Cagiva V-Raptor

CAGIVA V-RAPTOR

Quick Ride

Naked bike with teeth

AGIVA'S V-RAPTOR IS motorcycling's newest tough guy. The latest addition to the increasingly popular naked-bike category, the Suzuki TL1000S-powered machine is more than a dramatic styling exercise-it's a flat-out dynamite performer.

Designer Miguel Angel Galuzzi (who during his tenure with Ducati penned the original M900 Monster) must have found his inspiration for the V-Raptor’s styling in science-fiction films. Sharp edges are the dominant theme, and points and ribs abound. To help it stand out from the less costly standard Raptor, the “V” iteration has a flatter, narrower handlebar located under antenna-like supports that bridge the mantis-head mini-fairing and sculpted gas tank. It also has a more angular solo-seat tailsection, fully adjustable suspension components and carbonfiber-sheathed mufflers.

Galuzzi also designed the frame, which combines steel tubing of varying thickness welded together to produce a tightly woven, torsionally stiff structure. Up front is a Marzocchi 43mm inverted fork, while rear suspension duties are handled by a link-actuated Sachs shock. Brembo brakes-twin

300mm rotors and four-piston calipers up front, with a 220mm rotor and twin-piston caliper out back-provide serious stopping power. As for tires, Bridgestone BT56s in 120/70-17 and

180/55-17 sizes are mounted on sexy six-spoke wheels. Claimed dry weight is 434 pounds. Cagiva chose the Suzuki engine in part for its standard fuel injection, which allows greater versatility in regard to emissions tuning. Save for a remapped fuel curve, then, the liquid-cooled, dohc, eight-valve, 996cc V-Twin

goes into service untouched, sixspeed gearbox and all. Cagiva claims 106 horsepower at 8500 rpm, with 67 foot-pounds of torque at 7000 rpm. With awesome acceleration and a top speed approaching 150 mph, the V-Raptor’s performance is breathtaking, and a cut above that of the Monster. The chassis offers nearly perfect weight distribution and a nicely centered seating position. This balance, combined with racy steering geometry and a 56.7inch wheelbase, makes for agile and precise-yet-stable handling, with no need for a steering damper. Even on our cold test day, the bike inspired complete confidence. With better conditions, knee-dragging lean angles would be attainable. Excellent ergonomics further invite you to squeeze every last ounce of performance out of the chassis. With a seat height measuring just 30.5 inches, nearly flat handlebar and appropriately rearward footpegs, the riding posture is best described as a comfortable forward lean. It’s so good, in fact, that sustained high-speed cruising is perfectly tolerable-surprising for what is essentially an unfaired

motorcycle. All in all, it’s a great combination. Who would have thought that a blood-and-guts naked bike could be so capable and everyday practical? Bruno de Prato