Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126793
ATV1Ielll$ TM Covers it all! All that's happening in the world of allterrain vehicles. Every month. All for only $5 a year. A TV News, America's A 11- Terrain Vehicle Newspaper. .... G(') l-4 Q.) ..0 o .... u Subscribe today.! o Cagiva's America-only WMX500 has five-speeds, witter cooling, disc front brake, and Soft Damp suspension with Ohlins shock. is designed to provide a straight suspension rate. Marzocchi forks with 42mm stanchion tubes damp the from end; 11.7 inches travel is provided. Pirelli knobbies are standard issue. A drum brake is used to stop the rear wheel, but unlike the 125, a solid-mount 9.0inch Brembo disc front brake is used. Like its linle brother, the WMX comes in red and gray; weight is 235 pounds dry, suggested retail $2553. Cagiva's entry imo the specialized ultra-big-bore dual purpose category, which is reportedly popular in Europe, is the 650cc V-twin Elefant. If tne production model is anything like the' prototype displayed, the 400pound-plus Elefant will be the most unique-looking bike to roam the streets and trails. At the heart of the beast is a Ducati desmoSOHC motor, displacing 65Occ. Bore and stroke are 82 x 61.5mm, the ignition is Ducati Electronicca, and there are two 32mm Dell 'Ono carbs. The transmission has five speeds, and both electric and kick staning is included. . Rear suspension is the Soft Damp sytem, with aluminum swingarm, Ohlins shock and straight-rate linkage. Travel is 8.0 inches. Forks are 42mm Marzocchis with 9.0 inches of travel. Pirelli dual-purpose tires are used at both ends. Two drilled Brembo floating discs, with Brembo calipers, provide stopping power. Square tubing is used to make up the double-dowmube frame. Forged aluminum is used for the engine stays, brake pedal and passenger-peg moums. The prototype Elefam sponed fiberglass fenders, gas tank, side panels, and headlight/from number plate unit. Of interest were the air scoops on the from of the gas tank, designed to direct air flow to the rear cylinder for bener cooling. Current plans call for the Elefant's arrival in March as a 650, priced at $4288. It will come later as a 750, priced at $4388; a 900cc model will also be available, as will be a 350 for $3995. Cagiva plans to also market an accessory kit, consisting of a larger gas tank, di££erem headlight unit and seat to turn the stock Elefant imo a Paris-to-Dakar racer replica. Cagiva's Alazzurra street models share the same frames and running gear, with the only differences being in displacemem, weight and price. The biggest difference between the Alazz1.!rra 350 and 650 will be, says Cagiva, availability. While an appreciable quantity of 6505 will be imponed, there will be very few 350s. Because of the price - $3415 - less than 100 Alazzutra 350s will come imo the U.S. Common features to both bikes are twm-backbone-tube frames which use the motor as a stressed member, dualhock Marzocchi rear suspension. 35mm Marzocchi forks, and 10.2-inch drilled Brembo disc brakes all around. Pirelli Phantom tires are mounted on 18-inch Campagnolo rims. Measuremems for both include 57.5-inch wheelbase,S. 7-inch ground clearance, and a 4.8-gallon fuel tank. Both bikes can be ordered with quarter or full fairings. The Alazzurra 350 displaces 349cc, with a bore and stroke of 66 x 51 mm. A pair of 30mm Dell 'Ono carbs are used. Ducati electronic ignition supplie the spark, the transmission has fi ve gears, and staning is electric. Claimed dry weight for the 350 is 412 pounds. Cagiva'sAlazzurra 650 is designated as their main line street bike for the time being, and it shares the same Ducati desmo engine as its smaller brother and the Ele£ant. Bore and stroke i 82 x 61.5mm and two 36mm DelJ 'Ono carbs are used. Ignition is Ducati CDI, and, like the Alazzurra 350, the transmission has five speeds; electric starting is standard. Claimed horsepower output is 57 bhp. Claimed dry weight is just five pounds more than the 350, 417 pounds. In addition to the new model unveiling, Cagiva announced several other developments. The most important news was the confirmation of Ducati's demise as a motorcycle manufacturer. Future development and production by the company, it was said, will be limited to motorcycle engines and that Cagiva has contracted wi th Ducati for its entire 1985 production run. Also announced was that Cagiva's currem force of about 100 dealers nationwide would stay the same. The reason given for this was so the company can concemrate its full resources on a limited network without spreading itself too thin. The last major announcement was thatCagivaexpects to allocate 10%of its produdion to the U.S. market. It was disclosed that the Italian firm's current output is 50,1>00 units per year of aLI models, and that it will be be expanded to 100,000 units annually. - AMERICA'S MONTHLY ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE NE~PAPER • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• o YES! Send me one full year (12 Issues) of ATV NEWS for only $5.oo! o I want to SAVE MORE! Send me two years (24 Issues) of A·TV NEWS for only $9.00 $15.00 off the newsstand price! 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