Cagiva Elefant 900ie review (Ducati 900SS engine). The classic bikes that won Dakar. Part 5 of 6

The Cagiva Elefant 900ie was a special edition endure bike built to celebrate Cagiva's win in the 1990 Paris Dakar desert endurance race. Production was limited to just 1000 units and it was one of the most expensive bikes on sale in the UK at the time, making them very rare today.
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[@sholehan]

Harry - "It was my 60th Birthday a few years ago" Also Harry - "Thats 100mph on a bike across a field" Class.

[@johndrake2147]

Welcome to a new episode of Harry's Farm and as you can see, some ruffians on motorbikes have destroyed my field ...

[@danielmarshall4587]

"THOSE" bikers..... damn it all.

[@jpslaym0936]

Wasnt that just Harry's complementary topsoil aeration service ? !

[@MarcS4R]

Harry, as an owner of a Cagiva Elefant 900ie, I can not be thankful enough for such a great video !

[@harrysgarage]

Fantastic, we are very lucky to own these bikes. Does your Elefant have the same problem starting 'problem' that mine does? It always has to churn the engine a few times before it fires, which I put down to the injection system. It never not starts but I wish it just fired up straight away like all the other bikes do!

[@MarcS4R]

@@harrysgarage Thanks for the reply Harry. Mine usually starts great, only when it has been very cold or standing for a week I have to give it about three tries with the starter and the Choke up. What i can absolutely recommend you is getting the Öhlins shock serviced, it has been a night and day difference. My Elefant is #102 by the way. I am missing the aluminum Key Plate that you have. I also have an Original R80 1987 Paris Dakar, but it is unfortunately getting the engine rebuild as the Crankshaft bearing needs a replacement

[@cosicave5179]

I'm not normally one to be envious, Marc (and Harry, of course) but…

[@SilentRacer911]

@@harrysgarage I love all these limited edition bikes you have. I unfortunately have only ridden a dirt bike once. That’s it. I just never got over that fear of falling over. I have short legs so not really a body type for a bike... and why have you not done an MX-5... like at all? Been waiting for it for years. I would have figured it would have been like one of the first cars you tried out but you have seemed to skip over it.

[@JimsEquipmentShed]

@@SilentRacer911 Fellow short legged here, You should try a Yamaha TW200, great little bike that will bring you everywhere you want to go, and about two mikes mast that point.

[@splodge5714]

Ducati V twin engine doing 100 mph across a field. Love it.

[@skaraborgcraft]

Not quite a retired pensioner just yet, but ton up across a field deserves some repect!

[@FLYEAL]

Agreed. Harry can go from a quiet auction to a boss off-road on a mad 80s Cagiva. What a collection too. Jay Leno-ish. Leno likes his street bikes tho.

[@gr7788]

Absolutely agree , awesome video. Very inspiring thank you Harry!

[@TheAslakVind]

"Here is my Elephant, yeah well. I actually got 3...." Harry, Harry, Harry.. Finally adressing the elephants in the room!

[@Fran_SG]

This is my favourite Dakar bike. It was very close to the racing bike and it was also sooooo nice. Cagiva deserved better luck as brand, they were full of passion. Thanks for the video!!!!

[@nickloftus4188]

100mph across a rough field. I'm lost for words. You legend Harry.

[@riccardogranato1274]

It's sort of a shame to me that most people wouldn't know Cagiva since the importance it had on the Italian, and not only, motorcycle industry as a whole (bringing new life to Ducati and MV Agusta for instance). It's great to see it receiving the appreciation it deserves.

[@HONDAVFRV4]

Thanks for the vid. Some great facts again... Cagiva owned Ducati. The fact that you throw these bikes around and being so rare, shows up others who just keep them as museum pieces. A big shout out to Mrs M for the great off bike camera work as usual.

[@Martin_IPL5990]

it's great that someone like yourself owns these bikes as your passion for these unique machines is laid bare for all to see. keep 'em coming.

[@martinfisker7438]

The italians really brought style to dakar. That exact elefant; twin lights and the lucky strike livery, had to be the prettiest offroad bike

[@ibana8449]

Don’t ever accept any offers to do tv motoring Harry, the format and level of detail and humour is top shelf. Great video and thank you again.

[@ruaraidhmcdonald-walker9524]

XTZ next!! This is a great video series! Anyone else feel like they know their way around Harry's fields now? Harry offroad trackday would be ace!

[@gordonmackenzie4512]

Yes, think I could easily blast my XT350 around Harry’s Farm. I know the route so well now.

[@garyhoward4064]

Yup, I’d also like to see same video on XTZ 😊

[@ruaraidhmcdonald-walker9524]

@@garyhoward4064 Guessing that'll be the next one!! We used to have one as a shop runaround at Carricks Yamaha in Edinburgh when I was working there as a student. Great ride! Remember one demo day at Knockhill, it came back with the alloy bash plate ground up so it could be hustled hard on road too.

[@HQBProductions]

Well done Harry!...proving again that when we are over 60, we don’t all have a bus pass, a Nissan Micra Hybrid or an 08 Focus diesel with dents! We may have a few more miles on the clock but inside the engine, gearbox and determination are still only 21!! 😃😃😃😃😎😎😎😎😎

[@nrahim91]

I knew nothing about Paris-Dakar bikes before this series and I still wouldn't say I'm passionate about them but my god does this make good viewing in your hands Harry!

[@mpn7738]

The Elefant was always my favorite of the classic dakar bikes. What a collection you have Harry, great to see

[@michaeltomlinson7245]

100mph - across a field !?!? Utterly brilliant machine, utterly brilliant video. Passion is there for all to see. Amazing stuff !

[@jbuffaloman311]

I live in the States, and have two Elefants, '94 & '95. Best riding bikes for my area. Pave and gravel road everywhere. Wish I could find an 900ie to add to my "Herd" collection of Elefants. Great review Harry!

[@Tal5258]

Great bike the Cagiva Elefant- I had a 750 for several years always want the 900ie. Cagiva had the styling and motors!

[@celynjones4958]

Burford-Dakar special edition 👍🏻❤️👍🏻

[@memsybabe]

Such a special thing. Nothing like an off-road slog to remind you you're alive... Thanks for sharing Harry.

[@bellevue260]

I love that you use all of these cars and bikes as they were intended. Thank you for taking us along.

[@AlexSmith-de2le]

Loving this series, Harry. Thanks for sharing your incredible collection

[@dhruvshetty8804]

I really love the raw sensation and connection with bikes. Nice to see you feel the same way Harry. Excellent video. Cheers!!

[@jaymcconnell3840]

Wow. So impressive! Thank you for the video, Harry. I think this is my favorite one yet! You remind me why I love bikes!

[@stuckintheeighties487]

Fabulous bike. My favourite of the series so far. Great to see it being used off road. Looked like a walk in the park for it, such a capable machine (and rider) Thank you Harry.

[@nicholasgullo9756]

These videos get me through the day, thank you! Makes me want to trade my T7 for an older bike.

[@fidgetpants4058]

Thoroughly enjoying the bike series... Looking forward to seeing the rest of the collection in action. Great stuff Harry, from a long time subscriber 👍

[@guinnessharvey4476]

I know nothing about bikes but I love this

[@niklaswejedal463]

The quintessential Dakar bike for me. Loving this series and looking forward to the next one!

[@stevebuckerfield3758]

Another great video Harry. I have enjoyed this series enormously. The best thing about your collection is that you use them as intended. Thanks for sharing. These bikes come from an amazing time that included Group B rally and arguably some of best ever F1. Bravo!

[@OzTwanger]

I so love this series and hats off to Harry for his riding ability. Absolutely awesome bike too

[@tomkil78]

Harry, thanks for all the videos so far of Dakar bikes. Awesome.

[@vortex_un]

what a passion you have for these machines. thanks.

[@SimonCole]

What an outstanding series and stunning bike. So glad you are sharing

[@danielmarshall4587]

I don't think I'll every ride a motorbike or ride on one. But I do find them interesting and this video series is hitting the spot, THANK YOU Harry.

[@danielmarshall4587]

" I was lucky enough" yes you were/are/am and thanks again for sharing with us.

[@superrams34]

Both my father and myself are huge Dakar fans. We’ve both just been watching this video together smiling from ear to ear. Thank you Harry!

[@milesgreen9705]

Loved it Harry, thanks for riding it for us and fast too! Elefant 750 and 640 Advenure were the best I rode, when I used to ride dirt bikes in the mid 90s. Thanks again!

[@alexbrown7665]

Glorious noises coming from that bike. Thanks for sharing these!

[@atastefortheroad4475]

As a 20+ year Ducati owner and enthusiast I've been waiting for this one. Great video and hats off for sharing!

[@rumblebelly7429]

Awesome video and bike Harry. The Elefant was my dream bike of the original PD-bikes, with the Africa Twin, back in the good ole days. Thanks for showing!

[@giuseppemaenza9255]

Fantastic all your collection, I love Cagiva and Ducati, greetings from Sicily

[@scalejedi3849]

I take a little break from utube and Bam, i come back to one of my favorite video forums and there you are doing one of my favorite things motorcycles Especially moto wow Mr.Harry you are the best.Thank you for a delightful and learning experience about moto bikes.

[@JohnMartin22222]

Thanks Harry!!! I’ve watched them all so far

[@sarahdell4042]

Love the Dakar collection! Love that Harry rips this thing proper too!

[@ufukguven2354]

Dear Harry, my first bike was a Cagiva 50cc elefant in the 80's. I am very satisfied with your video. Thank you for reviewing the Elefant. Lovely memories with this bike which my coisin had.

[@nigelgoater8375]

Excellent mini-series on the Dakar bikes! Brilliant stuff.

[@cecilwilson5442]

Absolutely brilliant,, can't believe it's such a big cc and goes on the dirt so well cannot speak highly enough of this series on the Dakar bikes,, ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️from Northern Ireland awesome viewing 😊😊😊😊😊

[@twarken5078]

Excellent video as always, Harry!

[@ENDUROTRIALCLUB]

Very nice video, thanks for sharing! I am also the lucky owner of this cagiva elefant 900i.e. #568. In my opinion, this is the best adventure motorcycle from the 90s. Except for the effectiveness of the front brake, it can withstand comparisons with modern motorcycles.

[@reinmansmith]

Another great video… respect for your balls out riding Harry… not everyone would be prepared to ride like that across your fields 👍 I also love the fact that, looking at the close up shots, it’s clear that none of your machines are pristine museum pieces but that they are used and ridden as they should be 😊

[@mattnycm3]

What an iconic bike. I remember seeing these bikes on old Paris Dakar fotage growing up.

[@moviebod]

My goodness Harry. You are the man. Kudos to you.

[@simonhaycocks]

Lovin this bike series. I’ve not been on a bike for about 10 years but still love to see them. Maybe one day I’ll have a second mid life crisis 🤔 😂

[@matauboy]

That was stunning, especially the last view of the bike flat out, and Harry making growling sounds.

[@lydwood]

Having owned two of these I really enjoyed this video. My first was an identical 900ie new from 3 cross back in the day and the second was another but it had some mods including 944 barrels and high compression cosworth pistons. It had way more torque. The starter motor struggled to spin that one, but both fired up as soon as they started cranking so not sure why yours has that delay. Always great videos here thank you!

[@deedoubleyatraining]

My favourite this far in the series! Loving these 👌

[@Tracertme]

My favourite bike video for sure.... thanks for sharing Harry...

[@emmetsexton7696]

Dry clutch Harry but again fab video and love your passion for these Dakar bikes.

[@samjoentess9168]

Love this little series H 👍

[@johnmcreynolds5299]

Brilliant Harry 👍🏼 that was quick across the field 😳😳

[@terrygreen4338]

Excellent series what a machine cheers Harry 👍🏍

[@tufanvardar]

beautiful bike, very good riding. very much appreciated for sharing your special collection with us.

[@andybowyer3602]

Before the show even starts! H this series is fcukin BOSS!. ill be sad once you run-out of bikes to show us! You have an excellent collection thats for sure!!! Anyways on with the show!!!!!

[@richardmerritt5600]

loving this series Harry :)

[@notrut]

1990 I had just moved house and I remember sitting up until the small hours watching the PD mesmerised ... 3 decades later I'm getting the backstory!

[@scott673]

spot on as always harry

[@trevorjay5681]

A classic bike and a classic presentation. Bikes are my thing but not off road particularly but I found this rivetting. Great post.

[@jeremythomas6980]

Just come home from the bike night at Prees in Shropshire to see another old fella charging across a field much faster than we were going on our road bike lol cheers Harry

[@johnsmith1474]

That was great fun Harry, thanks.

[@juansequeirabaquero1780]

This man is a legend. Hello from Nicaragua!

[@Garmin1150gs]

Fantastic review of a fantastic bike I am lucky to own number 95 complete and original with solid silver number plaque and nylon key fobs owners manual and service book

[@l1ndener]

loving the bike reviews!

[@sandmedjohn]

Well done, Harry!

[@michaeltorpy3366]

Great harry tried to buy one a couple of times but both fell through had a yamaha super ten loved it ride it in France and to Switzerland on several occasions love Paris dakar as was still watching latest ones now 🎉🎉

[@andrewallan5090]

Fabulous series!

[@axelkeuchel5728]

Watching this video I had a bright smile on my face! I remember how I adored the “normal” version of this bike in the early 90’s.

[@sea-saw2654]

absolutely full respect for a bloke in his prime years not afraid in the slightest to give these bikes some right wrist.. 👍

[@thedarrendasher8134]

Great review Harry and yes I'm still looking for one to compliment my Ducatis. I've seen a few Elefants with ST3 motors fitted so I would imagine they go like stink, my ST3S is actually quicker than 999 to the ton. Pity you can't get hold of the Serge Bacou FZT900 to test on the field, or even build a replica. Saw that at the Bike Show a couple of years ago and it looked monstrous! Well done on the series so far, great to see you doing more bike stuff!

[@jimmybroom]

Great bike and another superb video.

[@harryatkinson9757]

A magic bike and great riding, thanks for sharing 👍

[@davidward8337]

Brilliant video - really conveys the spirit of the Elefant! Conflict of Interest: 900ie no. 680 owner!

[@stevenlomas8812]

Wow what a bike Harry

[@CodgerBiker]

Just the best thing on KZbin 👌

[@GTMarmot]

If you had one of these (or any Paris-Dakar class bike) in the 80s, you were the man. It was a huge sporting event, which garnered lots and lots of mainstream interest (a bit like the Tour de France for cyclists nowadays). It was that big. And these bikes made an impression.

[@MrPilgrim609]

Whoa! What the........ the sudden pop up Ford advert😮 10 points to anyone who names the band, the track and the singer. Pretty stunned when Ford used a Hawkwind track, up this is well obscure😁

[@peternufc1981]

She's a beauty mate .. your a lucky man owning all them

[@kamillop.7842]

Wow, I'm impressed about your driving skils ! Nice garage. Regards from Poland

[@alananderson5202]

Great videos. Love the bikes the most.

[@piggymito]

Gorgeous machine! Tbh I think this is probably my favourite vehicle in your entire fleet never mind just the bikes. I fell in love these when I was about 6 years old and I still love them. I'm something of a cagiva fan boy now as my user name might suggest...

[@davidnewman9634]

It was sold as a Ducati over here across the pond. I've been (slightly) looking for a decent one, might have to accelerate the search now. Great vid Harry.

[@kylem324]

Harry these bike videos are great.

[@hvalour1]

Very good video, cheers harry...and i finally see an italian machine id like to have!

[@davidruddick3346]

Big handfuls there Harry!

[@randersson3672]

Awesome series 🏆👌

[@alabaster907]

Love! Love! Love! The Dakar bikes! That Cagiva is a thing of beauty.

[@simmo123]

Amazing collection

[@ro63rto]

😍 loved this bike as a kid. Was the top choice for Paninari.

[@stevelutwyche]

Cotswold grandfather does 100mph across his own field! Love it, Harry!