In the quiet city of Gifu, Japan, Maekawa Kazutoshi is shaking up the scooter tuning scene with an audacious new project: turbocharging the Italjet Dragster using an IHI RHF3 turbocharger. Although this is Maekawa's first attempt at turbocharging a scooter, the RHF3 is far from an entry-level component. Known for its use in small-displacement, high-performance cars like the Suzuki Cappuccino, Subaru Vivio, and Daihatsu Copen, this turbocharger is prized for delivering substantial power boosts to compact engines. Its reputation for balancing size and power makes it popular for enthusiasts looking to extract more horsepower from smaller engines without overwhelming them.

 

 

Maekawa's selection of the RHF3 speaks volumes about his understanding of performance tuning. Originally designed for engines between 660cc and 1000cc, using it on a much smaller scooter engine is an ambitious and daring move. By adopting this turbo, typically reserved for compact Japanese Kei cars, Maekawa unlocks new power, torque, and speed levels for the Dragster while keeping the power curve smooth and manageable.

 

For those familiar with turbocharging, the challenges of forced induction on such a small engine are significant. A larger turbo would struggle to spool up, and any boost it generated would come with frustrating turbo lag, delivering underwhelming performance. This is where the RHF3 shines. One of the smallest production turbochargers available, it's ideally suited for engines of this size, minimizing spool time and turbo lag while delivering a powerful punch. And the enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that Maekawa has also fitted a functioning blow-off valve, giving off that unmistakable "whoosh" when you let off the throttle.

 

 

The Italjet Dragster, already revered for its aggressive design and cutting-edge engineering, now carries a piece of Japan's renowned car tuning culture under its frame; in the Kei car world, where lightweight performance cars like the Suzuki Cappuccino reign supreme, the RHF3 has long proven its ability to deliver quick spool times and consistent power. Maekawa is pioneering a thrilling fusion of Italian craftsmanship and Japanese tuning expertise by bringing this technology into the scooter world.

 

But this project is about more than just bolting a turbo onto a scooter. The intricacies of installing the IHI RHF3 require high precision, from managing heat dissipation to optimizing airflow. Maekawa has painstakingly fine-tuned the system to ensure that the Italjet's smaller engine can handle the turbo without being overstressed. He's experimenting with different boost pressures to strike the perfect balance between performance and reliability, pushing the boundaries of what a scooter can achieve while maintaining everyday usability.

As Maekawa continues to refine his turbocharged Italjet Dragster, we'll undoubtedly see even more impressive developments from this unique project. Scooter tuning is often overshadowed by car culture, but this venture proves that two-wheeled machines can embody the same excitement, creativity, and engineering ingenuity as their four-wheeled counterparts.

 

 

At Italjet, we're thrilled to see passionate tuners like Maekawa pushing the limits. His work perfectly embodies the spirit of Italjet: bold, innovative, and unafraid to venture into the impossible or the impractical. This is what we stand for pushing boundaries because it's in our DNA, not just because we can.

Stay tuned for updates as Maekawa's turbocharged Italjet evolves, blending the best of Italian design and Japanese engineering mastery.