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Ducati Motor Holding () is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer located in Bologna.

Ducati motorcycles have long been known for their excellence in design and performance. From the first post-war bicycle-like low-displacement motorbikes Ducati has grown over the years into a racing giant that is consistently competitive in both the racing arena and the world motorcycle marketplace.

In the 1970s Ducati began producing large-displacement L-twin motorcycles and in 1973 released a L-twin with the trademark desmodromic valve design. In 1985, Cagiva bought Ducati and rebadged many of the Ducati motorcycles with the lesser-known Cagiva name (at least outside of Italy). In 1996, Texas Pacific Group bought 51% of the company for US$325 million and renamed the company Ducati Motor SpA. In December 2005 Ducati went back into Italian hands with the sale of Texas Pacific's stake to Investindustrial Holdings, the investment fund of Carlo and Andrea Bonomi.

Ducati is best known for high performance motorcycles characterized by trellis-style frames and large capacity four-stroke, 90-degree L-twin90-degree L-twin engines featuring a desmodromic valve designdesmodromic valve design. Modern Ducatis remain among the dominant performance motorcycles available today partly because of the Desmo valve design, which is nearing its 50th year in production. (Desmodromic valves are closed with a separate, dedicated cam lobe and lifter instead of the conventional valve springs used in most internal combustion engines). While most other manufacturers have adopted wet-clutches (with the spinning parts bathed in oil) Ducati uses dry clutches in almost all of their motorcycles. This eliminates the power loss from oil viscosity drag on the engine even though the engagement may not be as smooth as the oil bath versions. Although the higher than average cost of servicing the Ducati's finicky engine can shock some owners, many people believe that the improved ride quality, performance, and styling of Ducatis is worth the extra cost.

Product history

Ducati now manufactures several lines of motorcycles: naked sport bikes: Ducati Monster, faired sport bikes: 800 and DS1000 Supersports, superbike 749 and 999, adventure-tourer Multistrada 600 and DS1000, tourers ST3s, and retro-replicas SportClassic.

The chief designer of Ducati motorcycles from the 1950s was the late Fabio Taglioni (1920-2001). He designed most Ducatis during this period, ranging from the small single cylinder machines that were so successful in the Italian 'street races' up to the large capacity twins of the 80s. Ducati introduced the Pantah in 1979; its engine was updated in the 1990s in the SuperSport (SS) series. All modern Ducati engines are derivatives of the Pantah, which uses a toothed belt to actuate the engine's valves.

In 1993, Miguel Angel Galuzzi introduced the Ducati MonsterDucati Monster , a naked bike with exposed trellis and engine. Today the Monster accounts for almost half of the company's worldwide sales. The Monster, which has been out since 1994, has undergone the most changes of any motorcycle that Ducati has ever produced. After more than a decade of manufacturing, Ducati continues to create innovative changes to this classic motorcycle.

In 1995, the company introduced the Ducati 916 model designed by Massimo Tamburini, a water-cooled version that allowed for higher output levels and a striking new bodywork that featured aggressive lines, underseat exhausts, and a single-sided swingarm. Ducati has since ceased production of what many called the bike of the 1990s, supplanting it with the 749 and 999.

In 2005, Ducati introduced its concept supermotard motorcycle, the HyperMotard.HyperMotard The company has announced this bike will enter production in time for delivery by spring 2007.HyperMotard

In 2006 Ducati announced that they produce road versions of their Desmocedici MotoGP race bike, called the DesmosediciRR (RR for "Race Replica"). These machines will have 240BHP (179 kilowatts) and will cost US$65,000 and initially will be offered only to owners of the 999R.

Motorcycle design history

Ducati (in its various incarnations) has produced several styles of motorcycle engines, including varying the number of cylinders, type of valve actuation and fuel delivery. Ducati is best known for its "L-Twin" motor which is the powerplant in the majority of Ducati-marqued motorcycles. Ducati has also manufactured engines with one, two, three or four cylinders; operated by pull rod valves and push rod valves; single, double and triple overhead camshafts; two stroke and even at one stage manufactured a stationary diesel engine, many of which were used as emergency pumps (eg for fire fighting). Currently, makes no other engines except for its motorcycles.

On current Ducati motors, the valves are actuated by a standard valve cam shaft which is rotated by a belt driven by the motor directly. Timing is maintained by teeth on the belt which keep the cam shaft drive pulleys indexed. On older Ducati motors (prior to 1981) a solid shaft with a bevel-shaped gear on the end, which mated with the valve cam shaft at 90-degrees. This style of valve actuation was used on many of Ducati's older single cylinder motorcycles.

Ducati is also famous for using desmodromic valve operation championed by engineer/designer Fabio Taglioni, but on older bikes, there were many standard-type spring-closed valve engines. Ducati saved the desmodromic valve heads for its higher performance bikes as well as its race bikes. Engineer Fabio Taglioni knew that desmodromic valves do not suffer from valve float at high engine speeds, thus a desmodromic engine is capable of far higher RPMs than a similarly configured engine with traditional spring-valve heads.

In the 1960s and -70s Ducati produced a wide range of small 2-stroke bikes, mainly sub-100cc capacities. Large quantities of some models were exported to the States.

A quick summary of the engine styles with the Ducati name:

  • Single cylinder, bevel actuated, spring valved: 160cc, 250cc, 350cc, 450cc
  • Single cylinder, bevel actuated, desmo valved: 250cc, 350cc and 450cc
  • Two cylinder, bevel actuated, spring valved (L-Twin): 750cc, 860cc
  • Two cylinder, bevel actuated, desmo valved (L-Twin): 750cc, 860cc
  • Two cylinder, chain actuated, spring valved (parallel twin): 350cc, 500cc (GTL)
  • Two cylinder, chain actuated, desmo valved (parallel twin): 350cc, 500cc (GTV)
  • Two cylinder, belt actuated, desmo valved (L-Twin): Almost all motors since 1984.
  • Four cylinder, belt actuated, desmo valved (L-quattro): (Desmosedici)
  • Four cylinder, bevel actuated, spring valved (L-4): The Apollo motorcycle, 1200 cc. Built in the early 60s as a possible bike for the American police forces, the tires of the time could not cope with the power. Only 2 were made.

Company history (apart from motorcycles)

Ducati Meccanica (as the company was previously known) has its marque on non-motorcycle products as well. In the 1930s and 40s, Ducati manufactured radios, cameras, and electrical products such as a razor. The Ducati Sogno was a half-frame Leica like camera which is now a very rare collectors' item.

Racing History

The company has enjoyed eleven World Superbike championships since the series' inception in 1988. The company also races its motorcycles in MotoGP where it returns from a hiatus of over 30 years. Ducati Desmosedici 800.jpg ]] World Superbike Championships

See also

List of Italian companies

Ducati motorcycles

External links

Official Ducati links

Enthusiast and owner resources

Regional enthusiast websites

Ducati technical reference sites

  • Desmo Times This site includes DIY information and resources for Ducati Enthusiasts to be able to maintain their own Ducatis.
  • Desmodromic Valve Gear What does desmo mean?

Other

Ducati Sogno(photo)

References

Ducati | Motorcycle racing teams | Motorcycle manufacturers | Motorcycle manufacturers of Italy

Ducati | Ducati | Ducati | Ducati | Ducati | ドゥカティ | Ducati | Ducati | DUCATI

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Ducati Motor Holding".

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