Cagiva V-Raptor

2000

This was my first Raptor purchased in 2021.

Picture taken summer of 2025 and sort of how it currently sits.

It's a V-Raptor but with the 'V' bits removed as the previous owner wanted to fit higher bars which isn't possible with the antlers fitted to the V models.

He'd also fitted a rear rack which interestingly he'd managed to reverse so it sat over the pillion seat. Not seen that before, but not a bad Idea.

All the V Raptor bits came with the bike and kept in boxes.

Came fitted with standard Raptor metal exhausts, not the V Raptor carbon versions, so guess it had an exhaust swap at some time. They are big and heavy so I got a good deal on a set of GR Moto pipes which are much lighter and sound great.

Pretty much run the bike as it came in 2021 up to now. I did get the wheels powder coated gold as they originals had a few chips, and also new EBC discs up front and one of the originals was slightly warped.

Bike runs great and these engines have oodles of torque so 150+ mile trips around country backroads leaves you with a big smile.

Got a few mods planned for this one in 2026.

The V-Raptor version is and Italian designed machine but powered by a they well regarded Japanese Suzuki 996cc V-Twin Engine (as used in the TL1000S, TL1000R and the SV1000).

At the time these Raptors were made Cagiva owned both MV Agusta and Ducati. As such the frames on these are badged MV Agusta and much of the running gear on the bike is derived from Ducati.

This one currently has the V-Raptor cosmetics removed.

What's it like to own and ride...

The bike is very small for a 1 litre engine, more like a 250 size really. Seat height is just 770mm, pegs are reset but lower than race rep bikes and higher than the usual runarounds. It's around 190kg so alto reasonably light for what it is.

In standard trim the bars are flat, not upright as in this one. They’re fine if you're doing less than 100 mile Rideout, but as I wanted to do more then upright bars are right for this one.

Engine is the 996cc Suzuki V-Twin tuned down from the TL1000s to give the bike more torque. It gives 106bhp with 90Nm of torque and is super smooth anywhere in the rev range. You can poodle around town without constantly having to change gears or getting a snatchy response or you can blast around country lanes, it sort of does it all seamlessly.

The engine is tuned so that it doesn't give full power in lower gears to help stability and prevent popping wheelies everywhere. You can map this out with something like a Power Commander box (as is fitted to my Xtra Raptor) and you can see why they through it was a good idea to do it.

Brakes are Brembos all round, like most Ducatis, and they work well. Being a small bike you can hammer the anchor on when needed and the bike doesn't do anything silly, it just stops.

These really are a hoot to ride and this one, with the higher bars, I can ride for 150+ miles around country lanes and not come back needing the services of an osteopath.

Maintenance wise there's very little to do really, helped I'm sure by them having fitted with the bulletproof Suzuki engines.

Engine-wise there are way better than the 998cc Ducati lumps in my Multistradas. The Multis still rule on their upright stance but maybe with a few more modifications that could be in question.

I now have 3 of these Raptors and so far not faced anything expensive which needed doing so happy adays.

Pictures below are an earlier stage in 2024.