This just in from Riccardo Chiosi, Fantic Motorcycles designer and long-term Sideburn reader (whose Gilera, The American, was in Sideburn #15).

This bike just debuted at EICMA. Above is the flat track, below is the dual sport, on knobblies. How cool are these?!

Take a look at our last toys - Caballero three displacement : single 4-stroke 125-250-500.
Two version : dual (17"-19") and flat track (19"-19" omologated!!!) I'll keep you updated!!! 
Ciao Riccardo

I was really lucky when I turned 16, because I coerced my mum into getting me what I reckoned was the best moped of the lot, a Fantic Caballero. She wasn't best pleased when my O level results came through a while later, though.

Forget the Flying Squirrel, Combat Wombat or Porcupine, there is a new favourite mammal-related motorcycle name in my life. Thanks to Harley for the tip-off. This one's on Italian eBay. G

From the people who brought you the Fantic Chopper, I wouldn't want to meet their design team without a cattle prod in my hand. 
Harley, Isle of Man

This from our friends at Fantic/SWM. The boss there, Federico Fregnan, is a super-enthusiast and also owns the rights to classic Italian MX boots, RG. He's been planning to remake them for a while and has finally found the time.

'I am pleased to inform you that our legendary boots RG are available again.
As promised we have partnered with an Italian craftsman who works in the area of Montebelluna (Treviso), which uses only Italian leathers, which has a small team of collaborators in Italy and who believes in things done well.

We Redid the boots by following every detail of what was the shoe art of the past, we used a sole made from Vibram and after long research we also found the same mythical buckles used in golden off-road years.

The boot RG was the first to be used by teams like SWM, Fantic Motor, KTM and many others.
It was used by those great champions who still admire or remember their amazing sports feats.

Well now you can have them in "Black" or "Black & Red" color.
• Available sizes from 40 to 46.
• Cost EUR 240.00 + VAT (The cost of transport is excluded)
• You can order them via mail by indicating quantity, size, color, your data with vat n°, and place of shipment.
· Payment can be made by bank swift transfer.

Look forward to your orders via fax: + 39.0422.490620 or email info@fanticmotor.it

The SWM Silver Track prototype flat tracker. It had the Sideburn sticker on it before I arrived.
Footpegs. Beartrap for rubber sole. Rubber peg for steel shoe.
Teeny little engine. It's a 300cc Gas Gas two-stroke.
I'd never seen this before. A log of settings on the shock's piggyback.

From Riccardo at SWM/ Fantic in Italy

I send U other pics of SWM 2stroke proto from the very first track test. Really Rad&Fun light bike...a lotta of power that needs to be well handled... we're working on.

We would love a session on this. G

From Riccardo at SWM/Fantic. Is this 380cc two-stroke the Bultaco Astro for the 21st century or what?

Hi Gary,how are u?
Look at our new proto (in progess...) 380two stroke...we hope to ride it in september...
Now 4me it's time to surf...we keep in touch.
Your last issue is fabolous!
Riccardo
SWM\FANTIC toys

We mentioned the new Fantic Two-stroke a while ago. Alberto Narduzzi sent this shot of it through. We're not really into modern MX bikes, but that expansion chamber is something else and Fantic are good guys.. Thanks Alberto. G

We love Fantic. We love two-strokes. Fantic are making a new 250 two-stroke. We're happy.
I think our amici Alberto Narduzzi made this teaser video. GI

When I visited Fantic Motorcycles HQ near Treviso, Italy last year, the company's designer Riccardo told me he was workign on something dirt track related. Last weekend he sent through the first photos of their prototype. Rather than using the Fantic name, the company has used SWM, another Italian dirt bike brand that Federico Fregnan owns.
SWM were founded in 1971 and made various competition dirt bikes for enduro, trials and MX.
The new SWM is a 200cc DTX bike. Riccardo reckons says
'Here's the first pics of our SWM silverTRACK 200. This is only a prototype to start to work on entry level dirtTRACK bike that
could be good for "newbies" or who want start approach "dirt world". That bike could be the interesting also for a brand Trophy... We also thinking about a street-legal version of that bike .
In the next email more detail and pics.
We love that Dirt World...
Thanks again for your fantastic Blog & Mags, Riccardo'

By brand Trophy he means, what the British refer to, as a one-make series. It sounds a great idea, especially as Italain dirt track is enjoying a renaissance. GI
Historic photos: http://www.swm-moto.org

I knew next to nothing about Fantic before I went on the Ouroboros trip the other week. My new best amici, Alberto Narduzzi took me to Fantic's HQ. The current owner of Fantic, Federico Fregnan (the cool dude who look like Hunter S T in the montage) took me on a tour of the factory and his amazing collection of two-stroke trail and enduro bikes. Then I met Riccardo Chiosi, Fantic's designer (below with surfboard). On his office shelves were the first three copies of Sideburn. He had the Complete Book of Flat Track next to the computer he was designing Fantic's future bikes on.
I came away loving everything to do with Fantic. Sideburn might be even doing a special project with them. GI