Cagiva W16: the four-stroke enduro that shared its engine

The Cagiva W16 was an enduro motorcycle produced from 1994 to 2001. It used the same frame as the smaller W12 350 and introduced a new four-stroke engine that was later shared with the River 600 and the Canyon 500 and 600.

Cagiva W16 at a glance

There is no separate English or Italian article on the W16; the material comes from the section on it in the Italian article on the Cagiva W range, so this page is based on one source.

History of the Cagiva W16

The W family

The Cagiva W range was a line of enduro motorcycles built in 50, 75, 80 and 125 cc with two-stroke engines and in 350, 500 and 600 cc with four-stroke engines. The range took up the old Cagiva T4 project and sat alongside the Super City supermotard, the N 90 desert bike, the Cocis and the K models. Within it, the W12 was a 350 cc four-stroke produced from 1993 to 1996 as an evolution of the T4 350 with mostly cosmetic changes; it was supplied to several armies as the “Cagiva 350 W12 Mil. I”, used for reconnaissance and forward exploration thanks to its agility and the flexibility of its engine.

The W16

The W16 was produced from 1994 to 2001 and had the same frame, with very few differences, as its smaller sister the W12 350. What was new was the engine, a four-stroke later shared with the Cagiva River 600 and the Canyon 500 and 600. With only 35 horsepower it made the W16 a fun motorcycle, rideable even at eighteen years old. It entered a market that was probably already saturated and therefore did not meet with much success, although its specification was respectable: Marzocchi forks, Brembo brakes and excellent handling.

Design and features

• Shared engine: the four-stroke unit of the W16 also powered the River 600 and the Canyon 500 and 600.
• W12 frame: the chassis of the 350 cc military-derived model, carried over almost unchanged.
• 35 horsepower: modest power that made the bike easy and fun, and legal for eighteen-year-olds.
• Good components: Marzocchi forks, Brembo brakes and light, agile handling.
• Military relative: the W12 version served with several armies for reconnaissance.

Cagiva W16 versions

• W16 (1994–2001): the 600 cc four-stroke enduro.
• W12 350 (1993–1996): the smaller four-stroke sister, also built for military use.
• Cagiva 350 W12 Mil. I: the military version used for reconnaissance.

The same engine went into the Cagiva River 600 and the Cagiva Canyon, and the smaller two-stroke of the range is the Cagiva W8. More Cagivas are in the Cagiva collection.

Sources

• Cagiva W, Italian Wikipedia: W16 production, engine, equipment, W12 background