Ducati Monster Forum

Found this picture and I was surprized to see that the 94 Elefant I am looking at is not a trellis frame. I had thouht that all Ducs were by the mid nineties. Anyone have any FHE with an Elefant on dirt roads? I've heard they do quite well, and I would love a dual sport duc. I can see the front fender clearance being a problem on anything but dry dirt. Wonder if there is a way to space the fender.

(http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/LowThudd/IMG_2036.jpg)

The Elefant wasn't a Ducati, it was a Cagiva.

+1, and I don't think any elefants had trellis frames.

except this concept by oberdan bezzi has a partial trellis.  Ducati should hire that guy he has some sweet duc concepts also.

(http://www.todoterrenotv.com.ar/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/aae40_cagiva_elefant_rosso_obi.jpg)

I guess your right. It was the duc engine that threw me. [roll]

More than a couple manufacturers have used duc motors.  You were somewhat right though because Cagiva did own Ducati at that point in time 85-96

Didn't Cagiva market them as Ducati's for a couple years?

Doesn't SpeedDog have one of those?

Isn't his a Grand Canyon?

I believe it is Ducati Elefant / Cagiva Gran Canyon?

http://www.elefantman.com/ (http://www.elefantman.com/)

You playin' horse shoes...

or hand grenades? ;D

It's a GC.

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=33095.0 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=33095.0)

That's my old shop parking lot in Chandler, Arizona!  ex-Customers bike.  Did a quick once over after he acquired to see how it was assembled and that is when the picture was probably taken.

Make sure you can ride one before acquiring.  I found it heavy and clunky -- it is like sitting on a big overstuffed sofa.  I recently rode the Gran Canyon version and it was more nimble. As for work/maintenance on these -- hope it doesn't break while offroad.  Pretty robust bikes fortunately.  Owner upgraded to a HyperMotard S with good suspension beneath it.

There were Cagiva Elephants and Ducati Elephants.  A little like Dodge Darts and Plymouth Valiants, pretty much badge engineering though there were differences.  The Paso also did not have a trellis frame.

I had a 650 elefant.....the frame was a pressed steel main "tube" that passed air from the aircleaner to the carbs. I put k&ns on it and stored tools and tyreirons in it. It was my first bike with an Ohlins shock as standard. With a pumped up 750 motor it was good enough to win Paris-Dakar .Later models got bigger and heavier and more road orientated.I rode mine crosscountry 5 times or so with zero problems and rode every dirt road in Southwest Montana with camping gear and fly rod.A very capable bike on a fast gravel road in the Beaverhead Valley. Good times- great bike!!! Don

Paso had a square member frame with no trellis.

The Ducati E900 was just rebadged in the USA as a Ducati because Cagiva had pulled out and there was still a market for the dual sport model.  They were badged Ducati but VIN shows ZCG not ZDM

the 900 class Elefants need a lot of love.  Usually undersprung and has the 900ss SMALL valve engine, so underpowered IMHO.

Swap the heads with big valvers and respring and you have something.

They are a big heavy though, but they are more an "adventure tourer" than a dual sport.


The OLDER model Elefant pre-92 650 and 750 models are true dual sports.  Much lighter and TALLLL.  You need to be about 6 ft min to ride comfortably.  Lighter engine, lighter frame and lighter exhaust all around. 

Also the older Elefants have a high clearance exhaust.  The 900 models used an under- the sump pipe as on the SS and Monster.  Not good for clearance.

A 650 (also came in 350/400)  -- notice NO pipe under the sump.  there is a sump guard tho
(http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery/Cagiva%20Elefant%20650%2086%20%201.jpg)

and a 750 Lucky Strike with the 7 gal gas tank
(http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery/Cagiva%20Elefant%20750%2087.jpg)

Here's my Gran Canyon:

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2053/2490946990_ab4c10e3c6_o.jpg)

It's a 500 lb. dirt bike.
It's pretty good on dirt roads, hopeless in deep sand.

Good on the pavement.
Much better 2-up than the Monster.

It's got the W (small-valve) heads, so it's not particularly powerful, but lots of low-end torque.

There has been an unfortunate trend beginning with the 650 (a great dual sport - Dakar bike) to the 900s then the canyons and now the Multistrada.  The bikes have trended more and more street bikes.  I don't really know what the current 150HP strada is about, but I know it isn't about riding in the dirt, on gravel, or in the third world.  If ya want a true adventure touring bike ya'll have to git a beemer, KTM, KLR, or DR. 

i like the look of that lucky strike, above.

Good luck finding one. EXTREMELY rare.

I like the way it looks, i'm not interested in finding one.