Wallpaper Wednesday: Cagiva 650 Alazzurra
Welcome to Wallpaper Wednesday. Every week I will post up something beautiful from the world of Ducati that you just might like to have grace your desktop. This week we have one of the more curious machines that can nevertheless still be thought of as a Ducati, the Cagiva 650 Alazzurra.
Although Cagiva purchased Ducati in 1985, it had already struck an agreement for the supply of 650 Pantah engines 2 years earlier for what would become the Elefant trail bike and this machine, the Cagiva Ala Azzurra or Blue Wing. Delays meant that the bike was finally launched only after the take over. The shorter Alazzurra name was used on the side covers of what was practically speaking a 650 Pantah powered sport tourer. The engines were made in Bologna but the rest of the machine and final assembly was carried out at the Cagiva factory in Varese.
Despite the obvious heritage, almost every cycle part bar the engine was different on the Alazzurra. Ducatisti largely ignored the machine which was produced in relatively small numbers (just 1,536 were made in 1985 and ’86) and riders of other brands had many more capable choices at the time. The model showed just how far Ducati had fallen behind in the performance stakes as its 2-valve, air-cooled 55 bhp twin competed with Japanese machines like the 75bhp, liquid cooled Kawasaki GPZ600R Ninja on price but was woefully outclassed in performance. During 600 class comparisons of the time, the Cagiva offered confidence inspiring handling and was the clear contrarians choice!
Today the Cagiva is an interestingly if somewhat blandly styled sport tourer, with that delightful Panthah engine. This power plant remains a distant relative to all the current 2-valve engines. The bike itself is a precious link between Ducati and suitor Cagiva who were responsible for the 4-valve revolution that ultimately propelled the factory to the success it enjoys today.
Thanks to Bruce Robinson for permission to use photos of his well preserved 1987 titled Alazzurra. Bruce tells me the previous owner upgraded to a 999R. Some change!!
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