Alex’s story on the Cagiva Mito 500 concept yesterday elicited quite a passionate response from many of our readers. Here are just a few of the email we received.
- I live in Canada and I would love to see a bike like the Mito 500. I have no real interest in Motards, but a bike like the Mito 500 would be a very interesting bike to ride and a lot quicker in the twisties than many riders realize. Lots of low and mid range power is very rider friendly as compared to the current 600cc SS bikes that have little power below 10,000 rpm’s.
- Yes! Im interested! Sweet idea!
- Build one for me. This is what I want in a second bike.
- You can tell Cagiva from a guy who wrenches on old RD’s, rails an RS50 at the gokart track, generally doesn’t ride anything bigger then an FZR and has never bought a new motorcycle in his life that if they bring those to the U.S. I’m in! Supermono’s time is way past due. Please please please!! The San Francisco Bay Area is probably in at large. We love little light bikes out here.
- Sweet !
Good-looking but basic bikes are greatly underestimated for both thier sales
and performance potential – think about entry-level riders having an
easy-handling alternative to the F4i/Kan-o-tuna/ etc crowd.
Please tell them to Bring It ! I’ve ridden streetbikes for 26 years and
have several in my garage, but I will never sell my HawkGT & nearly
everytime I ride it somebody asks about it.
Especially for a rider that is not planning on doing serious distance work,
this could be a great alternative.
- I attended the Cycle World Motorcycle show last weekend and rode a few different bikes, 8 in all. The FZ1 and the ZX10 were two that worked well for me but I found most the others which included the Harley Street Rod, Buell Lightning, Kawasaki Mean Streak 1600 etc. were a disappointment. Again that’s for me anyway, these bikes were more about looks than function. If a bike functions well it looks great to me (with the exception of the rear end of my ST1300 “Ugly” but I love the bike) and the Cagiva if done right would be a beautiful bike not to mention I love to ride singles even though I’m too big for them at 220 lbs and 6′ tall.
- I’m with you concerning the fun that big thumper can bring. The only new bike I ever bought was a non current 1983 Honda Ascot. ($1100 in 85) Fun bike, especially after a cam, pipe, carb and port job. I had it for nearly twenty years. My ex still has it.
- just bought a used BMW Dakar and love it. A big single makes so much sense in the real world. I have had a VFR, an Aprilia Falco and currently have a Super Hawk. The most fun I ever had on a bike was taking Reg Pridmore’s CLASS on an Yamaha SRX600. What it lacked in horsepower, it made up in handling. I’ll buy the Mito if they bring it. Better yet, how about a spec class race for folks that want to race with minimal mechanical upgrades.
- I think it looks great. While I might want to see something in the 500cc category the 125cc size would appear to more first time riders. My daughter has riden a few 600cc bikes but they are just too much to start out on.
Only the KAW Ninja 250cc is any real competition. The make or break for these bikes is how long will the new rider “keep” or stay happy on the machine? They are a tough resell “value” if done too soon. More racing of 125 and 250’s or track day appearances would help too.
Looks like an easy sell for major metropolitain areas.
- YES!!!!
I want this baby!!
I currently own a ZX12R and I find that it is just a little too much bike for my needs. At 5’6″ and 160lbs the 12 is a handful at slow speeds and maneuvoring in parking spots. My size would be an advantage on a bike like the Mito 500.
- I’d buy it in the heart beat! The price though should stay below $6000 otherwise I’ll buy used 600cc or a new SV650.
- What an awesome idea! A light weight good looking good handeling bike.
I’m a MSF rider coach and I’m always asked about beginer bikes…These
bikes would make a good starter sportbike( bye bye NINJA250) I street
fighter version should be offered as well..maybe some higher handel
bars…etc etc. If they build it I’ll buy one!!! Thiss thing oughta shred on track days too!
- I saw the Mito 500 in San Mateo last week; it was my favorite bike of the show. Cagiva were handing out survey forms there as well. They
asked for some demographic info, plus a list of qualities I valued in a
bike. Most interesting was a request for a price point; the options
ranged from $6,000 to $8,000, I think.
I think that the super-single Mito 500 has the strong makings of a cult
bike here in the US. I guess the real question is whether a cult bike
can be profitable. Light, low-powered sportbikes like the Honda Hawk GT
and CB-1, and to a rarer extent, grey market bikes like the VFR400RR,
CBR400, GSXR400, NSR250, Aprillia RS 250, and RGV250 command a high
premium on the used market, especially around the San Francisco bay area
where I live. But we’re still taking about used bikes that run from
$3k-$6k at most. I am certainly interested in the bike; then again, I
own a Hawk GT. At any rate, you can add me to the list those interested
in seeing this bike in the US. Thanks
- As long as they don’t price too high Im all for it.
- The concept of the Mito 500 is surely divinely inspired. We must have it in this country. Just tell those Italian marketers they are all girly-men if they don’t export it here and that should get results.
- A few years ago Ducati had their “Ducati Revs America” event in Las Vegas, during that great weekend, they would let you join the track sessions at LVIR for free! So I entered with my 95 Honda VFR 750, now, I am not the fastest rider out there, but I have done my share of high performance schools and track days so I can hold my own, and lo and behold, there was somebody out there on a Mito 125, who proceded to smoke my butt lap after lap! I would catch him in the straights, and he would again blow me away in the turns. That little bike was fast, so if Cagiva would be willing to bring a 300 lb, 500c.c. bike to America, you can count me in.
- manufacturers probably hear it 20 times for every sale, but yup–i would buy one. i’ve been toying with the idea of buying a used ex500
and pouring the money in to make it a track/tight twisty/knockaround
bike, but with the weight, even a three-year old 600 is probably a
better platform, and would already have half the work done.
a brutale is on the short list (along with the tuono and S2/S4) for
when my ZRX finally dies; a lightweight race-rep thumper would give me
another excuse to walk into an MV showroom, and of course, things only
go downhill from there…. 🙂
- Yes please Cagiva!! As a long time rider of Japanese fours, I purchased a KTM LC4 640, because 1: It looked cool to ride and 2: I wanted to see what all the fuss about supermoto was about. Wow was I surprised when I get on the goat trail roads that I ride in North Carolina with my friends who where all on 750 or larger fours and I look back after the first five minutes and they weren’t with me anymore. These bikes will sell themselves Cagiva, once a few hit the streets and people realize what the performance potential of these bikes really is when ridden properly. The bike also has vast potential with people new to riding who insist on having the cool factor of full fairings and sport bike looks! The U.S market desperately needs bikes like this!
- The Mito 500 would be a great bike for the U.S. market! With the braking and handling of a 2-stroke 250 combined with the wide power band of a 500 single, the Mito would be a allot of fun at a reasonable price. Insurance rates would be lower than the 4 cylinder 600’s making it attractive to younger riders. By all means tell Cagvia to bring the Mito 500 to America.
- I love the idea. I need a replacement for my ’95, street licensed Aprilia RS250. I hope Aprilia will put their V45 twin in a RS250 chassis. But a 500cc Mito (or a 600cc) single would be great too – just so they get over 60hp. It’s interesting to reflect that when I started riding, GP was dominated 500cc singles, Norton Manxs, that would be slower than the Mito. Cagiva doesn’t need to do a thing to the styling for me; I think it’s beautiful as it is. God forbid they should restyle it in the du jour idiom of junkyard origami like KTMs and Yamaha R1’s.
- Why not use a V2 450 ccm aprilia (in new supermoto or cross bike) it will great for that bike. In some countries we have limit under 500 ccm (further limits until 750 ccm, 999 cccm or over 1000 ccm).
- Over the years I have seen many project bikes which combined a large single cylinder engine in a slender, light-weight frame. The idea has always tickled me. In the real world of tight back roads, the combination of a nimble chassis with the broad torque and modest power of a single is a very potent tool. The reality is, most riders, even very experienced riders, go faster, have more fun and brown-stripe their leathers less often on a well set-up lighter bike. Today’s liter bikes are so over-the-top with performance that most riders only get in trouble trying to use even a fraction of it on the street. These same bikes are just flat dangerous in the hands of a young or inexperienced rider. A light, single powered bike would be the perfect learning tool for the neophyte and a satisfying track tool for the experienced rider.
I would love a bike like the Mito 500, but I’m dubious that it would be accepted to a wide market. Bragging rights and bench racing potential of a bike seems more important to the average bike buyer rather than real world useable performance. The Mito 500 will probably never be more than a cult bike in the USA.
- I agree that there’s nothing like a powerful single-cylinder bike in the twisties. The MuZ Silver Star was high-quality and high vibration, and a lot of fun on the expressway ramps and the few twisty roads here in northeastern Illinois. Which is the problem around here. A single in this part of the country has to have off-road ability to be entertaining on a regular basis. It will still be fun on the road and for commuting, and with few winding roads, there’s no need here for a nice, light, maneuverable strictly road bike. BTW, the Silver Star had only two problems, vibration made the mirrors useless, especially at night (remember those National Geographic night photos with car head/tail lights?) and I didn’t have enough leg-room. It was fun, but with half my commutes at night, the traffic here made the Silver Star unsuitable for commuting and really without prospects for anything else. If I lived where there were more entertaining roads, and could afford a bike like this just for fun runs, (as long as I fit the bike) I’d have no problem buying a single-cylinder road bike. As it is, my PC800 will have to do.
I keep thinking about the ‘05 Gas Gas FSE450 for sale at Hall’s in Springfield, IL. I was favorably impressed with the ‘97 Gas Gas 321 Trials Bike I owned for 4 years, and when (think positive) I win the lottery, I’ll go down and try it on for size. Of course, lottery winnings will buy a few other bikes as well, let’s see, the Ducati 1098S, ‘07 Triumph Tiger, Moto Guzzi Norge, and the Hannigan Bandito will all be looked at seriously. Oh, and the Mito 500, too. After all, lottery winnings can also buy a new home near entertaining roads.
Yes, the problem is one of truly disposable income. Probably I’m not the only one with that problem…
P.S.: I check Motorcycle Daily every day. You’re doing excellent work. Thank you.
- I think the idea of a 500cc sports bike with all the beauty of it’s bigger breathren is a great idea. Half the reason people buy sports bikes is because of how they look, not so much performance. Also with it only being a 500cc bike it could definately be more affordable than the bigger bikes which would definately be an awesome alternative to the more pricy 600’s. That’s my 2 cents.
- Just the kind of bike I would buy if the price is right and the quality is good. Those interested should also send an email to Cagiva, to let them know that we would like to see this bike in production soon.
- It does look sharp. I personally wouldn’t mind if they dropped even more weight by eliminating the fairing below the fly screen.
I would also like to know more about how it compares to the ninja 500 and the suzuki 500. Maybe a comparison with a KTM Super Duke would be more appropriate. To be honest, I like CVTs. The Mito has about the right horsepower to stick one in there, and still stick it to a Burgman 650.
Do you think that they would go for something like that?
- Looks like the perfect bike for me –as I get older I’m liking them lighter and 60 HP seems like all I need as I’m happy with my current F650 CS. which probably dooms it ever coming to the States ! Oh well.
- i have always wanted a bike like this. Its a great idea thats long past due. I love the power of my 450 mx bike and always wondered why no company ever put something like it in a more street focused frame. this is a bike worthy of production
- I saw the Mito 500 at the San Mateo show last weekend and loved it! I too wish there were more and more exciting smaller bikes available in the US. I love the inline 400s available in Japan but they probably look too much like 600s to be accepted here. People would see them as underpowered sportbikes. The Mito 500 might suffer from the same stigma, but being a thumper would help set it apart.
On the other hand, if I had any way to beg, cajole or plead with
MV/Cagiva/Husky to PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE bring a particular bike to the US
market, it would be the Husky STR 650 mentioned in your story here:
https://www.motorcycledaily.com/19november06_hus650.htm
It’s half motard, half sportbike and absolutely beautiful! If it means
anything to the folks at Husky, I already called my local dealer to get more
info and find out if or when I might be able to buy one. (The word was
~maybe~ 2008.) It’s generated a lot of buzz on supermotojunkie.com and
thumpertalk.com too. Guys are drooling for this machine!
If you want to have success in the US market with a smaller bike, it has to
be something different. The same look as a 600 or 1000 but with less power
won’t work here. But something unique, something that looks different
enough to turn heads from half a block away, something with handsome styling
and a whole lot of beautiful trick parts like the STR 650 would be killer!
I’ll be watching and will be at my dealer’s door on the day they start
taking deposits!
- I saw the Mito “live” at the San Mateo motorcycle show, but didn’t wait in line to fill out a comment form. I like it and would probably buy one if they become available in the US. I’m old enough to remember when those of us who rode British bikes rather than Harleys and Indians thought that a 500 was a large displacement bike. I seldom use the full capabilities of my SV1000S.
- I would immediately place an order for one of these
bikes. I already have an 06 TE250 Husky. The little
Mito chassis with a TC510 motor would be VERY fun.
Tell them to build it. The Husky motor would spank the
Yamaha in the MuZ.
