11-3-17 Update: 10 months later, this bike is back up for sale with a slight discount down to $2,950. More importantly, the seller is now willing to offer the buyer a Dakar tank and seat for an additional $1,400 – I’ve updated the feature photo above to show what it looks like because it’s just plain cool. The auction ends soon, but you can find it with an unmet opening bid of $2,799 or the BIN of $2,950
Post Listing Update: This Elefant did not get any action at the asking price of $3,299.
The Cagiva Elefant is an interesting odd-ball – an Italian dual-sport with the heart of a Ducati. Available with a 900cc or 650cc engine, this is definitely the most unique option compared to the KLR, DRZ, and XL/XR options available from Japan. This bike stands out because it’s one of the rare examples that’s been restored – though it has been sitting for two years and will need a refresher before it gets back out on the road.
The V-Twin engine is shared with the Alazzurra 650, so the $4,632 MSRP got you 49 horsepower to lug around 454 pounds, enough for a top speed of 104 miles per hour. I do have to warn you though – parts for this can be a nightmare, so you’ve got to make sure that you buy a solid example. Though the engine is a Ducati unit, Cagiva had to redesign and rotate the head to make room for the single Ohlins rear shock. This means that some parts are unique to just this bike, which wasn’t exactly a best seller. Someone on ADVRider mentions that even though he lived in Los Angeles, he couldn’t get anyone that was willing to work on his bike. The rear master cylinders are NLA, as are all brake hoses and cables, air boots between the frame and carbs, and other parts. Plus, some available parts will take you months to get. This is definitely a bike for patient types. Still, it’s rare and special, and that makes it worth a close look. In a 1986 review, Cycle magazine said: “comfortable, versatile, quick, stable, rugged—the Elefant is all these things, but is it for you? Cagiva wanted to build a world-class replica of their Paris to Dakar machine, and that’s what they did with the Elefant…Explore. Ride. If that sounds like frivolity or eccentricity, look elsewhere. If it sounds like paradise, so should Cagiva’s 650.”
This example (VIN: zcgbbdfg3fv001416) has 10,901 miles on the odometer, but that may not be relevant in this case. The seller says the bike was restored a few years ago and it got a new side tank, fenders, and tires. The frame was powdercoated and a rare center stand was installed. The exhaust is custom and the headers have been ceramic coated. Thought it was restored, the Elefant has now been sitting in the seller’s garage for two years. He thankfully drained the carbs of fuel before storing it, and the good news is that the seller has an awesome collection of motorcycles with a particular interest in “desert” bikes like this one. The assumption is that he knows what he’s doing and that he generally takes good care of his stuff!
Find this Cagiva for sale in Bellaire, Texas with a BIN of $3,299 or best offer
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