It only takes a quick look at Italjet’s 65-year history to understand why someone believed they needed to take designs and componentry usually reserved for high-end exotica and apply it to an outrageously styled 181cc scooter.
That someone is Massimo Tartarini, the son of Leopoldo Tartarini. After much success as a factory Ducati racer and development engineer, Leopoldo launched the Italjet brand to produce a raft of models that were more often than not defined by innovative technology and quirky designs.
With more than 150 different motorcycle and scooters to its name, Italjet’s most successful was the original Dragster platform, which appeared 1995 in 50cc, 125cc and 180cc two-stroke variants.
Oh-so 90s, the original Dragster was loud, flashy and over the top. As well as its quirky styling and exposed steel-trellis frame, it featured hub-centre steering via a single-sided front swingarm. It was an unlikely sales success with more than 70,000 Italjet Dragsters finding homes around the world. However the brand
