Could This Scooter Be the Most Interesting Motorcycle Release of the Year?

Hailing from Italy’s Motor Valley, the Dragster 700 is a genre-bending bike that turns traditional two-wheeled design on its head.

Close-up of the front of a black motorcycle with bright LED headlights and neon yellow accents on the fairing. The front tire and suspension forks are also visible. The background is blurred greenery and sky.Italjet

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The world of motorcycles is defined by variety — for every bike that adheres to a particular style or type, there are just as many that march to the beat of their own drum. 

Still, even the most casual of two-wheeled enthusiasts would be hard-pressed to mistake a motorcycle for a scooter. Between the differences in riding position, storage provisions and powertrain options, the two kinds of vehicles are incredibly distinct.

Sport motorcycle with a red, white, and black color scheme, featuring the word "DRAGSTER" on the front fairing. The bike has a clear windshield, dual front disc brakes, and is positioned on a rear stand on a racetrack with a blurred background of grandstands and fencing. The lighting suggests it is either early morning or late afternoon.
Italjet’s Dragster 700 looks almost like a Ducati Panigale from the front.
Italjet

At least — they used to be. With the worldwide launch of the Dragster 700 Twin, an outfit by the name of Italjet has blurred the line between bike and scooter in more ways than one. It’s quite the concept, and I think it takes the cake as the most interesting motorcycle release this year.

Bucking bike convention

As a bit of background, Italjet is a family-run operation that has specialized in small-displacement motorcycles and scooters since its founding in the 1950s. However, being from Italy’s Motor Valley, the brand is in close proximity to performance heavyweights like Ducati, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati.

Sport motorcycle with a red, white, and black color scheme featuring racing decals, including "Gresini Racing" and "Italjet." It has a sleek aerodynamic design with a clear windshield, dual front disc brakes, and a black seat. The bike is supported by a red rear stand on a racetrack with empty grandstands in the background.
If a scooter is up on a rear stand, you know that it has to be packing some serious performance.
Italjet

Accordingly, it should really come as no surprise that Italjet could create something as radical as the Dragster 700. For as much as it looks like an urban runabout from afar, a closer look reveals that it’s packed with motorcycle DNA.

At the front, for instance, it wears a set of winglets not unlike those found on the bikes ripping around MotoGP circuits. Similarly, those upside-down forks skew much more motorcycle than they do moped. 

The splicing only continues as you move toward the back of the bike. That’s because, even though the seating position resembles a scooter in design, it’s supported by a striking trellis frame, and the bike runs a good bit longer at roughly 83 inches from tip to tail.

Two motorcyclists in red, white, and black racing suits and helmets are riding sport motorcycles on a paved race track. The motorcycles are primarily white with red and black accents and have the word "DRAGSTER" on the front fairing. The background shows a green barrier and a fence with trees beyond.
You’d be wise to wear full riding gear if you intend on ripping a 692cc scooter around a track.
Italjet

Oh yeah, and it does come with a 692cc liquid-cooled Benelli twin rather than your typical low-capacity moped engine. Mated to a six-speed manual transmission, Dragster 700 makes a claimed 68 horsepower and will climb to a top speed of 118 mph.

A cast of industry authorities

Now, dropping a motorcycle engine into a scooter platform would yield some disastrous results without considering the rest of the package. For this reason, Italjet has equipped the Dragster 700 with a slew of top-notch components from some of the best names in the motorcycle industry.

Two motorcyclists in full racing gear and helmets are sitting on red, white, and black Italjet Gresini Racing motorcycles on a racetrack pit lane. The motorcycles have large windshields and prominent branding, and the riders appear to be preparing for a race or practice session. The background shows a grandstand and a sign with "HIGH-TECH" partially visible.
The Gresini livery gives the Dragster 700 Twin a look that’d fit in at any motorcycle track.
Italjet

So, along with a set of Marzocchi upside-down forks and a preload-adjustable monoshock, this means that the bike also boasts front and rear Brembo brakes, an Akrapovič exhaust system and some grippy Pirelli Corsa tires.

As if that weren’t enough, the Dragster 700 comes standard with tech like traction control and ABS, and it even includes an integrated camera for recording your rides. Should you really want to take things to the next level, the ‘Limited Edition’ swaps out the Marzocchi components in favor of some trick Öhlins suspension and a steering damper.

Riding on a set of 15-inch scooter wheels, the result is a vehicle that brings motorcycle power and tech to a unique form factor. It’s as unusual as it is interesting, and I love Italjet’s daringness to make it happen.

Two motorcyclists wearing helmets and racing suits are leaning into a curve on a racetrack, riding sport motorcycles with red and black accents. The track has green, white, and red curbing on the left side, and there is a fence and trees in the background under a clear sky.
I have a feeling that someone will get a knee down on one of these before too long.
Italjet

Pricing and availability

According to Italjet, the ‘Limited Edition’ has already sold out, though the ‘Premium Edition’ is currently available for €13,990 (~$16,500). Deliveries are expected later this year, but bear in mind that availability may be subject to regional homologation rules.

If you’d like to learn more or make a €500 deposit in the meantime, you can head to the Italjet website.

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