Participating in the Elefantentreffen is not an easy ride, but for those who love a challenge, it can be rewarding. If you want to up the ante a little, you can even try the E.I.S. ElefantInSputer trip on board some old Italian postal scooters, as a group of 11 friends are attempting.

TwoWheels Blog will follow the guys from www.bandit.it, an online community, as they participate in the coldest bike meet in the world. As is most common in these projects, the idea came up through an online bar gathering of friends, where chatting about some wild plans can really get you into trouble.

Today we look at the crazy project and its protagonists. After the jump are some shots of preparations of the Piaggio 50 models for the Elefantentreffen, and profiles of the guys in the team.

It appears that the Elefantentreffen has always attracted some members of the team, who just needed to find the courage to seriously consider the challenge. It was always difficult to prepare for the trip, with bike changes, lack of companions, and the various excuses invented to never really take off.

All this changed in August 2008 with an online discussion on the Elefantentreffen, and a decision to take up the challenge with some old Piaggio 50’s, for example the Caballero or Fantic trial from the 80’s.

Some people laughed, and others took it seriously, and a link to an online auction on ex-Italian post scooters was placed. It only took the brother of the leader of the band to say that these scooters are actually not bad, with windshields, cheap to maintain, light and with front and rear storage spaces.

And so the idea to gather some old scooters was born, and the group managed to pick up 12 in Tuscany: 11 to actually use and one extra as a parts change. Their simple mechanics meant they were easy to repair at low cost, with the whole 12 totalling less than 2,000 euros.

The leader and his brother then found nine brave companions, everyone put in 380 euros a head to cover the cost of the scooters, logistics and parts changes. Many of the guys are not traditionally scooter riders, and our serious motorcycle leader actually had some problems on his first trial of the scooter: like a boy in the courtyard, he said it was a disaster.

The group is made up of all types of riders: the guys with the need for speed, tourism afficionados who cover 40,000km a year and guys who have just joined the motorcycle ranks. They also come from all over Italy: Naples and Alto Adige in the north, guys who weigh 50 and 100 kg.

And so the tribe sets off with various combinations of partners, and a maintenance team who will be present to help out in emergences and give moral support. With the enormous job of organising this kind of group and the logistics involved, evening hours and hundreds of emails sent, it is actually a lot of fun.

Many people asked: why? But in the end, it’s just another way of living out your motorcycle passion, and sharing it with others from all walks of life. ‘The essence of motorcycling is the journey’ is the motto of the E.I.S team.

Who they are:

The crazy leaders:

Natale (NatZan), born 1974, Londrone (TN): “Live motorcycling for the excitement of the ride”

Mauro (’M'): “AdventuRiders on the inside”

The crazy armed forces (the ranks):

Rolando (RollyZan), 1979, Londrone (TN)
Federica (Tabata), 1979, Bezzecca (TN)
Barbara (Babi), 1982, Milano:

“Why the ‘elephant’? I’ve been a rider only a short time, but I’ve always been crazy, and any idea a little mad has always attracted me. I believe that the elephant is one of those trips which every rider has to do at some stage. I had already thought about it last year, but I postponed it for my lack of experience and a little fear.

But this year everything is perfect: the plan is quite crazy and I’ve got the right drive! Elephant, here we come!”

Stefano (sogliola666), 1969, Milano:

“Why the elephant??? I don’t know, it’s something that has always been there, from about 13 years ago, when some friends of mine invited me to go. But as we were expecting our fist child, I didn’t go along; and since then there hasn’t been another occasion until this summer and then… E.I.S.”

Riccardo (Tataritsch), 1966, Bolzano:

“I’ll be your mother hen and German translator, but I’ll take you by the hand and accompany you until the ends of reality, because each one of you will have a different trip (which I hope will be very very psychedelic). Your evil uncle loves you…”

Massimo (Notturnia), 1974, Cadore (VI)

Clea (Kiki), 1977, Vicenza (VI)

“I’ve basically been dragged into this adventure by crazy friends, and I’m preparing myself to confront a significant personal challenge, given my mental and physical condition. I’ve been riding since 2003, crazy since forever. I know already that I will die from the cold….”

Ronni, 1981, Valle di Cadore (BL)

“Kiki’s crazy brother. In our family genes aren’t wasted: where there’s fun to be had, and to be silly on the snow….Maybe with a good beer at hand, we never take a step back!”

Lorenzo (Jarod), 1971, Bovezzo (BS)

“I decided to participate because…becuase…it’s my business. No, I’m joking, but I don’t know why. I didn’t know the Elefantentreffen, I don’t even know how to spell it. I’ve never ridden a scooter, but the desire to feel alive, to increase my sense of freedom that only two wheels can give, and the knowledge that this is a more unique than rare occasion made my heart take a leap, saying ‘I’m coming too’.”

Stefano (Boltz), 1971, Padova

“I’ve fought the cold for many winters on a scooter, when my Califfone (Piotr) was my transport to freedom: it is no more, finishing up at the mechanics with the piston rods in pieces. But then others arrived, then my first real bike.

Many years have passed, but I still remember that cold on the seat of my Califfone, and I still remember the freedom it gave me. So again, in the saddle of a 50cc, towards the cold, but the warmth that remains, that really heats you up, is the friends and the madness.”

Carla (Kalla), 1974, Padova

“Why the E.I.S? Well, you get one chance at life, and it’s nice to colour it with some little madness… so why not!

I was already thinking about participating in the legendary Elefantentreffen with my faithful Kawina er-5, with which I’ve already travelled the entire boot of Italy, but I’m a little afraid and I don’t feel good enough to take it out in the middle of mud and snow, and so away with the scooter… And then with this kind of company, the undertaking becomes a big party. Elefanten, we’re on our way!!!”

Devis (BanditDevis), 1974, San Pietro al Natisone (UD):

“I’ve been a rider for exactly 20 years; I’ve never had many bikes and I don’t do many kilometres, but I’ve done everything: enduro, cross, motard, track and road.

The idea of the adventure is always in me: every so often I have to do something outside of the norm, like this year participating in the Triveneto supermotard with an old two stroke, where everyone uses a 4T, and getting myself in the second class up to 250cc with excellent times compared to many modern 450cc, 4T.

There are many trips a rider should undertake and one of these is the elephant, so I couldn’t miss this adventure so well organised by the legendary Nat, and for the most part in an unusual way.

The other trips are: TT on the Isle of Man, going on the track and putting your knee to the ground, North Cape, participating in a race, seeing a MotoGP race live, and going to Sardinia. I’ve still got the TT and North Cape.”

Paolo (Snail), 1962, Gambettola (FC):

“I never thought about doing the elephant, it didn’t attract me, but Natale’s proposal is crazy like me, and so I liked it straight away.

I’ve always been used to bad weather conditions, even if I know not all the elephants are the same and so you can risk doing hundreds of kilometres in glacial snow and ice like I’ve never seen before in my life.

The idea of the 50cc’s is wonderful, we’ll enjoy the landscape at low speeds, no highways, and perhaps we will suffer and count the hours and kilometres until the agonising destination. In any case, it will be a grand adventure to remember always, just as I like it.

The particular thing about this undertaking is that you don’t need particular motorcycling capabilities, but lots of will, determination, enthusiasm and a little madness: all qualities (or faults) I think I have.”

The “Elefanterroni”

Gianluca (Topesio), 1965, Portici (NA)

“I’ve always been a boy imprisoned in age I’ve never managed to get to; passionate rider, always in gear to run towards the sea. If I was born in a different place at a different time, I probably would have been a sailor.

I’ve always thought of the elephant as an unmissable event, but out of my league as a southern man from the sun who has never been at ease in snow and mountains - always respected but never really understood.

I didn’t lose the opportunity created by another dreamer: the E.I.S Team Elefanterroni, or the heart of Naples meets Teutonic cold. And wins two nil.”

Giuseppe (Giuspe), 1978, Naples

“Born and bred in Naples, grown up around pizza and spaghetti with clams, mandolins, but from good stock…

Attracted by the undertaken, I’m pushing myself beyond the boundaries to get lost in a trip with no end, on the road: I will meet the elephant and take the obsession around the world.”

Guardian angels: Riccardo, Nino, Marco, Rosy

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