Nekkid Elefant

[ducatiz]

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


and a 750 Lucky Strike with the 7 gal gas tank

[Speeddog]

Here's my Gran Canyon:



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.

[akmnstr]

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. 

[junior varsity]

i like the look of that lucky strike, above.

[LowThudd]

Good luck finding one. EXTREMELY rare.

[junior varsity]

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