Quote:
Originally Posted by Darren69
In Practical Sportbikes this months article on the early M900 it says that they had elephants stamped everywhere because the bike was originally going to be a Cagiva, I don't know how true that is, my Supersport had the Elephants too. I can't remember if my 748 did, I don't know where the original fuel cap is but by '97 TPG had taken over from Cagiva anyway but some bikes may have gone out with the Cagiva logos? Who knows.
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No bikes went out badged as Cagiva and although TGP invested in Ducati at the end of '96 they didn't fully take over until '99/2000 when the logo officially changed to the one used now.
They had to have a complete re-branding as the Castiglioni brothers held (and still hold)the copyright to the old font which is why you won't get very much official Ducati merchandise using it- I presume they came up with a deal to use it on the 20th Anniversary bikes and a few items of clothing but the majority of it all dates back to the '70's and earlier.
My '97 900 has a generous smattering of Elephants (which must be a trademark of Cagiva) over it although not as many as the very early bikes.