When Ducati introduced the Ducati 916 in 1994, the motorcycling world was awestruck. After the functional styling of the 851 / 888 range the feminine swoops of the diminutive 916 instantly made every other motorcycle ugly. The Ducati 916 was simply gorgeous. Except for every single one they sold in Australia.
The Ducati we know today is famous for fabulous motorcycles but in the 1960′s and 70′s, Ducati produced a large number of industrial engines, including this 864cc diesel twin.
After a stunning debut in the newly created World Superbike Championship with Marco Lucchinelli, Ducati hired Frenchman Raymond Roche for its second assault on the title in 1989. Unlike the first year, Ducati contested all the rounds and Roche arrived at Sydney’s Oran Park on the blood red Ducati 888 ready to do battle with [...]
Ian Gowanloch has legendary status in the Ducati community and not only in his home country of Australia. His farm in the foothills of the snowy mountains is home to 10, 40 foot shipping containers full of Ducati parts making it the Ducati Happy Farm.
We take for granted that every Ducati you can buy today has desmodromic valve actuation (yes even the otherwise icon breaking 1199 Panigale). For the longest time though, Ducati road bikes had valve spring actuation. This 1967 Sport Corsa Demo 350 was the turning point that led to desmodromics hitting the streets.
The new Ducati 1199 Superbike, due to be unveiled to the public at this November’s EICMA show in Milan, will be an inflection point for Ducati. A number of Ducati signature elements will be abandoned not least cam belt drive as the 1199 will have its cams driven by gears. The change will make for [...]
Following the success of the Ducati 1955 Gran Sport, the very first design effort by one Ing. Fabio Taglioni, Ducati decided to enter the 125 Grand Prix World Championship with a double overhead cam version of the bevel single. This motorcycle is that first prototype GP racer, the Bialbero.
Riders looking for a more practical Ducati have had more choices of late, with the release of the Multistrada 1200 and the Diavel, but these models are still heavily compromised compared to perhaps the most practical Ducati ever, the Muletto.
A decade ago today, the father of all modern Ducatis, Fabio Taglioni passed away. A genius engineer, Dr T is the creator of all the modern signature elements that define Ducati. From desmodromic valves to the L-twin, trellis frame and belt cam drive Ing. Fabio Taglioni created them all.
The Ducati 916 was the Massimo Tamburini masterpiece that supplanted the 851/888 series which had taken 3 consecutive victories in the World Superbike Championship in the hands of Raymond Roche and Doug Polen. Featuring essentially the same engine but with a larger capacity, the bodywork was achingly gorgeous. The 916 still embodies the modern DNA [...]
