Italian resurgence

wwdiii wrote:

Couple of years back give or take when my Beta 300 RX was new.  I was at Three Palms MX, Houston.  A vet rider walked up...

Couple of years back give or take when my Beta 300 RX was new.  I was at Three Palms MX, Houston.  A vet rider walked up.  I’d guess in his 50’s and asked if he could look at my Beta, I said sure.  He looked it over we talked, he said the Cylinder/top end looks Cagiva.  He Procded to explain how he was a factory Cagiva rider back in the day.  Told me all about Cagiva.  Wish I could remember what all he said, interesting guy to talk to.   Can’t recall his name, but I do recall he was flying around the track on a twin pipe Honda.  Fastest short fat guy I’ve ever seen ride.

I don’t recall much about Cagiva, or any of the other Italian brands that came and went.  But glad to see other brands getting in the sport.  I’d like to see Sherpa/Taco roll out an MX bike too.

Nairb#70 wrote:

What is the situation regarding the former Cagiva/Husqvarna facility and operation?

wwdiii wrote:

Couple of years back give or take when my Beta 300 RX was new.  I was at Three Palms MX, Houston.  A vet rider walked up...

Couple of years back give or take when my Beta 300 RX was new.  I was at Three Palms MX, Houston.  A vet rider walked up.  I’d guess in his 50’s and asked if he could look at my Beta, I said sure.  He looked it over we talked, he said the Cylinder/top end looks Cagiva.  He Procded to explain how he was a factory Cagiva rider back in the day.  Told me all about Cagiva.  Wish I could remember what all he said, interesting guy to talk to.   Can’t recall his name, but I do recall he was flying around the track on a twin pipe Honda.  Fastest short fat guy I’ve ever seen ride.

I don’t recall much about Cagiva, or any of the other Italian brands that came and went.  But glad to see other brands getting in the sport.  I’d like to see Sherpa/Taco roll out an MX bike too.

Metisse wrote:

Around 1987, at the Highpoint National, I was pitted next to a "factory" Cagiva rider.  He didn't have a mechanic; the bike was obviously jetted way...

Around 1987, at the Highpoint National, I was pitted next to a "factory" Cagiva rider.  He didn't have a mechanic; the bike was obviously jetted way too rich, and he was frustrated - he said that he didn't know how to change jets in the carburetor.  I leaned the main one step, listened to it, leaned it a second step, and had him ride it, in a test area (not on the track), while I listened.  I dropped the needle one step, and had him ride it again.  It sounded good, so I put in a new plug, and had him do some wide-open runs, then checked the plug.  Everything looked/sounded right, and he went out to practice.  The bike ran fine, and he did ok, as I recall.  "Factory" support varied a lot on those days.  Guy Cooper received support, but traveled in (and sometimes lived in, I believe) a van, and did all of his own mechanical work - he was changing a piston in the hotel parking lot on Friday.  I asked if I could look at the cylinder (I was riding the same bike). He said he wasn't allowed to...  A few minutes later, he said he was going in to use the bathroom, and asked if I could watch his stuff.  "Sure - no problem."  He winked and said "But don't look at the cylinder!"  Those days were fun.