The Malaguti Phantom is a scooter produced by the Italian company Malaguti from 1993 to 2011 in more than 450,000 examples. It was initially available only with a 50 cm³ engine and became popular above all with young riders.
Malaguti Phantom at a glance
| Maker | Malaguti, Italy |
|---|---|
| Production | 1993–2011 |
| Units built | more than 450,000 |
| First model | F12 Phantom, presented in Milan in October 1993 |
| 50 cc engines | Minarelli horizontal two-stroke, air or liquid cooled |
| 100 cc engine | Franco Morini air-cooled two-stroke, 1999–2005 |
| Larger models | Phantom Max 125, 200 and 250, four-stroke |
| Cooling versions | air and liquid; liquid gained a rear disc in 1998 |
| Weight | 89 to 102 kg |
| 2006 model | Phantom F12R, on sale from 2007 |
| Special editions | Capirex, Digit, Twin-Disks, Foggy, GP, Spectrum and others |
Based on one source: the Italian Wikipedia article on the Malaguti Phantom; there is no English article. The page covers both the F12 and the Phantom Max, which the records for the F12 models redirect to.
History of the Malaguti Phantom
The Phantom was presented at the Milan motorcycle show in October 1993, and production of the F12 Phantom began at the end of the same year, with sales in Italy starting in the first months of 1994. In its first ten years of production more than 350,000 examples were sold, and to celebrate the milestone in 2003 a special “Capirex” version was presented with graphics inspired by the Ducati Desmosedici ridden by Loris Capirossi in MotoGP. The scooter weighed between 89 and 102 kg depending on the version.
Until 2006 the Phantom was produced in two F12 versions, differing in the type of cooling, liquid or air, and also in larger displacements of 100, 125, 200 and 250 cm³. The models of 125 cm³ and above were called Phantom Max: they all had four-stroke engines (Yamaha-Minarelli code 3MS on the 125, Piaggio Leader on the 200 and Quasar on the 250) with liquid cooling, a larger frame and some aesthetic differences from the 50 and 100 versions, such as a completely different rear light shape. The 50 cc versions produced until 2006 used a horizontal Minarelli two-stroke in two forms, one air-cooled and one liquid-cooled. The 100 cc version used an air-cooled horizontal Franco Morini two-stroke and, with bodywork and dimensions identical to the 50, was produced from 1999 to 2005.
Between 1993 and 2006 several changes were made, among them to the braking systems. From 1993 to 1998 both the air- and liquid-cooled versions had a front disc and a rear drum. From 1998 the liquid-cooled version was produced in a “Twin-Disks” form with a rear disc instead of the drum; this version had several red details, such as the brake calipers, the strap on the saddle, the lettering on the forks and specific decals on the bodywork. The air-cooled version kept the rear drum until 2006. From the end of 1998 the Phantom F12, both 50 and 100, had a catalytic converter in the exhaust and was approved to Euro 1, with a different exhaust appearance from the earlier unit.
The air-cooled versions had a clock on the right of the instrument cluster, while the liquid-cooled versions had a coolant temperature gauge. From the beginning of 1998 both 50 cc versions received a longer seat and a shorter plastic tail to make the saddle more spacious and comfortable; the same seat was used on the 100 with the addition of a leather strap in the middle for the passenger. From 1993 to the end of 1998 the instruments were grey-blue; from the end of 1998 the analogue instrument graphics were renewed, red for the 50 and blue for the 100, with new buttons. In 1999 the first digital instrument with an LCD screen appeared with the special Phantom “Digit” version of the F12 50.
In 2006 the new 50 cm³ model, the Phantom F12R, was presented and went on sale in 2007. The F12R used a horizontal Minarelli engine in the liquid-cooled version with twin “margherita” discs, while the air-cooled version had a Keeway Motors engine with a front margherita disc and a rear drum, fed by a 12 mm Gurtner PHVA carburettor. The electronics for all models were made by Ducati Energia, with different versions according to the emissions approval: Euro 0 and Euro 1 models had a six-pole Ducati ignition, while Euro 2 and later models had a more recent twelve-pole version. These later models also had a carburation regulator acting on the idle circuit, a throttle position sensor and a control unit managing fuelling and advance to reduce emissions.
Over its history the Phantom F12 received small changes until the 2007 model. Between 1993 and 2007 the second update concerned the lines, redesigning the footboard to enlarge the passenger’s support and changing the seat design, removing the plastic shell and leaving a two-up seat with passenger handles integrated into the overall line; the front light mask was also modified and the rear indicators became rounder. The instrumentation evolved, abandoning analogue instruments in favour of a multifunction LCD display with a control on the left switchgear to access the various modes; the display occupied the centre of the instrument panel, with the service lights for headlights and indicators in the other two spaces. Over the years several special versions were released, among them the versions hand-airbrushed by the artist Claudio Mazzi, the Twin-Disks, the Foggy, the Capirossi, the Digit, the GP and the Spectrum.
Design and features
- Two cooling systems: the 50 cc Minarelli engine came air- or liquid-cooled, with different instruments.
- Twin-Disks: from 1998 the liquid-cooled version gained a rear disc and red detailing.
- Phantom Max: 125, 200 and 250 four-stroke versions with a larger frame and different rear light.
- Digital instruments: the 1999 Digit introduced an LCD display, later standard on the F12R.
- Special editions: Capirex, Foggy, GP, Spectrum and hand-airbrushed Claudio Mazzi versions.
Malaguti Phantom versions
- F12 Phantom 50 air-cooled: the original 50 cc Minarelli with rear drum.
- F12 Phantom 50 liquid-cooled: Twin-Disks from 1998 with rear disc.
- F12 Phantom 100 (1999–2005): Franco Morini air-cooled two-stroke.
- Phantom Max 125, 200 and 250: four-stroke models with a larger frame.
- Phantom F12R (2007): new 50 cc model with Minarelli or Keeway engine.
- Special editions: Capirex, Digit, Twin-Disks, Foggy, GP and Spectrum.
The Phantom was the sporty 50 cc scooter of the range, sold alongside the Firefox F15, while the Madison and Spidermax covered the maxiscooter classes. More models are in the Malaguti collection.
Sources
- Malaguti Phantom, Italian Wikipedia: history, F12 versions, Phantom Max, F12R, special editions
