New to me - 2000 Cagiva Gran Canyon

[triangleforge]

There's an elephant (though not an Elefant) that moved in at my place yesterday. I've only put about 50-60 miles on it (the speedo and odometer are in Km, and my brain hasn't caught up quite yet...), but so far I think this is the ticket for me - there's a Ducati (engine) in the house again, in a fairly simple early-era "adventure bike" package. Now that I'm living 2-3 miles from the nearest pavement and surrounded by gravel Forest Service roads, street bikes are less fun for the first and last 15-20 minutes of any ride. This one was meticulously maintained and upgraded (center stand, metal belly pan, heated grips) by a fellow who'd just gotten a 2014 Multistrada and had to let one go. He mentioned a couple of times that he thought long and hard about selling the Multi instead, mainly due to the complexity of the beast.

Anyway, it's good to have an Italian bike again, and to give back my buddy's long-term loaner 1978 BMW R80 that's been an interesting bridge between them.

20210305_173059 by triangleforge, on Flickr

20210305_173040 by triangleforge, on Flickr

[Kopfjager]

Very nice! 

[greenmonster]

It's a nice bike but don't break anything, spare parts are like hens teeth...

[ducpainter]

T was telling me that you picked up a Gran Canyon...

[Howie]

Congrats

[koko64]

Well done.

[koko64]

https://elefantadventurebikes.com/

A good supply of parts committed to the model.

[ungeheuer]

Looks like a nice ride for that kinda country 

[triangleforge]

It's a nice bike but don't break anything, spare parts are like hens teeth...

Well then, I suppose it's a good thing we've got about a dozen hens out back...

Seriously, that was (and remains) my biggest concern with this bike. I talked at some length to riding friends, a very adventurous couple who used to tour extensively on a pair of Gran Canyons - they told me there are parts available or work-arounds for most everything on the bike except for the plastics, including that two-part gas tank. I did some cursory searching, and found replacements for those available; used, cosmetically rough, and ferociously expensive, but available.  He did tell me that when communicating with Duc dealerships, it's best to just tell them you've got a 2000 900cc Monster, though I'm told the heads are slightly different...

[triangleforge]

https://elefantadventurebikes.com/

A good supply of parts committed to the model.

THANK YOU! That looks like an excellent resource!

[greenmonster]

Put book cover plastic on headlight lenses f e, one part my friend couldn't find.
The Navigator, Jap-engined, share many parts.
LT Snyder, Desmotimes, has owned one, loved and modded it.

[Howie]

Plastics not available?  CAFE RACER TIME!

[DarkMonster620]

Very cool bike ...

I see some first gen MTS design cues in it

[Duck-Stew]

The Gran Canyon's run the 'W' heads (750 cams & valves).

[triangleforge]

The Gran Canyon's run the 'W' heads (750 cams & valves).

Thanks!