Italian manufacturer Fantic has made a major comeback in recent years thanks to its Caballero platform. Drawing from scrambler and standard styling, the Caballero’s classic design and practical performance have made it a stalwart in the firm’s range. Things haven’t always been so successful for Fantic in the past though. After folding in the mid-1990s, Fantic went through a failed comeback in the early aughts.
As a result, an investing consortium headed by former Aprilia Development Director Mariano Roman purchased the rights to the Fantic name in 2014. To help the brand get back on its feet, Mariano took the company reins and turned to China’s Zongshen for a hand. Since then, Zongshen single-cylinder engines have powered the 125cc, 250cc, and 500cc variants of the Caballero line.
