ITALJET DRAGSTER 500
This time, it’s not a scooter from the ‘90s in ‘original condition.’ In fact, the Italjet Dragster 500 owned by Mashi Zamani is of a type that no one else owns. It’s truly one of a kind, and Mashi definitely didn’t take it lightly. No, he made it an ultimate project after he wasn’t particularly excited about Italjet’s own plans...
Not impressed by the new Dragster And so it happened, as Mashi says himself: “In 2019, Italjet announced the new Dragster. A big disappointment for me, both technically and visually. Powered by a light 200cc 4-stroke engine and with the same problematic mono steering system, this was not an option for me. This was further compounded by the exterior design, which I found not fitting. This meant I had to prepare for a remaster build, based on the original.” In 2020, it was decided to start his own ‘master project.’ A nearly new 500cc engine was purchased, which had previously served under a Gilera Nexus 500. Along with it, the corresponding wiring harness, ECU, control buttons, dashboard, and other necessary related parts were acquired. However, you don’t need further technical knowledge to realize that moreis involved than simply dismantling the Dragster’s 180cc 2-stroke engine and replacing it with the much larger 500cc 4-stroke engine. Experienced Metalworker This all had to be done in an appealing and professional way, which is why ‘Iron Man’ Ronald was called in. This experienced metalworker has been working with Mashi for years with his company that specializes in custom-made tool products and related items. In short, according to Mashi, Ronald was the perfect person for this job. In the meantime, the Dragster 180 was stripped down to a bare frame, which was then completely sandblasted. A new steering system was also needed. Despite the standard hub steering looking great, Mashi intended to choose a more reliable and safer steering system. Nevertheless, design was also considered, leading to another single-sided front suspension from a Vespa GTS 300. This system is much simpler in design, allowing for the choice of larger 13-inch wheels instead of the standard 11-inch ones. For even more safety, a better braking system was sought. In this search, Mashi eventually found Jurgen Pope from Austria: “Through a call on a forum, I came across this Austrian engineer.
The name Mashi in combination with Italjet will sound familiar. We go back to 2015 when Mashi made an appearance in this magazine with an Italjet Dragster. This project was completed in 2014 and included a visit to Italjet in Italy. Mashi’s Dragster came along, and a meeting took place with Massimo Tartarini, the current director of Italjet and son of the Dragster’s founder, Leopaldo Tartarini. From the conversations that took place, Mashi sensed that a successor to his beloved Dragster was being worked on behind the scenes. By 2016, Mashi decided to purchase a Dragster 180, just in case Italjet’s own new Dragster did not meet his expectations...
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