The Cagiva W16 600 is the motorcycle Pierce Brosnan’s Bond rides off a cliff in the opening sequence of GoldenEye, and it is a better road bike than the stunt suggests: a light, air-cooled single-cylinder enduro from the early 1990s. It is out of production, so a Cagiva W16 600 is a used-bike purchase, and a rewarding one for a rider who likes simple machines.
In the film
In the pre-title sequence, set at a Soviet facility, Bond finds himself on the runway, takes a Cagiva motorcycle and rides it off the edge of a cliff to catch a plane. The bike is the military version of the W16, and the catalogue rates the match as same-model, at medium confidence. A National Motor Museum photograph at Beaulieu shows a film bike.
The details of the W16 600
A single-cylinder engine. According to autoevolution, the 1994 W16 600 has an air-cooled, four-stroke, 604cc single-cylinder engine with a five-speed manual gearbox. A technical database lists 34hp at 5,000rpm and 49.4Nm of torque at 4,250rpm, and an owner on an adventure-riding forum calls it very torquey but short of power. In plain terms, it is made for tracks and back roads, not motorways.
Production. Autoevolution gives the production years as 1993 and 1994. The Cagiva W-model has since returned as an 800, according to one enthusiast post, though that bike is a different machine.
The film version. A Bonhams listing for a c.1995 W16 600 in military trim described a 598cc single-cylinder engine, a five-speed gearbox, cargo racks and crash guards, and noted the connection to the film. That lot is now out of stock, but it shows what a military-styled example looks like.
Owning it now
Very few W16s are sold in some markets; one Australian owner noted there were not many in the country. Look for one with its service history, a sound frame and a clear title, and expect to source some parts through specialist suppliers, since parts stores list used and new W16 parts. The link on this page is an eBay Motors search for the model.
Who it suits. A rider who wants a simple bike for gravel lanes and weekend rides, and who is comfortable with a single-cylinder engine that vibrates a little. It is not a motorway tourer, and we would not buy one expecting speed.
In the same spirit
A current alternative, not the bike from the film:
- Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro: a modern adventure motorcycle for a rider who wants the off-road ability with more power and comfort.
Specifications
| Model | Cagiva W16 600 (military version in the film) |
|---|---|
| Engine | 604cc air-cooled four-stroke single |
| Power and torque | 34hp at 5,000rpm; 49.4Nm at 4,250rpm |
| Gearbox | Five-speed manual, chain drive |
| Production | 1993 to 1994 |
| Status | Out of production; found second-hand |
Questions
What motorcycle does Bond ride in GoldenEye?
A Cagiva W16 600, ridden off a cliff in the opening sequence. See more on the film page.
Is the Cagiva W16 600 still made?
No. The 600 was built in 1993 and 1994, so any W16 600 you buy is a used bike.
How powerful is it?
One technical database lists 34hp at 5,000rpm from the 604cc single-cylinder engine.
More bikes and cars are in vehicles, and the Pierce Brosnan page lists his other films.
