Remember the Cagiva Elefant? The legendary Dakar-winning dual-sport was constructed whereas Cagiva owned Ducati, and was powered by the latter’s extensively used 904 cc Desmodromic L-twin engine. It epitomized the rally raid fashion of the 90s—particularly with big “Lucky Explorer” graphics splashed on the facet.
The Ducati DesertX might be the closest factor you will get to a contemporary interpretation of the Elefant. But due to a complicated jumble of crimson tape (MV Agusta owns the Elefant title), Ducati couldn’t name it that. Luckily Paolo Balbo isn’t certain by such company trappings; he’s referred to as his newest creation an Elefant, though it isn’t technically one.
Based in Parma, in Italy’s gorgeous Emilia-Romagna area, Paolo customizes bikes as a interest. At a look, his Elefant appears to be like like a tidy restomod. But get near it, or twist the throttle, and also you’ll quickly understand it’s a distinct animal solely.
That’s as a result of Paolo didn’t simply need to personal an Elefant—he needed to personal the quickest Elefant on this planet. So as a substitute of discovering a single donor bike, he sourced a body and engine, then cherry picked the perfect elements to mix them with.
The body is definitely from the Elefant’s successor—the 1998 Cagiva Gran Canyon 900. But the motor is much more trendy. Using a sequence of laser-cut engine mounting plates, Paolo managed to wedge within the 1,099 cc Desmo V-twin from a 2007-model Ducati 1098.
The 1098 additionally donated its electrical system. It’s been upgraded with an EVR digital gearbox management unit, and now runs with two totally different engine mappings—one full energy map, and one for wet situations. So not solely is Paolo’s Elefant good for 160 hp, but it surely behaves like a contemporary motorbike too.
With that a lot energy on faucet, Paolo knew he needed to spec the working gear to match. A set of burly Showa upside-down forks went onto the entrance finish, with modified internals to optimize efficiency. They’re held in place by bespoke yokes—machined by Style & Performance to Paolo’s specs.
The entrance wheel makes use of the 19” rim from a KTM 1090 Adventure, laced to an authentic Cagiva Elefant hub. Custom mounts maintain a pair of Brembo calipers from a Ducati 999, gripping 320 mm discs.
There’s extra trickery happening on the again, the place Paolo managed to adapt the swingarm from a Honda Hornet to suit his Elefant. It’s hooked as much as a modified WP Suspension shock, lifted from a KTM 990 SuperDuke.
The rear hub’s one other OEM Elefant half, the 17” rear rim is from an Aprilia SVX550, and the rear Brembo brake’s a Ducati 1098 merchandise.
The Cagiva’s bodywork is an impressed cocktail of refurbished and handmade elements. The tank and rear facet panels are authentic Elefant items, however the entrance fairing was constructed from scratch, utilizing a mixture of fiberglass, carbon fiber and kevlar. Ditto for the entrance and rear fenders, sump guard and hand guards.
Behind the fairing, a set of enduro handlebars are matched to the 1098’s grips, switches, levers and dashboard.
Subtler touches embody a custom-made baggage rack, an open clutch cowl, and an Akrapovič muffler. Under the hood, you’ll even discover a custom-made carbon and kevlar airbox.
The colour scheme is a straightforward gray and white affair, with a cultured two-tone cowl on the seat. With period-correct Cagiva logos, and an OEM-style rear gentle and license plate bracket, you’d be forgiven for mistaking this for a restored traditional. Until it comes screaming previous you, in fact.
If it have been as much as us, we’d have completed this off with these iconic “Lucky Explorer” logos. That mentioned, we don’t hate this look—and in addition to, Paolo’s different Elefant wears that livery.
Paolo Balbo | Images by PGK
Source: www.bikeexif.com