The Remarkable History of Ducati

You can design and create something closely identical to a Ducati, but it will not be a Ducati. As per the engineers working at Ducati, if you are buying a Ducati motorcycle, you become a part of the Ducati family and you do not only ride a motorcycle, you ride the legacy of the passionate Ducati racers.

Ducati is not just a motorcycle manufacturer, it is a family of enthusiasts and passionate people who want to make this brand stand out through technology and uniqueness. Ducati is one of the oldest Italian motorcycle manufacturers and has become a globally recognized brand while competing with the top American and Japanese motorcycle brands, including Harley Davidson, Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, and Suzuki. Most Ducati motorcycles are high-end and technologically advanced motorcycles which makes them expensive. However, when it comes to performance, design, and styling, Ducati makes the most unique and popular motorcycles. Read this article to learn about the remarkable history of Ducati.

Ducati has a rich history spanning over 97 years, during which it has undergone several ownership changes and difficult times to become one of the best modern motorcycle manufacturers.

Ducati’s success story started in 1926 when Antonio Cavalieri Ducati, along with his three sons, Bruno, Marcello, and Adriano founded a company, Società Scientifica Radio Brevetti (SSR) Ducati. All three brothers were passionate about technology and innovation and had sound technical and entrepreneurial skills to design, produce, and sell radio and electrical components. In the beginning, the company had the strength of a secretary and two workers and it only produced small capacitors.

The Ducati brothers worked tirelessly for the success of SSR Ducati and in only a few years, the company grew exponentially, becoming the largest employer in Bologna, Italy. To handle a huge load of work and production, SSR Ducati opened another manufacturing facility in Borgo Panigale.

Right when SSR Ducati was flourishing and expanding in size, World War II took place which shattered the company’s growth. The company managed to continue production despite being constantly attacked by enemies. In October 1944, SSR Ducati’s manufacturing plants were destroyed by bombing and production came to a standstill.

Soon after the conclusion of World War II and the liberation of Italy in 1944, SIATA (Società Italiana per Applicazioni Tecniche Auto-Aviatorie) started manufacturing a small-sized engine, named “ Cucciolo” (An Italian term, meaning puppy) due to its distinctive sound. Engines were produced in large numbers to install on mopeds (Motorized Bicycles) in collaboration with Ducati as SIATA was unable to cope with the demand on its own.

In 1946, Ducati collaborated with SIATA and developed its complete Cucciolo-powered motorcycle. The Cucciolo engine was 48 cc and the overall motorcycle weighed only 98 lbs. Due to being extremely lightweight, the Ducati Cucciolo was capable of giving a fuel mileage of 200 mpg and could attain a top speed of 40 mph.

Ducati, along with SIATA was doing good business but the damage suffered by the company was huge which it was not able to overcome. Therefore, in 1948, the Italian government decided to nationalize Ducati.

1949 Ducati 60 Sales Brochure

Later, Ducati renamed the motorcycle to the Ducati 60 and the engine size was increased to 60 cc.

In 1952, Ducati introduced two new motorcycles, including the Ducati 65GTS and a cruiser to compete in the growing local and global motorcycle market. Both Ducati models received overwhelming reviews at the 1952 Milan Show. However, the Ducati cruiser was not able to do good in the market after its launch, and the production was seized completely after two years.

In 1953, Ducati had to split the Motorcycles and Electronics departments to ensure better focus and distinguish the product lines. The company also received government assistance to help expand the Ducati factory in Borgo Panigale.

Due to the growing demand and popularity of large-displacement engines, Ducati also worked on producing bigger engines. In 1954, the Ducati 60’s engine size was increased to 125 cc.

In 1955, Fabio Taglioni, the Chief Designer at the Ducati designed an iconic model, the Ducati Marianna 125 Gran Sport. This motorcycle became one of the most popular Ducati motorcycles due to setting several speed records. The Ducati Marianna 125 Gran Sport was powered by a 98 cc two-stroke engine capable of a horsepower of 14 hp. This motorcycle could attain a top speed of 105 mph.

Another popular Ducati motorcycle of its time, the Ducati Siluro 100 with the same engine and horsepower as the Ducati Marianna 125 Gan Sport made a speed record at the Monza racetrack. Despite being fitted with a small-displacement (100 cc) engine, the Ducati Siluro 100 made five new records in the 250 cc category. The Ducati Siluro 100 was capable of maintaining an average top speed of 99.42 mph in a 1,000 km race.

A 175 cc engine was produced to install on the Ducati 60 motorcycle.

Ducati became a globally recognized and reputed brand in 1957 when two most enthusiastic employees of the company, including Giorgio Monetti and Leopoldo Tartaini went on a world tour on Ducati 175 T motorcycles. The world tour ended in 1958, giving Ducati a brand image as one of the most reliable, dependable, and performance-oriented motorcycle manufacturers in the world.

In 1962, Ducati launched the Scrambler 450, powered by a 436 cc engine. Ducati constantly worked on its engine technology to increase the size and power output.

In 1964, Ducati introduced another race-inspired motorcycle, the Ducati Mach 1, powered by a 250 cc single-cylinder engine. This motorcycle could attain a top speed of 100 mph in its standard shape and form. However, the Ducati Mach 1 was majorly used for racing with a few customizations.

A milestone was achieved by Ducati when Alastair Michael Rogers won the Isle of Man TT on the Ducati Mach 1. The rules for customization were strict to participate in the race and Rogers was only allowed to add a fairing on the motorcycle. He attained a top speed of 83.8 mph in this race.

In the 1970s, Ducati started producing large-displacement V-Twin engines, which it later marketed as the L-Twin engine due to a 90° angle between the two cylinders.

In 1971, Ducati introduced a new motorcycle, the Ducati 500 GP Bicilindrica, powered by a 496.92 cc engine. This motorcycle could attain a top speed of 155.34 mph on the road and race track.

Another new Ducati model was introduced in 1972, the Ducati Imola Desmo, powered by a 747.95 cc and could attain a top speed of 155.34 speed on race tracks and open roads.

Another iconic and influential Ducati model was released in 1973, called the Ducati 750 Supersport Desmo. This motorcycle was powered by a 748 cc sour-stroke, twin-cylinder engine capable of delivering a horsepower of 72 hp at 9,500 rpm. The Ducati 750 Supersport Desmo could attain a top speed of 136.7 mph thanks to its low weight of 187 kg.

Another successful model was released by Ducati, the Ducati 500 Pantah which was fitted with a 499 cc engine, making it capable of attaining a top speed of 124.27 mph.

In 1973, Ducati introduced the iconic desmodromic engine valve design for better precision and performance.

In 1978, Ducati introduced yet another successful model, the Ducati 900 SS TT IOM, fitted with an 864 cc engine capable of delivering a horsepower of 80 hp at 7,000 rpm and attaining a top speed of 139.8 mph. Mike Hailwood managed to win the 1978 Isle of Man TT Championship race for Ducati on the Ducati 900 SS TT IoM. It was the first-ever World Championship title won by Ducati.

In 1981, Ducati introduced another racing motorcycle, called the Ducati 600 TT2, powered by a 597 cc twin-cylinder engine capable of delivering a horsepower of 78 hp at 10,500 rpm and attaining a top speed of 136.7 mph. This motorcycle had a dry weight of only 140 kg.

Tony Rutter, a professional British motorcycle racer secured first position in four consecutive TT Formula 2 World Championships while riding the Ducati 600 TT2.

In 1985, Cagiva, an Italian motorcycle manufacturer bought Ducati shares and planned to market the Ducati motorcycles with the Cagiva emblem on them.

Ducati was constantly improving the engine technology while focusing more on race and sports bikes to introduce fast and lightweight machines. In 1987, Ducati released one of the most awaited and desired motorcycles of its times, called the Ducati 851 Tricolore Superbike. This motorbike was powered by an 851 cc engine capable of a horsepower of 102 hp at 9,000 rpm. The Ducati 851 Tricolore Superbike was one of the most powerful and fast motorcycles of its time that could attain a top speed of 174 mph thanks to its low dry weight of only 204 kg.

The Ducati 851 F90 was also introduced as an upgraded version of the Ducati 851 Tricolore Superbike. The engine size was increased to 888 cc, making it one of the fastest sports bikes of the time. The 888 cc engine was capable of delivering a horsepower of 136 hp at 10,500 rpm. The Ducati 851 F90 could attain a top speed of 275 Km/h.

In 1992, Ducati released another high-performance and aesthetically appealing sports bike called the Ducati 900 Superlight, powered by a 904 cc engine, capable of delivering a horsepower of 73 hp. This motorcycle was extremely lightweight, weighing only 180 kg.

In 1993, Ducati introduced a 549 cc single-cylinder, four-stroke engine capable of a horsepower of 75 hp to compete in the Supermono racing category.

In 1995, the chief designer of Italian motorcycle brands, Massimo Tamburini designed the Ducati 916. Apart from the appealing look, this motorcycle was engineered to be one of the most powerful Ducati models of its time, setting a top speed record of 186.4 mph. The Ducati 916 weighed only 195 kg and was powered by a 916 cc engine capable of delivering a horsepower of 114 hp at 9,000 rpm.

In 1996, Cagive sold 51% of Ducati’s shares to Texas Pacific Group (TPG), an American private equity company, and received $325 million in return.

In 1996, Ducati released one of its most popular models ever produced and the first naked bike by the company, the Ducati Monster 900. It was powered by a 904 cc engine capable of delivering a horsepower of 73 hp at 7,250 rpm. The Ducati Monster 900 is a lightweight motorcycle, weighing only 185 kg, and has a top speed of 118.06 mph.

In 1998, TPG decided to buy most of Ducati’s remaining shares to get the ownership rights and hold of the company.

In 1999, the company was renamed to Ducati Motor Holding SpA.

Ducati replaced the Ducati 916 with the Ducati 999 F03, which was a more advanced and powerful version. The 998 cc engine was capable of delivering a horsepower of 140 hp. Despite being fitted with a large-displacement engine, it had a low dry weight of 186 kg.

In 2001, the company launched another successful Ducati model, called the Ducati Desmosedici RR, powered by a 989 cc engine capable of delivering a horsepower of 200 hp at 13,800 rpm. This motorcycle weighed only 171 kg thanks to its lightweight frame and engine parts.

Ducati released another notable model, called the Ducati Desmosedici GP 03. The 989 cc engine was capable of a horsepower of 220 hp at 16,000 rpm.

The Ducati 999 Superbike became immensely popular after winning three Superbike World Championship titles from 2003-2017 thanks to Troy Bayliss, James Toseland, and Neil Hodgson.

In December 2005, Invest Industrial Holdings, an Italian equity firm, purchased Ducati Motor Holding SpA to bring the company under Italian ownership.

As the technology further improved and Ducati continued its efforts to enhance its engine performance, the company became successful in manufacturing the Ducati Desmosedici GP 07. This superbike was powered by a 799 cc engine capable of a horsepower of 200 hp. The Ducati Desmosedici GP 07 was an extremely lightweight motorbike, weighing only 148 kg, making it attain a top speed of 192.62 mph.

In 2007, Casey Stoner made Ducati win the manufacturer title of the year and also earned for himself the Rider’s Title after securing 10 wins in the championship races.

Introduced in 2007, the Ducati Hypermotard is the most versatile motorcycle ever produced by Ducati thanks to its upright riding style, high ground clearance, narrow seat, nimble handling, agility, and lightweight design. It is an ideal standard motorbike with good off-road capabilities.

2008 was one of the most successful years for Ducati as the company managed to successfully launch its most powerful motorcycle to date, the Ducati 1098 F08. The 1,198 cc engine was capable of delivering a horsepower of 198 hp at 11,000 rpm. This motorcycle had a dry weight of 168 kg and could reach a top speed of more than 192.62 mph.

In 2008, Troy Bayliss secured first position in the Superbike World Championship which also made him win the rider’s title of the year. He used three different generations of Ducati motorcycles, including the Ducati 1098 F08, the Ducati 999 F03, and the Ducati 996R.

Introduced in 2009, the Ducati Streetfighter is another high-speed and high-performance motorcycle by Ducati, powered by a 1,099 cc L-Twin engine. It is a standard naked bike with sporty and aggressive styling. The Ducati Streetfighter also won the Cycle World 2013 best middleweight street bike of the year award. Being compact and lightweight, this motorcycle makes cornering easy at high speeds.

In 2010, Ducati introduced its most iconic and legendary motorcycle, the Ducati Diavel. It is a performance cruiser with a naked bike look and is engineered for high-speed performance thanks to its 1,198.4 cc 90° L-Twin engine. Meanwhile, the Ducati XDiavel is powered by a 1,262 cc engine. The Ducati Diavel is a fast motorcycle with a top speed of 169 mph.

In 2011, Ducati introduced its most popular sports bike lineup, the Ducati Panigale. The first Ducati Panigale was released in 2011, named after the company’s manufacturing facility in Borgo Panigale, Italy. The lightweight monocoque frame, high-speed performance, immensely powerful engines, and modern technology make the Ducati Panigale series an ideal high-end sports bike for road and track racing.

In April 2012, Audi, a German vehicle manufacturer and a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, purchased Ducati to become the owner of $1.2 billion.

Ferdinand Piëch, the chairman of Volkswagen company shared his disappointment due to not being able to buy Ducati from the Italian government in 1984 as the members of the board of chairmen and directors were not expecting it to become that big as a motorcycle brand.

On July 19, 2012, Lamborghini, another subsidiary of Volkswagen Group, became a huge brand under the ownership of Volkswagen and purchased 100% shares of Ducati Motor Holdings and became the sole owner for $909 million.

In 2012, Ducati also produced one of its most popular models, the Ducati Multistrada 1200. This motorcycle was considered an engineering marvel of its time due to being equipped with several technologically advanced features, including the ABS, 50 mm Marzocchi fully-adjustable upside-down front forks, and fully-adjustable Sachs rear monoshock.

The Ducati Scrambler is a roadster-style standard motorcycle capable of a smooth on-road experience with light off-road capabilities. It was launched in several trims, including Full Throttle, Icon, Urban Enduro, and Flat Track Pro. Initially, these motorcycles were fitted with 803 cc and 399 cc engines. The Ducati Scrambler lineup includes versatile and lightweight motorcycles, equipped with several riding aids to ensure unmatched performance.

The year 2018 marked the launch of Ducati’s Scrambler lineup, boasting a powerful 1,079 cc engine and several modern riding aids.

2021 marked a successful year in the history of Ducati as the company secured the highest number of sales, 23.7% compared to the previous year.

In 2022, Ducati introduced another high-end adventure motorcycle, the Ducati DesertX, in the off-road category. It is a perfect adventure bike for off-roaders and dirt trail riders, looking for the best off-road riding experience.

Ducati is among the top motorcycle manufacturers in the world with one of the most popular sports bikes, naked bikes, adventure, and versatile motorcycle lineups. Ducati motorcycles are well-known for their high-speed performance, innovations, agility, and maneuverability. The company started by producing radio and electrical equipment and became the biggest employer in Bologna, Italy in the 1930s. At that time, nobody expected that the company that took such a simple start would become one of the best motorcycle producers in the world. After facing several tough times, including World War II and several ownership transfers, Ducati came out as a pioneer in the motorcycle engineering field, particularly in the sports racing segment and R&D.

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