragster 200 is powered by a liquid-cooled, 200cc, DOHC, four-stroke single-cylinder engine supplied by scooter giant Piaggio and is built at Italjet’s manufacturing facility still situated in Bologna, northern Italy. 

With Marelli electronic fuel injection, the Euro 5-compliant single puts out a claimed 17.5hp (12.9kW) at 8000rpm and 15.5Nm at 7750rpm, which should prove ample to get the scoot’s svelte 124kg claimed dry weight motoring. 

Italjet bills the Dragster as an ‘Urban Superbike’ and, looking deeper into the model’s specifications, construction, and accessories, there is plenty of substance behind the claim. 

The striking tubular steel trellis frame features die-cast aluminium plates and is matched to an ingenious ‘Independent Steering System’ (ISS), with the CNC-machined forged aluminium single arm said to separate the steering and suspension functions, thereby enhancing both. 

The set-up is matched to a monoshock at the rear, with braking duties handled by disc brakes at either end gripped by Brembo calipers with ABS. It does not skimp on the rubber either, with the Dragster's stylish multi-spoke alloy rims shod with quality Pirelli Angel tyres

Italjet says it enlisted the help of MotoGP ace Andrea Dovizioso to help test and develop the Dragster, further honing its credentials as a genuine sports scooter with formidable handling. 

And for those wanting even more, an extensive accessories catalogue bristles with high-end gear, including street and race exhaust systems from Akrapovic, an up-spec Malossi clutch, superbike-inspired levers and brake components from Brembo, suspension upgrades from Öhlins, and a range of genuine carbonfibre parts. 

According to Fredy Arnet, Dealer Principle of Ace Scooters & Motorcycles and head of Italjet Australia, over 30 per cent of the first shipment of Dragster models has already been sold, with remaining stock expected to follow quickly. 

“We are expecting the second shipment to arrive sometime in April or May,” he said. 

The 2022 Italjet Dragster 200 is available in Nero (black), Rosso (Red), or Giallo (yellow) colour schemes and comes backed by a two-year, unlimited-kilometre factory warranty. The scooter is priced at $9990 ride away, Australia wide. 

Visit www.italjet.com.au for more information.