Remember Cagiva Elefant? The legendary Dakar-winning dual sport bike was built when Cagiva owned Ducati, and powered by the later widely used 904 cc Desmodromic L-twin engine. It epitomizes the raiding style of the 90s—especially with the giant “Lucky Adventurer” graphic on the side.
The Ducati DesertX is probably the closest you can get to a modern interpretation of the Elefant. But due to a bunch of confusing red tape (MV Agusta owns the name Elefant) Ducati couldn’t call it that. Fortunately, Paolo Balbo is not bound by such corporate pitfalls; he calls his latest work Elefant, even though it’s not technically one.
Based in Parma, Italy’s stunning Emilia-Romagna region, Paolo customizes bicycles as a hobby. At a glance, his Elefant looks like a neat outfit. But get close to it or turn on the throttle, and you’ll soon realize it’s a completely different animal.
That’s because Paolo not only wants to own an Elefant, but also wants to own the fastest Elefant in the world. So instead of finding a single donor bike, he sourcing the frame and engine, then cherry picking the best parts to put them together.
The frame is actually from Elefant’s successor — 1998’s Cagiva Gran Canyon 900. But the engine is even more modern. Using a series of laser-cut engine mounting plates, Paolo assembled a 1,099 cc Desmo V-twin engine from a 2007 Ducati 1098.
1098 also donated its electrical system. It has been upgraded with an EVR electronic transmission control unit and now runs with two different engine schemes—one for full power and one for rainy conditions. So, Paolo’s Elefant not only has 160 horsepower, but also behaves like a modern motorcycle.
With so much power, Paolo knew he had to specify the right running gear. A burly Showa upside-down fork is fitted to the front end, with internals modified to optimize performance. They are held in place by custom yokes—Machined by Style & Performance to Paolo specifications.
The front wheel uses a 19-inch rim of KTM 1090 Adventure, connected to the original Cagiva Elefant hub. Custom mounts hold a pair of Brembo brake calipers from a Ducati 999, clamping 320 mm discs.
There’s more trickery going on at the back, where Paolo has managed to adapt the swingarm from a Honda Hornet to fit his Elefant. It’s hooked up to a modified WP Suspension shock, taken from a KTM 990 SuperDuke.
The rear axle is another OEM Elefant part, the 17-inch rear rim is from an Aprilia SVX550 and the rear Brembo brake is a Ducati 1098 product.
The Cagiva bodywork is a cocktail inspired by refurbished and handcrafted parts. The fuel tank and rear side panels are original pieces from the Elefant, but the front fender is built from scratch, using a mix of fiberglass, carbon fiber and kevlar. Same goes for the front and rear fenders, sump guards and hand guards.
Behind the apron, a set of enduro handlebars is combined with the 1098’s handles, switches, levers and dashboard.
More subtle details include a custom luggage rack, an opening clutch cover and an Akrapovič silencer. Under the hood, you’ll even find a custom kevlar and carbon windbox.
The color scheme is a simple gray and white, with luxurious two-tone upholstery on the seats. With timely Cagiva logos, OEM-style taillights, and license plate holders, you’d be forgiven for mistaking this for a restored classic. Until it screams over you, of course.
If it were up to us, we’d have done this with those iconic “Lucky Adventurer” symbols. That said, we don’t hate this look—and besides, Paolo’s other Elefant wears that suit.
Paolo Balbo | Pictures of PGK
