Other Marques: Gagiva Mito SP525 two stroke road & track bike
History of the Mito
1991 was the year when the Cagiva Mito logo first appeared on a rider's leathers. The leathers belonged to Eddie Lawson who rode the Cagiva 500 The name was used again in 1989 on the 125 road version of the Mito. The 125, apart from delighting the younger riders for whom it was designed, won races in the Italian Sport Production class.
Valentino Rossi, in 1994, won his first championship aboard a Mito 125. This machine underwent changes for the first time in 1995 with the introduction of the EV model that took looks to a new level.
The Cagiva Mito (Mito means Myth in English) is a small-engined Italian sports motorcycle. The powerplant consists of a two-stroke 125 cc single cylinder, capable of producing over 30 bhp (22 kW) in unrestricted SP525 form.
The original Cagiva Mito was launched in 1990. The Mito was the first bike of Valentino Rossi, eventual 7 time MotoGP world champion. In 1994, Rossi had been provided a factory Mito by Cagiva team manager Claudio Lusuardi and cruised to the Italian title.
During the 1990s the Mito was the arch-rival to Aprilia's RS125, a similar 2-stroke 125 cc race-replica. A racing machine, the SP (Sport Production) was created in parallel with the road-going version and the performance and equipment levels left little between it and a GP bike. These machines won numerous races and championships in the 125 class. The Mito offers the pleasure of riding a two-stroke, of hearing it scream through the gears like the glorious Cagiva 500, even with three cylinders less.
In 1994 the bike was restyled by Massimo Tamburini with similar lines to the then new Ducati 916 (a design he also penned; he also designed the magnificent MV Agusta F4 sportbilke). The similarity to the 916 is particularly visible in the front and rear fairings of the earlier Mito 125. The SP525 looks more like the MV Agusta F4.
2005 Mito SP 525 race bike
In 2005 at the EICMA motorcycle show, Cagiva launched a tuned competition version of the Mito known as the SP525. This is something of a homage to the Cagiva GP500 (C594) racing bike. The engine and several other areas have been tweaked, still displacing 125 cc, but now producing >37 bhp at the crank. Front and rear fairings have been modified to look more like the C594, plus we lose the speedo and gain 8-spoke forged aluminium wheels; the overall weight is down. The bike is not road-legal.
The new 2008 Mito SP525.
For 2008, Cagiva have revised the Evolution model both technically and aesthetically to produce the SP525 road bike (not to be confused with the racing SP 525 above). In terms of looks, the new bike inherits some stylistic traits from the competition SP 525, essentially similar front and rear fairings.
On a technical level, the bike retains much the same rolling chassis as the Evo and the engine is still two-stroke, but has had several changes, notably a new Electronic Carburetion System (developed in conjunction with Dell'Orto) governing both fuel-air, oil-mix and ignition, allowing it to pass tougher Euro 3 emissions regulations.
If the SP525 had a race number instead of a headlight, it would be difficult to tell it apart from the legendary 500 GP bike. The streamlined profile, the twin air scoops and low screen create a very close resemblance to the Cagiva 4-cylinder. In size too there is little difference especially regarding the superb riding position on the 125.
The tank remains the same shape: square and flat along the top and concave along the sides. Highly efficient from the rider's point of view in terms of riding position and comfort and perfectly matches the new lines of the bike. It is the only aesthetic component remaining from the previous Cagiva Mito. The black side panels stretch from the tank to a new tail section that is more streamlined, especially on the upper surface, and the paintwork is identical to that used on competition bikes. Both sides of the fairing bear the words Cagiva SP525 and the screen is decorated with an Italian flag.
The new instrument cowl is fitted with vibration-proof foam and houses an electronic rev counter that is set well apart from the other dials (speedo and water temp gauge) as on all racing machines. The warning light panel now has a "Malfunction Injection Lamp". This light comes on if the electric pump, carburetor or ECU signals a malfunction.
Other non-visible changes have been incorporated in the Mito SP525 project and include the repositioning of some of the electrics toward the front of the bike. The ECU that manages the Euro 3 system has been relocated thus making it possible to create a small but handy luggage space under the tail section.
Many of the hand-built four-stroke 600 cc bikes currently taking part in the "Supermono" championship use Mitoframes. This explains why the frame has been left untouched. There is nothing that needs done after all those years spent fine-tuning and testing it. In fitting the new screen and tail section, the sub-frames have been replaced with completely new components. These are no longer square but highly resistant round tube sections.
2009 Mito 500 ?
In November 2006 at EICMA, Cagiva unveiled the Mito 500 concept bike. The two-stroke 125 cc engine has been replaced with a fuel-injected, four-stroke 500 cc DOHC single, courtesy of Husqvarna, capable of putting out around 60 bhp (45 kW) and 50 Nm. Replacing the two-stroke's expansion chamber exhaust is a tiny, seemingly unbaffled system, its exit just visible at the rear of the underside fairing. With forged alloy wheels she weighs in at 133 kg - just 4 kg more than the Mito 125. MV Agusta, owner of cagiva, has said it will release a 500 single in 2009.
SP525 Specifications
Engine
* Type: Liquid-cooled, two-stroke single cylinder
* Capacity: 124.63 cc
* Bore/Stroke: 56.0 x 50.6 mm
* Compression Ratio (closed port): 7.4:1
* Fuel System:
Evolution - 28 mm Dell'Orto PHBH 28 BD Carburettor
2008 SP525 - 28 mm Dell'Orto VHST Carburettor
* Exhaust System: Expansion chamber with Cagiva Torque System valve
* Ignition: Electronic C.D.I
Transmission
* Primary Drive: Gear
* Final Drive: Chain
* Clutch: Wet, multiplate type
* Gearbox: 6-speed - constant mesh gear type; 7-speed in certain earlier models.
Frame, Wheels & brakes
* Frame: Aluminum double extruded beam with cast head pipe and cast rear plates; transverse steering damper
* Swingarm: Banana
* Front Wheel: Grimeca light alloy 6-spoke, 17 x 3.00 in
* Rear Wheel: Grimeca light alloy 6-spoke, 17 x 4.00 in
* Front Tyre: 110/70 ZR 17
* Rear Tyre: 150/60 ZR 17
* Front Suspension: Marzocchi 40 mm upside down forks
* Rear Suspension: Sachs Progressive Monoshock, adjustable for preload*Front Brakes: Brembo single Ø 320 mm fixed disc, Brembo 4 piston floating caliper* Rear Brakes: Brembo single Ø 230 mm fixed disc, Brembo single piston fixed caliper
Dimensions
* Length: 1980 mm (78 in) * Width (w/mirrors): 760 mm (29.9 in)
* Height: 1100 mm (43.3 in)
* Seat Height: 760 mm (29.9 in)
* Wheelbase: 1375 mm (54.1 in)
* Rake: 25 °
* Trail: 98 mm (3.9 in)
* Weight (Dry): 129 kg (284 lb)
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 14 L
Performance (measured at crankshaft)
* Maximum Power: 37 hp (28 kW)
* Maximum Torque: 15 lb·ft (20 N·m)