Fantic Motor

Fantic Motor is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1968 by Mario Agrati and Henry Keppel-Hesselink.

History

Fantic Motor began in 1968 by manufacturing and exporting enduro motorcycles, mini-bikes and go-karts. Today they continue in the same genre, with the descriptions changed to the modern categories of dual-sport and motard. In 2016 they returned to the US market as Fantic USA Inc. In 2015 Fantic launched new models of electric bikes, called the Fat Bike.^[1] and has now a complete line of eMTB and commuter electric bikes.

Fantic began exporting to the United Kingdom in 1972, as part of a wave of manufacturers who took advantage of "sixteener laws", legislation that forbade sixteen-year-old motorcyclists from riding motorcycles up to 250 cc, as they had been used to. As a result, European and Japanese manufacturers exported their sporty and lightweight below-50cc engines, which had been common in Europe, to England also. Fantic produced a "sensational chopper moped" and a TI ("Tourismo Internazionale)," both of which became very popular quickly,^[2] with the reputation of being some of the fastest mopeds on the market, going as fast as 70 mph.^[3]

From the 1970s until the early 1980s, Fantic produced a series of 50cc mopeds called Fantic Motor Lei.^[4] The Fantic Motor motorcycles were first imported into the U.K. in 1972 by Barron Eurotrade Ltd whose headquarters were based at 51 High Street Hornchurch, Essex. The idea of forming the company and importing the Fantic came about because one of the founders saw the 50cc 'Chopper' model publicised in an American motorcycle magazine that his brother in law sent him from the States. The U.K. market of learner riders had several other makes of what were classed as Mopeds, (Motor and Pedals), but the Fantic T.I. quickly gained popularity with the rapid growth of a dealer network. The six speed gearbox was a strong selling point, and the perky Italian Minarelli 49cc engine proved to be very reliable. Stories of the T.I. model reaching 70 mph were an exaggeration, as only just over 50-55 mph could be achieved, and in the right conditions. The 125cc Chopper model could top 80 mph, as Terence Shea found when the model was first demonstrated to him at the Fantic factory in Barzago, Italy. He test rode the new 125cc chopper model, reaching a top speed 130 km/h (81 mph). The chopper model was the original inspiration which the new U.K. importer saw as very special and distinct for a niche market, and fame grew. Part of the original marketing and advertising included a Fantic 125cc chopper model being given to comedian Dick Emery. There were many photos of Dick Emery with Terry Shea and Frank Harris of the U.K. importer, and one was blown up very large which showed Terence Shea standing next to the 'bike with his hand on the handlebars with Dick Emery sitting on it. Another popular model was the 125cc Caballero was for on/off-road, which was for a different sector of the market. The market for these types of Mopeds only lasted a handful of years. The official U.K. importers glossy studio photograph of the 125cc Chopper model was taken in London, and Terence Shea and Frank Harris of the Barron Eurotrade importer was taken from Hornchurch to London on a trailer towed by car. There was confusion in central London as to which turn to take at one particular junction on the way to the studio, which resulted in the trailer having to be unhooked and physically turned around in the narrow road and extremely busy area for the correct journey to the studio to be continued, much to the amusement of onlookers.

In the 1980s, Fantic enjoyed success in the Observed trials world championships, taking three titles as well as seven wins at the prestigious Scottish Six Days Trial.

In October 2020, Fantic bought Minarelli from Yamaha.^[5]

Racing

Grand Prix motorcycle

In the 2005 season, Fantic competed in the 250cc championship as Scuderia Fantic Motor GP.

MotoGP 250cc class

Fantic Motor is a new entry in the 2005 250cc world championship, Arnaud Vincent be a rider.^[6]

Results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Moto2 sponsorship

In the 2023 season, Fantic Motor competes in the Moto2 world championship but is the main sponsor of the VR46 Racing Team with its two riders, Celestino Vietti and Borja Gómez.^[8]

Race results

By season

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

• Season still in progress.

Current models

Motard

• XM 50: Performance or Competition
• XMF 125: Performance or Competition

Scrambler

• Caballero 125: Scrambler or Flat track
• Caballero 500: Scrambler, Flat track or Rally
• Caballero 700: Scrambler

Scooter/Moped

• Issimo: Moped
• Issimo City: Scooter

Enduro/Motocross

• Fantic XE 50: Enduro
• Fantic XE 125: Enduro
• Fantic XE 300: Enduro
• Fantic XEF 125: Enduro
• Fantic XEF 250: Enduro
• Fantic XEF 300: Enduro
• Fantic XEF 450: Enduro
• Fantic XX 125: Motocross
• Fantic XX 250: Motocross
• Fantic XXF 250: Motocross
• Fantic XXF 450: Motocross

Rally

• Fantic XEF Rally 450
• Fantic XEF Rally Factory 450

Sport/Naked

• Fantic Stealth 125: Naked
• Fantic Stealth 500: Naked
• Fantic Imola 125: Sport
• Fantic Imola 500: Sport

Past models

• Caballero 250
• Caballero 50
• TZ 125 (also known as Caballero 125)
• TZ 150 (also known as Caballero 150)
• TZ 300 (also known as Caballero 300)
• Chopper Moped
• Mini 50
• Mini 65
• Mini 85
• Motard 50 (currently sold as the XM 50)
• Motard 125 (currently sold as the XMF 125)
• Motard 200
• Motard 250
• Raider 125
• Strada 125
• Supersei 50
• Supersei 125
• Trial 125
• Trial 200
• Trial 240
• Trial 300
• Trial 307

See also

• List of Italian companies
• List of motorcycle manufacturers

Notes

1. ^ "Fantic Fat Bike 2015 - Official Video Preview". mxlynx.blogspot.com. Archived 17 July 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
2. ^ Skelton, Richard (2007). Funky Mopeds!: The 1970s Sports Moped Phenomenon. MBI Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84584-078-5.^{[dead link]} pp. 5–10.
3. ^ De Burton, Simon (25 January 2002). "Twist 'n' go; Power wasn't their best feature but sports mopeds had Seventies style in abundance". The Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
4. ^ "MOPED OF THE DAY | FANTIC MOTOR LEI". Houston Mopeds & Custom Builds | Moped Rich. 2019-08-13. Archived 31 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
5. ^ "Yamaha and Fantic Expand Strategic Partnership: Fantic To Buy Minarelli". 2020-10-13. Archived 31 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
6. ^ "250 cc – Arnaud Vincent signs for Fantic Motor". 2 December 2004. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
7. ^ Martin, Eric (2023-01-20). "Moto2 : Une première idée de la Fantic 2023..." (in fr-FR). Paddock GP. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
8. ^ "Berapa Milyar Duit Yang Dikucurkan Fantic Motor Sebagai Sponsor Tim Moto2 VR46 Tahun Depan ?". Archived 15 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 March 2023.

External links

• Fantic Motor 2009 range
• Fantic Motor, Italy
• Fantic Motor, Portugal