Elefant Technical Thread

[rarebear]

Hi all- Paul from Australia, i have a 1990 900ie elefant and was wondering if there's a HID headlight kit that will fit this bike that someone out there would recomend?
Yep the ol' "fit 65wt bulbs and the battery goes flat after extended running trick!!"
Can i fit a generic Chinese HID kit and hope for the best?
Thanks in advance Paul

[Bevelhead]

It'd be a "hope for the best" with the Chinese HID kits. Some focus better that others I hear. Heat might be an issue in the Elefant's buckets also. If you haven't already upgraded the headlamp wiring that's worth at least 20 extra watts also. That and fresh bulbs is all I've done to mine and they're plenty bright.

Originally Posted by rarebear

Hi all- Paul from Australia, i have a 1990 900ie elefant and was wondering if there's a HID headlight kit that will fit this bike that someone out there would recomend?
Yep the ol' "fit 65wt bulbs and the battery goes flat after extended running trick!!"
Can i fit a generic Chinese HID kit and hope for the best?
Thanks in advance Paul

[MotorCade]

Ok, so recently I purchased two 1994 Elefants... I just noticed a difference between the two. One is more stock than the other, and has two cables from the throttle. The other apparently used to have two cables, but now only has one. Both bikes seem to perform identically - I twist the grip and the trees move faster.

Without having to pull the fairings off and puzzle over a few things, can anyone tell me why the twin cable setup?

Thanks,

Cade

[Wyvern]

The main throttle cable pulls against the spring tension and is always tensioned in the pull direction.

The "push" cable only pulls if the throttle hangs up. It "pushes" or "floats" its entire life.... unless the slide hangs up.
I've seen many more problems with the "push" cable on modern 4 strokes than with the "pull" cable.

here is an interesting discussion bout twin cables

http://www.thumpertalk.com/topic/481...tle-cable-why/http://www.thumpertalk.com/topic/481...tle-cable-why/

[Gone14s]

Originally Posted by Wyvern

The main throttle cable pulls against the spring tension and is always tensioned in the pull direction.

The "push" cable only pulls if the throttle hangs up. It "pushes" or "floats" its entire life.... unless the slide hangs up.
I've seen many more problems with the "push" cable on modern 4 strokes than with the "pull" cable.

here is an interesting discussion bout twin cables

http://www.thumpertalk.com/topic/481...tle-cable-why/http://www.thumpertalk.com/topic/481...tle-cable-why/

Agreed!

Kurt

[MotorCade]

Well, I'll be darned. thanks.

[bwallca]

Originally Posted by Wyvern

The main throttle cable pulls against the spring tension and is always tensioned in the pull direction.

The "push" cable only pulls if the throttle hangs up. It "pushes" or "floats" its entire life.... unless the slide hangs up.
I've seen many more problems with the "push" cable on modern 4 strokes than with the "pull" cable.

here is an interesting discussion bout twin cables

http://www.thumpertalk.com/topic/481...tle-cable-why/http://www.thumpertalk.com/topic/481...tle-cable-why/

The discussion on thumper talk is about 'thumpers' not twins, different situation. Some Ducati twins have a separate cable for each carb, others have a single cable going to a splitter which then goes to each carb.
Ben

[Wyvern]

The ele is a double cable to an actuating rod . (not a cable for each one)
A twin cable set up is just that, a cable for each carb.
The Fant is a push pull (I have even had to temp ride with just the pull).

A push pull to a single carb or a mechanism that operates 1 (or more) are all the same

[bajaburro]

Originally Posted by azcagiva

Speaking of using an old unrepairable bike... this is what I will be running in the upcoming Mexican 1000.



-John

the con rod on the early modles always failed at speed.george at up/tite will be able to help you with this.

[azcagiva]

Originally Posted by bajaburro

the con rod on the early modles always failed at speed.george at up/tite will be able to help you with this.

We ended up running my 72sl350. 888 was our number, it was the oldest and loudest bike in the race.

I told Malcom Smith that I was thinking of running my 510 but built the 350 instead he said that 510 would have blown up. His bike did but they were able to put a new top end on it on the side of the road. The husky would have been cool but I think the 350 turned out to be a good choice.

-John

[bajaburro]

so tell us,how did it go????????

[azcagiva]

Well, the first day we were doing really well, 5th overall out of 23. On the second day we had some mechanical issues which cost us 4 hours. We finished 2nd in our class (of 2) and 11th overall. Only four vintage bikes the rest were modern.

Great time got to meet some cool people.

Here is the thread A tale of two twins I think, bajaburro you will like our team logo.

-John

[bajaburro]

good to have finished after all that drama.i'm sure you will cherish that finisher pin.

[azcagiva]

The trophy is really cool.

Here it is on the back of the bike


The mexican 1000 would be a great rally to ride an elefant. There were a few tough sections but any good rider would have no problem on a fant. I am considering it myself.

-John

[ptr]

all ...

finally back in the forum. appended a short pic-story of modifications during this times

removal and overhaul of the engine



remounting



cockpit conversion to rallye-version

ignition modification to ignitech




somewhere in Switzerland on a test-ride to Marseille three weeks ago.

no pix available from today completed extension of the headlights.

just for pleasure

best