Opinions, Cagiva elephant 650

[Paul Gallagher]

Ok, I have a weakness for italian bikes. (Own a Moto-guzzi 1000 SP
III) In my search for a dual purpose bike, I have come across a
couple 1987 Cagiva 650 elefants. Any body got experience with
these...How they hold up. How are they one logging road riding. (at
420 lbs, obviously not a jumping machine) Should I avoid these
things? Thanks (tanks?)

[Sanchopnz]

> I have come across a
>couple 1987 Cagiva 650 elefants. Any body got experience with
>these...How they hold up.

They hold up okay , but when they do break, they stay broke for as long as it
takes to find parts. And that can be a little while longer than you might
expect.

> How are they one logging road riding.

It's a heavy, tall bike. Don't expect to go fast gracefully. If you auger in,
it'll cost you a mint to repair.

> Should I avoid these
>things?

Hell, if I avoided everything I'm supposed to, I'd never have any fun. If you
dig Spaghetti bikes, get one. I used one for several months and it was okay.
But I wouldn't go out of my way to get one again.
Frank Longtine The Second Amendment protects your
liberties,
1984 Ford not your hunting rights.
1997 Rokon Trail Breaker
1993 Specialized Stumjumper
Two Good Feet

[Ray]

Where are the Elefants located, How much?? I need some extra engines for a
race project.

Ray

[James Ray Crenshaw]

>Where are the Elefants located, How much?

>Ray

Well, I was a Cagiva dealer back then and I'll tell you where all of them
AREN'T... and thats in the Southeast. Most of the dealers I know were still
watching their Allazuras rot on the floor and we were a bit slow to drop big
bucks on another millstone to tie around aound our financial necks. Cagiva
had unreasonable expectations of us at that time. If that sounds like sour
grapes... then consider that I was the second largest Cagiva dealer in the
United States in 1985, and that's only because I didn't get started till May
of 1985... only sold for 7 months that year. If anybody could have moved 'em
off the floor I'd like to think that I at least had a chance. Cagiva said...
"You'll take more street-bikes or you'll take nothing at all."

Guess which one I took?

Well, they thought they were excommunicating the "bad" dealers, those who
had not been converted to the faith. The thing is, *I* was a true believer,
they were a bunch of Pharisees... all fervor and holiness... and no
substance. I dropped 'em like a hot potato, got KTM, and went on to sell 36
KTM's in the next 8 months. Barry Higgins in Atlanta wasn't exactly shaking
in his boots, but things were going pretty well for me... and there was
plenty of pie for everyone. Barry is a great guy, BTW.

I only know of about 4 or 5 of the blue/white Elefant's in the Southeast.
There could have been more, but I'll bet there weren't many. Also, they were
very well-built machines; with any care at all they're still going. Chances
are that finding 650 Allazura parts would be easier. Of course, you may be
wanting the "reversed" rear cylinder/head of the off-roadable Elefant. I
know the whereabouts of one 650 Elefant (w/engine problems) but I hope to
trade the fellow out of it one day.

I still have my 1987 Paso... with 3,000 miles.

Memories;

Ray Crenshaw in SC (USA)
<check for NOSPAM in my e-mail address)

[Jim Hall]

"James Ray Crenshaw" <james...@emeraldis.com> wrote:

>>Where are the Elefants located, How much?
>>Ray

>

>Ray Crenshaw in SC (USA)
><check for NOSPAM in my e-mail address)

There are at least three in Flagstaff, AZ. I don't know the folks that
own them ( I believe one fellow owns two) but they show up in the
local shop to be tweaked now and again. One has been all the way town
to the bottom of South America and back. Doesn't look like a bad bike
for traveling dirt roads in foreign places. Looks real heavy though.

Jim Hall REPLY TO: jdhall<at>as<dot>net

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