ITALIAN FLAIR
“The famous Bologna factory has carved itself a special place among motorcycle enthusiasts, due in no small part to the charisma of its products.”
—Mick Walker,
Ducati: From the Clip-On Engine to the 916
Bevel-drive overhead cam 750cc Ducati twins from the 1970s are undeniably special. The allure of the bevel-drive twin has grown to the point where a top of the line round case Super Sport can presently bring in over $190,000 at auction. The GT version, like the one Scott Somers owns, doesn’t have the desmo heads and race pedigree, but it does have a much less aggressive riding position, and 750 GTs can be had for a much more reasonable price. Scott says it is a joy to ride on back roads.
From little to big
Ducati started building motorcycles in the 1940s. In the after-math of World War II, Italy was in shambles, with many people trying desperately to survive. With the railway system in ruins, inexpensive transportation was a necessity, and large numbers of small factories manufacturing tiny motorcycles and engine-powered bicycles popped up like mushrooms after rain. Ducati, a manufacturer of electronic components pre-World War II, decided to enter the fray with the Cucciolo (“little pup”), a clip on engine for bicycles. The Cucciolo proved popular, and Ducati went on to build small two-wheelers for the Italian market.
A proven way to advertise the product in the 1940s and 1950s in Italy (Engineer) Fabio Taglioni to design a race-winning motorcycle. The story is told that he was informed that he would not get paid unless Ducati won the Giro D’Italia, an important race.
